An oddity at Wisconsin: Kohl Center is sold out for women’s basketball

IOWA CITY — In terms of women’s basketball, the Kohl Center has been a venue for small crowds, and for constant frustration for the home team when the Iowa Hawkeyes come calling.

One of those is going to change Sunday. And probably only one.

A sellout crowd will be on hand in Madison when No. 4 Iowa (9-1) visits Wisconsin (5-3) in a Big Ten opener. Tipoff is 1:30 p.m.

It will be a far cry from a normal UW women’s game; the average home attendance this season is 3,111 for the Badgers.

“I’m interested to see what percentage of them are Iowa fans,” Coach Lisa Bluder said Friday.

Let’s assume high. Carver-Hawkeye Arena is sold out throughout the season, and most of the road arenas are trending that direction, too.

Sunday’s crowd is likely to witness a similar outcome as the smaller crowds before it.

Iowa has beaten Wisconsin 27 consecutive times, dating back almost 17 years. The Hawkeyes won last year’s two meetings, 102-71 and 91-61.

“This is a place that we’ve had some success,” Bluder said. “But they’ve improved over the years.”

Wisconsin’s next winning season will be its first since 2010-11. Last year’s six Big Ten wins were the Badgers’ most since that same season.

“They have improved over the years. They have a really good center in (Serah) Williams,” Bluder said.

Iowa has won six consecutive games, and in that stretch, Kate Martin has averaged 14.8 points per game (in the first four, she was at 7.5 ppg).

“It’s a matter that she understands that the team needs her,” Bluder said. “Last year, she was our third or fourth option. Now, she’s been our second option, especially when Hannah (Stuelke) was out.”

Bluder has a unique opportunity Saturday night in suburban Madison.

Iowa signees Taylor Stremlow and Teagan Mallegni will be on the same floor in a matchup between Wisconsin high school powers Verona Area and McFarland.

Tipoff is 7 p.m. at McFarland High School.

“We asked if the team could come, but the compliance department said no, because it’s considered an illegal activity for recruiting,” Bluder said.

“Actually, it was Caitlin (Clark) that asked if the whole team could go. It would be really fun to support their future teammates. But unfortunately, they put the kibosh on that.”

Following Sunday’s game, the Hawkeyes swing back into non-conference mode for two games (Cleveland State at Des Moines on Saturday, then Loyola-Chicago at home on Dec. 21).

Then they begin Big Ten play for keeps Dec. 30 at Carver against Minnesota.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com