Hawkeye Women’s BBall Season 2021-2022

[BraydonRoberts5]

Great points as always, Braydon. What will the new recruits bring to the table offensively and defensively besides McCabe's 3-point shooting?

It sounds like the plan is for Gyamfi not to play much as a freshman, so I don't think she will add much next year. I haven't watched enough of McCabe or Stuelke yet to give really informed thoughts on their game.

I've voiced this concern before, but I'm worried that even if McCabe or Stuelke could make a positive impact, that Coach Bluder won't get them into the rotation enough for them to actually have it. There were games this year when O'Grady was our third best player. She still didn't play a single second with Monika. Affolter had a huge impact in the Michigan game, then barely saw the floor the rest of the year.

On a related note, we need to have better situational lineups. The lineup with 6 seconds left when we were fouling was most glaring. Monika shouldn't have been on the floor after the first foul. She made our defense in that moment worse (because she's slower than everyone else) and it also risked her picking up unneeded fouls if the game went to overtime. If we did somehow get a steal, we could've called timeout and got her back in.

 

[DougERot]

Hey at least it looks like the Lady Hawks aren't going to be the only 2 seed to go down to a 10 seed. South Dakota is up by 10 on Baylor with a little over a minute to go.

 

[huntermmm]

Hey at least it looks like the Lady Hawks aren't going to be the only 2 seed to go down to a 10 seed. South Dakota is up by 10 on Baylor with a little over a minute to go.

They did it. #10 South Dakota just beat #2 Baylor by 14 points. Not to mention that Baylor has a top 2 draft pick in NaLyssa Smith. 2 of the 3 best players in the country will not be moving on to the Sweet 16.

 

[mphawk]

They did it. #10 South Dakota just beat #2 Baylor by 14 points. Not to mention that Baylor has a top 2 draft pick in NaLyssa Smith. 2 of the 3 best players in the country will not be moving on to the Sweet 16.

Rhyne Howard from Kentucky out in first round yesterday too. Might as well just engrave the South Carolina player's name on the NPOY trophy now.

 

[BGHAWK]

When was the last time any of our players do a pump fake and then shoot? I saw one the last game if I recall, but they just telegraph their shots in my opinion. How many times have you seen Ally Disterhoff get her shot blocked when she drove to the basked? You can probably count them on one hand in 4 years.

ISU up 36-14 on Georgia with under 2 minutes in the 2nd Q. Looking forward to them and Creighton playing this week if they can hang on.

 

[UpstreamHawkeye]

Iowa State has a very good chance of making the Final Four. South Carolina only scored 49 points in its win over Miami today. At least if they lose to ISU, Aliah Boston can't make the case as a better candidate for POY for performing better at big stage.

 

[DougERot]

Iowa State has a very good chance of making the Final Four. South Carolina only scored 49 points in its win over Miami today. At least if they lose to ISU, Aliah Boston can't make the case as a better candidate for POY for performing better at big stage.

As long as they don't have to play Texas along the way. They can't beat the Longhorns in the way Iowa has so much difficulty with Maryland.

 

[UpstreamHawkeye]

As long as they don't have to play Texas along the way. They can't beat the Longhorns in the way Iowa has so much difficulty with Maryland.

Forget Maryland, Iowa can't get past Creighton in the NCAAs. Twice now Iowa, with a national player of the year candidate, was upset by them.

 

[BraydonRoberts5]

Forget Maryland, Iowa can't get past Creighton in the NCAAs. Twice now Iowa, with a national player of the year candidate, was upset by them.

And the first time, the year after the upset went pretty well. Let's hope lightning strikes twice.

 

[fish1hawk]

If we can have a normal non conference season without Covid pauses. The new players will have a much better chance to develop and find a role. I love the women’s game as much if not more than the men. How Lisa can keep that many girls happy is a wonder of its own

 

[huntermmm]

If we can have a normal non conference season without Covid pauses. The new players will have a much better chance to develop and find a role. I love the women’s game as much if not more than the men. How Lisa can keep that many girls happy is a wonder of its own

It's crazy to think that these girls haven't had a fully normal season in 3 years. A positive thing to look at it is our defense did improve from last season. Last season our Opp Points per Game was 80.3 and this season it was 70.2. Our defense will never be the greatest but it's nice to see some improvement.

 

[Gabe Sifuentes]

It's crazy to think that these girls haven't had a fully normal season in 3 years. A positive thing to look at it is our defense did improve from last season. Last season our Opp Points per Game was 80.3 and this season it was 70.2. Our defense will never be the greatest but it's nice to see some improvement.

And the defense would have been vastly better had we not had rebounding issues all year. The good news is with Goodman back and the addition of Stuelke and Gyamfi, I expect the rebounding to improve next season.

 

[BGHAWK]

If everyone stays it looks like 14 on the roster in 2022-2023 and I think everyone wants to play so something has to give. Rarely do any redshirt, but maybe A J Ediger might be a candidate along with someone like Wetering who had a medical RS and also has an extra Covid year ahead. I would like to see O'Grady getting 15-18 minutes next year. I like what little I've seen with Affolter and her ability to drive to the basket and I think she just need more playing time. I may be the worst player evaluator, so take it for what it's worth, just my opinion.

 

[mphawk]

If everyone stays it looks like 14 on the roster in 2022-2023 and I think everyone wants to play so something has to give. Rarely do any redshirt, but maybe A J Ediger might be a candidate along with someone like Wetering who had a medical RS and also has an extra Covid year ahead. I would like to see O'Grady getting 15-18 minutes next year. I like what little I've seen with Affolter and her ability to drive to the basket and I think she just need more playing time. I may be the worst player evaluator, so take it for what it's worth, just my opinion.

In this transfer era, I think you have to expect a couple every year. Just like Jensen and Meyer. Lisa never wanted more than 12 on the roster because she knew they wouldn't all be happy. Now you are forced to over-recruit, and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy. My total guess is that Wetering and Ediger transfer this year, but I have zero inside information.

 

[BraydonRoberts5]

If everyone stays it looks like 14 on the roster in 2022-2023 and I think everyone wants to play so something has to give. Rarely do any redshirt, but maybe A J Ediger might be a candidate along with someone like Wetering who had a medical RS and also has an extra Covid year ahead. I would like to see O'Grady getting 15-18 minutes next year. I like what little I've seen with Affolter and her ability to drive to the basket and I think she just need more playing time. I may be the worst player evaluator, so take it for what it's worth, just my opinion.

Affolter could actually go a long way in improving the team's defense and rebounding by just getting more minutes. She's easily the most aggressive guard we have not named Clark. She's also a project on offense at the moment. Her shot is funky, and she's loses control sometimes when she drives.

That said, Marshall, Martin, and Warnock have all disappeared at times from the offense. Having a defense and rebounding first wing isn't necessarily a huge issue. She's probably the young player I most hope will develop this off-season.

 

[BraydonRoberts5]

In this transfer era, I think you have to expect a couple every year. Just like Jensen and Meyer. Lisa never wanted more than 12 on the roster because she knew they wouldn't all be happy. Now you are forced to over-recruit, and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy. My total guess is that Wetering and Ediger transfer this year, but I have zero inside information.

I agree that we should likely expect a transfer or two. As you said, Wetering and Ediger are probably most likely. They seem to have the least clear path to regular playing time.

I also wouldn't be shocked if one of O'Grady or Goodman transferred. Both look like they are good enough to start for P5 programs, but one of them will likely never start here. The caveat to this is that both of them could think that they can win the backup and future job still. They might choose to compete with each other (or force the coaching staff to play 2 posts) instead of transferring.

 

[AMAYS]

I thought Feuerbach should have played a lot more today. She can rebound, play some defense, and she made a nice baseline drive in her brief appearance. The others weren't getting it done.

I think this is an astute comment. If you're going to trade Jensen and Meyer for Feuerbach, you've got to play Feuerbach in a game, such as yesterday, that fits her abilities. Otherwise, you traded Jensen/Meyer for nothing, which is essentially what Bluder did by playing Feuerbach only 5 minutes yesterday.

Feuerbach is quick to the ball and quick to the floor, both of which are in short supply on the Hawkeye roster, and both of which were needed yesterday. Feuerbach is also not afraid, though she can be a little bit crazy. Still, she can finish, unlike Gabby and the frequently timid Taiwo. The Hawkeyes needed energy and the ability to move yesterday more than they needed size. They needed to go small with Feuerbach for meaningful minutes, perhaps play her 15-18 minutes, and play Warnock less. Warnock is a good position rebounder, but on the perimeter on defense, she is a rebounding and movement liability. Similarly, when Iowa was on offense, with Creighton playing 5 players who could move and guard on the perimeter, Warnock was mostly a non-factor because she cannot put the ball on the floor and go by the defense, except for the occasional flailing drive that sometimes results in something good, but more often results in Warnock falling on the floor.

 

[Gabe Sifuentes]

I agree that we should likely expect a transfer or two. As you said, Wetering and Ediger are probably most likely. They seem to have the least clear path to regular playing time.

I also wouldn't be shocked if one of O'Grady or Goodman transferred. Both look like they are good enough to start for P5 programs, but one of them will likely never start here. The caveat to this is that both of them could think that they can win the backup and future job still. They might choose to compete with each other (or force the coaching staff to play 2 posts) instead of transferring.

I'm not sure if we have any transfers this year. It's entirely possible but many of the players are in state prospects.

Goodman is a local girl so I'll think she'll stay whether or not she's starting or coming off the bench and O'Grady has relatives in this area.

Shatearah is a also a local product. Ediger is a maybe transfer down the line as I don't see her getting many minutes at all over her career unless the coaches can develop her at the 4. But then again she might be content to play spot minutes and just contribute and earn her degree.

Shatearah also likely would get a medical redshirt for this year and can use a COVID year for her freshman season so she has 4 years of eligibility. Sharon could do the same.

I feel like if anyone was going to enter the portal this year, the coaches would probably have a good handle on it and would have allowed Tomi to come back for another season as the team is technically still under the scholarship limit.

 

[Gabe Sifuentes]

I think this is an astute comment. If you're going to trade Jensen and Meyer for Feuerbach, you've got to play Feuerbach in a game, such as yesterday, that fits her abilities. Otherwise, you traded Jensen/Meyer for nothing, which is essentially what Bluder did by playing Feuerbach only 5 minutes yesterday. Feuerbach is quick to the ball and quick to the floor, both of which are in short supply on the Hawkeye roster, and both of which were needed yesterday. Feuerbach is also not afraid, though she can be a little bit crazy. Still, she can finish, unlike Gabby and the frequently timid Taiwo. The Hawkeyes needed energy and the ability to move yesterday more than they needed size. They needed to go small with Feuerbach for meaningful minutes, perhaps play her 15-18 minutes, and play Warnock less. Warnock is a good position rebounder, but on the perimeter on defense, she is a rebounding and movement liability. Similarly, when Iowa was on offense, with Creighton playing 5 players who could move and guard on the perimeter, Warnock was mostly a non-factor because she cannot put the ball on the floor and go by the defense, except for the occasional flailing drive that sometimes results in something good, but more often results in Warnock falling on the floor.

I'm sure I will be heavily criticized for saying this again but I do truly believe that both Warnock and Marshall will be coming off the bench by the end of next season in favor of McCabe and Stuelke.

 

[JEDN]

The hardest thing for me to fathom as a fan is that this free flowing offense that scored 104 vs Mich and over 90 against Ind was stopped nearly cold by a very average Creighton team. Did we just fold under pressure or was it a coaching masterpiece by Creighton ? I am sad to admit that the roster as it now stands probably will be unable to advance past the sweet16. Hopefully the incoming freshman will be given a fair shot at PT. I highly doubt Lisa will take a hard look at the portal.

 

[BraydonRoberts5]

The hardest thing for me to fathom as a fan is that this free flowing offense that scored 104 vs Mich and over 90 against Ind was stopped nearly cold by a very average Creighton team. Did we just fold under pressure or was it a coaching masterpiece by Creighton ? I am sad to admit that the roster as it now stands probably will be unable to advance past the sweet16. Hopefully the incoming freshman will be given a fair shot at PT. I highly doubt Lisa will take a hard look at the portal.

The only thing Creighton did better than other teams imo was challenge shots at the rim. Clark got hit on basically every 2-pointer she took. Same for Martin. The referees just didn't call those hits as fouls.

As Coach Bluder noted after the game, 34 fouls are normally called in an Iowa game, and there were 22 yesterday. Add 6 more fouls on shots at the basket, and we add what, at least 10 points? Combine the lack of fouls on layup attempts with an off shooting night, and that's how we came in so far under our average.

Note: I'm not using the officiating as an excuse. The players could've adjusted to the lack of calls at the rim and just didn't.

 

[Gabe Sifuentes]

The hardest thing for me to fathom as a fan is that this free flowing offense that scored 104 vs Mich and over 90 against Ind was stopped nearly cold by a very average Creighton team. Did we just fold under pressure or was it a coaching masterpiece by Creighton ? I am sad to admit that the roster as it now stands probably will be unable to advance past the sweet16. Hopefully the incoming freshman will be given a fair shot at PT. I highly doubt Lisa will take a hard look at the portal.

Creighton's smaller lineup ran the floor well and forced into a halfcourt game. And then they crowded the passing lanes denying the post. Monika had 27 but she really worked for it. The team did not come out and set hard screens to free Clark. She was hung up being face guarded on the perimeter the entire game. And when other players like Marshall/Martin had open looks they froze and allowed Creighton to close out instead of pulling the trigger. We need at least one other player on the court with a shooters mentality. When they did drive, they got blocked or passed back out to the perimeter instead of pulling up for jumpers. Creighton had no respect whatsoever for any mid-range shots from Warnock/Martin/Marshall. Against MI and Indiana we had much better passing lanes to feed the post and to drive.

 

[UpstreamHawkeye]

Clark didn't make a single shot around the rim yesterday among over 10 attempts. Perhaps Creighton was smart to bodycheck her instead of hand checks. Referees seem to pay much attention to hand checks but not body checks. It will serve her well to become stronger.

Also, this year's team in general didn't play well at home.

 

[hawkshawn]

Affolter could actually go a long way in improving the team's defense and rebounding by just getting more minutes. She's easily the most aggressive guard we have not named Clark. She's also a project on offense at the moment. Her shot is funky, and she's loses control sometimes when she drives.

That said, Marshall, Martin, and Warnock have all disappeared at times from the offense. Having a defense and rebounding first wing isn't necessarily a huge issue. She's probably the young player I most hope will develop this off-season.

I'm with you on this. I'm a Syd fan and I think once she gets more comfortable offensively, she'll be an asset, like you suggest. Her shot does need work (although I will say she shot it really well from 3 in warmups yesterday) and she needs to learn how to finish in traffic better, but she's drives well and has the potential to draw a lot of fouls, I think. I also think she's the type of player that will be really valuable when teams try to bully Iowa, as she doesn't back down at all.

 

[huntermmm]

Notre Dame is up by 35 (!) on Oklahoma at Oklahoma

 

[FrankBurns00]

I posted this in the other Womens bball thread as well.....

I'll start off by stating that I like every player on the roster. They are Hawks, so I will always support them. That said, unless a couple of them make a change to their game, I fear a similar end to the seaon next year. Maybe getting back to the sweet 16, but no further. That would be a shame as it would be wasting another year with Caitlin Clark.

For the Hawks to take the next step and be a legit contender for the Final 4 at least one player from the group of Warnock, Marshall, Feuerbach and Martin, to remake their game. Either Warnock or Martin need to commit to changing their body, get super fit, and become an elite defender & rebounder. Then either Marshall or Feuerbach also need to change their body and become super fit and strong and become a perimeter pesky quick defender (think Donarski from Iowa State).

If 2 of them could make that change, Iowa could legitimately be a final four contender. I think it would more likely be the combo of Martin and Feuerbach that could do it. It seems like they might have the drive needed to make that transition. (unfortunately it's probably a long shot for any of them, as that style player doesn't seem to be priority to the staff)

Another possibility is that incoming freshman McCabe and Stuelke could fill those roles. That seems like a long shot, though mayne Stuelke could. McCabe might be an upgrade from Marshall, but doesn't seem like she will be a elite perimeter defender at least as a freshman.

However it turns out, next season will again have many highlights and maybe a trip to the second weekend of the tourney.

Go Hawks!

 

[JEDN]

Don’t disagree with anything in your post.

 

[UpstreamHawkeye]

Notre Dame is up by 35 (!) on Oklahoma at Oklahoma

This is Jennie Lillis' first year at Oklahoma, so one can say she had coached the team to overachieve throughout the season but is now finally overwhelmed by superior talent. But it does make me pause. Maybe some factors of big stage jitters, especially for home teams, like what happened to quite a few of the host teams.

 

[BGHAWK]

I like the players we have and I hope they all stay. (no more Jensens please) As I posted earlier, maybe a redshirt for AJ and Shateah or someone else or not, and help is on the way. I have no idea what will happen, but I believe we will be better next year in a defense and rebounding.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

I like the players we have and I hope they all stay. (no more Jensens please) As I posted earlier, maybe a redshirt for AJ and Shateah or someone else or not, and help is on the way. I have no idea what will happen, but I believe we will be better next year in a defense and rebounding.

Well they kinda have to be if they don't want Sunday to repeat itself.......

 

[BGHAWK]

Well they kinda have to be if they don't want Sunday to repeat itself.......

That was helpful to the discussion.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

That was helpful to the discussion.

I thought so. And because of how helpful you thought it was, I won't need to expand on that any further..............

 

[huntermmm]

Well they kinda have to be if they don't want Sunday to repeat itself.......

What happened on Sunday will fuel this team next season I feel.

 

[UpstreamHawkeye]

I was just watching Indiana and Ohio State. The refs are definitely letting the body checks go. Both Indiana and Ohio State had ball handlers knocked to the ground and no fouls were called. The Indiana player and coaches didn't even complain. They seemed to accept that as the fate. Fortunately Indiana overcame the rough play and beat Princeton by 1. Ohio State still has a double digit lead and should be able to hang on at LSU.

 

[UpstreamHawkeye]

Well it's fun to see Kim Mulky go crazy.

 

[UpstreamHawkeye]

Both UConn and Tennessee squeaked by because their opponents couldn't make free throws. Belmont had a two-point lead but missed two free throws when Tennessee fouled them to stop the clock, and Tennessee made a three to take the lead. UCF missed more than 10 free throws, 4 by one player in the last two minutes, to lose the game by 5, when UConn made all theirs towards the end.

 

[huntermmm]

I hope Stuelke and McCabe do make an impact next season and are able to get some quality minutes and experience as they'll likely be starters of the 2023-2024 season. Besides Clark, all of our starting lineup will be seniors. We know Monika will be gone after next season but I have no idea what McKenna, Gabbie, or Kate's plans are regarding their covid year.

 

[joemc2]

I posted this in the other Womens bball thread as well.....

I'll start off by stating that I like every player on the roster. They are Hawks, so I will always support them. That said, unless a couple of them make a change to their game, I fear a similar end to the seaon next year. Maybe getting back to the sweet 16, but no further. That would be a shame as it would be wasting another year with Caitlin Clark.

For the Hawks to take the next step and be a legit contender for the Final 4 at least one player from the group of Warnock, Marshall, Feuerbach and Martin, to remake their game. Either Warnock or Martin need to commit to changing their body, get super fit, and become an elite defender & rebounder. Then either Marshall or Feuerbach also need to change their body and become super fit and strong and become a perimeter pesky quick defender (think Donarski from Iowa State).

If 2 of them could make that change, Iowa could legitimately be a final four contender. I think it would more likely be the combo of Martin and Feuerbach that could do it. It seems like they might have the drive needed to make that transition. (unfortunately it's probably a long shot for any of them, as that style player doesn't seem to be priority to the staff)

Another possibility is that incoming freshman McCabe and Stuelke could fill those roles. That seems like a long shot, though mayne Stuelke could. McCabe might be an upgrade from Marshall, but doesn't seem like she will be a elite perimeter defender at least as a freshman.

However it turns out, next season will again have many highlights and maybe a trip to the second weekend of the tourney.

Go Hawks!

I agree with this, Creighton wasn’t big, but they were strong and thick. Other than our centers; Iowa’s players look like they’ve not spent a lot of time at the training table or in the weight room

 

[DewHawk]

I agree with this, Creighton wasn’t big, but they were strong and thick. Other than our centers; Iowa’s players look like they’ve not spent a lot of time at the training table or in the weight room

I also have not been impressed with either BBall program weight program results compared to other teams. IMO stronger helps both with the ball and on defense.

 

[BGHAWK]

Maybe the players need more weight training, but ball handling skills (handles) by a few players need improvement.