The disrespect is actual — not less than should you ask LSU guard Alexis Morris.
Morris on Saturday referred to how Iowa opted to defend South Carolina throughout their Ultimate 4 recreation Friday night time, daring the Gamecocks’ guards to shoot.
Movies of Iowa guard Caitlin Clark waving off Raven Johnson — disregarding her on the perimeter fully — had been fashionable on social media.
Caitlin Clark simply waved her off 😂pic.twitter.com/g8m1aAb2DY
— The Sporting Information (@sportingnews) April 1, 2023
It was a transfer that Morris and her LSU teammates plan to make use of as motivation heading into Sunday afternoon’s championship recreation.
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“I watched the sport, and I am watching them guard South Carolina,” Morris mentioned, per ESPN. “I do not assume they’ll guard us that method. I do not assume you possibly can simply depart me open on the perimeter or depart us open on the perimeter.
“Me personally, I discover it very disrespectful, so I will take that personally going into that recreation. You are going to have to protect us. That is simply the competitor in me, and the desire to win.”
Whereas each element may be was a motivating issue at this level of the season, Clark tried to make clear the Hawkeyes’ plan at hand South Carolina its first loss in over a 12 months.
MORE: Daybreak Staley calls out media for narrative round South Carolina’s play type
“We’re not going to protect LSU the identical method we guarded South Carolina,” Clark mentioned. “Clearly, with South Carolina, you have to choose your poison. They play two super posts (Aliyah Boston, Kamilla Cardoso).
“In the event that they had been going to beat us, we had been going to let it’s by the 3-point line. You must choose and select your battles. We will not guard every part. That is the sport of basketball. You might have a scout. You understand participant personnel. What are you going to surrender? That is what we had been going to surrender. We had all of the respect on the planet for South Carolina, and particularly their put up play.”
MORE: Why Aliyah Boston is leaving South Carolina for the WNBA
LSU is healthier behind the arc than South Carolina, taking pictures 33.7 % this season in comparison with the Gamecocks’ 31 %. The Tigers, in the meantime, must cope with Iowa, which might generally reside on the skin with Clark. As a group, the Hawkeyes shoot 37.7 % from deep.
Noticed this from UCLA and numerous groups within the run however Iowa is simply *not* defending the perimeter, serving to off, promoting out on defending the paint. South Carolina has to maintain this shut sufficient to let their protection make an influence. pic.twitter.com/hCLZHmHlCc
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) April 1, 2023
Iowa coach Lisa Bluder additionally mentioned that her group will want a unique strategy in opposition to the Tigers.
Till then, Morris and different LSU gamers will proceed to make use of the “disrespect” as gas.
“That was very disrespectful, and [South Carolina] did not reap the benefits of that,” guard Kateri Poole mentioned, per ESPN. “In the event that they do it to us, we’ll take benefit.”
MORE: LSU bests Virginia Tech with big fourth-quarter run
“We do not actually know their recreation plan and the way they’ll guard us,” ahead LaDazhia Williams mentioned, additionally per ESPN. “Hopefully not like that or else Lex is unquestionably going to knock down some 3s, Flau’jae [Johnson], Kateri, they’re all able to hitting 3s, so I’d hope they would not guard us like that.”
Sounds as if a 3-point contest will escape in Dallas.