The Guru’s NCAA Report: South Carolina Looks For NCAA’s Tenth Unbeaten Season and Gamecock’sThird Title For Dawn Staley While Iowa Scoring Sensation Caitlin Clark Looks for an Uplifting Finish

By Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The long winding road consisting of a season of stunning upsets, sellout crowds, all-time viewerships, ready-to-be-minted future WNBA stars, and talented newcomers reaches its final destinationSunday afternoon at 3 p.m. on ABC here in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse when the rematch of the Caitlin Clark-led Iowa Hawkeyes (34-4) and unbeaten South Carolina Gamecocks (37-0) from a year ago in the national semifinal round occurs one tier higher to determine the 2024 NCAA Division I champion.

When they last faced each other, Iowa pulled a stunning upset ruining South Carolina’s then-perfect season and Dawn Staley’s bid for a third title since 2017, but Clark and the Hawkeyes couldn’t finish as LSU claimed its first championship guided by second-year coach Kim Mulkey, who won three earlier trophies at Baylor before returning to her home state.

That game, the first battle for all the marbles aired on ABC, drew a then-record viewership total of 9.8 million viewers.

Now, 12 months later the women’s collegiate game with Clark has become must-see television when she plays, having attracted sellouts wherever the Hawkeyes have appearedr as she went on to become the all-time career scorer in the women’s collegiate game in Division I.

Clark, who opted not to return to the Big Ten champions for a fifth season allowed off the COVID-19 pandemic, is expected to be chosen by the Indiana Fever in next Monday’s WNBA draft in Brooklyn, N.Y.   

LSU and Iowa met again last Monday night in the Albany Regional I title game to determine who moves here for the Women’s Final Four and the Hawkeyes got their revenge in what was a viewing record for the sport on ESPN attracting 12.3 million.

That mark lasted just five days with Friday night’s second semifinal between Iowa and Connecticut won 71-69 by the Hawkeyes drawing 14.2 viewers on ESPN, peaking at 17 million as the Huskies were denied a chance for an upset when charged with an offensive foul for a moving screen in the final seconds.

It’s the largest audience for any ESPN basketball broadcast.

South Carolina easily won Friday’s opener downing 11^th-ranked NC State, a three-seed, 78-59.

The Gamecocks went wire-to-wire in 2023 No.1, the final poll concluded before the tournament got under way.

They were sixth in the preseason poll back in October after graduating all five starters, including Aliyah Boston, who became the No. 1 pick by Indiana and earned rookie of the year honors in the WNBA.

But last November on opening day, that had a series of upsets that set the stage of new-found parity the ensuing weeks and months, South Carolina shocked Notre Dame with a blowout victory in. Paris.

While all the other major teams underwent stumbles since, the Gamecocks shot right back up to the top spot the following week and stayed there the rest of the way, the biggest scare, a near loss to Tennessee, but rescued when senior Kamilla Cardoso, who transferred from Syracuse prior to last season, attempted her first-ever 3-pointer and connected as time ran out.

That likely cost Lady Vols coach Kellie Harper her job, being let go from her alma mater in the last week.

Clark had 41 points in the win over South Carolina, which this year spread the wealth around in the Gamecocks’ attack, though Friday night against UConn, the Huskies held her her down the first half, but Hannah Stuelke picked up the slack.

Knowing its another breakthrough moment for the sport, Staley said, “It’s a monumental game for our game.

“We’re very fortunate to be part of it. We get to witness firsthand the legacy of Caitlin Clark. You watch her. You prep for her. You can’t help but really love how she dissects the game. You love how she executes.

“I mean, it’s simple. Her game is simple and yet powerful. How do you defend fundamental basketball with fundamental offense and defense?” Staley said. “You can’t. She’s going to win everytime.

“So, you’ve got to show her different looks in order for her to not settle and pick up you apart. We’ve got to defend. We’ve got to put some points on the scoreboard.”

Besides Kardoso, other key players have been reserve freshman Milaysia Fulwiley and substitute Ashley Watkins, who has dominated the rebounding boards, and a packed starting lineup of four Kardoso teammates in Bree Hall, Raven Johnson, Oregon transfer Te-hina Paopao, besides Chloe Kitts.

“I was hoping for a rematch,” Johnson said.

Clark has been the self-declared emotional leader of Iowa.

“My teammates ride my emotions whether I like it or. Not, whether it’s positive or whether it’s negative. That’s something I’ve had to learn: They’re going to feel what I feel. I’m their emotional leader.”

Iowa coach Lisa Bluder spoke of the final moments approaching the Hawkeyes with Clark on the squad.

“Ever since she made her decision, we’ve been intentional about remembering moments or spending time,” said Bluder. “Today I got to have breakfast with her. Just valuing that time and remembering it, like making sure you were there.”

Bluder quipped that Clark would be pleasantly received if she changed her mind for one more year with the Hawkeyes.

“Can she still change. Her mind? Is that possible?  I would like that very much.”