Iowa Hawkeyes ‘champing at the bit’ for an NCAA women’s basketball run

IOWA CITY — Monika Czinano figures a little bedtime assistance might be in order Thursday night.

“Definitely going to have to take a Melatonin,” Czinano said Thursday, referring to the sleep supplement. “Going to be very wired. But I'm so excited.”

March Madness has arrived.

No. 8 Iowa (23-7) begins a potentially lengthy NCAA women’s basketball tournament run Friday against Illinois State (19-13). Tipoff is 3 p.m. in a game that is sold out and will be televised nationally by ESPN.

“This is the time every basketball player dreams for, and we've been dreaming all season and offseason,” Czinano said. “I think more than anything it's just excitement for what's to come and knowing what our team is capable of.”

The Hawkeyes have rattled off seven consecutive victories, shared the Big Ten regular-season championship and claimed the Big Ten tournament title. But Friday’s game will be their first in 12 days.

“I think our team is champing at the bit to get back on the court,” Coach Lisa Bluder said. “I think the break was well deserved and needed. There’s the highs and then you have to come down from that and then build back up again.”

Illinois State, on the other hand, is coming off a relatively short four-day break. The 15-seed Redbirds clinched their first NCAA appearance since 2008 Sunday, rallying past Northern Iowa, 50-48, for the Missouri Valley Conference tournament championship.

“Just such an incredible accomplishment for our program,” Illinois State Coach Kristen Gillespie said. “As a coach to be able to watch your players' dreams come true before your very eyes, it's unlike anything.

“I'm just so thankful that I get to be their coach, and we're just thrilled to be here.”

In Friday’s first game, 7-seed Colorado (22-8) faces 10-seed Creighton (20-9) at 12:30 p.m.

Winners play at a time to be determined Sunday, with the survivor advancing to the Sweet 16 next Friday at Greensboro, N.C.

Iowa advanced to the 2019 Elite Eight in Greensboro. COVID-19 impacted the following two tournaments, canceling the 2020 event and forcing the 2021 tourney into the bubble in San Antonio.

The Hawkeyes reached the Sweet 16 last year, but that wasn’t the same. Friday’s crowd will be listed as 14,382.

“It makes me feel like our product is appreciated by our fans, that they're excited about watching us. They're excited about supporting us,” Bluder said. “It doesn't happen everywhere. There are a lot of really good basketball teams across the country that don't get the support from their communities and from their state like we do.

“We don't take it for granted. We appreciate it, and I think that's one of the things that makes this team so kind of lovable is that they do appreciate it.”

History is on Iowa’s side Friday. In the 27-year history of the current NCAA format, 2 seeds are 108-0 against 15 seeds in the first round. Take it one step further, and top-three seeds are 323-1 in their opening game.

The Hawkeyes are led by their All-America tandem of Caitlin Clark (first team, national leader in scoring and assists) and Czinano (honorable mention, national leader in field-goal percentage).

Illinois State counters with a defense that yielded 47.3 points in its three games in the MVC tournament.

“(They’re a) really good defensive team,” Bluder said. “They play exclusively player-to-player. I know they're going to bring help on Monika, but they just really do a good job.”

Gillespie said, “We’ve played teams that play all different styles. We are who we are, though, and I like who we are. I think we have a good game plan.

“Now, is it going to be enough? I don't know.”

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com