For 22 days, Iowa women’s basketball will be 1-0 (or 0-1) in the Big Ten

IOWA CITY — From a Rutgers standpoint, this is the best time (and best place) to be facing Iowa.

“They do have good bounce right now,” Iowa Coach Jan Jensen said of the Scarlet Knights.

A back-of-the-pack Big Ten program recently (13-58 through the last four years), Rutgers is 0-0 right now.

Optimism is still warranted.

No. 12 Iowa (8-0) heads to New Jersey for its conference opener against the Scarlet Knights (7-2). Tipoff is 5 p.m. (CT) at Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway for a game televised nationally by FS1.

“It’s going to be another good challenge for us,” Jensen said. “We’ve only had one true road game.

“It will be fun. I hope it’s fun in the win column.”

Rutgers was a force, especially on the defensive end, in the peak of C. Vivian Stringer’s tenure as head coach, but the program has slid hard. Iowa has won 14 of the last 15 in the series.

So far, the Hawkeyes have held up through a growing list of injuries. Chit-Chat Wright has missed the last three games, Emely Rodriguez and Teagan Mallegni the last two.

“I haven’t talked to the trainer yet (Thursday), but Chat and Emely truly are day-to-day,” Jensen said, adding that neither had practiced this week. “I don’t suspect that we’ll get them all back at the same time.”

In her three games in Wright’s role as starting point guard, sophomore Taylor Stremlow has proven capable, averaging 7.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.7 rebounds per game.

Addie Deal’s minutes, and production, also have risen: 4.6 points per game through the first six contests, 13.0 in the last two.

“When you get thrown a little adversity, you have to look at the positives,” Jensen said.

“I have confidence in Stremlow at the point guard, and Addie has been able to get a few more minutes, as has had some success with that.”

After Saturday’s game, the Hawkeyes close out the non-conference portion of their schedule with contests at Iowa State (Wednesday), home against Lindenwood (Dec. 13) and against Connecticut (Dec. 20)

The next Big Ten game is Dec. 28, at home against Penn State. So the Hawkeyes will be sitting at 1-0 or 0-1 for 22 days.

A win would put Iowa at 9-0 overall for the first time since 2004-05.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com