Weekend preview: Can men's college hoops find its groove? - ESPN

After Caitlin Clark broke Pistol Pete Maravich's career scoring record March 3, a conversation about the state of the men's game commenced on social media. It's no secret Clark is one of the biggest basketball stars in the country right now, at any level, professional or amateur. But some of the proponents of the men's game felt the need to promote its biggest stars during that dialogue and advocate for its top storylines.

Yes, there are incredible storylines in men's college basketball. Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham are a fabulous freshman duo that could lead Kentucky to the Final Four. The best player in America might be a young man who transferred to Tennessee from Northern Colorado (Dalton Knecht) of all places. UConn is chasing back-to-back national championships. And we even have a 7-foot-4 star who could capture the Wooden Award (Zach Edey). Again.

For years, however, some of the top stars in the women's game did not receive the attention they deserved — the attention they are enjoying this season. Equally important, the women's game has spent decades facing comparisons to the men's. But the moment a generational superstar arrives and becomes a household name, a bunch of supporters for men's college basketball get their feelings hurt? Nonsense.

Clark and her peers have earned this moment. They have a fabulous game and a multitude of reasons to watch. Dawn Staley coaches South Carolina every night like her job is on the line. Cameron Brink is a double-double machine for Stanford. Half of UConn's team is injured but Paige Bueckers is carrying the load. Kim Mulkey, her jackets, Angel Reese and LSU will be in the mix in the NCAA tournament, too. And Clark could help women's college basketball shatter every