Hawkeyes’ platoon stays in place, for now

IOWA CITY — The life span of the Iowa Hawkeyes' platoon system is yet to be determined.

'It's something we evaluate every week,' Coach Lisa Bluder said Friday morning. 'Do we want to keep proceding with it? So far, so good. It gives us an opportunity to get people a lot of minutes.'

The Hawkeyes have ridden the five-in, five-out concept to a 3-0 start, and probably will continue with it at the Hawkeye Challenge this weekend. Iowa faces Massachusetts (1-1) at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, then will battle either Montana (1-0) or South Dakota State (2-0) at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Saturday's game was moved up due to travel issues.

Ten players are averaging more than 10 minutes of court time, nobody more than 26.

'I like to be really aggressive, and if I'm not playing as many minutes at a time, I can be more aggressive, and I don't have to force anything,' Ally Disterhoft said.

Iowa's starting lineup consists of a senior (Disterhoft), two sophomores (Megan Gustafson and Tania Davis) and two freshmen (Makenzie Meyer and Bre Cera). Chase Coley, Christina Buttenham, Alexa Kastanek, Kathleen Doyle and Hannah Stewart have comprised the second unit, with Amanda Ollinger picking up some spot minutes.

'I think it's a matter of who the coaches think looks best together,' Disterhoft said.

Disterhoft is averaging 21.7 points per game. Gustafson is the reigning Big Ten player of the week and stands at 17.0 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.

Those two are combining to shoot 66 percent from the field (41 of 62).

Gustafson is stronger this season. And, on somewhat of a related note, her balance is better.

'I'm able to hold my ground a lot better,' she said. 'The strength is part of it. (Assistant coach Jan Jensen) watches my feet a lot in drills.'

Iowa traditionally is not synonymous with defense, and maybe at first glance a 62.3-point defensive average doesn't wow you, but this might: Iowa's opponents are shooting 30.2 percent from the floor.

'It's just three games, and the opponents are going to get better,' Bluder said. 'But that's a very good sign.'

SEVILLIAN TO REDSHIRT

Bluder announced Friday that Alexis Sevillian, a 5-foot-6 guard from Goodrich, Mich., will red-shirt this season. The decision is not related to an injury, but rather the Hawkeyes' depth.

'We've never done that, but this is such a big (freshman) class, and with just one freshman (Jinaya Houston) coming in next year, I think this makes sense,' Bluder said. 'This was 100 percent (Sevillian's) decision. We felt that we would be wasting her freshman year if we didn't redshirt her.'

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com