A problem solved, another pops up

IOWA CITY -- It's the women's basketball version of the Whac-A-Mole arcade game.

"We think we have a problem solved, and something else pops up," said University of Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder.

"They're problems that can be solved, but I'm not really a patient person."

Bluder's patience has been tested in a 6-5 start that has included losses against UNLV and Bradley.

"Maybe our hopes were set too high," Bluder said. "The kids are disappointed; they're not happy with the way things are going. Once the pieces are in place, we still have the potential to be a very good team. But we're not there yet."

So in the wake of Saturday's 96-88 loss at Bradley, Bluder scaled back the complexity at practice. It's been a lot of fundamentals, a lot of defense.

The Hawkeyes conclude intrastate competition Tuesday against Drake (5-4). Tipoff is 7 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

It's another Missouri Valley Conference opponent, and that should be enough to make Morgan Johnson's eyes light up.

The Hawkeyes have played two MVC foes this season, and Johnson has had her way of both of them.

She scored 23 points in a win at Northern Iowa in November, then dropped a career-high 37 against Bradley.

"I feel bad when a kid has a career night like that and we lose," Bluder said. "I wish we could have celebrated that kind of performance.

"Morgan shot the ball well Saturday and is altering shots."

The Big Ten player of the week, Johnson will tussle in the middle with Drake's Rachael Hackbarth, who is averaging 19 points per game.

The Hawkeyes' margin for error is growing slimmer. Iowa has an RPI of 76 and has only one win (St. John's) against top-100 competition. Right now, it's not an NCAA-worthy resume.

Iowa has two more non-conference games remaining -- Tuesday against Drake, Thursday against Mississippi Valley State -- before beginning Big Ten play Dec. 30 at home against Northwestern.

DRAKE (5-4) at IOWA (6-5)

Where: Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City

Tipoff: 7 p.m.

TV: Mediacom Connections, tape delayed, 9:30 p.m.

Radio: WMT-AM (600), KXIC-AM (800)

Scouting report: Iowa concludes its intrastate series for the season (the Hawkeyes defeated UNI and lost to Iowa State). The Hawkeyes have beaten Drake nine straight times, but have lost three of their last four games, including a 96-88 defeat at Bradley on Saturday. Morgan Johnson scored a career-high 37 points and is the Big Ten player of the week. Drake has won four straight games and is led by Rachael Hackbarth (19.0 ppg).

Next for Iowa: vs. Mississippi Valley State, Thursday, 5 p.m.;

Next for Drake: vs. Loyola-Chicago, Thursday, 5:05 p.m.