The AP #4 Iowa Women’s Basketball Team is back on the court and just days away from an exhibition game against the DII Nebraska Kearneys. The Hawkeyes are a Big Ten regular with his 24-8 record as he returns all five starters after winning the season and tournament trophies.
Manager Lisa Bruder said, “We’re not going to creep up on anyone this year, and it shouldn’t be after last year’s historic year of winning both the conference tournament and regular season titles.” We have good reason to be hopeful.”
Article Preview With the team in the rearview mirror, it’s time to check the schedule and make some bold predictions for the season.
non-conference slate
Sharpie Wins: Nov. 7 vs Southern, Nov. 10 vs. Evansville, Dec. 21 vs. Dartmouth
Seth Davis says: Iowa. Sharpie.
Last season, those three teams went 22-56 combined, but the Hawkeyes beat Southern by 20 and Evansville by 37. They return the top four scorers including G Abbie Fate (15.1 ppg 8.9 reb). Still, I think it’s fair to say Hawkeyes rolls in each of these three games.
Victory Pencil: Nov. 13 vs. Drake, Nov. 17 vs. Kansas State, Nov. 25 vs. Oregon State, Dec. 18 vs. Northern Iowa
There may be some confident Hawkeye fans who push some of these games into the Sharpie category, but I’ll leave it in pencil for the time being. Iowa is a favorite and should all win, but it’s not a certainty.
Drake returns the WNIT team’s top three scorers (all in double figures) from last season, including former Hawkeye G Megan Meyer. The Kansas State game lost a bit of its shine when All-American C Ayo Curry went down with a season-ending injury, but the Wildcats managed Serena He moved from Sandel and Oklahoma Gabby He led out Gregory. has revived the trio of guards.
Oregon State are opponents in the opening round of the Phil Knight Legacy Tournament in Portland and are predicted to be the fringe team for the NCAA Tournament this year. The Beavers will return her All-Pac 12 G Talia Von Oelhoffen, but 6’9 C Jelena Mitrovic could be an inside matchup issue. Finally, UNI thinks it’s always upsetting when facing the Hawkeyes, and though Iowa won 82-61 last year, the Panthers returned her three of the top five scorers. I was. Neither team really likes the other.
I will lead the Hawkeyes to victory in all four of these matchups.
Toss up: Nov. 20 vs Belmont, Nov. 27 vs #6 UConn/Duke, Dec. 1 vs #10 North Carolina, Dec. 7 vs #8 Iowa
These are games on the non-conference slate where you learn how good Hawkeyes is. Iowa in this category didn’t get a lot of attention in the mid-game of a major game and then three potential Top 10 matchups. It’s important to point out that 3 of them are on his Carver and the other is Neutral Sight game.
Belmont Bruins may be one of the best teams you don’t know. They upset Oregon in last year’s NCAA Tournament, nearly defeating Tennessee as the 12th seed. This year returns the top three scorers including Nancy Lieberman Watch List PG Destiny Wells. In Portland, the Hawkeyes are expected to face Connecticut in the Phil Knight Legacy Championship Game. The game has lost a bit of the hype with Pagebookers missing his year, but Azzie Fudd and Carolina Ducharme still lead his No. 6 Huskies.
North Carolina State will replace All-American C Elissa Cunan, returning only one starter from last year. #3 Several additions from the transfer portal, including 2021 recruit Sanya Rivers and Maryland F Mimi Collins, still have this team as a contender. may become. Starters Ashley Jawens, Emily Ryan and Lexi Darski are back, and his 6’6 C Stephanie Soares of NAIA transfer has been added to the roster. There are many stories that follow that game.
What about Hawkeyes? His three possible Top 10 matchups are only made more difficult as he takes place in 11 days. I think they’re shooting 3-1 in the last four games, but I’m going 2-2 because of the rough stretch they come in.
Big Ten Conference Slate
Illinois: Champaign (January 1)
A native of Clinton, Iowa, Shauna Green is entering her first season as head coach with the Fighting Illini after a successful run in Dayton. C Kendall Bostic (11.4 rpg) returns and All Atlantic 10 PG Makira Cook (14.8 ppg 3.8 rpg) leaves Dayton. The Hawkeyes have won 19 of their last 22 games against Illinois, and that trend will continue in Champaign this year. win
#11 Indiana: Bloomington (Feb. 9) Iowa City (Feb. 26)
The Hawkeyes had the Hoosiers number last year and won all three contests in the final month of the season. It can be said that both teams are his two favorites in the Big Ten this year. Preseason All-Big Ten names G Grace Berger (16.2 points) and F Mackenzie Holmes (15.2 points) lead the offense. Adds his three talented transfers of SG Sarascaria (Minnesota), G Sydney Parrish (Oregon) and F Alyssa Geary (Providence). It’s hard to believe that either team would take both matchups. Split
#17 Maryland: Iowa City (February 2) College Park (February 21)
Terps is a true wildcard in this year’s Big Ten. The roster was torn apart and reassembled via a transfer portal. Five players averaged his double-digit numbers last year, with only G Diamond Miller (averaging 13.1 points) remaining on the roster. Ivy League Player of the Year Princeton G Abbie Myers is headlining his four transfers to the program. PG Elisa Pinzan (USF), G Lavender Briggs (Florida), G Brynet He Alexander (Bundy) are also experienced members. Cedar Rapids native Brenda his freese has been 10-3 against Iowa since Maryland joined the Big His Ten. Split
#25 Michigan: Ann Arbor (January 7)
The Wolverines will lose All-American Naz Hillmon (21.0 ppg), but everyone else will return to Ann Arbor. G Liga Brown (14.0 points average) is a preseason all-time he was named to the Big Ten, and G Madinolan is lethal from behind the arc. C Isabel Varejao (averaging 2.1 points scored) has a big shoe that stands in for the post. The Hawkeyes split with Michigan last year, and although Chrysler Center is a tough place, Iowa will have an edge. Losing Hillmon got me Hawkeyes. win
Michigan: Lansing (January 18)
The Spartans have to replace First Team All-Big Ten PG Nia Clouden this year, and that will be very tough. Both G Matilda Ekh (11.8 ppg) and F Taiyier Parks (8.5 ppg 6.5 rpg) are back. Three of her transfers join the Spartans, including former Baylor/Penn State G Kamalia McDaniel. She averaged 19.8ppg in 2019-20 with the Nittany Lions. G Stephanie Vischer (Stephen F Austin) and G Gaby Elliott (Clemson) averaged her double figures last year. The Hawkeyes have won only twice in their last 12 East trips to Lansing, but expect things to be different this year. win
Minnesota: Iowa City (December 10)
The Gophers feel destined for the bottom of the standings this year. Gone are the top five scorers and there are ten underclassmen on the roster. Four upperclassmen, including Nebraska G. Micole Caton, transferred. They boast a trio of ESPN Top 100 freshmen led by G Mara Braun (#28) and G Amaya Battle (#39). The Hawkeyes have 8 of 9 wins in the series. win
#22 Nebraska: Iowa City (January 28) Lincoln (February 18)
As the Huskers return the top three scorers, including G Jazz Shelley (average 13.1 average 4.8 average), Big Ten Freshman of the Year Alexis Markovski (average 12.8 average 8.0) and F Isabel Vaughn (average 11.1 average), Ready for breakout season. The big news was that G Sam Heavy was out this season due to injury, but they have acquired the talented South Dakota G Maddie Krul through the transfer portal. The Hawkeyes dominate the series late in the season when he won eight of his last nine contests, including all three of his last season. Hot take, Iowa sweeps again. Iowa wins both
Northwest: Iowa City (January 11th)
The Wildcats have struggled to win 3 of 4 games over the last two seasons, but their biggest challenge has been All-Big 10 defender Veronica Burton. She is currently in the WNBA. F Courtney Shaw returned averaging 8.1 points and her 10.0 rebounds, while her three other players averaging 6-8 points per game returned, but a true No. 1 like Burton is no longer an option. win
#14 Ohio: Columbus (January 23)
Last year’s matchup between the Hawkeyes and Buckeyes was intense, but with both teams making many comebacks from last season, it should be expected again. His duo of guards Jacy Sheldon (19.7 ppg) and Taylor Mikesell (18.6 ppg 47.5% 3pt) are arguably the best in the Big Ten. F Rebeka Mikrasikova and G Ricky Harris ruffled a few feathers in their game against Iowa and both are back this season. He was able to claim the Buckeyes as the second best team in the conference, winning 8 of his last 11 games against the Hawkeyes. I think they beat Iowa on the street. loss
Pennsylvania: Iowa City (January 14) State College (February 5)
The Nittany Lions return with their top three scorers including First Team All-Big Ten selection Gary Makena Marisa (22.2 ppg) and G Leilani Kapinus (9.6 ppg 5.7 rpg). First Team All-AAC G Taniyah Thompson brought 1,189 career points from East Carolina. Also NJCAA Freshman of the Year G Ivane Tensaie he is an interesting addition from the NDSU School of Science. The Hawkeyes are on a six-game winning streak against the Nittany Lions, and Penn State could do better than last year, but Iowa State should be able to win both games. Iowa wins both
Purdue: Iowa City (December 29)
HC Katie Gearlds’ team entered WNIT last year, but now Boilermakers are returning all five starters. Guards Abby Ellis (11.5 points and 83 career starts) and Madison Layden (11.6 points) lead the group of repeaters. From the transfer portal enter California Baptiste Rutgers F Lashapetrie (8.3 ppg) and his WAC Player of the Year F Kaitlyn Harper (13.8 ppg 6.0 rpg). This could be a tough one, as Gearlds is pushing this team in the right direction. win
Rutgers: Iowa City (February 12)
New Scarlet Knights HC Coquise Washington has her work cut short this year. The top seven scorers from a year ago have disappeared from the roster. Fr G Kylene Smickle comes in as the No. 64 recruit in his 2022 class by ESPN. Mid-major transfers C Cassondra Brown (St He Peters) and G Kai Carter (UNC Asheville) averaged double digits in their last season at school. Iowa is 10-1 in the series since Rutgers joined the Big Ten. win
Wisconsin: Madison (December 4) Iowa City (February 15)
The Badgers haven’t finished in the top 10 in the Big 10 standings since 2012 (9th), and the Hawkeyes have won 25 straight in the series. G Julie Pospisilova and G Sidney Hilliard will return after combined last year he averaged 26.9 points per game. They added the Patriot League POY G Avery LaBarbera (16.5 ppg) from Holy Cross through the transfer portal. Iowa he hasn’t lost since 2007. I don’t think that will change. Iowa wins both
final thoughts
Last year, the Hawkeyes went 20-7 in the regular season, with three wins potentially canceled due to Covid. , a potential 1 or 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Last March, the Clayton Jays fell short of my Elite Eight expectations and kicked Iowa out of the tournament.
“Clayton’s loss was tough and I know how heartbreaking it was, but I think it was just what we needed to build momentum going into this season,” said Monica Zinano.
The Hawkeyes have more depth in the frontcourt this year, which should improve their rebounding, but they do have an experienced top four in the backcourt. The NCAA Tournament is always unpredictable (two 10 seeds made the Suite 16), but I believe Caitlin Clarke and his Co. will hit the Elite Eights in a single shot to achieve their ultimate goal in the Final Four. I anticipate doing the execution.
