Iowa is ready for physical matchup with Colorado [Video]

ALBANY, New York (KCRG) – The No. 1 seed Hawkeyes are favored against fifth-seeded Colorado, but the Buffaloes have experience, size and quickness. Plus, they know Iowa pretty well.

The teams matched up in the Sweet 16 last season, the Hawkeyes won 87-77.

This year, Colorado is even better. On defense, they average 10 steals per game.

“Their defense is really good, I think it’s a little different than West Virginia in the way that they will not play denial defense on people that don’t have the ball,” said All-American Caitlin Clark. “But if you have them all, they’re going to be up in your space and pressuring you.

“They are definitely intense on defense,” said junior Sydney Affolter. “I remember last year their point guard was super greedy on defense and likes to go for a lot of steals.”

Colorado has great size inside with a couple 6-3 bigs …