Iowa Women’s Basketball Big Ten opponents announced

As the days pass, pieces to the Iowa Women’s Basketball schedule puzzle continue to fit into place. The non-conference schedule is headlined by a neutral site game against Virginia Tech, the Gulf Coast Showcase and a trio of games against in-state opponents. Today, the Big Ten announced the conference matchups for each school. Dates and times will be released at a later date. We take a look at the matchups and breakdown the draw for the Hawkeyes.

Home & Away: Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State, Wisconsin

2022-23 record: 96-66 (.593)

Last year: Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Penn State, Wisconsin (99-63, .611)

Talk about some highly-touted matchups that we get to see twice this season. The Hawkeyes will face play a pair of games against three teams that landed in the ESPN Way-Too-Early Top 25. The Hoosiers (#7) and Ohio State (#6) were in the top ten, while Nebraska (#25) snuck in at the end. These are the games that fans want to see and will ultimately have a huge influence on who wins the regular season title. Minnesota and Wisconsin round out this portion of the schedule, but Iowa has dominated them as of late. The Hawkeyes have won eight in a row against the Gophers and 27 in a row against the Badgers.

Home Only: Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State

2022-23 record: 75-51 (.595)

Last year: Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue, Rutgers (51-71, .418)

This is the part of the schedule that the Hawkeyes really got shorted last season. If you are going to play eight teams just one time, you would rather get the good teams at home, or at the very least a good balance. Last year, Iowa’s home only opponents averaged just 12.8 wins, while their away opponents averaged 22.3 wins. This year, the draw balanced out and even goes in favor of the Hawkeyes.

Iowa gets a rising Illinois team and a perennial tournament team in Michigan at home, while Michigan State and Penn State will also travel to Iowa City. Home court is important because the Hawkeyes are 144-25 (.852) at Carver-Hawkeye Arena over the last ten seasons.

Away Only: Maryland, Northwestern, Purdue, Rutgers

2022-23 record: 68-59 (.535)

Last year: Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State (89-42, .679)

The Hawkeyes and Terrapins matchup has turned into a bit of a rivalry over the last couple of seasons. After the two teams faced off three times last season, Iowa will travel to College Park for a single matchup this year. The Xfinity Center hasn’t been kind to the Hawkeyes, as they are 0-6 since the Terps joined the Big Ten. The other three matchups favor Lisa Bluder’s team, as they are 20-6 against the ‘Cats, Boilermakers and Scarlet Knights over the last five seasons. After facing three NCAA Tournament teams on the road only last year, this portion of the schedule lightens up a bit.

The Iowa women’s team returns three starters, including National Player of the Year Caitlin Clark, who averaged 27.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 8.6 assists for a Hawkeye squad that advanced to the National Championship game. They also return starting guards Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall, as well as Big Ten Sixth Player of they Year Hannah Stuelke.

The season opener is set for November 6th against Fairleigh Dickinson at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

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