Caitlin Clark broke more records on Wednesday night in Iowa’s blowout win at Minnesota. The Big One, though, hasn’t been checked off the list yet. Pete Maravich remains the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer – at least for a few more days.

Clark entered Wednesday’s game 51 points shy of Maravich’s mark of 3,667 career points, the all-time NCAA record. She finished with 33 points, now needing just 18 points. It was still a record-breaking night for Clark.

With 8 3-pointers, Clark now has 156 in the 2023-24 campaign, an NCAA single-season record. On Clark’s final triple, her only points of the 4th quarter, she reached 3,650 career points to pass Lynette Woodard, who scored 3,649 points playing for Kansas from 1977-81 in the AIAW before the NCAA sanctioned the sport. Earlier this season, Clark broke Kelsey Plum’s Division I women’s scoring record (3,527 points).

“Tonight is the night of the real record,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said after the game.

Sorry Peacock, but The Big One deserves a big audience

NBC was surely thrilled that Clark entered Wednesday’s game in striking distance of the Maravich record. It likely led to a few new sign-ups of the Peacock streaming service, but things worked out for the best.

The status of Maravich’s record hung in the balance from the get-go. Clark drained a 3-pointer 13 seconds into the game. With 15 points in the 1st quarter, she was on pace to break Maravich’s mark.

In the 2nd and 3rd quarters, though, it became clear that The Big One would wait. In the 2nd period, Clark took just 4 shots, going 2-of-4 on 3-point attempts. Clark having 21 points with Iowa up 53-26 on Minnesota at halftime did not bode well for a 51-point night.

Confirmation that Sunday would be the day came in the 3rd quarter. Clark took 6 shots, making 4 field-goal attempts, but could have easily taken more. Five of Clark’s 12 assists came in the 3rd quarter, as Iowa extended its lopsided lead.

Clark played 6 minutes of the 4th quarter, subbing out with 3:59 to go and the Hawkeyes up 96-54. She finished with 33 points in 29 minutes on 12-of-20 shooting from the field with 10 rebounds and 12 assists for another triple-double.

A historic Senior Day in Iowa City

If the game had called for Clark to score 51 points, she would have obliged as a competitor who wants to win. Against a Minnesota team that entered the game 15-12 with a 5-11 record in Big Ten play, though, Clark didn’t need to be a 51-point scorer.

It feels right that Clark can break Maravich’s record at home on Senior Day against Ohio State. This record deserves this audience.

If you haven’t already heard, Sunday’s game in Iowa City is a hot ticket. Tickets for Clark’s final home game range from $408 to $5,199 on the resale market, according to ESPN. It’s currently the most expensive for a women’s basketball game, college or WNBA.

Clark has been the biggest draw in college basketball the past couple of seasons, but the Iowa-Ohio State game is extra special. Playing in her final home game, Clark will take part in Senior Day ceremonies ahead of the matchup between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 6 Iowa.

OSU has locked up the B1G regular-season title, but there’s still plenty of storylines. Ohio State took Round 1 against Iowa, when Clark collided with a fan storming the court. The way these teams are playing, there easily could be Round 3 in the NCAA Tournament.

It’s a revenge game. It’s Senior Day. It should be the day that The Big One is broken. And it’s getting a proper audience, on FOX instead of Peacock.

Everything sets up perfectly.

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