Iowa Women’s Basketball: Slowing Down the Buss
The University of Iowa women’s basketball team travels to Bloomington, Ind., on Thursday. Getting a third consecutive Big 10 win will be as simple as, “slowing down the Buss.”
The Hoosiers (13-9 overall, 5-5 conference) are led in several offensive categories by sophomore guard Tyra Buss. Buss is the only Hoosier in the top 20 of the Big 10 in points per game, along with being the only Indiana player in the top 15 of the conference for assists per game.
Obviously, the Hoosier offense runs through Buss. Fortunately for the Hawkeyes (15-7, 5-5), there isn’t much else to worry about when it comes to Indiana.
The Hoosiers currently rank in the bottom half of the Big 10 in almost all major team statistical categories, with the lone exception of scoring defense, where they rank sixth. While on paper this seems to be a very favorable match-up for Iowa, the Hawkeyes need to be aware of the last time they were in this situation.
In Iowa City on Jan. 20, Iowa hosted a Penn State team that it was supposed to be far superior to. The result of that contest was a lopsided Nittany Lion victory.
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If the Hawkeyes are as flat on the defensive side as they were at home against Penn State, the wheels on Buss could go ’round and ’round. She has been able to lead Indiana to five conference wins in 10 attempts, thanks to shooting 33 percent from 3-point range.
On the other hand, if Iowa can replicate the defensive success that it has demonstrated over the last two games, victory could easily come the Hawkeyes’ way. Iowa has held its last two opponents (Michigan and Northwestern) to an average of 67 points, and under 41 percent shooting from the field on average.
Elsewhere, Rutgers will be playing at Minnesota on Thursday as well. If the Scarlet Knights are victorious and the Hawkeyes also prevail, the Golden Gophers and Iowa will be tied for sixth in the Big 10 standings.
Getting to that point will require the Hawkeyes doing all they can to slow down the Hoosiers’ Buss.