I hope this season successes were not due to Bluder post-coach affect and next year sinks into an abyss with Jensen. I am trying to be patient with Jensen, but her coaching and strategy makes me very nervous. I just have a sense she is a great assistant and will not be an effective head coach. I hope I am wrong. That team today was not prepared to compete IMO.
Iowa loses its truly best player/scorer (Lucy) and best/consistent rebounder (Syd). An AA freshman (Deal) coming in but doubt she can be expected to carry the load like Lucy did this year. Also, Iowa will have freshman Hayes at the 5, Houston (who did not make first team all-state in Iowa) and would not expect major contributions from those two next year. So, if the current freshman/HS/portal and the head coach do not make major strides it could be a 25/26 disaster for Iowa women's BBall. Next year will tell rather JJ is the coach some folks think she is or not.
IMHO Iowa needs to add 2/3 experienced athletic players from the portal and HS has to get her s*** together at the 4 (or sit) to be competitive with the big dogs next year. IMO an organic roster will no longer work without utilizing the portal too. If the top teams are hiring portal players, then it is probably a good idea to be doing the same at Iowa (selectively).
All JMO from afar but today was depressing. Oklahoma is a very good team but not a great team, but they looked great today and Iowa looked scared and unprepared (unless they were all ill).