For the Hawkeyes, ‘auditions happen every day’ for playing time

IOWA CITY — Maybe it was nothing. Perhaps it was something substantial.

Ava Heiden mentioned something about “starting with a smaller lineup, for more perimeter defense” when 23rd-ranked Iowa (12-3, 2-2) visits Illinois (11-4, 1-3) in a Big Ten women’s basketball game Thursday night.

Heiden looked toward Coach Jan Jensen for approval on that comment: “Is it OK I said that?”

When Jensen arrived at the podium, she neither confirmed or denied a lineup change.

“The thinking isn’t entirely that we’re going to shift our lineup,” she said. “There needs to be a purpose for what you’re changing. But it’s good with our versatility.

“I expect a lot of different lineups. There are some ways we can be a little bigger or smaller. We’re trying to land on maximizing that.”

Tipoff is 6 p.m. at State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill.

The Hawkeyes have ridden with a 10-player rotation through most of the season.

Addison O’Grady, Hannah Stuelke, Kylie Feuerbach, Lucy Olsen and Sydney Affolter have started at least 13 games apiece. Taylor McCabe has been a key reserve, along with freshmen Heiden, Taylor Stremlow, Aaliyah Guyton and Teagan Mallegni.

Jensen said that former coach Lisa Bluder “played a certain amount of kids, and didn’t deviate from that much,” and that “this is a different way to roll.

“It comes down to who’s tracking. Auditions happen every day (in practice). Sometimes, it’s scripted somewhat, but I’m not a big script person. I’m more with going with my gut, for good or bad.”

The Hawkeyes are coming off a 74-66 home loss to No. 8 Maryland. They got behind by 25 points in the first half, got within five late then ran out of time.

“The first half wasn’t pretty,” Stremlow said. “But we cleaned it up. It’s not just about how you start. It’s how you finish, too.”

Heiden said that the late rally “shows that we have the aptitude for that.”

Sunday’s game was the 15th for the Hawkeyes, marking the regular-season midpoint. Jensen was asked whether her first team had gained an identity.

“I think we’re pretty resilient,” she said. “They’re gritty. They bring it. We’re young, and I see our future often.”

The Hawkeyes are tied for ninth in the 18-team Big Ten, and any road wins are a bonus.

“Whether we win or lose (Thursday), there’s still a lot of runway left,” Jensen said. “It’s still pretty early.

“The two storylines (in the Big Ten) are the West Coast, Hollywood (meaning the arrival of UCLA and USC) and a lot of really great teams that any night can challenge those teams.”

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com