There was a time, earlier this season, when the Iowa women’s basketball team looked like it could make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. It seemed as if the Hawkeyes had found a winning formula in the post-Caitlin Clark era and in coach Jan Jensen’s second season at the helm.
Iowa’s success depended on a few things: strong play in the post from Ava Heiden and Hannah Stuelke, superb point guard play from Chit-Chat Wright and timely 3-pointers and stout defense from Taylor McCabe. When all four players were at their best, the Hawkeyes were difficult to beat, as evidenced by their 9-0 start in Big Ten play and eight-game winning streak from Dec. 28 to Jan. 25. That surge was capped by three wins over ranked opponents: Michigan State, Maryland and Ohio State.
But on the first play of the win over the Buckeyes, McCabe was lost for the season after suffering a ACL and meniscus tears in her left knee. Part of the winning formula was missing for the Hawkeyes, who lost their next three games.
Since being upset by Minnesota on Feb. 5, Iowa has gotten back on track. The Hawkeyes beat a ranked Washington team, then got road victories at Nebraska and Purdue, winning each game by an average of 10.3 points.
The test to see if Iowa is really back — if the Hawkeyes can really hang with good teams without McCabe — comes Sunday, when they host Michigan (noon ET, Fox).
Michigan is in contention with Texas and Vanderbilt to grab the final No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Wolverines have won 11 of their last 13 games and are 13-2 in Big Ten play. Michigan pushed national title contenders UConn and UCLA to the brink earlier this season, losing to the Huskies and Bruins by three points apiece.
An Iowa victory would show they’ve figured out how to win without McCabe. A road triumph for the Wolverines would further cement their status as real contenders.
Here’s the other games to watch in women’s college basketball over the next few days:
Game that could impact the top 16 seeds: Kentucky at Vanderbilt
Sunday, 4 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Kentucky is trying to secure its spot in the top 16, while Vanderbilt is trying to live up to its projection as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. In the first meeting between these two teams this season, Vandy won by a single point in Lexington as Aubrey Galvan put the game on ice with two free throws. Much is at stake in the second matchup between the Wildcats and Commodores.
Must-watch player matchup: Iowa State at TCU
Sunday, 4 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Iowa State’s Addy Brown missed 11 games after suffering a lower body injury in the Cyclones’ Jan. 4 loss to Baylor. Without her, Iowa State went 6-5 after starting the season 14-1. She returned to the court on Wednesday in the Cyclones’ double-digit win over Arizona State, tallying six points, seven rebounds and six assists in 20 minutes. Iowa State looks like a different team with Brown in the lineup. How much she elevates the Cyclones will be tested against the Big 12’s top-ranked team.
Mid-major matchup worth watching: Rice at East Carolina
Saturday, 1 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Rice hasn’t lost since Nov. 28 and the Owls will put their 18-game win streak on the line in Greenville, North Carolina on Saturday when the top two teams in the American Conference face off. Rice has four players averaging in double figures in scoring this season, but their real strength is in their defense. The Owls rank first nationally in percentage of points allowed from the 3-point line: 16.8%. The Pirates also have four players scoring in double digits and are strong defensively too, ranking 17th nationally in turnovers forced with 21.5 per game.
Big stakes for a bubble team: Virginia at Louisville
Sunday, Noon ET (The CW)
This one is pretty simple for the Cavaliers. Either pick up a Quad 1 road win at Louisville and secure your spot in the NCAA Tournament, or lose and continue to live on the bubble.
Sickos game of the week: UCF at Cincinnati
Saturday, 2 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
UCF has lost 13 of its last 15 games and seem to be headed toward a head coaching change at season’s end. The Bearcats aren’t much better with a 10-17 record. Cincinnati guard Mya Perry and UCF guard Leah Harmon are fun to watch though. If they get into a shot-for-shot contest, this could be worth tuning in.
Also watch…
Ball State at Miami Ohio: Saturday, 1 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Texas Tech at Colorado: Saturday, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Ole Miss at South Carolina: Sunday, 12 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Duke at Clemson: Sunday, 2 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Michigan State at Minnesota: Sunday, 6 p.m. ET (FS1)