ALBANY, N.Y. — Nobody would blame Colorado women’s basketball coach JR Payne if she didn’t watch Monday’s NCAA Tournament Elite Eight matchup from Albany.
Her team had just been blown out by Iowa ending its season. A break would have been reasonable. But the LSU-Iowa rematch of last year’s national title feels too good to miss.
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“Oh, sure, I think everybody that loves the game of basketball will be tuned into that matchup. I think it’ll be a great game, two of the best teams in the country,” Payne said. “Excited that we got a chance to play both this year because I also think we’re one of the best teams in the country. So yeah, we’ll be tuned in. We won’t necessarily care who wins, but we’ll be excited for a great game.”
That game sparked tons of interest and even a little controversy as LSU’s Angel Reese talked trash to Caitlin Clark in the final minutes of the Tigers’ 102-85 win in Dallas.
Iowa coach Lisa Bluder hopes the interest is similar and her team’s performance is better this time.
“Yeah, I think everybody is pretty excited for it. 12 million people tuned in last year to see this game. Might be the same this time. Who knows,” Bluder said. “I know that these are two really good basketball teams, and it’s almost unfortunate they’re meeting this early. But everybody that’s left now is really good. LSU is certainly that.
“We got run out of the gym last year. It was pretty bad,” she added. “Nothing else matters. Nothing matters that happened last year. Nothing matters except for being ready to play this really good LSU team. I just don’t think my players are going to get caught up in listening to outside voices. They haven’t all year. They’ve handled it all year. I think that they’ll continue to do so.”
Clark, who was outplayed by Reese last year, admitted there was some additional juice, but only after beating Colorado on Saturday.
“I think we’re excited. Anytime you have a chance to go up against somebody you lost to, it brings a little more energy,” she said. “At this point in the tournament every single team is good, whether you’re playing West Virginia, whether you’re playing Colorado, whether you’re playing LSU you prep the exact same way. You come in the exact same mindset. I think overall it’s just going to be a really great game for women’s basketball.”
