Minnesota Gophers is facing Iowa Hawkeyes in NCAA Women’s Basketball

But this is still big game. Iowa (15-7, 5-6) Rebounded from a five-match’s losing row with three equal victories, including the rebellion of the USC, the kind of signature benefit that can make a difference on the selection day. Indiana (14-7, 6-4) has three wins over teams ranked at the time something Gophers don’t have.

To beat Iowa or Indiana would not be considered a rebellion or a signature benefit. But cream said, such wins would be quality gains.

“They have to be solid and win some of these games,” he said. “Minnesota is a team that has been in the 20s in the Net rankings for a long time. But you look at their plate and it’s a bit empty. They have not lost to someone they should not have, which is something to say. But they haven’t raised either. They will have to win a few of these games with certainty. “

The Iowa team that comes to town is not as formidable as one Clark led to consecutive NCAA championship game performance. But under the new coach Jan Jensen – the long -time assistant who was promoted when Lisa Bluder retired – they have many of the same pieces plus the addition of guard Lucy Olsen who transferred from Villanova.

Hawkeyes still play a similar style: up-tempo, looking for Post Hannah Stuelke, with a formidable score on the outside. Olsen is 10. In the Big Ten in the scoring (16.4), but in her last three games – all in Iowa – she has average 21.3 points, shot 60% overall and hit five of 10 triangles with 5.3 assists . She surpassed the USCS Juju Watkins Sunday and scored a game-high 28 points on 10-for-18 shooting.

Annika Stewart, who transferred from Nebraska to Gophers for her last college season, knows what it takes to do the NCAA tournament.