Oklahoma coach faces alma mater Iowa in Sweet 16

Oklahoma's coach Jennie Baranczyk is preparing for an emotional game against her former school, Iowa, in the NCAA tournament. This matchup aims for a spot in the Sweet 16. Baranczyk, an Iowa native who played for the University of Iowa, faces her former mentor, Jan Jensen, who is now the head coach of Iowa. Baranczyk said she will always support Iowa in other games, but this one is different. Oklahoma is a third seed and holds a record of 26-7, while Iowa is a sixth seed with a 23-10 record. Iowa's team has been very competitive, reaching the national championship game in the last two years. With star player Caitlin Clark gone, Lucy Olsen has stepped up, averaging 17.8 points per game. Baranczyk respects Iowa's talent and knows her team needs to be ready to compete. Oklahoma’s Raegan Beers is a standout player, known for her strength under the basket. Iowa has a few taller players but not as strong as Beers, making their matchup key. Both coaches are excited about the challenges ahead. Baranczyk hopes many fans will attend the game at 3 p.m. Central time. She felt supported in the previous game and is eager to grow Oklahoma's fan base. This game is also special as Baranczyk honors her late teammate, Jamie Cavey-Lang, by wearing special pins during the match. While joking about their playing days, Jensen and Baranczyk shared laughs about who would win in a one-on-one game, but they both clearly respect each other as coaches. The game promises to be competitive and is set to draw significant attention.