LSU discovered protection on South Carolina’s shooters ‘very disrespectful’ forward of matchup with Caitlin Clark, Iowa

The Iowa Hawkeyes defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks Friday evening within the Final Four to earn a berth within the nationwide championship sport in opposition to LSU. 

They did so by usually sagging off South Carolina’s shooters, daring them to make jumpers in a sport the Gamecocks shot simply 4 for 20 from past the 3-point line. 

Caitlin Clark (22) of the Iowa Hawkeyes dribbles in opposition to Raven Johnson (25) of the South Carolina Gamecocks through the third quarter of the 2023 NCAA Tournament Final Four at American Airlines Center March 31, 2023, in Dallas, Texas.  (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Caitlin Clark, who led Iowa with 41 factors, went viral for waving at South Carolina guard Raven Johnson within the first half as Johnson stood huge open above the arc. 

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The technique seems to have bothered just a few LSU gamers. 

“I watched the sport, and I’m watching them guard South Carolina. I do not assume they’ll guard us that approach,” LSU guard Alexis Morris mentioned Saturday, in response to ESPN. “I do not assume you’ll be able to simply go away me open on the perimeter or go away us open on the perimeter. 

“Me, personally, I discover it very disrespectful. So, I’m going to take that personally going into that sport. You’re going to have to protect us. That’s simply the competitor in me, and the need to win.”

Against a greater South Carolina group, Iowa made the choice to pack the paint and dwell with the Gamecocks’ capturing from the skin. 

South Carolina shot 31.5% from three through the 2022-23 the season. 

The South Carolina Gamecocks bench reacts within the closing seconds of the fourth quarter in opposition to the Iowa Hawkeyes through the 2023 NCAA Tournament Final Four at American Airlines Center March 31, 2023, in Dallas, Texas.  (Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

“We’re not going to protect LSU the identical approach we guarded South Carolina,” Clark mentioned. “Obviously, with South Carolina, you have to decide your poison. If they have been going to beat us, we have been going to let it’s by the 3-point line. You have to select and select your battles. We cannot guard the whole lot. 

“That’s the sport of basketball. You have a scout. You know participant personnel. What are you going to surrender? That’s what we have been going to surrender. We had all of the respect on the earth for South Carolina, and particularly their put up play.”

Alexis Morris of LSU reacts through the fourth quarter in opposition to the Virginia Tech Hokies through the 2023 NCAA Tournament Final Four at American Airlines Center March 31, 2023, in Dallas, Texas.  (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

While LSU shot simply 23.1% from three in its win over Virginia Tech within the Final Four, the Tigers shot 35.9% from byond the arc as a group this season. 

“That was very disrespectful, and [South Carolina] did not benefit from that,” LSU guard Kateri Poolev mentioned, per ESPN. “If they do it to us, we will take benefit.”

LSU and Iowa sq. off within the nationwide championship sport Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET.