Final Four loaded with star power
The final shows for Caitlin Clark’s tour are booked in an arena just a short drive from the Rock & Roll Hall Fame.
Hello, Cleveland.
College basketball’s biggest act — men’s or women’s — will close out her magnificent Iowa career this weekend in the Final Four after Clark delivered a 41-point, 12-assist performance in a win over defending champion LSU.
It was vintage Clark, and typical Clark.
“When the stage is the brightest, when the spotlight is the brightest, she’s at her very best,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said Monday on a Zoom call. “She loves this. Some people wither in the moment. She just gets stronger in the moment.”
Clark, who has spent this season rewriting record books, signing autographs for adoring fans everywhere she goes and excelling despite enormous pressure, will lead the Hawkeyes (33-4) in tonight’s second semifinal against UConn (33-5), back for a 23rd time under Hall of Fame coach
CLEVELAND »
WOMEN’S FINAL FOUR
S. Carolina vs. NC State, 4 p.m., ESPN Iowa vs. UConn, 6 p.m., ESPN
Geno Auriemma.
In the other semi, undefeated South Carolina (36-0) puts perfection on the line against North Carolina State (326), a No. 3 seed that already has pulled off two upsets in the NCAA Tournament and has sights on a third.
“Hey, we’re coming to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, you got to crash the party, right?” Wolfpack coach Wes Moore said with a smile.
But this is Clark’s party.
She has been the dominant story this season, a generational talent who has lived up to expectations and even pushed beyond them. So maybe it’s fitting that Clark will take her last collegiate shots on the same floor where LeBron James rose from hyped high school phenom to NBA superstardom.
The game’s best outside shooter, Clark has hardly missed. With the stakes as high as possible on Monday night in Albany, New York, Clark came through in Iowa’s victory over LSU.
For Bluder, it was nothing new. But the setting made this more special.
“I never want to talk about her without talking about her passing. Absolutely unbelievable.”
In some ways, so is UConn’s presence in this year’s Final Four, despite its blue-blooded pedigree.
The Huskies have been ravaged by injuries, forcing Auriemma to play four freshmen and leaving him with little depth. Fortunately, he’s still got the marvelous Paige Bueckers, who has returned to her All-America form after missing last season with a knee injury.
Auriemma has had more talented teams, led by stars Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird and Maya Moore, but this one is unique.
South Carolina is led by 6-foot-7 AllAmerican center Kamilla Cardoso. They Gamecocks have been dominant, but somethings shaky, and coach Dawn Staley wasn’t always convinced this group would be one of the last four standing.
“I’m shocked,” she said. “I’m shocked that we’re undefeated. I’m shocked that we’re here at the Final Four competing for a national championship.”
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK
NBA
Favorite
at Clippers at Washington at Indiana Orlando at Boston at New Orleans at Memphis at Milwaukee at Chicago at Houston at Dallas at Phoenix
MLB
Favorite
Boston at NY Yankees at Detroit at Kansas City Houston
National League
Dodgers
San Diego NY Mets Philadelphia at Atlanta
Interleague
Tampa Bay Baltimore Seattle
NHL
Favorite
Seattle at Buffalo New York at Carolina at Edmonton Vegas
Line (O/U)
Line
American League
-116/-102 -162/+136 -235/+194 -174/+146 -126/+108
Line
-176/+142 -120/+100 -150/+125 -225/+184 -122/+102 -170/+140
Underdog
Off (Off) Utah Off (Off) Portland 4 (2361⁄2) Oklahoma City 121⁄2 (2021⁄2) at Charlotte 9 (2241⁄2) Sacramento Off (Off) San Antonio Off (Off) Detroit Off (Off) Toronto 1 (2101⁄2) New York 1 (214) Miami 51⁄2 (2281⁄2) Golden St 21⁄2 (220) Minnesota
Underdog
at Angels Toronto Oakland Chicago WS
at Texas
-184/+154 at Chic. Cubs -116/-102 at San Fran. -116/-102 at Cincinnati -180/+152at Washington -290/+235 Arizona
-176/+148 at Colorado -136/+116 at Pittsburgh -118/+100 at Milwaukee
Underdog
at Ducks Philadelphia
at Detroit Washington Colorado at Arizona
FINAL FOUR
National Semifinals
At State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Ariz. Saturday’s games
Purdue vs. NC State, 3:09 p.m. UConn vs. Alabama, 5:49 p.m.
National Championship
Monday’s game
UConn-Alabama winner vs. Purdue-NC State winner, 6:20 p.m.
At Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis Championship
Thursday’s result
Seton Hall 79, Indiana St. 77
FINAL FOUR
National Semifinals
At Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Cleveland
Today’s games
South Carolina vs. NC State, 4 p.m. Iowa vs. UConn, 6 p.m.
National Championship
Sunday’s game
South Carolina-NC State winner vs. Iowa-UConn winner, noon