For short-staffed Iowa women’s basketball, the challenge multiplies at Michigan

MADISON, Wis. — Iowa’s small circle of seven was more enough against Wisconsin.

But Wisconsin isn’t Michigan.

“Obviously, it’s a big challenge,” Caitlin Clark said about the Hawkeyes’ voyage to Ann Arbor. “We want to play the best, compete with the best, beat the best.

“It’s a tall task, but anybody can be beaten on any given day.”

Tipoff is 5:30 p.m. (CT) Sunday at Crisler Center. The game will be televised by BTN.

Depleted by injuries, the 21st-ranked Hawkeyes (15-5 overall, 9-2 Big Ten) showed moxie in an 84-50 rout at Wisconsin on Thursday. They were without six players, including starters McKenna Warnock (left hand) and Gabbie Marshall (right arm or shoulder).

Those two, both injured in Monday’s loss to Ohio State, combine for 19 points per game.

After a slow start Thursday, the Hawkeyes rolled, making 36 of their last 55 shots (65 percent) after an 0-for-6 start.

“Once we got a feel for the game, we were able to jell with one another. We played for each other, and for those that couldn’t play,” said Tomi Taiwo, who made the second start of her career.

“Nobody was hanging their heads because of the injuries.”

Bluder said, “I told the team, we have enough with the seven we’ve got. We have enough to win. They don’t need to do something they don’t normally do.”

All of the seven active players logged at least 15 minutes. That includes Addison O’Grady (7-for-9 shooting for a career-high 16 points and three blocks) and Sydney Affolter (a career-high eight rebounds in 24 minutes).

“I’m really proud of all of them,” Bluder said. “That’s why we recruited them; they’re good players.”

Now, the challenge multiplies.

No. 6 Michigan (19-2, 10-1) is the Big Ten leader. A win would vault the Wolverines into their first top-five national-poll appearance in school history.

“They’re a great team. I really like the way they play,” Bluder said. “It’s a tough place to play, and we haven’t been very successful there lately.”

Iowa has lost four straight at Crisler.

As brilliant as Clark — who leads the nation in scoring and assists — has been, especially recently, she’s not a slam dunk for Big Ten player-of-the-year honors.

Michigan post Naz Hillmon has been the cornerstone of Michigan’s arrival into Big Ten contention, averaging 20.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. She shoots 58.3 percent from the field.

“Naz is one of the best undersized posts I’ve ever seen,” Bluder said.

As the Hawkeyes’ active roster has dwindled, so have the reps in practice.

“We’ve got to be very careful in practice,” Bluder said. “It’s got to be more of a mental preparation. We need full legs at game time.”

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