Iowa women’s basketball: An early Big Ten bye and some midseason observations

IOWA CITY — The Iowa Hawkeyes have had time to tweak, to add some wrinkles and to let that Champaign loss fester.

More time than Coach Lisa Bluder would prefer.

“I don’t think we need the rest, but we do have to use it when it’s available,” Bluder said. “Do you want the bye this early? Absolutely not.”

But the early bye, 16th-ranked Iowa got. The Hawkeyes (11-4 overall, 3-1 Big Ten) return to action with a biggie Saturday against No. 14 Michigan (13-2, 3-1).

Tipoff is 3:30 p.m. (Iowa time) at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor in a game that will be televised nationally by FOX. The teams are part of a five-way tie for second place in the loss column, all a game behind front-running Ohio State.

Surprising Illinois crossed the Hawkeyes off the list of Big Ten unbeatens Sunday, 90-86.

Since then, the Hawkeyes have been “adding a few wrinkles offensively,” Bluder said. “By now, people have you scouted, so you need to add an out-of-bounds play or a quick hitter.”

Like Iowa (with Monika Czinano), Michigan been the beneficiary of players opting to use their COVID-related fifth year of eligibility. Emily Kiser (17.3 points per game) and Leigha Brown (15.8) have stuck around.

As a result, the Wolverines remain a Big Ten title contender, even without the graduated Naz Hillmon.

“They’re a little different without Naz,” Bluder said. “Brown is playing point guard instead of the wing. (Laila) Phelia had taken off where she left off (last year). Kiser’s numbers are up in her fifth year.”

With 15 games in the books, the Hawkeyes have passed the midpoint of the regular season. Bluder was asked for a midseason assessment of her team.

“I can definitely say that Monika and Caitlin (Clark) have been everything they were touted to be,” she said. “And I’m very happy with McKenna (Warnock).

“Hannah (Stuelke) has played wonderful. The second half (of the season), she’s going to get better and better.”

On the other hand ...

“We’re not shooting the 3 as well as I’d like,” she said.

Senior Gabbie Marshall continues to lag offensively. A third-year starter, Marshall is averaging 4.5 points per game, shooting 30.1 percent from the field and 20.0 percent from long range.

Don’t expect any lineup changes.

“I think it’s a safe assumption” that the starting five will remain intact, Bluder said. “But you can never guarantee anything 100 percent.

“As soon as we get Gabbie on track, that will help us a lot.”

Now, back to Stuelke.

The Cedar Rapids native was the only post Bluder called upon Sunday. No Addison O’Grady, A.J. Ediger or Sharon Goodman.

“I just base it on who the five best players are, not the best 1-2-3-4-5,” Bluder said. “Hannah has proved she is one of our top six or seven players, so we’ll find additional ways to keep her on the floor other than just a backup 4.”

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com