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INDIANAPOLIS — It will be a different kind of NCAA tournament than the last three for the Iowa women’s basketball team, but it’s been a different kind of season than the last three.
From 2022 through 2024, the Hawkeyes won the Big Ten tournament and had high-enough seeds to host the first two rounds of the NCAA tourney. At 22-10, the 2025 club will be seeded too low to be host, possibly as a No. 6.
Which means the Hawkeyes will hit the road soon after the NCAA pairings and locations are announced on March 16, and if they win in the first-round they would likely play a very strong opponent in that team’s home gym.
“I think we’re set up pretty well,” said Iowa senior forward Sydney Affolter, who started for the Hawkeyes as they won five straight NCAA games in 2024 to reach the national-title game for the second-consecutive year.
“We have a great group of girls and I know we’re going to go out and give it our all every single day.”
Iowa’s net result for three days in Indianapolis was a positive. The Hawkeyes routed Wisconsin, 81-54. They took command of the fourth quarter against No. 24 Michigan State and won, 74-61. Then on Friday night, they fell by just 60-59 against No. 13 Ohio State.
Their NCAA tourney resume certainly wasn’t hurt, and their confidence seemingly grew.
“I still believe, even though we came up a little short, I think we’re one of the hottest teams,” Iowa Coach Jan Jensen said.
“I was a little hopeful, deep down in my heart, I was a little hopeful, that we win maybe one or two more and we might have (been a No. 4 seed and an NCAA host site). I don’t know if that would have been possible or not.
“But I’m just so thankful that I get to coach them That’s probably a little disappointed, but I’m just so thankful that I get to coach them, and that will be in the NCAA Tournament.”
It was a destination that was far from automatic when the Hawkeyes lost five straight January games, and most of the defeats were excruciatingly close. They snapped back with six straight victories including one over eventual Big Ten regular-season champion USC.
After an overtime loss at Ohio State and a 2-point home defeat to then-No. 3 UCLA, Iowa rolled up four more wins before Friday’s one-point loss to the Buckeyes.
“I think these guys should feel really good,” Jensen said. “It was big shoes (to fill) when they started. The shadows were looming.
“I think we should feel pretty good going into the tournament. … I’m just thrilled that we’re going to see our name pop up. I really feel grateful for that.”
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