Caitlin Clark Smashes The Hype

You want to talk living up to the hype? You want to talk star power? You want to talk entertainment value? Then we have to talk about that incredible night of women’s college hoops, because it had all of it. It checked all the boxes.

I don’t even need to go all Russell Crowe on you and ask, are you not entertained? Because of course you were entertained. The only way you were not entertained is if you were not tuned in. Or if you were like Alvin and you PICKED LESS THAN 32.5 POINTS for Caitlin Clark on Prize Picks. Or you were like me and listened to Alvin. 

We should have known better. Because we should have known that Caitlin Clark was not gonna let that revenge game opportunity go by without making a statement. And I know she tried to say it wasn’t a revenge game… but let's be real... It was a revenge game. Of course it was a revenge game. It was the ultimate revenge game.

Of course she wanted to avenge a championship game loss from last year. Of course she wants to add ‘National Champion’ to her comically long list of achievements, considering 'National Champion' is basically the only thing not on that list of achievements. And of course she didn’t want her last college basketball game to come in the Elite Eight against the same team that stopped her last year.

Of course it was a revenge game and of course a killer like her was gonna be out for blood last night. And she was from the tip, she was locked from the very first possession when she drilled the first shot of the game. Which is why it probably would have been a good idea to make a plan to try to stop her.

Look I know Kim Mulkey is incredibly accomplished and I know she has a lot on her mind and a lot going on these days. And I know there’s no easy way to stop Caitlin Clark, because if there was, somebody would have figured it out a long time ago. But whatever LSU was trying to do last night didn’t work. Whatever LSU was trying to do, I couldn’t tell. Whatever they were trying to do, wasn't it.

And yet somehow, despite Clark going wild LSU hung in the game and made it a game and held on as long as they possibly could. Even after Angel Reese turned her ankle and stopped making any shots. Credit to LSU for fighting, but they were never beating Iowa without Reese and without a decent plan for Clark. 

But do we really need to HATE on LSU in the aftermath of that game? What’s so fun about treating the LSU women’s basketball team like a punching bag? I don't get it, why is that a part of this? And don’t actually answer that, I don’t need to hear it. I know many of you have your justifications why it’s ok to hate these players you’ve never met or spoken to, on this basketball team that's pretty fun to watch. Just know, to the rest of us who don't spend our time hating on these players via social media, it's weird. 

Weird, but I guess not surprising. The surprising strays last night were all directed at the regional host city of Albany. And to be clear, I have absolutely nothing against Albany, or any of upstate New York for that matter, Albany and upstate new York have been good to this show over the years, very good, so I have nothing against either: especially Albany , it’s just that apparently Rebecca Lobo does. Did you hear this on the broadcast when Caitlin Clark’s family came up, because Albany definitely heard this...?

Whoaaa… look out! Head on a swivel, Albany! That is wild… never ever would have imagined hearing Rebecca Lobo, of all people, going in on Albany, of all places, like Gino in SA goes in on Detroit. Albany was out here last night catching Jo Noah/Cleveland-level strays. 

And of course Albany wasn’t gonna take that crap lying down, this is Albany we’re talking about here. If you think Caitlin Clark was the only person with revenge on the mind last night YOU THOUGHT WRONG. Because Albany was not gonna let the slander stand… check out the rebuttal by the local NBC affiliate after the game, this is incredible.

Big Head do you know where the explosion button is… because if you do, now would be the time to smash it. Holy crap dude. Somebody pull local news bro off Rebecca Lobo. Damn!!  Talk about the game within the game!!!  Iowa v. LSU was actually the game within the game, because the real game was lobo v. Albany. I mean, USC-UConn was awesome, LSU v. Iowa was legendary, but Lobo v. Albany was the main event.  And it did not disappoint. 

Look, Albany, by the sounds of it you're all pretty butthurt, but this isn’t really personal at all. You just have to understand that everyone in America was wondering why that game was in Albany. And everyone in the arena was wondering why they were watching this game in Albany. If Rebecca Lobo said it out loud that means PRETTY MUCH everyone was thinking it. She just said the quiet part out loud. . And again, I have no issue with you Albany, I’m just saying… she wasn’t the only one thinking that.  Just know this, if you try Albany, you’re gonna find out: because the local NBC affiliate was the only one that bum rushed Lobo: the local cbs affiliate wanted a piece of her too:

I don’t have a dog in this fight; I actually can bet either dog: I think Albany thinking this is the ultimate reason to go is pretty funny, since what Lobo said was pretty benign.  Then again, pretty rich of someone who played in Storrs and has spent as much time as she has in Bristol, talking crap about how boring Albany is.  Then again, looking at it that way, she probably is the ultimate authority on boring ass towns where there’s nothing to do.  She would know. This is what I know, that was a pretty damn entertaining night, top to bottom.