Fans could not believe the audacity.As Caitlin Clark’s stardom grows, so does the target drawn on her number 22 Iowa Hawkeyes jersey. As her final NCAA Tournament approaches, that target is bigger than ever.
Just moments after the official March Madness brackets were revealed, Mark Kellogg, coach of Iowa’s potential second-round opponent West Virginia, wasted no time before taking aim at the NCAA all-time leading scorer. He was asking for trouble when he called Clark out by name in this bold speech.
“I already told them,” he said to the crowd gathered at West Virginia to watch the bracket reveal, “let’s win one and then let’s send Caitlin Clark packing.”
Iowa has a difficult road to the Final Four
The Albany region of the women’s NCAA Tournament bracket is absolutely loaded, but West Virginia probably was not the first team Clark noticed in their quadrant until Kellogg’s fighting words hit social media.
The Hawkeyes (No. 1 seed) are joined by No. 2 seed UCLA, and got arguably the best No. 3 seed, LSU in their region. Ever since last year’s NCAA Championship game ended in drama between Clark and LSU’s Angel Reese, college basketball fans have eagerly awaited a rematch. If they meet this year, it will be in the Elite 8, with a trip to the Final Four on the line.
Lisa Bluder’s team also can’t overlook No. 4 seed Kansas State, a team that has beat them in November. They would face off in the Sweet 16 if both teams advance.
Social media thinks Clark will make WVU coach eat his words
Clark’s last dance begins by hosting the first two games in Iowa City. The bulletin board material provided by West Virginia’s coach adds to the intrigue of what would be Clark’s final game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Only one problem: the No. 8 seed Mountaineers need to win a tough first-round game against No. 9 Princeton first.
“He’s a genius, providing motivation for Princeton AND Iowa at the same time,” joked one reply to the video on Twitter/X.
“Woof. You asked for it,” one fan said in disbelief.
“This was a bad idea. Clark might go for 50 against these guys,” said another.
DEION SANDERS’ EPIC MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH FOR CAITLIN CLARK AHEAD OF MARCH MADNESS
Deion Sanders couldn’t have said his Caitlin Clark pep talk any better!
As Caitlin Clark prepares to lead the Iowa women’s basketball team in March Madness, Colorado football head coach Deion Sanders delivered some pep talk for the legendary college hooper.
While appearing as a guest on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” Sanders was asked to give some motivational speeches to the cardboard cutouts that the host would present. One of those cutouts were of Clark, and the Buffaloes tactician made sure to give it his best talk.
“Caitlin, baby girl, let me tell you something. We’re coming down the home stretch. This is going to be your last dance. And guess what? I need you to finish strong. I don’t care what they said about the WNBA. I know what you’re capable of. I want you to go out there and lead like you’ve never led before. I want you to go dominate like you’ve never dominated before. Unapologetically, I want you to be you,” Sanders said.
.@DeionSanders gives pump up speeches to cardboard cutouts of @JasonKelce, @CaitlinClark22 and @TheRock pic.twitter.com/PupqX70wuI
— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) March 15, 2024
It certainly couldn’t get any better than that. And Coach Prime definitely said it in a way that he only could. Deion Sanders is widely regarded as one of the better coaches in college football today, and aside from his experience, the way he motivates his players and rallies them make him different from other coaches.
While it’s unknown if Caitlin Clark has already seen the video, she might want to give it a look before the NCAA Tournament starts.
Caitlin Clark, Iowa women’s basketball eyeing big prize
For what it’s worth, Caitlin Clark herself said before that she is focused on helping the Iowa women’s basketball team to be the last team standing in the women’s division of March Madness.
Clark is already playing her last year with the Hawkeyes after declaring for the WNBA Draft, but before she leaves, the NCAA leading scorer for both men and women has her eyes set on the big prize.
The 22-year-old said as much after they won the Big Ten title against Nebraska, highlighting his belief that the Hawkeyes have what it takes to win it all.
“I think our group knows well enough that the NCAA Tournament is the best postseason tournament in all of sports. If you don’t have it for one night, your season’s over in the blink of an eye. We’re really only guaranteed one more game as a team, so you’ve got to come in and prepare every single day like it’s your last. I know this team will do that,” Clark said via New York Post.
Iowa is expected to get the no. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament that starts late next week. Sure enough, Deion Sanders and the rest of the Hawkeyes faithful will have their eyes glued on television to watch Clark attempt to make more history.