Kentucky-Iowa Matchup is More than Howard vs. Clark

The focus of Tuesday’s NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament game between Kentucky and Iowa will be on the two All-Americans playing against each other. And rightfully so.

Kentucky’s Rhyne Howard, who was named SEC Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, averages 20.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.1 steals per game. Howard was named first-team All-American by the Associated Press.

Iowa’s star is freshman guard Caitlin Clark, also an All-American, who leads the nation in scoring, posting 26.5 points per game. Clark also averages 7.2 assists and 6.0 rebounds for the Hawkeyes, who are 19-9 this season.

While the focus may be on Howard and Clark, Kentucky head coach Kyra Elzy thinks it could be the other eight players on the floor who actually decide the game.

“I know everyone is talking about the matchup,” Elzy said. “Caitlin Clark is a freshman phenom and Rhyne Howard, the best player in the game right now. But still, even though those two players are on the court, it’s still a five-on-five basketball game. And so those are where your X-factor people have to step up and make plays.”

As far as who could step up into a big role for Kentucky in Tuesday’s game, Elzy named several candidates.

“You have to establish the post presence, so Tot (Tatyana Wyatt) or Dre (Dre’una Edwards) or Olivia Owens inside,” Elzy said. “KeKe (McKinney) stretching the floor, so being able to hit open threes will be key. I think Blair Green coming in, hitting big shots and/or Robyn (Benton). One point of emphasis, Jazmine Massengill. She has to be a scorer, she has to see herself as a scorer, play aggressive off the bounce, get to the rim, finish, hit rhythm shots.”

And, of course, Howard will remain central to everything that Kentucky does.

“Rhyne has the ability to take over the game but what makes her special is she also has an unbelievable ability to involve her teammates within the offense,” Elzy said. “She’s an extremely good passer. There are times when she will have to take over but the other players on the floor can’t stand and watch. She draws so much attention defensively and that’s where you have other players that have to step up and make plays and you saw that yesterday.”

Howard has put up big numbers all season but Elzy knows that, even if Howard has a great scoring day, she can’t do it alone.

“She is the focal point of our offense,” Elzy said. “I would love for her to go out and score 30 tomorrow as well. But even when she scores 30, you still have to have other players step up to keep the defense honest.”

As for Iowa’s star, Elzy has been impressed with Clark.

“As far as Caitlin Clark, her ability to score – she has deep range, she can stop on a dime,” Elzy said. “She’s consistent from the three-point line. But I think one of the things, besides scoring, that makes her so dangerous – her ability to pass and find the open man, which makes it tough for the defense.”

The headlines will be about Howard and Clark, as they should be. But Tuesday’s game could be determined by the other eight players on the floor.