Tonight, the UConn Huskies will take on the Iowa Hawkeyes. To beat Iowa, the Huskies will need to slow down Caitlin Clark. Clark averaged 32 points per game and had 41 points against the LSU Tigers in the Elite 8. Slowing Clark is a tall task for anybody.
UConn’s defense is pretty good, allowing just 56.8 points per game. The opposing team is shooting 35.4% from the field.
Blitz the Pick and Roll
When Iowa does the pick-and-roll with Clark, they should blitz or trap her to make Clark give up the ball, make somebody else shoot, and make plays for Iowa.
LSU did not blitz the pick-and-roll and sometimes went under the screens, and Clark lit them up for nine threes. Blitzing the pick-and-roll would force Clark to give the ball up.
Full Court Pressure
The Huskies should use full-court pressure to try to wear Clark down. On made baskets, the Huskies should deny Clark the ball. Along with the pressure, they should play physically with her and try to frustrate her. You have to make sure you have a body on Clark at all times.
Nika Muhl will probably spend a lot of time on Clark; she is a good perimeter defender. Paige Bueckers will probably also spend time on Clark as well. Both will need to know where Clark is at all times,
Know the Scouting Report
During the Elite 8 telecast, it was said that when Clark goes right, she likes to go to the basket, and when she goes left, she likes to pull up for three. When Clark goes to the basket, your interior defense must put a body on her, sometimes multiple bodies, and make Clark score over the top of them. The Huskies interior players like Aaliyah Edwards can’t be late in helping under the basket.
UConn can’t give Clark easy baskets. UConn defenders must also ensure they have their hands up and ready to challenge the outside shot; if your hands are down, Clark will pull up and drain the shot in your face.
Clark is a great player and will score points no matter what you do, but you have to make her work hard for her points and force the other players to beat you, which they have recently shown they are capable of.
You cannot get discouraged when Clark hits those logo threes; great players will hit tough shots. At the end of the day, you can’t allow Clark to get easy buckets.
UConn can do all this, and Clark still could have a great night, but these are the steps to make Clark work hard for her points.
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