What we think the 2023-24 Iowa women’s basketball non-conference schedule will look like

Enough waiting, already.

September has arrived, and there still is no women’s basketball schedule release by the University of Iowa. Part of the reason, presumably, is the fact that the Big Ten is extremely slow on the draw this year in posting a conference slate (usually done in July, though we have known for quite some time who the Hawkeyes will play, both home and away).

With some digging (mostly to other teams’ websites) and some word of mouth, we think we have a pretty good handle on the Hawkeyes’ non-conference schedule.

Here’s a fairly confident guess:

DePaul (Crossover at Kinnick)

SUNDAY, OCT. 15

Not sure if this is going to be termed as a “scrimmage” (as it was last year in suburban Chicago) or an “exhibition,” but it’s sure to be a spectacule (weather permitting). Expect a crowd of 50,000 at Kinnick for this event, unless the weather dictates otherwise.

Fairleigh Dickinson (home)

MONDAY, NOV. 6

Found on FDU website. A nice way to ring in the new season, officially, for the Hawkeyes. FDU was 24-8 last season, and the Knights’ athletics department got a boost from the men’s team’s 16-over-1 upset of Purdue in last year’s NCAA tournament.

Degree of difficulty (scale of 1 to 10): 5.

Virginia Tech (at Charlotte, N.C.)

THURSDAY, NOV. 9

The plum of the Hawkeyes’ non-conference schedule, for sure. All-America post Elizabeth Kitley returns for her fifth year, and both teams are coming off historical seasons, both of which were halted by LSU in Dallas (the Hokies let a second-half lead slip away in a 79-72 semifinal defeat).

Degree of difficulty: 9.

Northern Iowa (away)

SUNDAY, NOV. 12

Found on the UNI website. It’s never easy for the Hawkeyes when they play the Panthers — or Drake — on the road, and UNI put a pounding on the Hawkeyes at McLeod Center four years ago. Ten Iowans are on UNI’s roster, including former Hawkeye Shateah Wetering, and they’ll be hungry.

Degree of difficulty: 6.5.

Kansas State (home)

THURSDAY, NOV. 16

Located at the K-State website. Think the Hawkeyes will be ready for this one? K-State clipped Iowa by a point last season at Manhattan, in which Caitlin Clark was injured on the final play of the game. If Ayoka Lee — the Wildcats’ 6-foot-6 All-America post — is back after missing last year with a torn ACL, K-State is a Big 12 dark horse.

Degree of difficulty: 7.

Drake (home)

SUNDAY, NOV. 19

Found on the Drake website. The Bulldogs won the Missouri Valley Conference tournament championship, then gave Louisville all it could handle in the first round of the NCAA. It’s always a high-scoring stresser for the Hawkeyes at the Knapp Center, not as much so when they play at Carver. Five Iowans on the Drake roster.

Degree of difficulty: 6.

Purdue Fort Wayne (at Estero, Fla.)

FRIDAY, NOV. 24

The Mastadons have a cool nickname, but they also had a 14-19 record last year. Tipoff of the Gulf Coast Showcase opener is 6:30 p.m. (CT), and the Hawkeyes should have Purdue Fort Wayne in the rearview mirror by 7.

Degree of difficulty: 3.

Gulf Coast Showcase Round 2 (at Estero, Fla.)

SATURDAY, NOV. 25

This could be a tricky semifinal, assuming Florida Gulf Coast advances in Round 1 vs. Delaware. The premier program of the Atlantic Sun Conference, FGCU has hit the 30-win plateau six times in the last nine years and has reached the second round of the NCAA tournament four times. This isn’t a gimme.

Degree of difficulty: 6.

Gulf Coast Showcase Round 3 (at Estero, Fla.)

SUNDAY, NOV. 26

Another meeting with Kansas State is possible in the final round, whether it’s the championship game or not. Other potential Game 3 foes, in order of likelihood, are North Carolina, Western Kentucky or Vermont.

Degree of difficulty: 7.

Bowling Green (home)

SATURDAY, DEC. 2

Found on the BGSU website. The teams had identical 31-7 records in 2022-23, and both had deep postseason runs. But the Falcons’ run came in the WNIT, and it ended in the semifinals.

Degree of difficulty: 5.

Iowa State (away)

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 6

This date hasn’t been set officially, but the men’s Cy-Hawk game has been announced for Dec. 7, and the women’s game is always the day before. ISU lost the great Ashley Joens to graduation, then starters Lexi Donarski and Denae Fritz transferred out. The top remaining player, guard Emily Ryan, is battling a lower-leg injury, so if there’s ever a time for the Hawkeyes to roll at Hilton Coliseum, this is it.

Degree of difficulty: 6.5.

Cleveland State (at Des Moines)

SATURDAY, DEC. 16

Credit the UI marketing folks for putting a men’s/women’s doubleheader together at Wells Fargo Arena. Frankly, the women’s game will be the better attraction; Cleveland State won 31 games, topped the Horizon League and reached the NCAA tournament last year.

Degree of difficulty: 5.

Loyola Chicago (home)

THURSDAY, DEC. 21

Found at the LUC website. Recent men’s basketball success allowed Loyola to “upgrade” from the Missouri Valley Conference to the Atlantic 10. But success hasn’t followed for the Ramblers’ women, who went 6-24 last season. Iowa will head into the Big Ten season with a lopsided win.

Degree of difficulty: 1.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com