Could Caitlyn Clark compete with D1 men?

[tjenkins]

Over full sized men!

[oldjudge]

Not even against high school men

[Peter_Spaeth]

It takes nothing at all away from her, but not a chance in the world. It's as much of a fantasy as the notion that Conor McGregor had a chance against Floyd Mayweather. She's not even a very good defender against women. She couldn't possibly cover a man.

[G1911]

Of course not.

[icurnmedic]

Not a shot in hades, probably not even the local JV team.

[maniac_73]

Serena Williams is the greatest tennis player of all time and lost to a tier 2 unranked college male player. Tennis is one that in theory would be even closer in skill male/female than basketball. Caitlyn is a great player but on a male D1 team would be very ugly and dangerous for her. Size and Strength would be way too much.

[packs]

Originally Posted by maniac_73

Serena Williams is the greatest tennis player of all time and lost to a tier 2 unranked college male player. Tennis is one that in theory would be even closer in skill male/female than basketball. Caitlyn is a great player but on a male D1 team would be very ugly and dangerous for her. Size and Strength would be way too much.

This is also not true. The Williams sisters both played one single game each against Karsten Braasch, who was ranked 203rd in the world at the time. They didn't play a complete set and he wasn't an unranked Tier 2 college player.

[edtiques]

Originally Posted by maniac_73

Serena Williams is the greatest tennis player of all time and lost to a tier 2 unranked college male player. Tennis is one that in theory would be even closer in skill male/female than basketball. Caitlyn is a great player but on a male D1 team would be very ugly and dangerous for her. Size and Strength would be way too much.

Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in '73. In straight matches if my memory serves me correctly.
As far as Caitlyn going up against NBA men, she wouldn't stand a chance. It's not a knock on her, just a fact.

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

Not even against high school men

This is the correct answer unquestionably.

It also is no knock on her, it is just genetics

[rand1com]

She could play in men’s lower college classifications. She can shoot 3’s with the best men. D1, no. D2, D3 absolutely IMO.

[packs]

I would think more than a few people had similar opinions about Muggsy Bogues, with his 5 foot 3 and 130 pound frame (Caitlin Clark is listed at six feet and 150 pounds).

If you're a world class athlete, there's a spot for you on a team. Do I think Caitlin Clark has the talent of Muggsy Bogues? No, but I think she should be discussed in terms of her talent and not her size. Players smaller than her have had success in the NBA but they had different skill sets and were better players.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by packs

I would think more than a few people had similar opinions about Muggsy Bogues, with his 5 foot 3 and 130 pound frame (Caitlin Clark is listed at six feet and 150 pounds).

If you're a world class athlete, there's a spot for you on a team. Do I think Caitlin Clark has the talent of Muggsy Bogues? No, but I think she should be discussed in terms of her talent and not her size. Players smaller than her have had success in the NBA but they had different skill sets and were better players.

Mugsy was and probably still is much stronger than Catlyn Clark would ever be...again, not a knock at her. Not just apples and oranges, but Adams apples.

Fun to watch though...the Womens' game has improved by leaps and bounds.

[Belfast1933]

Originally Posted by JustinD

This is the correct answer unquestionably.

It also is no knock on her, it is just genetics

Seriously? I just find it hard to imagine that she isn't better than the worst D! men's player...

[packs]

I remember when everyone was getting on Brian Scalabrine's case for being the worst player in the NBA. He got challenged by a player on Syracuse to a game of one on one and absolutely torched him.

Even the worst player at an elite level is ridiculously good.

[Belfast1933]

Originally Posted by packs

I remember when everyone was getting on Brian Scalabrine's case for being the worst player in the NBA. He got challenged by a player on Syracuse to a game of one on one and absolutely torched him.

Even the worst player at an elite level is ridiculously good.

You must be Boston local too... that was a great story! And I have no doubt true at the NBA level.

But my question had the bar much lower - is Caitlyn better than any D1 men's player?

I still haven't taken the time to watch her play yet - looking forward to seeing her in tonight's game.

[BigAndy]

Originally Posted by packs

I remember when everyone was getting on Brian Scalabrine's case for being the worst player in the NBA. He got challenged by a player on Syracuse to a game of one on one and absolutely torched him.

Even the worst player at an elite level is ridiculously good.

Yep. Same concept with Caitlyn Clark here. Fantastic women’s NCAA player in her own right. Zero percent chance should would make a single D1 roster, much less play competitively with them.

[packs]

Well, I don't know. I think she's at least as good as some D1 players on active rosters right now. There are a lot of coaches kids on rosters at this level every year and she is a very talented basketball player. She wouldn't be who she is, or anywhere close to it. But I don't think she'd be lost out there against lower end schools.

I don't think she'd ever compete in the NBA or for a roster spot on legacy programs like Kentucky, North Carolina, etc. but they aren’t the only D1 schools. There are over 300 of them.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by BigAndy

Yep. Same concept with Caitlyn Clark here. Fantastic women’s NCAA player in her own right. Zero percent chance should would make a single D1 roster, much less play competitively with them.

Less than zero. She couldn't defend anyone, total non starter.