I’ve to confess one thing, Hawk followers. In watching the Duke/Colorado sport I hoped for Colorado to win. Statistically (and I’m no math individual) at first look you’d somewhat play a six seed than a 3. After watching some video and delving slightly deeper into Colorado’s crew, I’m a bit extra nervous than I used to be just some days in the past. They’re a nice-looking squad with some glorious items. The Buffaloes are 25-8 on the 12 months and coming off an additional time win at Cameron Indoor Stadium. What first stands out to me is Colorado has two glorious posts. Each #11 Quay Miller and #21 Aaronnette Vonleh are 6’3” switch gamers who take up house and may transfer. That’s a pleasant mixture. Miller, for my part, is an outstanding participant. Ability-wise I like her higher than Indiana’s Mackenzie Holmes (who I additionally assume is improbable) as a result of Miller is ready to prolong her sport to the three level line.

Miller can be sneaky-quick off the bounce.

Colorado runs what might already be thought of an old-school method with a 3 out (guards/perimeter), 2 in (posts/facilities) movement offense. The 2 work very effectively collectively as they’ll look high-low to one another, Miller can put the ball on the ground and drive, and so they run a pleasant choose and roll from the excessive put up with their ultra-fast level guard (extra on her later). Right here is an instance of a pleasant high-low go from Miller to Vonleh.

Colorado has two different gamers who impress me, however Miller and Vonleh are their two main scorers and rebounders. As they go, the Buffs go. The largest and greatest approach for the Hawks to defend this mixture is to ensure we now have a substantial amount of ball stress on the perimeter (unobstructed passes into the put up are protection killers) and our put up defenders should play protection with their toes earlier than the go. Taking part in protection within the put up after the catch will result in fouls and important bother. Iowa can’t afford for Monika Czinano to select up low cost fouls.

The subsequent participant that jumps off the display screen is level guard Jaylyn Sherrod (#00). Caitlin Clark is among the quickest gamers I’ve seen with the ball, however Sherrod could also be quicker. She is usually a nightmare in transition. Right here Duke was attempting to use full-court stress. Nope.

One go, a diagonal lower, and Sherrod is shifting at cartoon-like velocity. Iowa just isn’t a urgent crew, however it will likely be paramount to get again on protection and cease the ball. Sherrod is a stat-sheet stuffer averaging 11.3 ppg, 3.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and a couple of.3 steals per sport. She is enjoyable to observe if you’re an off-the-cuff fan. As a non-casual fan she positively is a risk to our Hawkeye happiness.

Colorado’s greatest shooter is 5’11” junior guard Frida Formann (#3). Formann is from Denmark and may shoot the basketball. She connects on 39% of her three level photographs and he or she’s a 91% free throw shooter. The Buffaloes run a pleasant excessive choose and roll motion the place Sherrod will get a excessive ball display screen and appears to show the nook, hit the curler, or kick out to a large open Formann. The Hawks might want to get a hand in her face and field out; Miller and Vonleh get just a few rebounds a sport simply primarily based on the house they take up within the lane.

On the season Colorado is capturing 35% from three and permitting 30% capturing from distance. In Colorado’s eight losses, the Buffs are capturing 21% (27-128) from past the arc and permitting 37% (52-142). I like these odds, though as a lifelong Hawkeye fan, what number of instances have we seen a profession capturing night time from somebody who ordinarily can’t hit the water throwing the ball out of a ship? Fortunately that is extra frequent on the boys’s facet, however I knocked on wooden anyway (I actually did).

Colorado appears inclined within the put up when you assault with a participant who can spin, put the ball on the ground and get round her defender. That’s extra Hannah Stuelke’s sport than Monika Czinano’s, however Iowa’s spacing is often improbable and the Hawks do a wonderful job of swinging the basketball and getting high quality put up entries the place Monika doesn’t have to dribble anyway. Caitlin Clark will get reward for her capturing and scoring, however she would take a ten level, 25 help win in a heartbeat.

Hawk stuff:

For the Hawkeyes it’s a provided that we’d like good to glorious video games out of each Clark and Czinano. Gabbie Marshall’s capturing will probably be vital (very, essential), and I feel McKenna Warnock will probably be tasked with defending Quay Miller. Iowa will want nice rebounding from Czinano, Stuelke, and Warnock. My favourite participant, Kate Martin, goes to have a very good sport. She is a participant who does so many little issues effectively. When she is aggressive with the ball and making performs, her sport is even higher. I feel that Kate goes to point out up. Hannah Stuelke’s well being would be the largest X issue on this ballgame. The Hawks will want her to rebound and spell Czinano.

This season has been a lot enjoyable. I attended my first-ever Iowa ladies’s sport in individual on the Huge Ten Championship. I’m not prepared for this season to finish. There could be no disgrace in shedding to this Colorado crew; they’re gifted, however let’s not cease right here, Coach Bluder and firm. Like at all times, it’s nice to be a Hawkeye! Let’s go, Hawks! Let’s go, Hawks! Let’s go, Hawks!