Iowa City is witnessing an early surge in miles traveled and growth opportunities for the Iowa women's basketball team. Already this season, Jan Jensen's Hawkeyes have ventured away from Carver-Hawkeye Arena for an intriguing non-conference affair for the third time. With a perfect 4-0 record, Iowa will take on Kansas (4-0) at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. The Hawkeyes have won 19 of their last 22 neutral-site games, setting the stage for an exciting showdown. Uncover the Early Season Challenges and Promises of Iowa Women's Basketball
Can Iowa Take Advantage of Kansas' Lack of Road Experience?
Iowa's non-conference schedule is a carefully crafted blend of interesting matchups that offer numerous benefits. The Hawkeyes have already shown their mettle by winning against Virginia Tech in Charlotte and at Drake on Sunday. These away games have prepared them well for the quirkiness of the Sanford Pentagon.Conversely, Wednesday will be Kansas' first road game this season after a string of home wins. While their victories look good on paper, they haven't faced much adversity. Iowa hopes to catch Kansas off-guard and use their early-season experience to their advantage.Will the Hawkeyes Keep Their Early Defensive Success Going Against a Versatile Kansas Lineup?
Even with Drake guard Katie Dinnebier scoring 40 points on Sunday, the Hawkeyes still managed a better defensive effort than usual. Their 86-73 win at Drake was the fewest points yielded since 2012.Now, they face the challenge of maintaining that defensive confidence against a different opponent. The versatility of North Dakota State transfer Elle Evans and freshman Reagan Williams will test players like Hannah Stuelke and Teagan Mallegni in different defensive situations.Jensen said, "Kansas' '4s' are like '2s' and '3s'. And (Hannah and Teagan) haven't guarded that yet. We guarded small ball (against Drake), but this particular '4' matchup is different. Kansas' '4' players play more like small forwards, and it will be a whole new challenge."Which Player Delivers the Next Eye-Popping Moment During Iowa's Pivotal Early-Season Stretch?
The non-conference season is often a time to set the foundation for postseason success, and Iowa has used the first two weeks effectively to get multiple players on track. Addi O'Grady has been a standout with four double-digit scoring performances and two new career-highs.Sydney Affolter has recovered from her knee injury and is back in her starting spot. Taylor McCabe shifted to the bench and responded with seven treys in her last two games. Teagan Mallegni has also had two double-digit showings. But who will be the next to shine?While Lucy Olsen's start has been good, will Wednesday be her breakout game? After a rare game without a field goal, will Affolter have a big offensive game? And how will Taylor Stremlow and Ava Heiden respond to their limited action on Sunday?Any of these high-stakes non-conference matchups has the potential to be the next big moment that propels Iowa forward.Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter who covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.
