Girls’s Energy Rankings: Clark helps lead Iowa again to No. 2

Iowa guard Caitlin Clark had been anticipated to interrupt the NCAA girls’s basketball scoring report in late February. However assuming all continues to go effectively for her, Clark has probably sped up the timeline. And her success goes hand in hand with the success of the Hawkeyes, who return to the No. 2 spot on this week’s ESPN Energy Rankings.

Clark was initially projected to interrupt the report Feb. 22 at Indiana. Then it grew to become extra more likely to be Feb. 15 at house in Iowa Metropolis vs. Michigan. Now Feb. 11 — Tremendous Bowl Sunday — at Nebraska can also be in play. Clark is 66 factors away from the report and averaging 32.4 factors per sport. She’ll get the prospect to inch nearer towards Penn State on Thursday evening.

Clark might break the report and see her beloved Kansas Metropolis Chiefs win one other Tremendous Bowl on the identical day. It is no less than a risk.

Clark is now at 3,462 factors; Kelsey Plum’s report stands at 3,527. Friday, the previous Washington and present Las Vegas Aces guard was requested throughout a USA Basketball video name concerning the report. Plum stated she’ll be blissful at hand it off to Clark, and acknowledged the pursuit of the report weighed on her in 2017 and wasn’t an gratifying course of.

It appears to be a a lot happier journey for Clark. She seems to have stored the strain from attending to her whereas specializing in the Hawkeyes’ success. Iowa at 10-1 is tied for the Massive Ten lead with Ohio State, the one group to beat the Hawkeyes in league play.

Saturday’s 93-85 victory at Maryland was earlier than a sold-out crowd (the usual this season for Iowa’s house and away video games) and on nationwide tv. However part of the Clark present has additionally been the Iowa present: sophomore Hannah Stuelke’s enchancment; the persistently reliable play of Clark’s fellow veteran guards Kate Martin, Gabbie Marshall and Molly Davis; plus useful bench play.

Clark’s scoring pursuit and her all-around play — she had a season-high 12 assists Saturday and is now 20 away from 1,000 for her profession — has introduced large consideration to her sport, the Hawkeyes and girls’s hoops.

Nonetheless, the eye additionally has spawned some absurdly fallacious “sizzling takes” on Clark, such because the false solutions that she’s going to lose endorsements each time she goes professional (she will not), or that she is getting “additional time” to interrupt the scoring report (she is not).

Clark is a real senior in her fourth yr and has an opportunity this season to cross Plum, AIAW record-holder Lynette Woodard (3,649 factors) and NCAA males’s record-holder Pete Maravich (3,667).

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JuJu Watkins goes for 51 factors, setting USC report in upset of Stanford

JuJu Watkins scores 51 factors on 14-of-26 taking pictures as No. 15 USC defeats No. 4 Stanford 67-58.

The phrase “electrical” completely suits the 51-point sport Watkins had within the No. 15 Trojans’ 67-58 upset of then-No. 4 Stanford on Friday. It was probably the most factors scored in a single sport this season in girls’s hoops, and probably the most by a freshman in Division I girls’s basketball since Delaware’s Elena Delle Donne had 54 in 2010. It set the USC single-game report, and he or she additionally added 11 rebounds.

Watkins adopted that up with 29 factors and 5 assists in USC’s 79-69 win at California on Sunday. The 2 weekend wins have been key for the Trojans to get again on observe. The 2 victories within the Bay Space got here after USC had misplaced three of its previous 4. The Trojans did not fairly get again into the Energy Rankings this week, however they’re very shut.

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Oklahoma hangs on on the buzzer to knock off No. 2 Kansas State

Oklahoma earns its first win in 20 years over an AP High-2 group with a 66-63 victory over Kansas State.

Crew of the week: Oklahoma

After shedding 4 starters to commencement or damage from final season’s Massive 12 regular-season co-championship group, Oklahoma took some lumps in nonconference play, going 6-5. That has circled in Massive 12 motion: The Sooners lead the league at 9-1 after victories final week over No. 2 Kansas State (66-63) and in-state rival Oklahoma State (81-74).

Two-time Massive 12 Sixth Participant of the 12 months Skylar Vann is a starter this season and leads Oklahoma, averaging 15.8 factors and seven.2 rebounds.

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Purcell on upset: ‘An evening I do know I will always remember’

MS State’s Sam Purcell highlights the expansion of ladies’s basketball and the way the Bulldogs’ power could not be denied, ensuing of their first top-10 win of the yr.

Mississippi State grew to become “StarkVegas” and reached unprecedented heights through the tenure of coach Vic Schaefer, who led this system to 2 NCAA finals. He left for Texas within the spring of 2020. His successor, Nikki McCray-Penson, sadly by no means had a lot likelihood to place her stamp on this system as she left earlier than her second season due to sickness. She died in July at age 51.

Sam Purcell took over at Mississippi State final season, going 22-11 and reaching the second spherical of the NCAA match. He bought his greatest regular-season win so far Monday because the Bulldogs beat defending nationwide champion LSU earlier than an enthusiastic crowd in Starkville, Mississippi. Additionally they gained final week at Kentucky and Texas A&M, transferring to 19-5 general and 6-3 within the SEC.

Coach of the week: Lisa Bluder, Iowa

Positive, Bluder had a variety of gamers return from final season, beginning with Clark, however she misplaced two key starters and has needed to depend on some youthful, less-experienced gamers to fill huge roles. The Hawkeyes are once more competing for a No. 1 seed within the NCAA match. Bluder has allowed Clark to soar whereas fostering a robust group chemistry. And the chief in Massive Ten girls’s hoops teaching victories bought her first win at Maryland on Saturday.

Energy Rankings

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South Carolina’s Fulwiley delights in tricking foes

After extra dazzling on-court wizardry helps the Gamecocks to their fortieth straight SEC win, 85-56 over Ole Miss, Milaysia Fulwiley explains how she “tips” defenders.

1. South Carolina Gamecocks (21-0)
Earlier rating: 1
This week: vs. Missouri Tigers (Thursday), vs. UConn Huskies (Sunday)

The Gamecocks proceed to cruise, beating Auburn and Ole Miss this previous week. Beginning middle Kamilla Cardoso will probably be out the following two video games as she joins the Brazilian nationwide group for its Olympic qualifying occasion. Most groups can be alarmed to be with out their main scorer and rebounder — particularly with a high-profile nonconference group visiting — however South Carolina’s depth has been a energy all season.

2. Iowa Hawkeyes (21-2)
Earlier rating: 3
This week: vs. Penn State Girl Lions (Thursday), at Nebraska Cornhuskers (Sunday)

On the highway final week, the Hawkeyes scored 110 factors and ran away from Northwestern. Then they noticed a double-digit lead evaporate at Maryland however retook management of the sport. Molly Davis and Kate Martin mixed for 32 factors, and Iowa was robust on the boards, outrebounding the Terps 48-32.

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NC State Wolfpack vs. North Carolina Tar Heels – Sport Highlights

Watch the Sport Highlights from NC State Wolfpack vs. North Carolina Tar Heels, 02/01/2024

3. NC State Wolfpack (19-2)
Earlier rating: 5
This week: vs. Louisville Cardinals (Monday), vs. Virginia Tech Hokies (Thursday), at Pittsburgh Panthers (Sunday)

The Wolfpack have gained 4 in a row, beating visiting Triangle rival North Carolina on Thursday. This week brings two extra large video games to Reynolds Coliseum. Louisville and Virginia Tech are tied for the ACC lead, with the Wolfpack one sport again. The ACC race is the definition of “logjam.”

4. Ohio State Buckeyes (19-3)
Earlier rating: 7
This week: at Minnesota Golden Gophers (Thursday), at Michigan State Spartans (Sunday)

The Buckeyes transfer into the highest 5 of the Energy Rankings for the primary time this season after wins towards Wisconsin and Indiana. Ohio State has now gained 9 in a row. Jacy Sheldon and Cotie McMahon led the way in which in a troublesome 74-69 win over the Hoosiers, combining for 45 factors.

5. Colorado Buffaloes (19-3)
Earlier rating: 8
This week: vs. Oregon Geese (Friday), vs. Oregon State Beavers (Sunday)

The Buffaloes jumped again into the highest 5 after victories at Washington State and Washington. These wins mixed with Stanford’s loss to USC places the Buffs in a tie atop the Pac-12 with the Cardinal at 9-2. Colorado gained the one assembly between the 2 within the common season, on Jan. 14.

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Kiki Jefferson drains and-1 bucket for Louisville

Kiki Jefferson will increase Louisville’s lead with an and-1 bucket.

6. Louisville Cardinals (19-3)
Earlier rating: 12
This week: at NC State Wolfpack (Monday), vs. Notre Dame Preventing Irish (Thursday), at Syracuse Orange (Sunday)

The Cardinals beat Syracuse final week, led by Kiki Jefferson’s 21 factors, and are within the prime 10 of the Energy Rankings for the primary time this season. Now they will present they belong there as they face their hardest week of the ACC season towards three ranked foes. Louisville’s solely league loss to date was at North Carolina on Jan. 21.

7. Stanford Cardinal (20-3)
Earlier rating: 4
This week: at Washington Huskies (Friday), at Washington State Cougars (Sunday)

The Cardinal could not cease Watkins in a 67-58 loss to USC on Friday. However her 51 factors wasn’t the one drawback; Stanford’s anemic offense was as huge a priority. In Sunday’s 80-60 victory over UCLA, although, the Cardinal addressed each points. They held the Bruins to 29.4% taking pictures, and Cameron Brink and Kiki Iriafen mixed for 37 factors and 26 rebounds.

8. Kansas State Wildcats (20-3)
Earlier rating: 2
This week: vs. Oklahoma State Cowgirls (Saturday)

The Wildcats’ keep at No. 2 was short-lived after losses on the highway to Oklahoma and Texas. These defeats additionally moved them a half-game out of first place within the Massive 12. Nonetheless, they’ve a while to regroup with only one sport this week, and middle Ayoka Lee might return from an ankle damage in two weeks.

9. Texas Longhorns (21-3)
Earlier rating: 13
This week: at TCU Horned Frogs (Saturday)

It was an awesome week for the Longhorns. Madison Booker scored a mixed 42 factors to steer Texas over Baylor and Kansas State. The wins avenged losses to the Bears and Wildcats earlier this season. Extra excellent news: Ahead DeYona Gaston returned to motion in each video games after being out with an damage since Jan. 13.

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LSU’s Van Lith: ‘Coach challenged us to be powerful’

After she posts season highs each in factors (21) and rebounds (seven) in a 106-66 rout of Florida, Hailey Van Lith says the Tigers met the mandate of their coach.

10. LSU Tigers (19-4)
Earlier rating: 6
This week: at Vanderbilt Commodores (Thursday), vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (Sunday)

After LSU fell at Mississippi State on Monday for its second consecutive loss, coach Kim Mulkey wasn’t sounding the alarm bells. She simply informed her group to play more durable. Florida bore the brunt of it, with the Tigers beating the Gators 106-66 on Sunday. Hailey Van Lith, who has confronted her share of critics, had a season-high 21 factors towards Florida.

11. UConn Huskies (19-4)
Earlier rating: 11
This week: vs. Seton Corridor Pirates (Wednesday), at South Carolina Gamecocks (Sunday)

The Huskies stayed put within the Energy Rankings this week after victories over Villanova and St. John’s. Aaliyah Edwards had a mixed 55 factors and 20 rebounds; her 33 factors towards the Purple Storm was a profession excessive. The Huskies are dominating the Massive East, so the upcoming nonconference sport at South Carolina could be very huge for UConn.

12. UCLA Bruins (17-4)
Earlier rating: 9
This week: vs. Arizona Wildcats (Friday), vs. Arizona State Solar Devils (Sunday)

The Bruins are 3-4 of their previous seven video games, and so they fall out of the highest 10 within the Energy Rankings for the primary time this season. They gained at California however misplaced at Stanford over the weekend. Sophomore standout Lauren Betts has missed the previous 4 video games for an undisclosed medical motive, however coach Cori Shut stated she expects her again this season.

13. Indiana Hoosiers (18-3)
Earlier rating: 10
This week: vs. Michigan State Spartans (Thursday), vs. Purdue Boilermakers (Sunday)

The Hoosiers beat Maryland however misplaced at Ohio State this previous week. Their solely two losses in Massive Ten play are to the groups tied for first within the league: the Buckeyes and Iowa, each on the highway. Indiana may have one other shot at Iowa later this month.

14. Virginia Tech Hokies (17-4)
Earlier rating: 15
This week: at NC State Wolfpack (Thursday), vs. Boston School Eagles (Sunday)

Since their back-to-back losses to Florida State and Duke in mid-January, the Hokies have gained 5 in a row. That included victories this previous week towards Virginia and North Carolina, with Elizabeth Kitley getting a mixed 48 factors and 33 rebounds, and Georgia Amoore a mixed 41 factors and 25 assists.

15. Oregon State Beavers (18-3)
Earlier rating: 14
This week: at Utah Utes (Friday), at Colorado Buffaloes (Sunday)

After making their Energy Rankings debut final week, the Beavers bought a scare at rival Oregon on Sunday however gained 64-60 behind Raegan Beers’ 14 factors and 16 rebounds. Oregon State’s subsequent 4 video games are all towards ranked groups.

16. Notre Dame Preventing Irish (17-4)
Earlier rating: 16
This week: at Louisville Cardinals (Thursday), at Florida State Seminoles (Sunday)

The Irish adopted their huge win at UConn with victories over Georgia Tech and Pittsburgh. It was one other stat-stuffing week for freshman Hannah Hidalgo with a mixed 57 factors, 13 assists and 9 steals. Like a number of different groups, Notre Dame stays within the ACC title hunt.

Dropped out: None