The Iowa Hawkeyes are on a roll, stringing together three straight victories as they gear up for the final stretch of the regular season and the looming Big Ten Tournament. With momentum on their side, they're set to face a formidable challenge against the Michigan Wolverines, a team making waves as serious contenders for the NCAA Women's Tournament.
This Sunday's showdown between Iowa and Michigan is highly anticipated, ranking as the top women's basketball game to watch this weekend. Tip-off is scheduled for February 22.
Earlier in the season, the Hawkeyes seemed poised for a deep NCAA Tournament run. They appeared to have cracked the code in the post-Caitlin Clark era, under the leadership of coach Jan Jensen in her second year.
Key to their success has been the dynamic play of Ava Heiden and Hannah Stuelke in the post, the exceptional point guard skills of Chit-Chat Wright, and the timely shooting and defense of Taylor McCabe. When these players were firing on all cylinders, Iowa was a tough nut to crack, as evidenced by their 9-0 start in Big Ten play and an eight-game winning streak that included victories over ranked teams like Michigan State, Maryland, and Ohio State.
However, adversity struck when McCabe suffered a season-ending ACL and meniscus injury during the win over Ohio State. This setback led to a three-game losing skid for the Hawkeyes.
But Iowa has bounced back impressively, starting with a win over a ranked Washington team, followed by road victories against Nebraska and Purdue, with an average winning margin of 10.3 points.
The true test of Iowa's resurgence will be this Sunday's clash with Michigan. Can the Hawkeyes thrive against a top-tier team without McCabe?
The Wolverines, boasting a 22-4 overall record and a 13-2 mark in Big Ten play, are no pushovers. They've dropped only two of their last ten games, narrowly losing to UCLA and Vanderbilt, both high seeds in NCAA projections.
Michigan's trio of Olivia Olson, Syla Swords, and Mila Holloway lead a high-powered offense averaging nearly 87 points per game, while their defense holds opponents to just 62.2 points per game. The Wolverines are vying for a coveted No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, having pushed national powerhouses UConn and UCLA to the brink earlier this season.
A win for Iowa would signal they've adapted and can compete without McCabe. Conversely, a Michigan victory would solidify their reputation as genuine title contenders.
This Big Ten battle promises to be a thrilling spectacle, taking place at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City and airing on FOX.