Bluder seeing a lot of injuries this year

Coach long enough, and you see it all.

What Lisa Bluder is seeing in her 26th year is injuries. Lots of them. And it's only November.

“We've got three of them I've never experienced before,” Bluder said as the University of Iowa women prepare for tonight's basketball game against No. 19 Kansas.

JoAnn Hamlin, the Hawkeyes' lone senior, remains hospitalized with a blood clot in her leg, a condition that most likely will end her career. Bluder was hopeful Hamlin would be out of intensive care late Tuesday, out of the hospital today and at tonight's game.

Theairra Taylor (fractured eye socket) and Hannah Draxten (herniated disc) should be back in a couple of weeks. Gabby Machado is sidelined with a sprained ankle.

That leaves an eight-player rotation for a game Bluder calls “one of our most difficult non-conference games of the season.”

“They're an excellent team,” she said. “They have size and speed.”

KU whipped the Hawkeyes, 76-55, last season at Lawrence.

All isn't dark for the Hawkeyes, though.

Iowa (2-0) outrebounded its two opponents by 10 per game. The freshmen, particularly Morgan Johnson (10.0 ppg) and Jaime Printy (9.0 ppg) continue to progress.

Oh, and there's Kachine Alexander.

The Big Ten co-player of the week is averaging 20 points and 15 rebounds.

“She's so much fun to watch,” Bluder said. “She's such a great example on how never to give up or quit on a play. She doesn't let the other team relax for one second.”