ALBANY — The Sweet 16 was just another commercial for college basketball’s biggest star.
Caitlin Clark was a magnet for every eye, the subject of every conversation, a magician and tornado, conductor and bulldozer, who alternated will and skill and misdirection to leave defenders dumbfounded.
Saturday’s sold-out MVP Arena provided the stage for another brilliant showcase, as Clark carved up No. 5 Colorado for 29 points, 15 assists (two turnovers) and six rebounds in Iowa’s 89-68 win.
“Honestly, I think when I step on the court, like a calming sense comes over me. This is where I’m supposed to be,” Clark said. “It’s just kind of like, go let your work shine, go have fun, go have a blast, and win or lose, there’s a lot to hold your head high about.
“I came in with a sense of a calming presence and knowing that I have people that have my back and this is a game that I put a lot of time into, and I’m only promised 40 more minutes. Might as well go win it.”
No win could be as important as the next — a return bout fit for an octagon.
On Monday night, No. 1 Iowa (32-4) and defending champion, No. 3 LSU (31-5) will meet one day shy of the one-year anniversary of last year’s national title game, pitting Clark and Angel Reese — who infamously mocked the Iowa superstar at the close of LSU’s 102-85 win, which drew a record 9.9 million viewers — against each other in a sequel seemingly scripted by TV executives.
The Hawkeyes (32-4) — who before last season hadn’t made the Final Four since 1993 — are now one win from cutting another net, from slaying the Tigers who prevented a girl from West Des Moines from bringing Iowa its first national championship.
In last year’s matchup, Clark had 30 points and eight assists, but LSU finished with the highest-scoring game in championship history.
“We’re excited,” Clark said of the rematch. “Anytime you have a chance to go up against somebody you lost to, it brings a little more energy. … I think overall it’s just going to be a really great game for women’s basketball.”
After three straight subpar outings, Iowa had its strongest performance in weeks.
Clark — the only woman in Division I history to lead the nation in scoring and assists (twice) — made 3-of-11 3-pointers, but did virtually everything else, repeatedly attacking the rim (making 10-of-11 2-pointers) and creating space for her supporting cast, before throwing passes that only Patrick Mahomes could complete.
“Her passing is insane,” said senior Gabbie Marshall, one of five Hawkeyes to finish with double-digit points. “There’s a lot of attention on Caitlin and she does a great job of finding her teammates, finding who’s open, reading the defense before the defense even does what they’re going to do.”
In a rematch of last year’s Sweet 16, Iowa led 48-35 at halftime and never faced a single-digit deficit again.
Now, another Final Four is 40 minutes away.
Redemption, too.
“I’m not caught up in the past, not caught up in the future,” Clark said. “I try to keep my feet right in the present and be where my feet are. … I don’t think I wouldn’t be able to be the player I am if I was too worried about what has happened or what is going to happen.”
