Iowa basketball: Gustafson is semifinalist for Defensive Player of the Year

Women’s Iowa basketball star Megan Gustafson is one step closer to being named Defensive Player of the Year after making the list of ten semifinalists.

We’ve said it time and time again that what Megan Gustafson is doing this season is absolutely incredible. The star forward from Wisconsin has been on a tear this season much like she has most of her career with the women’s Iowa basketball team.

The 6’3” Gustafson has quite a list of honors to her name already. First, it was being named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, then being named First Team All-Big Ten as a sophomore, and finally she was named Big Ten Player of the Year last year along with being named an All-American.

Moreover, the star of the 10th ranked Iowa basketball team has also set a school record for points, rebounds, and double-doubles, just three of many records she already holds at the school.

For her encore performance, Gustafson is now gunning to be named the Naismith Defensive National Player of the Year, which is almost certainly a prelude to being named Naismith Player of the Year. Just last week, Gustafson was named to the initial list of 30 players in the running for women’s college basketball’s highest individual honor.

The senior is currently first in the nation in points per game with 27.4 and first in the nation in shooting efficiency as she knocks down her shots at a 70.2% clip. She is also fourth in rebounding grabbing 13.1 per game.

Needless to say, she is the catalyst for head coach Lisa Bluder’s team, and she is a large reason why the Iowa basketball team is considered a sleeper national title contender in addition to being the frontrunner to win the Big Ten conference over a historically great Maryland Terrapins team.

In my opinion, she is already the greatest women’s player of all time in Iowa basketball history. Bringing home either or both of these honors would simply help to cement an already incredible resume and an outstanding career.

Both the Defensive Player of the Year and National Player of the Year awards are set to be announced April 6th following the conclusion of the NCAA tournament.