I'm thinking about the NCAA women's basketball title game. Twenty years ago, people were upset because UConn was the presumptive favorite, and rightly so, to win the title each year. Coach Auriemma's response? Get better players and become better coaches. With the advent of easier transfers, players have made parity come much faster. There were eight teams with the greatest potential with South Carolina as the heir apparent.
When South Carolina developed their game plan to stop Caitlin Clark of Iowa, they did so with four platoons. Each platoon consisted of starters and subs in different rotations than before. Caitlin had 18 points by the end of the first quarter. Then the second platoon came in and SC contained her. She scored 12 the rest of the game. Three of Iowa's starters played 40 minutes. Most of SC's team played less than 30.
South Carolina had 39 points from its bench and Iowa had zero. Without 6'7" Kamilla Cardoso, South Carolina would have lost the game. Good thing she was there for them. Coach Staley admitted that they started game planning for Caitlin at the beginning of the tournament.
In fact, Coach Staley said that they purposefully gave their starters a lot of rest during the tournament in preparation for the title game. And why shouldn't they have? They had the easiest journey to it. Iowa's was the most difficult. Iowa ran into a buzz saw in their second game vs WVU. Colorado was easier, but then it was LSU, who they lost to the previous year in the title game. This was followed by UConn and then South Carolina.
South Carolina deserved to win. They had the most talent and the most depth. Clark was and is Iowa's only top five recruit. South Carolina's roster is a veritable who's who of high school standouts which is all good. Don't get me wrong.
I just hate that a player is not considered great b/c they couldn't win a championship with an inferior roster. It's a team sport. The fact that Caitlin Clark took her team (dragged might be a better word) to two finals in two years is commendable.
She announced her freshman year that this was her goal. They were going to the Final Four or bust. Not even her coaches believed her, but in the end, she made believers out of all of them.
This is a homage to someone who had her goals set by the second grade. They were to play in the WNBA, live in a mansion, have 3/4 kids, marry, own a restaurant, win the lottery, act in a basketball movie, be strong, get a basketball scholarship, travel across the world, meet Maya Moore & to own 2 Bernese Mountain dogs. How many of us had our lives planned out that far in advance?
She's already accomplished four and two are quickly within her grasp. What a great example. Active in her faith, respectful to her parents (mom is her best friend), loves her family and is incredibly loyal to her team.
She chose Iowa because her parents would be able to see her play and she could help grow the game in her home state. There is so much to admire about her. She has shared her NIL money with her teammates. She set up a foundation and taken the Iowa team on a cruise along with signing autographs for all the little girls and boys who want them. Honors interview requests and spends time at a local hospital and elsewhere. This list is just a few things that she has done.
Grateful for another positive example by a young lady who is teaching the rest of us how to become more god-like. Just sayin'. jlh
PS Did I mention the 45 NCAA records that she has broken?