If there was any doubt about expectations needing to be recalibrated for this Iowa women’s basketball season, the first week has set a pretty clear tone.
Top-five win on a neutral court. In-state drubbing with a Iowa-heavy road crowd watching. And now, knocking on the door of the program’s first No. 1 ranking in 35 years.
Following a 3-0 start, paired with opening-week losses from No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Connecticut, the Hawkeyes moved up one spot to No. 2 in the latest Associated Press women’s basketball poll. Iowa picked up 13 of 36 first-place votes, while new No. 1 South Carolina garnered the other 23.
With coach Lisa Bluder and superstar Caitlin Clark at the controls, Iowa women’s basketball is shining brighter than ever before, with eyes on another elite campaign. However, the Hawkeyes will be the first to tell you that a No. 2 ranking one week and three games into the season means little for what’s ahead. If it were possible for Clark and Iowa’s target to grow larger, it just did — and quality foes are taking aim right away.
“Our schedule is not easy,” Clark said after becoming the program’s all-time leading scorer in Sunday’s 94-53 win at UNI. “That’s what prepares you for tough games in March. Next week is not going to get any easier for us, and that’s what is exciting about it. We get to prepare for really great teams every single week.”
Up next are Thursday’s contest against Kansas State (2-0) and Sunday’s showdown versus Drake (3-0), both at home. Although Iowa will be a comfortable favorite in each game, two more intriguing non-conference tests should keep the Hawkeyes dialed into this important November stretch.
“Our group is mature enough to understand,” Clark said, “this is just the starting block.”
This Iowa group has been tested right away with balancing early success and its minimal impact on long-term goals. All indications are the Hawkeyes are just fine handling it all.
Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.