I agree HVL’s performance is being overlooked mainly because we lost. She was being guarded by bigger players all night and it didn’t stop her from scoring.
8/19 shooting means they kinda sorta did stop her.
She had 5 turnovers... these translated into steals for Iowa.
She was very much bothered by Iowa's length... and she was very much stopped.
They wore her out to the point where she had an Airball.. and just looked sheepishly around.
Not trying to take away her performance, but if she had 2 or 3 more inches... of course it would have made the difference.
They had 1 player shorter than 6'0" in their starting lineup... that was the 5'9" guard Marshall. THey had just enough length to bother CC, HVL and Robinson. Their coach knew what to do. Make our starters take contested 2-point shots shots and don't give them any 3's. HVL started hunting her shot... and she would get the ball stripped on PnR screens or while driving... Yes, she scored 27 points... just like she scored 21 points against USC-Jr last year...
Last year's team would have been batter matching because of Smith. She was 6'1"... and A. Smith was a long, fast, athletic 5'9" (she fell out of favor with Jeff, after hoisting up that 3-pointer against Miami in the ACC quarters, when Miami was making their comeback).
We just didn't have any answers. Jeff had CC guard Clark. Clark would do a little push off, clear space and hoist a 3... buckets. He had Harris guard her... and i have to say, Harris was sort of the most effective on her... but she got "swiched on" too. The entire season, I never EVER thought Jones was a lock down defender.... despite her being 6'2". She is gangly... and she moved in an upright matter with to much space between her movements. She did her best, but Clark would swish over her too (mind you that Iowa game was the first game, all season long. where I have seen her completely focused on 1 player). Jeff even tried Robinson on her... but she would shoot over her too after a complimentary cross over push off.
And then there were the strange moments where we would leave a 40% shooting 3-point team wide open... It was because we never had the length outside of th post.. tor really do the job. I watched Cochran, and LIz get caught on Pin-downs or curls and not follow a guard out to the wing... or baseline, amd then "boom" another 3-pointer.
This was a night where we needed more size. I would argue. that lack of defensive length has been a major sticking point regardless of how many "Rah-Rah, play hard and fast and you can win" pep talks folks like me would like to offer up. We got better defensively, but when you look at the Final 4, each team that made it. has an otherworldly player who has either played at a whole nother level all season, or has lifted their game to a whole nother level. I didn't think Amour had it in her to be the 2nd Best PG in the Final Four... let alone "lead" her team to the Final Four... and yet, here we are...
Clark is on another level, altogether, and would be interesting, if Iowa wins it all this year, if she comes back... We all know what South Carolina's "bigs" are capable of...they are elite... The girl for LSU... has basically taken her game to a whole nother level as well... she is probably the best WNBA ready player in the tournament next to Clark... (I could literally see her going #1 Overall)...
We have not had that type of game changing player since Engstler (Evants, Durr and Schimmel before her).
We need to get back to that level of player. I believe HVL is an All-American. I believe she is elite. I just don't feel like she is on that top level. Maybe next year.
