J.J.

[BILLYBOBSTEXAS]

She seems to be a good recruiter, but as a coach, not so much. Lisa B. was better than we have seen with Jan. I would have thought she would have a better grip of using T.O. to her advantage. Hand clapping and rah rah don't get it done.

 

[guffus]

She seems to be a good recruiter, but as a coach, not so much. Lisa B. was better than we have seen with Jan. I would have thought she would have a better grip of using T.O. to her advantage. Hand clapping and rah rah don't get it done.

Jan has done an amazing job with post play, defense and rebounds. But when it comes to offensive production from the guards, that's kinda been a dud so far. Bringing Lucy Olson in the first year was a good move, although I can't remember if Bluder did that or Jensen.

 

[guffus]

Jan playing mostly the starters in the 2nd half in a game that ended in 2OT maybe in hindsight was not the best strategy. But it almost worked. If Hannah or Chit Chat make 2 more free throws, Iowa survives before the 2OT.

Ava also had an unusual number of misses from the field. We are so spoiled, we are used to her making almost every shot when she is near the basket.

But the big issue, 2 tourney games in a row, the Iowa guards were awful from 3-point range. Stremlow, Feurerbach, Deal, Chit Chat. It did not matter.

 

[guffus]

So I have to ask the question. Did the shift in priority to focus heavily on defense since February screw up Iowa's shooting ability somehow? I mean Deal was shooting mostly airballs in her last game. What happened to the Iowa guards?

 

[Fryowa]

All these people on HN trying to figure out what happened with this team when there's no Gustafson or Clark anymore...LOLSIES

 

[Dadman]

So I have to ask the question. Did the shift in priority to focus heavily on defense since February screw up Iowa's shooting ability somehow? I mean Deal was shooting mostly airballs in her last game. What happened to the Iowa guards?

Gotta wonder- it wasn't the UCLA game that decimated morale (though that didn't help), the issue was pretty evident over the last 4 games but in development longer. We need help coaching the guards- I mean, it is great Jan is so good with the bigs, etc, but guard play is, and always will be, the key......

 

[hawkinstl]

Gotta wonder- it wasn't the UCLA game that decimated morale (though that didn't help), the issue was pretty evident over the last 4 games but in development longer. We need help coaching the guards- I mean, it is great Jan is so good with the bigs, etc, but guard play is, and always will be, the key......

Jensen is a very good recruiter and great position coach. She's only an average head coach. Don't see her taking Iowa past the round of 32 anytime soon. Hope I'm wrong, but like I've posted before, I wasn't sold on her as a head coach to begin with.

 

[guffus]

Jensen is a very good recruiter and great position coach. She's only an average head coach. Don't see her taking Iowa past the round of 32 anytime soon. Hope I'm wrong, but like I've posted before, I wasn't sold on her as a head coach to begin with.

Well, its a little early in Jan's head coaching career to make that call. Iowa was a couple missed free throws from making it to the sweet 16 this year. On a team with mostly sophomores and freshman. Let's see what happens next year.

But yeah, the coaches need to dig into the late season offensive collapse and come up with some fixes.

 

[judzeehawk]

All these people on HN trying to figure out what happened with this team when there's no Gustafson or Clark anymore...LOLSIES

Are you talking about just senior years? Gustafson got to the elite 8 her senior year. Clark made the NC game her junior and senior years. This years Hawks are the second youngest in the B1G. I'll wait till this team is in their prime to make any negative comments on them.

 

[Fryowa]

Are you talking about just senior years? Gustafson got to the elite 8 her senior year. Clark made the NC game her junior and senior years. This years Hawks are the second youngest in the B1G. I'll wait till this team is in their prime to make any negative comments on them.

I’m not making any negative comments on them. They got a 2 seed.

What I’m saying is they had 2 unicorn players in a row, they don’t have anyone in the same galaxy as those two anymore, and people can’t understand why the Hawks aren’t blowing other teams’ doors off now. Doesn’t take a rocket surgeon to figure out.

 

[guffus]

I’m not making any negative comments on them. They got a 2 seed.

What I’m saying is they had 2 unicorn players in a row, they don’t have anyone in the same galaxy as those two anymore, and people can’t understand why the Hawks aren’t blowing other teams’ doors off now. Doesn’t take a rocket surgeon to figure out.

I dont know. With the right supporting cast, I could see Ava Heiden getting some player of the year votes as a junior or senior. I guess it depends somewhat on Ava's development too. Did she hit her ceiling as a sophomore, or is there more room for improvement? I could see her becoming more of a leader in future years, helping out Wolizcko and Hays in their development in the post.

 

[guffus]

https://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sports/college/hawkeyes/womens-basketball/2026/03/25/iowa-womens-basketball-depaul-kathleen-doyle-wbca-honoree/89311877007/

Maybe Jan should think about bringing back Kathleen Doyle as a coach for the Iowa guards.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

The issue with this team was the guards... They replaced Olsen with a true soph with Chit-Chat. She's pretty good but she's like under 5'5 she's tiny and there's limits to her game. And she was handed the keys to the Iowa offense and that's a big ask for a 1st yr player in any system as a soph let alone Iowas. She had her ups and downs and it's unfortunate that her downs came when they did.

But she's the only guard they had they could remotely count on. McCabe was a limited role player of sorts even at 100% before she got hurt. Kylie is as frustrating of a player as they've had to me. But they didn't have anyone better. (her defense was highly overrated) Stremlow is a soph and had major ups and downs. Addie Deal same thing but her ups were way fewer and downs were way more and lower.

They couldn't count on production from the backcourts nor could they even count on competent ball handling. Just sloppy stupid turnovers and decision making with the ball over and over. I think Chit-Chat is ok. She's good enough to keep in her position but if they can replace Stremlow and Deal with players in the portal that have actually played consistent ball before they'd be crazy not to. The portal is going to be littered with lots of good guards. Go get a couple at least one.

 

[Zstatman]

I thought the offense got stale and they didn't or couldn't adjust.

The seeds of the Virginia loss were laid in the FDU game, IMO. In the second half of the FDU game, when they were making their comeback they'd double, maybe even triple team Ava, keep an eye on Hannah then it seemed sometimes when they were trying to pas it back out they were making the passes to the FDU defenders. They really shut us down at the end. We were lucky to get out of that one with the W. And I'm sure Virginia was watching.

Then Virginnia did much the same thing down the stretch, we couldn't score. One thing that stood out to me was that other than Ava our players aren't able to create their own shots, they have to get their shots in the flow of the offense. Both FDU and Virginia could create their own shots and make them.

It will be an interesting off-season.

In the coulda/woulda/shoulda department I noticed that Jada Williams at ISU is entering the portal. Remember when we tried to get her just last year when she was transferring out of Arizona? She averaged 15 ppg and 7 apg for the Clones and she's 5'8". We could have used that this year. If she'd come to Iowa, Chit Chat wouldn't be in IC. But that ship has sailed, I don't see her as a candidate for us now.

 

[judzeehawk]

I thought the offense got stale and they didn't or couldn't adjust.

The seeds of the Virginia loss were laid in the FDU game, IMO. In the second half of the FDU game, when they were making their comeback they'd double, maybe even triple team Ava, keep an eye on Hannah then it seemed sometimes when they were trying to pas it back out they were making the passes to the FDU defenders. They really shut us down at the end. We were lucky to get out of that one with the W. And I'm sure Virginia was watching.

Then Virginnia did much the same thing down the stretch, we couldn't score. One thing that stood out to me was that other than Ava our players aren't able to create their own shots, they have to get their shots in the flow of the offense. Both FDU and Virginia could create their own shots and make them.

It will be an interesting off-season.

In the coulda/woulda/shoulda department I noticed that Jada Williams at ISU is entering the portal. Remember when we tried to get her just last year when she was transferring out of Arizona? She averaged 15 ppg and 7 apg for the Clones and she's 5'8". We could have used that this year. If she'd come to Iowa, Chit Chat wouldn't be in IC. But that ship has sailed, I don't see her as a candidate for us now.

If Emely stays she'll make an impact as far as creating her own shots. Hawks have 4 scholarships to hand out. Hopefully Jan can get the right people to give those to. I thing Ava needs to learn is when to kick the ball back out. This was her first year of actual playing time so I look for her to improve for next year. I think they'll all improve over the summer. Need a couple of Grad students to help out.

 

[guffus]

https://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sports/college/iowa/basketball-women/2026/03/27/iowa-womens-basketball-loses-kennise-johnson-to-transfer-portal/89338534007/

I see that Kennise Johnson has entered the portal. She was called a junior this year but will no doubt be granted a medical redshirt year since she did not play at all.her sophomore season. So she will have 2 years of elligibilty left wherever she goes.

So unless the Iowa women get a senior in the portal, I believe Iowa will have no seniors on next year's team.

 

[ryno]

A very young team and finished 2nd in conference. Was ecstatic with this year, all except for the ending. Only 1 team enjoys the ending

 

[guffus]

I believe the Iowa womens team now only has 10 players committed to play for the Hawks next year. Meaning they could sign up to 5 more new players.

Incoming freshmen - 1
Wolizcko

Returning as sophomores - 3
Houston
Deal
Hays

Returning as juniors - 6
Chit Chat
Stremlow
Heiden
Levin
Mallegni
Em-Rod

Returning as Seniors - 0

Players that have announced they will enter the portal - 1
Kennise Johnson

Elligibilty gone - 4
Stuelke
Feuerbach
Gyamfi*
McCabe*
*unless she is granted a special medical redshirt but I have a feeling she is ready to move on anyway

That means Iowa can get as many as 5 more players either through the portal or by flipping a recruit released a commitment. My guess is they will get all 5 players from the portal, with a mix of proven seniors and also young players with tremendous potential

 

[#1DieHardHawk]

Jan has shown that she is excellent at maintaining the overall culture of the program, which is extremely important, but is still learning the nuances of stepping up from an assistant to HC. I think she will be fine.

What this team needs is three things:

1. An additional PG to share the load.
2. A 3/4 with size and length that can be a menace defensively and on the boards. Think taller, lankier Kylie.
3. More intense off-season of S&C. Some players in particularly would benefit, such as Addy. I've posted before, but if I were Jan, at the very least, I would show the movement skills of the FDU players on tape and perhaps even contact the staff to schedule and on-site visit to observe their S&C program set-up.

 

[CP87]

Jan has shown that she is excellent at maintaining the overall culture of the program, which is extremely important, but is still learning the nuances of stepping up from an assistant to HC. I think she will be fine.

What this team needs is three things:

1. An additional PG to share the load.
2. A 3/4 with size and length that can be a menace defensively and on the boards. Think taller, lankier Kylie.
3. More intense off-season of S&C. Some players in particularly would benefit, such as Addy. I've posted before, but if I were Jan, at the very least, I would show the movement skills of the FDU players on tape and perhaps even contact the staff to schedule and on-site visit to observe their S&C program set-up.

There is not a problem with Iowa WBB S&C, just look at the physical improvements our players have made through the years. Or, look at the seniors on this year's team: Stuelke, Feuerbach, and McCabe all made huge strides physically.

The problem is that this team was largely sophomores and freshmen. They just hadn't had enough time in the system to hit their physical peak, yet. They will get there.

The other thing to keep in mind: there are no secrets in S&C. There are no programs doing some secret exercises that others are not. Like sport in general, it is about culture, buy-in, and consistency. Iowa WBB has a great S&C coach, and the players love her.