#41 Iowa Women's Basketball 2013-2014 Preview


Iowa Hawkeyes

Overall Rank: #41
Conference Rank: #6 Big Ten
#41 Iowa Women's Basketball 2013-2014 Preview
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It was a season of mixed results for the Iowa women’s basketball team. The Hawkeyes split their Big Ten schedule right down the middle but managed 21 victories overall and a trip to the NCAA tournament. Once there Iowa defeated Miami but lost by 17 points to a Skylar Diggins-dominated Notre Dame squad. It could be a season of rebuilding for the Hawkeyes, who lost two of their double-digit scorers and have a lineup loaded with freshmen and sophomores. How this team does in the Big Ten and overall will depend largely on how quickly the team comes together as the season starts.

2012-13 Record: 21-13, 8-8
2012-13 Postseason: NCAA (lost in second round to Notre Dame, 74-57)
Coach: Lisa Bluder
Coach Record: 251-157 at Iowa, 607-299 overall

Strengths:
Iowa was a top 25 team in two categories, rating 10th in blocked shots per game (5.6) and 23rd in free-throw percentage (75.6 percent). The blocking was largely due to two players, and one of those players, junior center Bethany Doolittle, with 59 blocks, is back for another season. The two top free-throw shooters are gone (see weaknesses) but players such as Theairra Taylor (75.8%) and Samantha Logic (65.9%) are back to help the Hawkeyes achieve success in those categories. Logic’s return also helps Iowa on the offensive glass, where she had 81 offensive rebounds and provided plenty of help on second-chance baskets. Carver-Hawkeye Arena was also an intimidating place to play for many opponents, as Iowa’s 12-6 home record indicates. To win over half your games in the confines of Iowa City suggests a solid team with home-court advantage, although you could also argue the team has weakness on the road. And speaking of weaknesses…

Weaknesses:
The team’s two top scorers, Morgan Johnson and Jaime Printy, graduated and took with them 27 points of the team’s 67.5 points per game. It is always a weakness when a team loses its two top scorers, not to mention all of the offense that goes out the door when that happens. What can save Iowa from dropping off the face of the earth in terms of offense is the fact the third through seventh leading scorers are all back and their combined average is 35 points per game. Still, scorers such as Taylor and Doolittle must improve their respective 8.7 and 7.2 averages if they hope to make a difference. The odds are they will because Johnson and Printy’s production needs to be covered somehow.

Final Projection:
Bluder tapped the Iowa-Nebraska area to recruit freshman talent, including guard Alexa Kastanek, forward Hailey Schneden and guard/forward Ally Disterhoft, who should please many fans as Disterhoft went to school at Iowa City West. This 6-foot freshman guard could be a possible sleeper for the future. Disterhoft was one of 40 seniors selected to PARADE magazine’s All-America team. As for the remainder of the squad, there is enough talent back so that another 20-win season and a tournament appearance should happen.

Projected Postseason Tournament:  NCAA

Projected Starting Five:
Samantha Logic, Junior, Guard, 9.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game
Theairra Taylor, Senior, Guard, 8.4 points per game
Melissa Dixon, Junior, Guard, 10.1 points per game
Claire Till, Sophomore, Forward, 1.7 points per game
Bethany Doolittle, Junior, Center, 7.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game

By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 67.5 (65th in nation, 5th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 62.4 (191, 10)
Field-Goal Percentage: 42.3 (46, 6)
Field-Goal Defense: 37.2 (84, 4)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 5.6 (99, 3)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 33.2 (59, 5)
Free-Throw Percentage: 75.6 (23, 4)
Rebound Margin: 0.2 (156, 7)
Assists Per Game: 15.7 (26, 2)
Turnovers Per Game: 15.9 (108, 7)

 

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