Colorado tried to stop women’s college basketball star Caitlin Clark by getting in her head during the Sweet 16. It did not work.
Iowa’s sharpshooting senior kept her composure and played a remarkable game.
Prior to the week, Buffaloes guard Tameiya Sadler told the Denver Post that her team has been “excited to be that villain” in the NCAA Tournament. In doing so, she revealed the game plan for Clark.
It’d be hard to get into her head. But we’re going to try it. We’re going to keep going. We’re going to give her our best fight, for sure. Give her anything that we have to throw her off her game and get this one.
Caitlin’s very emotional, so for us, it’s like, we can’t feed into her emotions that she’s going to play with. Because she’s going to fall, she’s going to throw up her hands, she’s going to talk to the refs. But at the end of the day, we can’t focus on that.
— Tameiya Sadler
Colorado did not get in Clark’s head at all. In fact, after being told to shut up by her own father because she was complaining so much last weekend, she was far less vocal on Saturday.
It was perhaps the most quiet that we have seen the greatest scorer of all-time during a game this year, even though there were still a few moments in which she showed her frustration.
And Clark was completely selfless throughout all 40 minutes. When the Buffaloes defense crashed down in an effort to “get into her head,” she distributed out.
Her 15 assists were highlighted by a few absolutely beautiful dimes!
some Caitlin Clark passing highlights in the style of classic NFL Films pic.twitter.com/FFia4bXBdT
— Heavens! (@HeavensFX) March 30, 2024
If that was not enough, Clark added 29 points and six boards.
Iowa ultimately won by 21. The 89-68 was not even close from start to finish.
The Buffaloes tried their best to throw Clark off of her game, like Sadler said. They were very physical.
However, their efforts were entirely unsuccessful.
Not only did Caitlin Clark put together one of the best all-around performances of her entire career, there were very few moments in which she complained or questioned a call. Maybe two or three— which is pretty good for someone who is often on LeBron’s level with her protests.
This all goes to say that Colorado did its best to get inside of Clark’s head and simply could not.
LSU will try to do the exact same thing on Monday. The Tigers got in Clark’s head during last year’s national championship game and she never recovered.
If they can execute like the Buffs cannot, they have a great chance of winning. If not, the Hawkeyes are due!