Well, West Virginia has officially poked the bear.
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More specifically, Mountaineers women's basketball coach Mark Kellogg made a bold prediction about Iowa star Caitlin Clark shortly after the NCAA Tournament bracket was announced on Sunday.
West Virginia is the No. 8 seed in the same region in which Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes are the No. 1 seed. That means they could be in line for a second-round matchup, should both teams win their first-round games. (West Virginia plays ninth-seeded Princeton).
And Kellogg not only suggested the Mountaineers would beat Princeton (no sure thing), but Iowa and Clark, too (even a lesser sure thing).
"Let's win one and send Caitlyn Clark packing," Kellogg told a crowd of West Virginia fans after the brackets were announced. His players immediately followed with cheers.
Granted, Kellogg wasn't making a prediction — he was just firing up the crowd. And what was he supposed to say? That the Mountaineers are doomed?
West Virginia coach Mark Kellogg addresses a crowd of players and fans after the NCAA tournament announcement. (Twitter/X)
This is the way to motivate your team, no doubt. You show belief in the unlikely.
But in these days of everything being recorded and posted to social media, it could also be something that will motivate Clark — perhaps the most popular athlete in America and undoubtedly among the most accomplished.
She is also on a mission to win an NCAA championship in her final season, having made it known she intends to enter the WNBA draft. Iowa fell short of that goal last season, losing to LSU in the title game.
WVU HC Mark Kellogg with some strong words
“Let’s win one and send Caitlin Clark packing”
— Wesley Shoemaker (@wesleyshoe) March 18, 2024
For Clark and the Hawkeyes, there are much bigger fish to fry than the Mountaineers — should it actually come to that.
After all, Kellogg likely offered Princeton some motivation by acting like a matchup with Clark is waiting in the wings. But again, he's just a coach who is doing his job. And hey, if the Mountaineers end up meeting his lofty goals ... well, that will undoubtedly shut up the detractors.
We think.
