Caitlin Clark: What's different for Iowa on this Final Four trip

It's the biggest game of the season for Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes.

There's no time for a let-up after beating Angel Reese and the LSU Tigers in the Elite Eight. In fact, the Hawkeyes can't even let their guard down for a minute.

Their matchup in the Final Four is against No. 3 seed UConn, which boasts 11-time national champion head coach Geno Auriemma on their sideline as well as a star of its own in junior guard Paige Bueckers.

It's going to be a must-see matchup and the pressure is going to be on the Hawkeyes, but Clark — arguably the greatest college hooper of all time — believes Iowa has one thing it can lean on during its second consecutive trip to the Final Four: experience.

Last season, the Hawkeyes beat top-seeded South Carolina in the Final Four before falling to LSU in the title game. So they know what to expect when it comes to the fanfare and atmosphere.

“I think being here last year, you’re not really prepared for everything that goes on outside of the game,” Clark said at the pregame press conference (h/t On3). “There’s so many distractions. There’s so many events you have to attend. There’s so many obligations that you have to do. And your main focus is to come here, and you’re playing in the biggest basketball games of your career. So I think being able to block all that out and really lock in and focus on what your job is and what you’re here for, and knowing we’re not satisfied. I think that’s the biggest thing is soak all that in and enjoy it. But at the same time, this is business. You know, we’re here to win a basketball game and hopefully win two.”

Clark is right that Iowa's experience could be beneficial. She as well as fellow seniors Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall were on last year's team.

With that said, don't think for a moment that Auriemma won't prepare his team for the moment. He's been to 23 Final Fours since taking over at UConn in 1985. Perhaps no coach in college basketball history is more prepared to take a team into this game.

However it shakes out, it's bound to be a good one.