The Hyball: Kate Martin, Certified

By Bobby Loesch on March 10, 2022 at 12:00 pm
I'VE PAID MY DUES
© Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports
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The Hyball is a weekly basketball column

INDIANAPOLIS -- I am not actually in Indianapolis.

But I was over the weekend, where I watched Iowa women's basketball take out Nebraska in the semis and Indiana in the finals to capture the Big Ten tournament title only one week after clinching the Big Ten regular season championship.

Gotta say, after seeing this team prevail three times in eight days, I couldn't be more transfixed. Going out to Indy on a whim for the semis got validated on sight:

And even though this team isn't perfect...

...they kinda are:

After doing the semis alone, roped wifey in for the final:

And though villains stood in our way:

We prevailed:

And we celebrated.

Others... went home.

It needs to be said: this is an all-time Iowa team. I love watching them play basketball. They execute, they inspire. They all deserve their flowers. And their followers.

People really are taking notice.

This is what it's all about. This is what the fight for equality and representation looks like. It's going to take more -- it always does -- but as we like to say here, men lie, women lie, numbers don't. So check the ratings or check the scoreboard; these ladies are continuously on the right side of both.

yeeeeeeeeeeeeee

So yeah, between this and men's conference tourney week, it's happy to be alive time.

The Hyball

"What happened to Mr. Let's Crush These Quickly?"

Last Week

3/3 - No. 24 Iowa 82, Michigan 71: Your boy is 2-0 picking Iowa-Michigan games this year, and the road team won both times. Also, yes, Iowa was an underdog in this based on the Vegas line, so it wasn't exactly fish in a barrel.

3/6 - No. 21 Illinois 74, No. 24 Iowa 72: This game was weird for me because, out of nearly any game we've played this season, I cared very little. You have to understand, we'd just gotten back from Indy and were riding the high of the ladies winning the Big Ten Tournament. Again, was my third time seeing Iowa WBB in eight days, and they were a crisp 3-0. Vibes were good. Honestly, I turned on the TV hoping to have this game spoiled solely to be able to call it a night a little earlier.

Instead, it was some shitty other Big Ten game with nothing revealed on the bottom ticker, and this bad boy was waiting on my DVR. It being late Sunday, I told myself I'd watch until Iowa started trailing before skimming the rest in FF1. So of course we go up double digits before going full Nick Anderson (word to my buddy Chris on sending that pic over) in the final minutes as I end the game fully sucked in and shell-shocked.

Likable Fran is so likable.

Really wish I would've bet the game at halftime. We played an amazing first half and were only up by, like, six. They did not have to bridge much of a gap in the second half. Still, Tony Perkins, Payton Sandfort, and Kris Murray all look incredibly viable going into the BTT. Speaking of...

This Week

3/10 - Iowa (5-seed) vs. Northwestern (12-seed): Yeah, yeah, we missed out on a double bye... but an extra game that's likely a win is not the worst consolation price.

Looks like it's Rutgers if we win this one and Illinois if we win that one. Not the easiest road. It's hard to see us making the finals, but there should be some fun ones along the way.

...YET.

Caitlin Kate Corner

I love Kate Martin. Love. Out of anything that's happened with Iowa WBB this year -- all those amazing Caitlin Clark moments -- this legit might be the cherry that tops the dream sundae:

Sports, yo.

And sure, she wears a t-shirt under her jersey, but stuff like this more than makes up for it:

She shoots it, she has an up fake step through, she guards up. She takes her bumps, too. In the title game, she hit the deck and left the game for a few minutes. I couldn't tell if she was dry heaving into a garbage can near the bench or letting some blood drip, but either way: warrior.

I know, I know. Maybe my fav play of all; looks like she's on her way to one of her signature moves before a cleeeeean ass dime.

You can see it in her face sometimes; you really can.

Brad Davison Is Definitively A Senior.

Couldn't agree more.

Speaking of hating, one for you, Illinois.

Not even gonna say anything?

Oh.

Uh, back to Wisconsin.

Glad to end on task.

Obligatory Michigan Section

The Blue Boys have Indiana in the first round of the BTT. Also looks like they're on the other side of the bracket from Iowa, so everyone can once again leave me the hell alone. Also: Juwan back.

The Mini-Hybrid
Bill Walton's Western Civilization 

Was this, like, the LeBron James of muting announcers? I want to know everything about what went on behind the scenes here.

No Context College Basketball

:)

haha

HA

haha

Plus some NBA:

Wrapping It Up...

Monika, take us out.

Bobby Loesch is a weekly contributor to Go Iowa Awesome. Follow him on Twitter @bobbystompy or email to bobbyloesch [at] gmail.com.

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