New-look Hawkeyes have something to prove

IOWA CITY — The Iowa Hawkeyes face a women's basketball season of transition.

And possibly, toward transition.

Samantha Logic, Melissa Dixon and Bethany Doolittle — the highest scoring trio of a senior class in Big Ten history — are but a fond memory now. And so is last year's journey to the Sweet 16.

'I can assure you it's not all doom and gloom around our program,' Coach Lisa Bluder said Thursday at the Hawkeyes' media day at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. 'We have great optimism in the gym, and we have a group of women that are kind of excited about proving everybody wrong.

'One of the joys of athletics is when people count you out and you really go out and prove everybody wrong.'

The Hawkeyes have reached eight consecutive NCAA tournaments. A ninth is possible, but not automatic.

'Everybody is expecting us to be a little bit down this year,' said sophomore guard Whitney Jennings. 'We do want to prove them wrong.'

Well, not everyone is discounting the Hawkeyes, who posted a 26-8 record and finished second to Maryland in the Big Ten last year. After media-day festivities were complete, the USA Today coaches' poll was released, and Iowa was ranked No. 23.

Jennings, who averaged 9.1 points per game last season as a rookie, and freshman Tania Davis will form one of the smallest — and one of the fastest — backcourts in the nation.

'Tania is a great point guard,' Jennings said. 'She brings quickness and the ability to defend. She and I will look to get out and push the ball.'

Jennings (5-foot-5) and Davis (5-4) both are natural point guards. But, Bluder said, they'll both be on the court together a lot.

'I consider our offense position-less basketball,' Bluder said. 'We don't have to have the best 1, 2, 3, 4 on the team on the floor at the same time.

'What that affords you to do is have the best basketball players on the floor at the same time. I think we can be a more up-tempo team this year.'

The Hawkeyes' best player, without a doubt, is junior Ally Disterhoft, a preseason all-Big Ten player by the coaches and a 2015 academic all-American.

Disterhoft matched Dixon for the team lead in scoring last year at 14.8 points per game.

'I'm extremely excited about this year,' said Disterhoft, a former Miss Iowa Basketball at Iowa City West. 'Players are coming in with a chip on their shoulders. We lost some great players, but what we still have here are players ready to step up, and that's exciting.'

Disterhoft and senior Kali Peschel (5.1 ppg) are co-captains. Both of their roles will increase, and like Jennings and Davis, both can get up and down the court.

Iowa's biggest shortcoming last year came on the backboards. They Hawkeyes were outrebounded by almost five boards per game last year. Sophomore Chase Coley and freshman Megan Gustafson are the most prominent post presences.

Coley averaged 2.9 points per game and shot 64.9 percent from the floor last season. Gustafson is the all-time leading high school scorer in Wisconsin with 3,229 points.

'We push each other, and it's going to make us both better,' Coley said. 'I think I've improved my moves down low. I'm working on facing the basket more this year.'

The 6-foot-3 Gustafson is a more traditional center.

Davis (Michigan), Gustafson (Wisconsin) and Hannah Stewart (North Dakota) were the high school players of the year last season in their respective states. And Tagyn Larson (Sioux Falls, S.D.) is a top-100 recruit.

'I like our freshmen a lot,' Disterhoft said. 'They're good learners. They ask a ton of questions.'

The Hawkeyes open with an exhibition Nov. 8 against Upper Iowa. Then it starts for real Nov. 13 against North Dakota. The Big Ten season begins Dec. 31 at Nebraska.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: 2015-16 IOWA HAWKEYES

* Coach: Lisa Bluder (16th season at Iowa, 304-174; 32nd season overall, 660-316)

* Last year: 26-8 (14-4 in Big Ten), advanced to NCAA Sweet 16

* Key returners: G Ally Disterhoft, G Whitney Jennings, F Kali Peschel

* Key losses: G Samantha Logic, F Melissa Dixon, C Bethany Doolittle

* Key newcomers: F Megan Gustafson, G Tania Davis, F Hannah Stewart, F Tagyn Larson

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com