Iowa guard Caitlin Clark has been the star of the 2023 NCAA tournament, and her No. 2 seed Hawkeyes are still dancing, in large part thanks to her whopping 41 points in the 77-73 victory over No. 1 seed South Carolina in Friday’s Final Four matchup.
The AP National Player of the Year has been an absolute rockstar for Iowa all season, but she’s had a truly exceptional March Madness run as well.
In the Hawkeyes’ first five games of the NCAA tournament, Clark has been their leading scorer, put up back-to-back 41-point games — including a triple-double in the Elite Eight against No. 5 seed Louisville — and is averaging 32.2 points per contest. She’s the only player in NCAA tournament history with consecutive 40-point games, per ESPN Stats & Info.
And after scoring or assisting on all 18 of Iowa’s fourth-quarter points against South Carolina, she has her team in the national championship game, where the Hawkeyes will face No. 3 seed LSU for the trophy Sunday.
Caitlin Clark has 161 points and 52 assists in this NCAA Tournament.
Since 2000, it's one of six instances of a player having 150 points and 50 assists in ANY 5-game span.
All six of those belong to Caitlin Clark. pic.twitter.com/bKozoRDL6J
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 1, 2023
The basketball world is still buzzing from Caitlin Clark's performance last night.
Over Iowa's last two wins, Clark has 82 points and 20 assists.
It's the only instance of a player averaging 40 PPG and 10 APG in any 2-game span in women's or men's NCAA Tournament history. pic.twitter.com/dBKbpfsCTB
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 1, 2023
Now, if you happen to be an Iowa football fan, this kind of offense could be a little jarring.
On the gridiron, the Hawkeyes are uniquely famous for their tough defense and, ummm, sometimes tough-to-watch offense. While they finished the 2022 season with an 8-5 record and second in the country in scoring defense and total defense, Iowa football’s offense tells a slightly different story, averaging 17.7 points a game (123rd nationally) and almost dead-last with 251.6 yards per game (130th). In fact, in three games last season, Iowa failed to score double-digit points.
So as Clark keeps putting up jaw-dropping stats — don’t overlook that she’s also led Iowa in assists in all five tournament games too — sports fans can’t help but roast Iowa football, making hilarious comparisons and jokes.
Obviously, scoring in football is significantly different than basketball, but the comparisons are incredible nonetheless. Things like the fact that Clark has scored more points in the postseason this year (235, including the Big Ten tournament) than Iowa football scored all last season (230).
It’s just a funny way of framing Clark’s incredible NCAA tournament run, so here’s how Twitter roasted Iowa football while praising the Hawkeyes’ basketball superstar.
Oh so NOW building an offense around long distance three pointers is cool?!?–Iowa football, probably
— Matt Brown (@MattBrownEP) April 1, 2023
🗣️ Caitlin Clark for Heisman
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) April 1, 2023
Let Caitlin Clark be the Iowa football offensive coordinator. I repeat: Let Caitlin Clark be the Iowa football offensive coordinator.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) April 1, 2023
You cannot convince me that Caitlin Clark couldn’t put up a better QBR.
👏PUT 👏HER 👏IN 👏PADS 👏AND 👏LET 👏HER 👏COOK.#WFinalFour #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/qWAF1TYPxb
— TMZ SPORTZ (@VerneFUNquist) April 1, 2023
Iowa fans deserve this so much simply based on the fact they’ve put up with the football teams offense
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) April 1, 2023
Points scored by Iowa’s Caitlin Clark since the regular season ended: 235 (8 games)
Points scored by Iowa football last year: 230 (13 games)
Clark 40-point games this year: 4
Iowa 40-point games last 3 years: 3
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) April 1, 2023
BREAKING: Caitlin Clark has been named Iowa Football’s offensive coordinator. https://t.co/981gVEvsiP
— Kevin Kessler (@SoDakStBandMan) April 1, 2023
iowa football https://t.co/zGGJUJBp3D pic.twitter.com/dhIJgB1Y7e
— lacey cencula (@dddrop_the_lace) April 1, 2023
Caitlin Clark scoring for Iowa vs. The football team scoring for Iowa. pic.twitter.com/yXXaE15GWZ
— Steak Sauce (@iamkevinito) April 1, 2023
Iowa athletics 👇
Caitlyn Clark in 5 postseason games: 235 points
Iowa football in 2022 season: 230 points pic.twitter.com/LZxVSfoTrg
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) April 1, 2023
SportsCenter decided to remind us tonight that while Caitlin Clark has scored 40 points in consecutive games, the Iowa football team hasn’t done so since 2018. pic.twitter.com/KIf2dlgAfb
— Tommy Lang (@tommylang1630) April 1, 2023
Tonight is the 6th time Caitlin Clark has outscored the 2022 Iowa Football Team pic.twitter.com/tjrqEGL1II
— PointsBet Sportsbook (@PointsBetUSA) April 1, 2023
40-Point games:
Iowa football in the last 2 seasons: 1
Caitlin Clark in the last 2 games: 2— Jack Kempner (@J_Kemp12) April 1, 2023
Iowa’s football team after watching the women’s basketball team in action. pic.twitter.com/dyiVApOsU8
— Degens From Up North (@degensupnorth) April 1, 2023
Caitlin Clark for Iowa Football head coach imo https://t.co/NksnmB9Rim
— Douglas Reyes-Ceron (@dreyesceron) April 1, 2023
