Same opponent, same level, different coast: Iowa, Colorado square off in Sweet 16 again

ALBANY, N.Y. — Iowa. Colorado. Sweet 16.

Here they go again.

But this time, it’s on the opposite coast.

“I know they’re excited to play us,” Iowa’s Sydney Affolter said Friday about the Buffaloes.

Confirmed.

“I don’t see it as a revenge game,” Colorado’s Frida Formann said. “It’s more just redemption for our team. Iowa’s the team that’s in our way. It’s nothing personal toward them.”

The second-ranked Hawkeyes (31-4) and No. 17 Colorado (25-9) collide in an NCAA women’s basketball regional semifinal Saturday at MVP Arena.

Tipoff is 2:30 (CT). The game will be televised by ABC.

Last year, the Hawkeyes claimed an 87-77 decision over the Buffaloes in a Sweet 16 encounter at Seattle, then eventually advanced all the way to the national-championship game.

The rosters are largely the same. Iowa has three starters back, Colorado four.

“We see it as a new game because it is,” Formann said. “We've been through a whole season since then, and I think we're just very confident where we're at right now.”

In Saturday’s first Albany-2 semifinal, No. 6 UCLA (27-6) meets No. 8 LSU (30-5) at noon (CT).

The regional final is at 6 p.m. (CT) Monday.

Yes, the Buffaloes are eager to test their mettle once more against the Hawkeyes.

But, as Iowa’s Kate Martin said, “It seems people are always excited to play us.”

Iowa’s last court appearance was a scare. The Hawkeyes were deadlocked with West Virginia with less than 3 minutes left in the second round before escaping, 64-54.

Colorado, on the other hand, controlled both of its first two NCAA games against Drake and Kansas State.

“I think we’re a more mature group this year,” Colorado’s Jaylyn Sherrod said. “We’ve been in this position before.”

Last year, Sherrod fouled out. So did Formann and Aaronette Vonleh.

Vonleh (14.0 points per game) and Quay Miller (9.0 points, 7.5 rebounds per game) both are 6-foot-3 and sturdy, and that will be a challenge.

“They’re both very strong,” Iowa’s Hannah Stuelke said. “I’ve got to focus on boxing out and being physical back.”

While Iowa no longer has Monika Czinano to match Colorado’s posts, Sherrod said the Hawkeyes “get in transition quicker than they did last year.”

The ringleader of Iowa’s transition game, of course, is Caitlin Clark, who faces a win-win proposition in the coming days.

Win twice this weekend, and Clark will lead the Hawkeyes to the Final Four next week at Cleveland.

If the Hawkeyes stumble in Albany, she will join Team USA for Olympic tryouts.

“USA Basketball is my dream. You always want to grow up and be on the Olympic team, but lucky for me, I have the opportunity of possibly not doing that because I want to be at the Final Four playing basketball with my team,” Clark said.

“People that are on that roster are people that I idolize and have idolized growing up. Just to be extended a camp invite is something you have to be proud of and celebrate and enjoy.

“But more than anything, my focus is on winning these two games, and that's exactly how it should be. I honestly don't talk about those things with really anybody. I have other people that deal with it, and they haven't said a word to me about it.”

Colorado’s Maddie Nolan squared off with the Hawkeyes for four years as a member of Michigan’s team before transferring to Boulder for her fifth season.

“Iowa is elite for a reason,” Nolan said.

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Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com