Hawkeyes on Brink of History

Iowa Downs UConn, Gets Another Shot at Title

One win stands between Caitlin Clark and her most cherished achievement. Iowa’s transcendent superstar would trade her large collection of individual awards and records for a national championship…in a heartbeat. 

 

They’ll be no need for bartering if she and the Hawkeyes can knock off South Carolina in Sunday’s title tilt. Realizing a dream and cementing a legacy will be a tall task, but one they welcome. 

 

It remained possible after Friday night’s dispatching of UConn in the Final Four. Iowa topped the program with the most championships, 71-69, at Cleveland’s Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. 

 

The Hawkeyes won for the 11th time in a row, the last setback coming Feb. 22 at Indiana. They’ve looked capable of being the last team standing. 

 

They showed it again on Friday. A defensive-minded Husky squad forced Iowa into a grind-it-out affair. The Hawkeyes trailed by as many as 12 points with Clark being blanketed by the UConn defense. 

 

To their credit, Iowa showed again why it has a special group. Clark performed in the clutch during the second half, finishing with 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Sophomore forward Hannah Stuelke shined with 23 points on 9 of 12 shooting from the floor. Other student-athlete delivered key contributions. 

 

It will take a lot more of that fight on Sunday. South Carolina currently is at the head of the college basketball class. With titles in ’17 and ’22, the Gamecocks are 166-9 since the beginning of the ’19-20 season, including a 37-0 record this year. 

 

They’ve appeared vulnerable at times, getting by Tennessee and LSU by only a combined eight points in the last two games of the SEC Tournament. Indiana and Oregon State pushed them in this tournament before they pounded NC State, 78-59, in Friday’s other Final Four contest. 

 

Iowa knew they could be the last obstacle in reaching the mountain top. It would make a fitting final chapter in the storybook season. 

 

South Carolina will be motivated. The Hawkeyes are the last team to beat it, ending the Gamecocks’ pursuit of a repeat in the ’23 Final Four.  

 

Besting this program enhances Iowa’s argument for being its school’s all-time greatest team in any sport. It does the same for Clark’s case as the game’s best ever. 

 

That’s what’s riding on Sunday’s contest. While back-to-back national championship game appearances is a wonderful accomplishment, there always be regret falling one step short of the ultimate goal. 

 

It’s a harsh reality, but that’s what these fierce competitors sign up for. They wouldn’t have it any other way.