Should be a good one.

I recall last year Iowa won by playing the saggiest defense ever. They seemed to put all five defenders inside the lane to neutralize SC's huge size down low.

Ya, it’s a different matchup without Boston. Still, I like Iowa's “team of destiny” chances.

This is the most I've ever looked forward to a women's title game. Some interesting dynamics at play.

Not sure if the NCAA will allow the Iowa Clarks to lose today. The game smacks of the Duke vs UNLV rematch in 1991 where UNLV had no chance of winning.

(04-07-2024 09:46 AM)bill dazzle Wrote:  This is the most I've ever looked forward to a women's title game. Some interesting dynamics at play.

I would say the last one I remember was a Louisiana Tech vs Tennessee game from the late 80s, possibly on Easter.

(04-07-2024 10:00 AM)Scoochpooch1 Wrote:  

(04-07-2024 09:46 AM)bill dazzle Wrote:  This is the most I've ever looked forward to a women's title game. Some interesting dynamics at play.

I would say the last one I remember was a Louisiana Tech vs Tennessee game from the late 80s, possibly on Easter.

I don't recall that game but, yes, I can see how it would have offered lots of interesting storylines. Seems it was in 1987. UT's first championship.

(04-07-2024 09:29 AM)BePcr07 Wrote:  Ya, it’s a different matchup without Boston. Still, I like Iowa's “team of destiny” chances.

I hadn't watched SC all year, until the F4 game vs NC State.

I was less impressed than I was seeing them last year. Last year's team was just so overwhelmingly big. They seemingly had 2-3 huge tree-trunk sized women under the basket, and nobody could match up.

Iowa was very fortunate to beat them, Iowa didn't match up with SC last year either, they just played a radical sag-the-lane defense and hit some 3s and stole the game, IMO, and I think SC would have beaten LSU in the title game. They were the true best team in 2022-2023, I think.

This SC team just doesn't look as physically powerful, just not as good as last year's team, IMO. NC State was nothing special but they weren't physically or athletically overmatched.

I like Iowa's chances as well.

looking forward to the game, and then looking forward to seeing the insane number it's going to draw on TV.

Why can't the men have their championships on a Sunday? Late on a Monday night still seems odd.

Wonder if we ever see both events merge into one location on one weekend.

(04-07-2024 09:59 AM)Scoochpooch1 Wrote:  Not sure if the NCAA will allow the Iowa Clarks to lose today. The game smacks of the Duke vs UNLV rematch in 1991 where UNLV had no chance of winning.

But you forget Iowa won the game last year.

As much as I want to see Caitlin Clark and the Big Ten win, I also do like Dawn Staley and it would feel wrong to me to see South Carolina go undefeated in the regular season in back to back years and lose.

It would have been so much easier had Iowa won last year's championship and then I could root for South Carolina this year. Or South Carolina won the national championship and then I could root for Iowa. Or Paige could have won and I could've rooted for her:)

(04-07-2024 09:59 AM)Scoochpooch1 Wrote:  Not sure if the NCAA will allow the Iowa Clarks to lose today. The game smacks of the Duke vs UNLV rematch in 1991 where UNLV had no chance of winning.

South Carolina plays 10 players. Iowa basically played 5 in the semi-finals. 7 minutes total for their 3 reserves. South Carolina may run them into the ground. That would certainly be my strategy as their coach.

(04-07-2024 10:31 AM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  Why can't the men have their championships on a Sunday? Late on a Monday night still seems odd.

Wonder if we ever see both events merge into one location on one weekend.

Better TV ratings on Monday.

(04-07-2024 01:32 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(04-07-2024 10:31 AM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  Why can't the men have their championships on a Sunday? Late on a Monday night still seems odd.

Wonder if we ever see both events merge into one location on one weekend.

Better TV ratings on Monday.

I think Sunday would be better than Monday, especially if they can start the final earlier. The issue then would be moving the semifinals to Friday and "Final Four" is so big now in men's basketball that to a certain degree the semifinals are a big show as well as the championship game and moving them to Friday night could hurt any gain moving the championship to Sunday would bring.

I can certainly see women's and men's at the same site. Why not try it at least one year?

(04-07-2024 10:31 AM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  Why can't the men have their championships on a Sunday? Late on a Monday night still seems odd.

Wonder if we ever see both events merge into one location on one weekend.

Aren't Friday nights usually the worst night for tv ratings? That's probably why.

(04-07-2024 01:32 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(04-07-2024 10:31 AM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  Why can't the men have their championships on a Sunday? Late on a Monday night still seems odd.

Wonder if we ever see both events merge into one location on one weekend.

Better TV ratings on Monday.

9:20 pm tip off is trash ratings regardless. Have it start at like 8pm when humans watch TV.

18 pt 1st quarter for Clark.

(04-07-2024 02:28 PM)bronconick Wrote:  

(04-07-2024 01:32 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(04-07-2024 10:31 AM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  Why can't the men have their championships on a Sunday? Late on a Monday night still seems odd.

Wonder if we ever see both events merge into one location on one weekend.

Better TV ratings on Monday.

9:20 pm tip off is trash ratings regardless. Have it start at like 8pm when humans watch TV.

Nielsen studies have shown 9:20pm to 9:30pm eastern time is the peak of tv ratings.

(04-07-2024 02:38 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(04-07-2024 02:28 PM)bronconick Wrote:  

(04-07-2024 01:32 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(04-07-2024 10:31 AM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  Why can't the men have their championships on a Sunday? Late on a Monday night still seems odd.

Wonder if we ever see both events merge into one location on one weekend.

Better TV ratings on Monday.

9:20 pm tip off is trash ratings regardless. Have it start at like 8pm when humans watch TV.

Nielsen studies have shown 9:20pm to 9:30pm eastern time is the peak of tv ratings.

Yeah, but you don’t need to tune in that early in the ball game. 8:30 would be fine. Ends before 11, even with an OT session or two. Not watching the men’s final. Didn’t watch last year either.

Ugly ending to the half for Iowa. Luckily, the horn sounded. I feel if they don’t come out the way the started the game, USC will pull away.

Clark seemed tired at the end of the 2Q.

She should have sat for a couple minutes like she normally does in the first half.