Molly Davis: ‘I’m never going to rule myself out’ of playing in the NCAA tournament

IOWA CITY — You won’t confuse Molly Davis’ personality for extroversion.

“I’m not somebody who loves attention,” she said, referring to Iowa fans’ chanting of her name after she was injured March 3.

But don’t be fooled.

Davis is quiet in social settings, like Friday’s media scrum at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. But she is quietly self-confident.

“I’m never going to rule myself out,” she said, talking about the possibility of playing again in Iowa’s postseason run. “I’m getting better every day, moving in the right direction.”

Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder called Davis “doubtful for Saturday,” when the second-ranked Hawkeyes (29-4) face Holy Cross (21-12) in the first round of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament.

Tipoff is 2 p.m.

Davis missed the Big Ten tournament; Sydney Affolter replaced her in the starting lineup, and Affolter made the all-tournament team as the Hawkeyes won the title.

“My leg went one way, and my knee went the other,” Davis said of her injury in Iowa’s regular-season finale against Ohio State.

Fans chanted her name as she was carried off the floor, then did it again at the Target Center (Davis sat a row behind the team).

“I’ve been attacking rehab every day,” said Davis, a wrap on her right knee. “I’ve been watching, soaking it again.”

She said it again:

“I’m never going to count myself out.”

West Virginia Coach Mark Kellogg addresses Caitlin Clark comment

West Virginia Coach Mark Kellogg went viral — and roused Iowa fans — with his comment last Sunday after the pairings were released:

“I told them, (let’s) win one and let’s send Caitlin Clark packing,” Kellogg said at the Mountaineers’ watch party.

West Virginia (24-7) faces Princeton (25-4) in a first-rounder at 4:30 p.m.

Kellogg was asked Friday about his original comment.

“I'm not a (trash-talker),” he said. “I wasn’t out to get Caitlin Clark. It’s not Mark Kellogg versus Caitlin Clark.

“Our seed is honestly where it started. That wasn’t really the seed maybe that some people in the room were expecting, not even from me necessarily. So it turned into, ‘OK, well, let’s get past that. Now let’s talk about Princeton.’

“Then, of course, everybody in the room knows Caitlin Clark.”

Allen family reunion

The Holy Cross team was able to view Kinnick Stadium earlier this week.

Family ties have their privileges.

Senior Janelle Allen is the older sister of Brian Allen, a sophomore defensive end on the Iowa football team.

“He was (at Holy Cross’ win over Tennessee-Martin on Thursday), sitting front row with my mom,” Janelle Allen said. “(Wednesday), he gave us a tour of the football facility ... the locker room, the field, some of their meeting rooms. It was definitely a really cool experience.

“It was kind of a little bonding moment, and we had a great time.”

A native of Lake in the Hills, Ill., Allen was an AAU teammate of Iowa’s Sydney Affolter.

“We played one year together,” Affolter said. “She’s such an awesome girl. I’m excited to see her.”

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Hawkeyes’ NCAA road begins Saturday at home against Holy Cross

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com