Iowa Women's Basketball Big Ten schedule released
It’s official. We have Iowa Women’s Basketball schedule in its entirety. Earlier this afternoon, the Big Ten Conference unveiled the conference dates for all 18 teams. The season will come to a close with the Big Ten Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis from March 5th-9th. The Iowa Hawkeyes will open Big Ten play on December 15th against the Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing.
Full Iowa Women’s Basketball Big Ten Schedule
December 15 – at Michigan State
December 29 – vs Purdue
January 1 – at Penn State
January 5 – vs Maryland
January 9 – at Illinois
January 12 – vs Indiana
January 16 – vs Nebraska
January 19 – at Oregon
January 22 – at Washington
January 28 – vs Northwestern
February 2 – vs USC
February 6 – at Minnesota
February 10 – at Nebraska
February 13 – vs Rutgers
February 17 – at Ohio State
February 23 – vs UCLA
February 26 – at Michigan
March 2 – vs Wisconsin
Toughest Stretch: vs Maryland (Jan 5), at Illinois (Jan 9), vs Indiana (Jan 12), vs Nebraska (Jan 16), at Oregon (Jan 19), at Washington (Jan 22)
This stretch doesn’t have any of the projected top three teams, but what you’ll notice about these six games is that you cannot pencil in a single win. The two quote-unquote ‘easiest’ games listed here are Oregon and Washington, which both come on the west coast. The Ducks return their top scorer, top rebounder and brought in three double-digit scorers from the portal, while Washington brings back four starters from a WBIT team last season. Not easy by any means.
To me, this is the stretch of games that we will look back at and say that it determined where the Hawkeyes finished in the Big Ten standings. Maryland, with their transfer heavy roster, is the highest-seeded team (5 seed) in the latest ESPN Bracketology projection, while Nebraska (6), Illinois (7) and Indiana (7) are all projected tournament squads.
No, this set of games does not have a matchup against USC, UCLA or Ohio State, but it’s six straight games that could go either way and it will be tough to navigate.
Easiest Stretch: at Michigan State (Dec 15), vs Purdue (Dec 29), at Penn State (Jan 1)
It’s a testament to the strength of the Big Ten and the balance of the schedule that easiest stretch of Big Ten games for Iowa is one that includes a two-week gap. This stretch begins with the Hawkeyes Big Ten opener on December 15th against Michigan State. The Spartans will be a solid squad with Julia Ayrault and Oregon transfer Grace VanSlooten leading the way, but if Iowa can get past them, they will have a great shot at getting off to a 3-0 start.
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After facing in-state rival Northern Iowa on December 20th, they will break for Christmas and reconvene with a home game against Purdue (Dec 29), before traveling to Penn State (Jan 1). The Boilermakers do not return a starter from last season, while the Lady Lions lost their three best players to either graduation or the portal. Jan Jensen and Co. will be happy with the draw they got to open the conference season.
Trap Game: at Minnesota (Feb 6)
With a healthy Mara Braun, the Golden Gophers will be a contender to make the NCAA Tournament. Normally, it would be hard to overlook a team like that, but where this game is placed, it’s the perfect opportunity for Minnesota to pull a surprise at Williams Arena.
Iowa hosts JuJu Watkins and USC at Carver on February 2nd and will be looking for revenge in Lincoln against Nebraska on February 10th after losing there last season. Sandwiched in the middle of that is a trip to Minneapolis. The Hawkeyes have won seven in a row against the Gophers, but this one has a trap game feel to it.
The Hawkeyes will open the season with an exhibition game on October 30th against DII Missouri Western. The official season opener is set for November 6th against Northern Illinois at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
