IOWA CITY — With nearly two weeks since it last played, the Iowa women’s basketball team’s time off has officially flipped from beneficial rest to restless days.
That’s largely expected for the No. 2 seed Hawkeyes, who begin their NCAA Tournament run inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena against No. 15 seed FDU. The 3 p.m. CT affair on March 21 will follow the 7-10 seed showdown at 12:30 p.m. between Georgia and Virginia, with the two first-round winners meeting March 23 in what will likely be a night game.
Iowa is unsurprisingly a massive favorite against the Knights, but the aura of March — plus the long layoff — could create some sporadically tense moments. But the Hawkeyes are well aware of what can happen if the focus isn’t there from the jump.
With that, here are three things that stand out ahead of this opening-round showdown.
Can Iowa’s young players find early confidence on the NCAA Tournament stage?
While a first-round loss would be truly shocking, a herky-jerky start from the Hawkeyes really wouldn’t be. With numerous young players trying to re-establish a shooting groove after 13 days since last playing, early seesawing action shouldn’t be overly concerning.
That said, it’s imperative Iowa doesn’t get rattled if such a scenario materializes. Remember, outside of Hannah Stuelke and Kylie Feuerbach, shouldering these lofty expectations while trying to execute them on a grand stage like sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena is a new experience for everyone else involved.
“Because we haven’t played for a couple weeks, (being at home) helps because you can be a little rusty (to start),” Feuerbach said. “So when you have your crowd behind your back, that helps get things flowing as well.”
The quicker Iowa can make the scoreboard look like it’s expected to, the better it’ll be for everyone’s mental toughness.
How much pushback will FDU have after rolling through the NEC?
Nearly three months have passed since FDU’s last stumble on Dec. 29, as the Knights will put their 22-game winning streak on the line come Saturday afternoon. A squad that ranks 15th nationally in 3-pointers attempted per game (26.6) won’t be shy to let it fly, which is often the first ingredient needed when trying to deliver a massive upset.
However, the Iowa City scene FDU is walking into hasn’t been replicated at any point during its successful campaign. Far from it, in fact. Adding up the total attendance of every one of FDU’s 19 home games (7,073) barely gets to half of what Carver-Hawkeye Arena will produce. The collective total of FDU’s entire road attendance (15,730) barely exceeds one Iowa home game.
“It’s just something we’ve never taken for granted,” Iowa coach Jan Jensen said. “It is a really, really special element of our program. So to be able to get a top seed — to be a 2 seed and get to host — I’ve just felt just a lot of gratitude. And also just a lot of happiness because of our fan base that really helps us all year long — that they get to have another game for sure in Carver.”
Carver-Hawkeye Arena is a weapon the Hawkeyes can wield all throughout this opening weekend. Overwhelming a mid-major foe not used to such a scene is the first objective.
How quickly will Hannah Stuelke’s extended rest prove its worth as she continues dealing with her right-elbow injury?
There’s been a lot of athletic tape used on Stuelke’s right elbow since she first suffered her injury against Illinois on Feb 26. Plenty more was on there March 20 as the Hawkeyes hit the floor for practice one final time before the NCAA Tournament commences.
Stuelke’s had to deal with a few injuries like this over the years — ones that don’t sideline her for very long or at all but continuously linger while trying to push through the discomfort. Chalk that up to the physicality she embraces each time stepping on the court.
“Basketball is just here for a short time,” Stuelke said, “so I think just cherishing every moment and pushing through it is what’s best for me. It doesn’t seem as hard once you get out there. The adrenaline is pumping.”
This is the final Carver-Hawkeye Arena run for Stuelke and Kylie Feuerbach, the last two standing after fellow seniors Taylor McCabe and Jada Gyamfi have both been sidelined with injuries for quite some time. Should Iowa advance to the second round, Stuelke’s final game at CHA will come one day short of seven years since she committed to Iowa following the Hawkeyes’ NCAA Tournament win over Missouri.
“I remember the vibes, and everything,” Stuelke said. “I was like ‘I need to go here.'”
Iowa women’s basketball vs. FDU prediction
After needing a quarter to warm up, Iowa overwhelms the Knights as predicted and rolls into the second round. The only unexpected result to happen at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in round one is a Virginia win over Georgia, denying a second-round rematch from 2023. Iowa 82, FDU 52.
Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.
