Ignatius L Hoops
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The Conflagration Continues?
(Unfortunately, The Game is Probably the Least Important Thing About This Game)
(Unfortunately, The Game is Probably the Least Important Thing About This Game)
The plug and play nature of the Hawkeyes used to perturb me. Now, I’ve come, slowly, to appreciate Lisa Bluder’s ability to continually conjure up a steady mix of inside power players and hot shooting guards. The Dean of B1G coaches has made NCAA appearances in 10 of the last 12 seasons. An eight season NCAA streak beginning in 2007-08 ended with two WNIT appearances. I thought maybe the magic was seeping away; but then along came Megan Gustafson and two more trips NCAA. After a choppy start, this season looks likely to add a third straight invitation to the Big Dance.
B1G Wins: Illinois 108-82, @ Northwestern 77-51, Maryland 66-61, and Indiana 91-85 in 2 OT.
B1G Losses: Nebraska 69-78.
A 9-2 non-conference record, including losses to Northern Iowa and Washington, gave way to a B1G season opening loss in Lincoln. Monika Czinano (Watertown-Mayer), this season’s inside power player, did her part battling the Husker’s Kate Cain. Czinano finished with 16 points and 17 rebounds in the 69-78 loss. Despite that effort, the main story was that the Hawkeyes shot a very un-Hawkeye like 36.8% from the floor and 30% (6-20) from three. They got good looks; but couldn’t knock ’em down.
In today’s B1G, nothing cures your shooting woes quicker than a home visit from Doctor Illini. In Carver Hawkeye, Iowa’s record setting 108-72 win over Illinois was fueled by 65% shooting (39-60) from the floor. And it’s not like Bluder’s Bunch was only shooting layups. The Hawkeyes were 13-26 from behind the arc. Kathleen Doyle led Iowa with 33 points which included going 9-9 from the free throw line. Czinano scored 16, Makenzie Meyer added 15 and Ollinger 12 points were supplemented by 14 rebounds. The 108 points were an Iowa record; the 65% shooting was not. The Hawkeyes shot 70% against North Carolina Central earlier this season. The shooting glow carried over to a 77-51 win in Evanston.
Maryland was next to visit Iowa City and the Terps left Carver Hawkeye strapped with their third straight loss to Iowa. A quick shooting start by the Hawkeyes including a 6-6 three point barrage set the Terps back on their heels early and helped Iowa to a 39-30 half time lead. Maryland recovered to tie the game at 54 with 3:29 remaining. Alexis Sevillian subsequently knocked down a three followed by a jump shot to open a five point Iowa lead. The Hawkeyes shot free throws the rest of the way going 7-8. It was a guard show for the Hawks. Doyle dropped 21, Meyer 20 and Sevillian 15. Czinano fouled out with 4 points, 2 rebounds in 16 minutes of play.
Topping off the Maryland win was a two overtime 91-85 victory over visiting Indiana. Czinano fouled out and in overtime the Hawkeyes went five out. It worked. During the broadcast the announcers were talking about the Hawkeyes run of centers. Besides Bluder much of the credit goes to assistant coach Jan Jensen. But two items which were cited were 1) recruiting players who play back to the basket and 2) getting them in a strength and conditioning program. Bluder knows how to develop post player; but that’s a conversation for another time.
Anyway, enough about this season's Hawkeyes: I’ve wondered from where Lisa Bluder gets her players. Her recruiting has always seemed focused on the upper Midwest especially including Minnesota (I remember an Hawkeye Sports article titled, “Land of 10,000 Hawkeyes”). I took a look at Iowa rosters starting with the 2010-11 season. That was a team including Minnesotans: Wahlin, Alexander, Taylor and Draxten.
Iowa's Recruiting
In the ten years between 2010-11 and 2019-20 Bluder has recruited 46 players (This includes transfers):
14 Players from Iowa: Hanson, Nesbit, Krei, Cermak, Printy, Rodgers, V Johnson, Till, Disterhoff, Schneden, Meyer, Ollinger, Cook, Meyer
9 from Minnesota: Wahline, Alexander, Taylor, Draxten, Doolittle, Peschel, Timmerman, Coley, Czinano
5 from Illinois: Considine, Dixon, Smith, Doyle, Martin
3 from Michigan: Thomas, Gustafson, Davis, Servillian
5 from Wisconsin: Logic, Mohns, Gustafson, Cera Warnock
3 from Indiana: Jennings, Sanders, Taiwo
2 from Ohio: Reynolds, Marshall
1 each from Missouri, Nebraska, N. Dakota, Spain, Canada: M Johnson, Kastanek, Stewart, Ramos, Buttenham
It’s a Midwest focus that continues with next season’s signings: 3 from Iowa: Caitlin Clark, Sharon Goodman and Shateah Wetering. And 1 from Minnesota: Lauren Jensen. It’s an effective recruiting philosophy giving the Hawkeyes solid year to year success; but not, so far, a chance to break into the upper echelon of women’s basketball.
Minnesota's Recruiting
Minnesota in the same time frame has recruited, including transfers, 52 players (the 2010-11 class included the first seven Minnesotans listed below):
19 from Minnesota: Buford, Dvorak, Loberg, B Mastey, Mastey, Noga, Voight, Banham, Hirt, Mullaney, Johnson, Bailey, Hedstrom, Starr, Wagner, Fernstrom, Bell, Tinjum, Scalia
4 from Michigan: T Bello, K Bello, Pitts, Powell
3 from Iowa: Kellogg, Ross, Cumming
After that Minnesota has 2 each from Texas, Wisconsin, Canada, Colorado, New York
1 Each from: Alabama, Illinois, Kansas, Indiana, Romania, Conn., Sweden, Ohio, Australia, Hungary, Virginia, Spain, Czech Republic, Utah, Belarus, France.
It’s a much wider net; but it also represents the recruiting of three head coaches so there are multiple philosophies represented. Next year’s signees include 2 from Wisconsin: Caroline Strande and Erin Hedman. And 1 from Ohio: Alexis Smith
Previous Games: I covered last season’s loss to the Hawkeyes in the Illini game thread; so I should add some optimism -especially after today. Iowa and Minnesota have split the last eight matchups. They’ve gone Win, Loss, Win, Loss, Win, Loss, Win, Loss-which means it’s our turn to WIN!
Probable Starters (B1G Stats):
| Hgt | Pos | Cl | Player | Min | Pts | Reb |
| 5’9” | G | Sr | Kathleen Doyle | 32.8 | 23.8 | 3.6 |
| 6’3” | F/C | So | Monika Czinano | 28,0 | 16.0 | 6.6 |
| 5’9” | G | Sr | Makenzie Meyer | 36.4 | 13.2 | 3.6 |
| 6’1” | F | Sr | Amanda Ollinger | 31.0 | 7.4 | 10.- |
| 5’5” | G | RJr | Alexis Sevillian | 27.4 | 6.0 | 1.6 |
The Bench (B1G Stats):
| Hgt | Pos | Cl | Player | Min | Pts | Reb |
| 6’1” | G/F | Fr | McKenna Warnock | 21.8 | 9.0 | 5.2 |
| 5’9” | G | Fr | Gabbie Marshall | 15.2 | 3.4 | 1.6 |
| 5’10” | G | So | Tomi Taino | 8.0 | 2.0 | 0.6 |
| 5’8” | G | Fr | Megan Meyer | 5.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 |
| 6’0” | G | RFr | Kate Martin | 4.3 | 0.0 | 0.8 |
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