The expectations for Caitlin Clark are obscene. Let’s get that out of the way in which now. She’s coming off a run to the nationwide title recreation and back-to-back-to-back seasons of averaging 27-plus factors. Whereas it’s all however assured she eclipses 27 PPG once more, it is perhaps arduous to repeat the identical group success. Iowa isn’t UConn, South Carolina, or (I suppose) LSU, and the Hawkeyes’ proximity to the remainder of the pack was on show Thursday night time.

I’m not going to behave like a girls’s school hoops professional, however as a hoops fan typically, Clark actually needed to work for her 44 factors, and No. 3 Iowa wanted all of them in an 80-76 win over No. 8 Virginia Tech. The character of her highlights makes you assume she’s Steph Curry on the market, and although she’s not far off, this feels extra like junior-year Curry than sophomore-year Curry that took Davidson to the Elite 8.

Don’t mistake nitpicking for hating as a result of a 44 burger towards a top-10 group is exemplary. It’s simply that 44 factors on 31 makes an attempt — when the following closest teammate solely had 9 photographs — is rather a lot. With Clark’s longtime pick-and-roll accomplice Monika Cziano gone, the group is in want of a second banana.

Seeing as I don’t care in any respect about Iowa’s success, this could on the very least be nice TV. A extra apt and well timed comparability for Clark and Iowa is perhaps Caleb Williams and USC, however I suppose that’s type of the purpose: It’s arduous to copy success in consecutive school seasons. Lamar Jackson’s Heisman marketing campaign got here in his second-to-last 12 months on campus, and ditto for Bryce Younger.

Roster turnover comes for us all, so it’s not a shock. A season in the past, Clark didn’t take 31 photographs in a recreation till the Hawkeyes’ upset of 1-seeded South Carolina within the Remaining 4. It could begin to really feel gross when one participant has extra makes an attempt than the opposite 4 starters mixed, but when an incredible participant is established, it doesn’t really feel as empty.

So possibly mood a few of these aspirations, and recognize the person greatness?

Caitlin Clark and the Smush Parkers shouldn’t be a foul comfort prize. Ideally, followers get a repeat of the very best player-highest stakes final March. Till then, let’s see how scorching she will be able to run. If it’s something like Thursday night time, we’re in for a spectacle.

Milwaukee has sufficient basketballs for 2 Batmans

With Damian Lillard sitting out as a consequence of a calf pressure towards Indiana on Thursday, Giannis Atetokuonmpo despatched a reminder to the NBA that when the Bucks’ duo figures it out, it’ll be devastating. The 2-time MVP dropped 54 factors on 19 of 25 taking pictures (verify the effectivity, Caitlin), however Milwaukee nonetheless misplaced, 126-124.

The highest-heavy Bucks’ roster ought to lend itself to 2 higher-usage gamers, and every has to understand they are often as aggressive as regular. The 76ers are an ideal instance of how this could work. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey try 21 and 19 photographs, respectively. Antetokounmpo and Lillard are at 17 and 16-ish.

What concerning the playmaking, you ask? The Philly combo averages 13 assists between the 2 of them whereas the Milwaukee tandem combines for less than 8. Manufacturing in recent times would point out that Dame and Giannis must be creating at a degree on par with Joel and Tyrese.

Does it encourage confidence that first-year head coach Adrian Griffin acquired ejected Thursday, and fired his greatest offensive assistant earlier than the season? No, no it doesn’t, in order that’s an ongoing story to observe.

The expectations for Milwaukee on offense have been excessive sufficient to make them title favorites, and Giannis reiterated Vegas’ thought course of towards the Pacers. The flip facet is Lillard’s absence illustrated that each are holding again after they share the court docket.