Machado's departure causes a shortfall in paint

IOWA CITY - Gabby Machado has left the University of Iowa women's basketball program, and Coach Lisa Bluder said "there really isn't much out there" to replace her.

Machado, a sturdy freshman post, announced last week that she was looking for options closer to her native Pontiac, Mich., so she could be closer to her ailing father.

"It really did come as a surprise," Bluder said. "But you have to support a kid who is going home for that reason."

Unless JoAnn Hamlin is granted a sixth year by the NCAA - an extreme unlikelihood - Machado's absence creates a shortfall in the paint.

There's 6-foot-4 Morgan Johnson, who enjoyed a solid freshman season, averaging 8.7 points and 6.4 rebounds while starting in all 34 games.

After that, it's pretty thin.

Bluder said it's too late to flush out a late recruit, from either the high-school or junior-college level.

"The men's and women's games are a little different," she said. "There aren't a lot of options out there.

"There are so few inside players anyway, and there are 100 other schools recruiting them."

So Kelsey Cermak, at 6-1, is "probably going to have to be our second post" as a senior, Bluder said.

Cermak averaged 1.9 points last year.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Jade Rogers is Iowa's lone incoming freshman. She'll be a small forward.

The load, then, falls primarily on Johnson.

"I think she'll make a big jump," Bluder said. "She played a lot last year, and I think we can get more out of her."