Mark Kellogg fires up watch party crowd while WVU now prepares to face Princeton in first round of NCAA Tournament

West Virginia head women’s basketball coach Mark Kellogg had strong words upon finding out his team’s place in the NCAA Tournament.

“Let’s win one and send Caitlin Clark packing,” Kellogg said to a large WVU contingent at the Mountaineers’ watch party Sunday.

Kellogg and No. 8 WVU is headed to Iowa City, to face No. 9 Princeton. If they win that game, they likely get No. 1 Iowa in Iowa City.

“Certainly probably a little bit lower than what our expectation was,” Kellogg said of WVU’s seeding in the NCAA Tournament.

Despite the strong words for Iowa and Clark, Kellogg said his attention is firmly on Princeton and winning that game first and foremost.

“We’re in, and like I said, you’re going to play good teams, quality competition, regardless. Don’t know a ton about Princeton, haven’t played them ever in my tenure anywhere I’ve been. I know they have a fantastic program. You got to get the first before you worry about the next one anyways, but we’ll go put our full attention on Princeton.”

Because of the format of the women’s tournament, Kellogg’s crew is headed to a home court for the Hawkeyes if they were to face them as the top-four seeds earn home court advantage through the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

Kellogg said he thinks women’s basketball is close to moving away from that due to the amount of support the sport is gaining.

“I think women’s basketball, we’ve got to be getting pretty close to getting away from those. As far as the game’s grown over the last couple years now,” Kellogg said.

Kellogg also added how much respect he has for Clark and her game and what she’s done for women’s basketball.

“If we’re lucky enough to play the matchup, that will be special,” Kellogg said. “She has changed the game of women’s basketball. Phenomenal program, and they’re good around her too.”