Hawkeyes’ 3-game whirlwind ends at Minnesota

IOWA CITY - The Big Ten Network provides exposure and revenue to its member schools.

It also can create havoc with a schedule.

'It was really nice when we played on Thursdays and Sundays,” Iowa women's basketball coach Lisa Bluder said Monday. 'It was predictable. It was easy for players and coaches.”

This stretch, this isn't easy for anybody.

No. 13 Iowa (21-4 overall, 12-2 Big Ten) faces its third game in a six-day stretch when it takes on Minnesota (20-6, 9-5) at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Williams Arena in Minneapolis.

The Hawkeyes won at Nebraska on Thursday, came home and defeated Indiana on Sunday, then took a deep breath and hopped on a plane Monday night for the Twin Cities.

'We have to let go of the way things used to be,” Bluder said. 'It's a necessary evil.

'Today at practice, we spent a lot of time on film. That doesn't wear you out. The majority of practice, we worked on (the Gophers), not on us.”

Iowa's roster contains three Minnesotans - Bethany Doolittle, Kali Peschel and Chase Coley. For Doolittle, it's her final appearance in her home state.

'It will be a special game for me,” said the senior post. 'My mom is trying to get a lot of family and fans to come support us. I think there will be good Hawkeye energy in the arena.”

Minnesota has recovered from the injury of all-everything Rachel Banham, who tore her ACL in early December, and then some. The Gophers' have reached 20 wins during the regular season for the first time since 2007-08.

'They have incredible talent, great size,” Bluder said. 'They have had the Big Ten player of the week seven times and the freshman of the week three times.”

Iowa, meanwhile?

'Nothing,” Bluder said. 'That's crazy, in my opinion. We've had some great performances this season.”

Bluder's next victory will be her 300th at Iowa. She owns a 299-170 mark in 15 seasons.

This has been the best for Bluder in Iowa City, even if there is precious little time to enjoy it.

'We need to take more time to do that,” she said. '(Sunday night), we had about 10 minutes to enjoy the (Indiana) victory. Then it was on to (preparation for) Minnesota.

'If you don't take time to stop and celebrate, you're missing the fun of the journey.”

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com