Alexander not suited to life on the bench

Imagine the possibilities.

Look ahead, for a moment, to 2011-12. The youngsters, like Morgan Johnson, Theairra Taylor and Jaime Printy, will be veterans, their productivity accelerated by the injuries that have hit like an avalanche this season. Kamille Wahlin and Kelly Krei will be senior leaders.

Now, imagine that nucleus and add Kachine Alexander to the mix. Appealing recipe, isn't it?

Discussions of red-shirting Alexander haven't reached legitimate status yet in the Iowa women's basketball camp, but it's not out of the question.

“I can't stand the idea of going the rest of the year (without playing),” said Alexander, who will be out at least another two weeks with a stress fracture in her lower right leg.

“I go back and forth. I don't want to let the team down. What's best for the team now? What's best for the team down the road?”

Alexander was on her way to a monster junior season, averaging 21.0 points and 15.7 rebounds through three games before the stress fracture hit.

She's up to five hours per day off crutches. Her condition will be assessed after Monday X-rays.

“She's moving around very nicely,” Coach Lisa Bluder said. “We're not even talking red-shirt yet.”

Alexander is one of four inactive Hawkeyes. JoAnn Hamlin is done for the season with a blood clot in her leg. Hannah Draxten continues to be sidelined with a herniated disc, and progress is slow. Shante Jones is out for unspecified in-house disciplinary issues.

Bluder will start freshmen Printy, Johnson and Taylor and sophomores Wahlin and Krei in the Big Ten opener Sunday against Michigan. Tip-off is 5 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

“The experience our freshmen are getting ... nobody else in the Big Ten is getting that kind of experience for their freshmen,” Bluder said.

Alexander want to play, and she wants to play soon.

“It usually hits around game time,” she said. “I'm like, ‘Ugh, I can't play.'

“My goal is (to return for) Drake (Dec. 20) and South Dakota State (Dec. 22).”