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Iowa vs. LSU: X factors for the Hawkeyes and Caitlin Clark in rematch with Tigers
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- Iowa vs. LSU: X factors for the Hawkeyes and Caitlin Clark in rematch with Tigers
Iowa still has Caitlin Clark and, if we know anything, it's that she's going to find a way to score. To beat LSU, however, the Hawkeyes will need more.
More scoring. Solid ballhandling by the entire team. And lockdown defense on LSU's most dynamic player − who isn't named Angel Reese.
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Here's a look at the X factors for Iowa to beat LSU:
The 'newcomers'
LSU coach Kim Mulkey says the scouting report for Iowa is different than it was for last year's game because the players are different. But let's be honest, Caitlin Clark is even better than she was last year, and containing her (or trying to) will be at the top of LSU's to-do list.
That said, Clark is going to do Clark things. Or, as Angel Reese said, "She's scoring 30 when they win, and she's scoring 30 when they lose."
Which is where Hannah Stuelke and Sydney Affolter come in.
Both came off the bench in last year's title game, playing a combined 13 minutes and contributing two points and a rebound. Their roles this year are, obviously, much different, and Iowa is going to need big games from both to beat LSU.
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Stuelke has replaced Monika Czinano inside while Affolter stepped into the starting lineup after Molly Davis injured her knee in the regular-season finale. Stuelke has shown flashes of the prodigious talent her teammates say she has, dropping 47 on Penn State and notching double-doubles in her last two games, but her confidence is still an issue.
"I really like Hannah's game. She's a strong post player," Reese said Sunday. "She's more versatile than Czinano, so I know I'm going to have to guard her much higher than I had to guard Czinano last year. Czinano was very, very efficient around the basket as well, and Hannah is, too, but I'm going to have to guard her more out of the paint this game. She also rebounds. She rebounds really, really well."
Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark (22) and forward Hannah Stuelke (45) during the NCAA first-round game against the Holy Cross Crusaders.
Affolter is shooting over 58% as a starter and is averaging 13 points a game; her season average is 7.9 ppg.
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In Saturday's win over Colorado , Affolter was 6-of-6 from the floor.
"She just seamlessly went into the starting lineup, and I think it's because of the style that we play, that we're kind of positionless," Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said. "If you're a 1, 2, 3 or 4, doesn't really matter, they all do the same things."
Contain Flau'jae Johnson
Angel Reese commands most of the attention. And will again, given last year's game.
But the player who's really been making LSU go of late is Johnson . She's scored 20 or more points in five of the last seven games, and had 24 points, 12 rebounds, two blocks and a steal in the win over second-seeded UCLA on Saturday. Lose track of her, or allow her free rein of the court, and she'll hurt you.
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"It seems like she has really elevated her game throughout this tournament. I mean, in the last five games she's averaging 19 points versus 14 on the year," Bluder said. "She's really hard to guard. As a sophomore, she seems to have great leadership skills and great emotion. It seems like the team kind of goes with her emotion. She's an unbelievable player."
Limit the turnovers
Iowa is at its best when it can get out in transition. That can't happen if the Hawkeyes can't hang onto the ball, though.
Iowa went through a rough stretch, beginning with the Big Ten Tournament title game and continuing through the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament. The common theme? Turnovers.
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The Hawkeyes had 14 or more miscues in each of those games, and they prevented Clark and Co. from ever getting into a rhythm offensively. The difference was notable Saturday against Colorado. Iowa had 10 turnovers, and the offense flowed.
Follow Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness: Iowa, Caitlin Clark need 3 things to beat LSU Tigers
