2008 Woodie Awards
Women's hoops tourney looks to be wide open
Brendan Stiles - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 3/6/08 Section: Sports
If history is any indicator, the Iowa women's basketball team is in great shape this weekend at the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis.
Three of the last four tournament champions have been the No. 2 seed, including last year's winner, Purdue. The Hawkeyes are this year's second seed, and on Friday, they will face the winner of today's contest between Penn State and Michigan.
Hawkeye coach Lisa Bluder believes her team is confident, but this year's tourney could also be anyone's for the taking.
"I think this tournament is as wide open as any we've seen," she said. "I think that makes it exciting. I think it's a real advantage for the top-three seeds to get that bye just because the games are going to be so much more competitive this year than what I've seen in a long time."
This season, Iowa beat every Big Ten school except Ohio State. In fact, the Hawkeyes' 0-2 mark against the Buckeyes this season proved to be the tiebreaker giving Ohio State the tourney's top seed. The Buckeyes are led this season by co-Big Ten Player of the Year Jantel Lavender, who was also named Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Both teams finished with 13-5 records in conference play, yet another indicator of how unpredictable this weekend could be.
"The Big Ten, this year, has been kind of crazy," Hawkeye senior Jeneé Graham said. "Every team really has the opportunity to come in there and get something done. Everyone starts off with a clean slate. It's just a new beginning and something that we need to get going right away."
Joining the Hawkeyes and Buckeyes with Thursday byes are Purdue, Minnesota, and Michigan State. The Boilermakers sit at No. 3, and they will face the Northwestern-Indiana winner following Iowa's contest Friday morning. Meanwhile, the Golden Gophers and Spartans will meet in the 4-5 contest Friday night. That matchup features two first team All-Big Ten players in Minnesota's Emily Fox and Michigan State's Allyssa DeHaan.
Three of the last four tournament champions have been the No. 2 seed, including last year's winner, Purdue. The Hawkeyes are this year's second seed, and on Friday, they will face the winner of today's contest between Penn State and Michigan.
Hawkeye coach Lisa Bluder believes her team is confident, but this year's tourney could also be anyone's for the taking.
"I think this tournament is as wide open as any we've seen," she said. "I think that makes it exciting. I think it's a real advantage for the top-three seeds to get that bye just because the games are going to be so much more competitive this year than what I've seen in a long time."
This season, Iowa beat every Big Ten school except Ohio State. In fact, the Hawkeyes' 0-2 mark against the Buckeyes this season proved to be the tiebreaker giving Ohio State the tourney's top seed. The Buckeyes are led this season by co-Big Ten Player of the Year Jantel Lavender, who was also named Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Both teams finished with 13-5 records in conference play, yet another indicator of how unpredictable this weekend could be.
"The Big Ten, this year, has been kind of crazy," Hawkeye senior Jeneé Graham said. "Every team really has the opportunity to come in there and get something done. Everyone starts off with a clean slate. It's just a new beginning and something that we need to get going right away."
Joining the Hawkeyes and Buckeyes with Thursday byes are Purdue, Minnesota, and Michigan State. The Boilermakers sit at No. 3, and they will face the Northwestern-Indiana winner following Iowa's contest Friday morning. Meanwhile, the Golden Gophers and Spartans will meet in the 4-5 contest Friday night. That matchup features two first team All-Big Ten players in Minnesota's Emily Fox and Michigan State's Allyssa DeHaan.
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