Why Paige Bueckers and UConn will beat Caitlin Clark and Iowa in the Final Four

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CLEVELAND — You’ve heard of Paige Bueckers, right?

Iowa coach Lisa Bluder certainly has, praising her the day before the Hawkeyes take on Bueckers and UConn in Friday’s Final Four. Bueckers, Bluder said, separates herself because she can “stop on a dime and elevate with her shot.”

Bluder’s right. And Bueckers’ skill and athleticism, coupled with her size (she’s a strong 6-feet) will be the difference in Paige vs. Caitlin Clark, Round 2, and the reason UConn advances. (UConn won Round 1, a Sweet 16 matchup in 2001).

Bueckers is likely to be guarded by Iowa's Gabbie Marshall, generously listed at 5-foot-9. Marshall won’t be able to contend with Bueckers’ size and strength, especially when Bueckers drives to the rim.

On the other side, Nika Muhl is likely to draw the assignment of guarding Clark. Provided she can stay out of foul trouble, she’ll be draped all over the two-time national player of the year.

But should Muhl head to the bench with fouls, Bueckers will be more than willing to guard Clark, where her length, height and hoops IQ will annoy Clark. She won’t shut Clark down by any means — no one knows how to do that — but she can give her fits.

Aaliyah Edwards will be a handful in the paint for Iowa, too, particularly because she moves so well without the ball. Edwards’ mobility helps her draw fouls, and that will be crucial given how important Hannah Stuelke is to Iowa, and the Hawkeyes’ lack of depth in the post.

But the biggest reason that UConn will win: They’ve been here before. A lot. More specifically coach Geno Auriemma has been here a lot — he's won 11 of these. As one of the best strategists in the game, he’ll have a good plan against Clark. And don’t forget that in March and April, no one in women’s college basketball knows more about winning than Auriemma.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UConn vs Iowa prediction: Here's why Huskies will win in Final Four