The Hyball is a weekly basketball column


Spent a long time as a fatalist.

A long, long, long time. In many ways, I still feel like that is my default DNA as a sports fan. The sky is falling, the next injury, the trap game, the "are we rooting for a paper tiger?" feeling.

There are bigger issues in the world, so if we are going to willingly choose college basketball as one of our interests, why not keep on the sunny side? Because this Iowa women's basketball team, as I've said maybe 15 times in the last three years, is a routine Celebration of Joy every time they step on the court.

And if my beloved Michigan Wolverines can win the natty in football, then I assure you any-freaking-thing can happen.

But I'm not asking you to lean on random chance here.

Yes, South Carolina is unbeaten and the deserved favorite... but there is Iowa, right at No. 2. Let's quickly break down the likely path, with the rosiest colored glasses on.

Because when Ted Lasso is on your side... you just gotta believe.

Final Four - Iowa (1-seed) vs. UConn (3-seed): Paige Bueckers should never, ever be discounted. The gal has been good for a while.

UConn forward Aaliyah Edwards, who averages 17.6 ppg a game (to Bueckers' 22.0 ppg), is also very much a problem. Mask and all, she took care of business against USC in the Elite 8.

So yes, of a course, the most decorated program in women's college basketball history that just made the Final Four has players and pedigree. But, vibes-wise, this feels like the end of the road for them. I simply am not nervous about Iowa's chances in this game.

UConn has very much exceeded their post-injuries season expectations, and a Final Four is a great place for them to hang their hat for the year. Plus, Bueckers is coming back next season. That's their year. Not this year. Right?

...right?

Iowa also has the revenge factor from three years ago. This is a senior-laden team with so much to play for and the narrative very much on their side.

Also, in the Men Lie/Women Lie/Numbers Don't category, Iowa is a -2.5 point favorite in Vegas. That's what their spread against LSU peaked at before settling at -2 right before tip-off. So if you felt good about that one, you should feel good about this one.

(Potential) Final - Iowa (1-seed) vs. South Carolina (1-seed): All due respect to North Carolina State, they are 11.5 point underdogs against South Carolina. The Gamecocks have not lost this year. Honestly their record over the last two years -- losing just one game* -- might be even more impressive.

(* - to Iowaaaaaaaaaa -- but you know that)

Make no bones about it, SC would be a decisive favorite in a potential national title game against Iowa... but they were last year, too.

Here's what I wrote for the 2023 semifinal preview when the two teams last played:

Copy and freaking paste. South Carolina is a juggernaut, but they also probably should've lost one of those LSU games and certainly should've lost the Tennessee game in the SEC Tournament.

(Somehow forgot it banked in.)

Would you feel a little differently about the game if they had a "2" in the loss column compared to the squeaky clean zero? I know I might.

The stakes are there. The legacy is on the line. And I truly believe this Iowa team can answer the bell.

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“Such is the benefit of knowing history; you can recognize when you're a part of it.”

3/30 - (1) Iowa 89, (5) Colorado 68: After that heart attack of a West Virginia game in the second round, Iowa (fans?) needed a comfortable blowout game on their path to the Final Four, and the Hawks happily obliged in the Sweet 16.

This one really was that simple.

4/1 - (1) Iowa 94, (3) LSU 87: Low-key dislike that final score -- because it really wasn't that close. Before the game, I loaded up on LSU as an emotional gambling hedge, and, friends, I can't tell you how little regrets there were in that decision. Please take my money!

Really... felt some things as the game tipped.

When I say "weeped" -- I mean, like, inconsolable crying. Such a wonderful display of well-played basketball. How often do hyped games not live up to the hype? This was not that.

Special shout out to Addison O'Grady, who really came in there and held her own.

Ol' reliable was just that.

But the lasting image of this game will be Caitlin effing Clark toasting (Hyball fav) Hailey Van Lith over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. That's as many overs as made threes.

Been there, Hailey. I promise.

But yeah, such a cathartic experience.

Do you ever have your team win, and you just watch the YouTube highlights or SportsCenter replays on repeat? This was one of those nights for me. I was even watching replays of the press conferences. Like, 2-3 times of the same quotes. Zero shame.

Gabbie, take us home:

In a week and game where everyone (understandably) seemed determined to squash beef and take the high road... that one still felt pretty damn good.

(see column intro)

Did like this Paige speech, though:

With the serious racial message out of the way, let's end with, uh, this:

This kinda threw me. Do we think he comes back?

Watched The Greatest Night In Pop, Netflix's documentary about the making of "We Are The World."

But I am not here to link the original. I am here to link the 25th anniversary Haiti one I just found out existed.

SNL panned it for being its own tragedy, but as it started, I didn't think it was all that bad.

Then it kept going.

There's an LL Cool J-led rap interlude, Jamie Foxx impersonating Ray Charles' singing, and a bunch of autotune people; whole thing really falls off a wonderful cliff.

Michigan hockey, in a somewhat rebuilding year, somehow topped MSU (haha) to make the Frozen Four -- which is tonight! Jumping on the bandwagon/will keep you posted.

There was a follow up to this highlight where someone said something like "We really need to use this as a basis to create a more challenging sport he actually enjoys."

Damn, Billy!

This might be my fav call of the whole damn tournament:

I... thought the same thing:

I "just" wanted 10 million. The way they grow this game. The way they never let up. The way the give us something to believe. Take us into spring. When I write this column next week, Caitlin Clark will no longer be on this team. Until then, my eyes will swell with some of the proudest sports tears I've ever cried, win or loss. Kate Martin forever. Go Hawks.

Bobby Loesch is a weekly contributor to Go Iowa Awesome. Find him on Twitter @bobbystompy, Instagram @bobbystompy, or email at bobbyloesch@gmail.com.