Iowa Hawkeyes vs. South Carolina Gamecocks: TV, stream, broadcast details for Friday’s Final Four
Gameday in the Final Four is finally here! After what has no doubt felt like a long wait since Iowa punched its ticket to Dallas, it’s now time for the Hawkeyes to square off with the No. 1 overall seed South Carolina Gamecocks.
In its second-ever Final Four trip, Iowa (30-6, 15-3 Big Ten) is looking to advance to the program’s first national championship game. They’ll be attempting to do so against a juggernaut. South Carolina (36-0, 16-0 SEC) enters as the defending national champion and winners of 42 consecutive games.
The Hawkeyes understand the type of challenge they will be facing.
“Well, we are extremely excited to represent Hawkeye nation here at the women’s Final Four. We know we have an incredible challenge ahead of us, but at the same time, everybody loves an underdog. So hopefully a lot of people will be cheering for us.
“I’ve been coming to the Final Four for a long, long time, but my seats are finally going to be pretty good tonight. So I’m excited about that. Excited also about Caitlin obviously being named the AP Player of the Year today. One of my assistants, Coach Jan Jensen, will also be getting the Assistant Coach of the Year Award. So a lot of great things happening.
“I’m just trying to convince my team 40 minutes of basketball and a lifetime of memories, and that’s all we have to focus on,” Iowa head women’s basketball coach Lisa Bluder said.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at how fans can watch, stream and listen to tonight’s Final Four game. Plus, a look at the key players and game notes.
How to watch
Date: Friday, March 31
Time: 8:30 p.m. CT
TV Channel: ESPN
Live Stream: fuboTV (watch here)
Hawkeye Radio Network: Listen
Broadcast teams
Hawkeye Radio Network: Rob Brooks, play-by-play; Jaime Cavey Lang, color commentary
ESPN: Andraya Carter, Rebecca Lobo, Ryan Ruocco, Holly Rowe
Key players
Iowa:
G Caitlin Clark: 27.3 points, 8.6 assists, 7.3 rebounds
G Kate Martin: 7.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists
F/C Monika Czinano: 17.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 67.9% FG
G Gabbie Marshall: 6.2 points, 1.6 assists, 1.6 steals
G/F McKenna Warnock: 11.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, 39.2% 3-point FG
South Carolina:
G Zia Cooke: 15.1 points, 2.0 assists, 1.9 rebounds
F Aliyah Boston: 13.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists
C Kamilla Cardoso: 9.7 points, 8.4 rebounds
F Laeticia Amihere: 7.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists
G Brea Beal: 6.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists
The all-time series
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
South Carolina leads: 1-0
The Gamecocks and Hawkeyes have met just once before in women’s basketball. In a tournament on Hilton Head Island, S.C., on Dec. 29, 1989. Then-No. 20 South Carolina upset then-No. 4 Iowa 82-76.
Iowa notes
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Caitlin Clark became the first player in NCAA Tournament history to record a 40-point triple-double in the Hawkeyes’ 97-83 Elite Eight win over Louisville.
Clark could become the all-time leader in 3-pointers made with one make from downtown against South Carolina.
Clark is 16 points away from 1,000 points this season and would become the to become the first Division I player to eclipse 1,000 points and 300 assists in the same season.
National Player of the Year Sweep
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Caitlin Clark has been awarded the Naismith Trophy, Wade Trophy and the Associated Press women’s basketball Player of the Year award this week.
South Carolina notes
South Carolina forward Aliyah Boston (4) poses with the NCAA championship trophy after beating Maryland in the NCAA Women’s Elite Eight Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C. Monday, March 27, 2023.
South Carolina’s +20.3 rebounding margin leads the nation and would rank second in NCAA history behind Baylor’s +20.7 margin in 2017.
The Gamecocks’ SEC-record 321 blocks this season has their blocks per game average (8.9) within striking distance of breaking the program’s NCAA-record 8.6 blocks per game set in 2020.
South Carolina’s 48.5 rebounding average, 20.0 offensive rebounds per game and +18.2 rebounding margin in NCAA Tournament games leads the tournament field.
In nine games against ranked opponents, Aliyah Boston has averaged 15.8 points, 11.7 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 2.6 assists – all team highs. For the season, Boston is the only player in the country to rank among the top six in both offensive (4th) and defensive (6th) player rating.
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