With only 11 players on the roster of the women’s hoops team, many fans and media seem to be concerned about the lack of depth this season.
At the beginning of her press conference, head coach Lisa Bluder made it known that despite small numbers, “this group is mighty in spirit.”
“We have 11 players on our roster, but I feel that is all the pieces we need to compete,” she said.
Two seniors, three juniors, three sophomores, and three freshmen make up the roster, which is a healthy mix of experienced and youthful talent.
“I have to be careful of their legs, but I’m going to worry about their legs in practice and not during games,” Bluder said. “You worry about their legs, but you also remember they’re 18- and 20-year-olds. When the lights come on, the fans come out, they’ll be ready to go.”
Davis set to bounce back
After tearing her ACL against Michigan in February last season, sophomore guard Tania Davis is way ahead of schedule, Bluder said, and she should be good to go for the Iowa exhibition on Nov. 5.
Before being shut down for the season, Davis averaged 10.9 points and 4.3 assists while starting in all 23 games.
“She just has an ability to get to the rim and shoot over people who are much taller than her,” Bluder said. “She has no fear of going in there.”
No games off in nonconference
The nonconference schedule will be no cakewalk for the Hawkeyes.
The team will play at Northern Iowa and Iowa State and play host to Drake. The Hawkeye Challenge, which is played during Thanksgiving week, will consist of three teams that were in last year’s NCAA Tournament: Quinnipiac, Missouri, and Western Kentucky.
“I think a very challenging schedule for our team,” Bluder said. “Our team is eager to get the season underway.”
Iowa is scheduled to play Florida State in Carver-Hawkeye for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Seminoles were ranked as high as seventh last season.
No Disterhoft, no problem
It’s never easy to lose your program’s all-time leading scorer, and Iowa recognizes that. Nonetheless, Bluder thinks the team has enough weapons to replace the high-scoring Ally Disterhoft.
“She was a four-year starter for us, just an amazing basketball player, and obviously a tremendous student as well,” Bluder said. “But one person is not going to replace Ally. Everybody’s got to get better. For us to replace Ally, it’s got to be a group effort.”
Preseason All-Big Ten junior forward Megan Gustafson will be the most likely candidate to fill the scoring void left by Disterhoft’s departure. Gustafson led the team in scoring, rebounding, and field-goal percentage, averaging a double-double with 18.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game while shooting 64.7 percent from the field.
Potent backcourt
With the return of Davis, the Hawkeyes boast one of the most intriguing guard groups in the country, with Davis and sophomores Makenzie Meyer and Kathleen Doyle.
Known for her 3-point shooting, Meyer’s comfort on the court has skyrocketed with a jump in playing time, her coach said.
Doyle took a back seat in the scoring department last season — she was more of a leader and making plays for her teammates. This year, Bluder says, she expects Doyle to look to attack the basket and score more.
While Doyle and Davis are both traditional point guards, Bluder thinks their games will complement each other well when they’re on the floor together.