Will Caitlin Clark, JuJu Watkins discover taking pictures contact in Elite Eight?

Caitlin Clark is likely one of the greatest 3-point shooters in faculty historical past. The Iowa Hawkeyes senior hit her signature emblem 3-pointer to change into the all-time Division I girls’s scoring chief in mid-February, then added six long-range bombs in a recreation somewhat greater than two weeks later to cross Pete Maravich for many profession factors in Division I historical past for women and men.

JuJu Watkins is the presumptive nationwide freshman of the 12 months and ranks second in Division I girls’s scoring this season — behind Clark — and has the USC Trojans one win away from their first Closing 4 since 1986. She’s eight factors shy of breaking the single-season freshman scoring mark.

However as Clark and Watkins lead their groups into Monday’s Elite Eight — the Hawkeyes face LSU in an NCAA title recreation rematch in Albany (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) and the Trojans play UConn (9 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Portland — their pictures aren’t falling with the identical frequency as they’ve all season.

Via six video games this postseason — counting the Huge Ten and NCAA tournaments — Clark is taking pictures 28.9% from behind the arc. Final season, when she led Iowa to the Closing 4, she made 41.7% of her 3-point makes an attempt in 9 postseason video games. She’s nonetheless scoring at just about the identical clip as final postseason, however her scoring common within the 2024 postseason is down a bit (29.0) in comparison with her common for this complete season (31.7).

Watkins, in the meantime, is not taking pictures with the identical accuracy she was earlier this season. A 40% shooter on the season, she hit simply 29% of her makes an attempt from the sphere within the Candy 16.

However each gamers are nonetheless getting the job finished. Clark had 29 factors within the Candy 16, whereas Watkins poured in 30, the second most by a USC participant in an NCAA match recreation.

We have a look at how they’ve adjusted their video games, what’s working (and what is not) for 2 of essentially the most watched gamers in all of March Insanity and the way lengthy they will hold profitable if their pictures do not warmth up.

How has Clark adjusted to her 3-point shot being off?

Clark is six 3-pointers away from tying Oklahoma’s Taylor Robertson — who had 537 3s in 5 seasons — for many in Division I historical past. Getting into Monday’s Elite Eight recreation vs. LSU, she has shot 37.7% from behind the arc in 136 profession video games at Iowa.

This postseason, Clark is 22-of-76 from behind the arc. Final season she made 45 of 108 3-point makes an attempt. Throughout 30 regular-season video games, Clark made 162 3-pointers (5.7 per recreation). In six postseason video games, she has made 22 (3.7).

Nonetheless, her 2-point share is best this postseason than final. This 12 months, she’s 34-of-54 (62.96%) from 2-point vary in six video games. Final 12 months in 9 postseason video games, she was 57.1% (40-of-70) from 2-point vary.

Towards Colorado on Saturday within the Candy 16, Clark was hit 10-of-11 from 2-point vary, however 3-of-11 from behind the arc. She additionally had 15 assists, her NCAA match profession excessive.

“I feel if you’re taking part in in environments you are not at all times used to, and taking part in in these match settings the place your turnaround time is not at all times the best, you are somewhat extra sore,” Clark mentioned when requested if there was something completely different about taking pictures the three this postseason.

“However I feel [it’s important] not settling for 3-pointers. I feel I took 19 3s in 22 pictures whole vs. LSU the final time we performed them. So … Not falling in love with my 3-point shot, with the ability to get within the paint, that enables my teammates to get open. I feel that can be one other key going into this recreation, with the ability to rating in any respect three ranges.”

Within the nationwide championship recreation final 12 months, Clark was 9-of-22 general from the sphere, 8-of-19 from 3-point vary. She was additionally 4-of-5 from the free throw line, ending with 30 factors and eight assists. It was a great displaying in a nationwide championship recreation. However Clark may want much more to attempt to defeat LSU this 12 months.

“They’re such a great defensive staff. They’re so lengthy,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder mentioned. “[Against Colorado, Clark’s] 3 wasn’t falling, so she did what a sensible basketball participant does — ‘OK, I’ll rating in different methods, I’ll help the ball, I’ll get to the rim.’ She did not get to the free throw line yesterday. That was sort of uncommon.

“I’ll have to determine methods for her to get to the rim as a result of LSU is simply so good.”

Clark hasn’t let the drop in 3-point share have an effect on her offensive manufacturing. Along with elevated accuracy in 2-point taking pictures, she has a slight uptick in assists.

Her assists on this postseason (10.3 APG) are up from her season-long common (8.9). And Clark’s postseason scoring and help averages in 2023 and 2024 are just about an identical.

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How has Watkins manufactured factors with out correct taking pictures?

Throughout Saturday’s come-from-behind win over Baylor, Watkins grew to become simply the third participant since 2000 to attain at the very least 20 factors on 45% taking pictures or worse in every of their staff’s first three NCAA match video games, based on ESPN Stats & Data.

Beforehand, Kelsey Plum did it in Washington’s first 4 video games en path to the 2016 Closing 4, whereas Chennedy Carter’s 2017 and 2018 runs with Texas A&M each ended within the Candy 16.

That sort of taking pictures is not essentially out of the odd for Watkins, who has shot simply 40% from the sphere whereas carrying a heavy share of the Trojans’ offense. The 43% of USC’s performs she’s completed with a shot, journey to the free throw line or turnover leads the NCAA, per HerHoopStats.com, with Clark (40%) simply behind. With defenses sending a number of gamers Watkins’ path, she has needed to complement her shot making with a gradual dose of journeys to the free throw line.

“I do assume she has that maturity to her recreation the place if her shot’s not falling, and she will be able to discover her approach to the rim,” Trojans coach Lindsay Gottlieb mentioned, “it will get her in rhythm somewhat bit to get to the free throw line.”

Over the course of the season, Watkins leads the NCAA in free throws made and tried. Though not as correct as Clark from lengthy distance, Watkins (85%) has practically equaled her 86% foul taking pictures, benefiting from these frequent alternatives.

“I feel the free throw line is essential on this stretch of video games,” Watkins mentioned. “No matter I can do to ensure that we’re getting [scores] down the stretch, perhaps if we’re not on or we get somewhat chilly, simply attempting to be sure that I get to the basket and get to the free throw line.”

That talent set took heart stage Saturday, when Watkins shot 8-of-28 (29%) from the sphere in opposition to a Baylor protection intent on limiting her early alternatives. Watkins’ capacity to get to the foul line within the fourth quarter powered USC to the Elite Eight. She scored seven of the Trojans’ final eight factors on free throws, together with back-to-back makes twice within the last 30 seconds of a one-score recreation.

Total, Watkins was 12-of-13 from the charity stripe, permitting her to attain 30 factors on an off night time from the sphere.

“Clearly she’s at her greatest when all three ranges are clicking,” Gottlieb mentioned, “however you at all times know she will be able to get to her pull-up or get to the free throw line, one or the opposite. Defenses cannot take away every part.”

As the extent of competitors will increase, poor taking pictures from Watkins may doom the Trojans. Plum’s 2016 run, which noticed her common 26.3 PPG on 38% taking pictures over the primary 4 video games, ended within the Closing 4 with a 5-for-18 outing in a 21-point loss to Syracuse.

For now, Watkins is doing what it takes for USC to advance.