By Susan Harman

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Last season’s Iowa women’s basketball team entered the NCAA Tournament with an experienced crew of five starters who had played together for three years. They included national player of the year Caitlin Clark and first-team all-Big Ten post Monika Czinano, who combined to average 45 points and 14 rebounds. Senior McKenna Warnock, one of the most consistent players through four seasons in school history, added 11 points and six rebounds.

That team was partially fueled by its disappointing, last-second, second-round loss at home to Creighton in the 2021-22 tournament. But it would be disingenuous to say this highly motivated group wasn’t ready to compete for its own reasons.

The result was an historic appearance in the NCAA championship game.

The NCAA selection committee put together what looks like a much harder path for this season’s Iowa team. The Hawkeyes have played the season without Czinano and Warnock but have managed to earn a No. 1 seed, win the Big Ten Tournament title and finish No. 2 in the last Associated Press ranking before the tournament begins.

So is this version of the Hawkeyes as ready to compete, given the circumstances, as last season’s team did?

“I feel like we are as prepared as we could be prepared,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said.

At the beginning Molly Davis and Hannah Stuelke stepped into the starting lineup. Sydney Affolter and Kylie Feuerbach were valuable reserves. Sharon Goodman and Addie O’Grady backed up Stuelke.

As Iowa begins the tournament Saturday at 2 p.m against Holy Cross, Davis is sidelined with a knee injury, and Affolter has moved into the starting lineup. In her three Big Ten tournament games as a starter Affolter averaged 14 points, nine rebounds and 35 minutes. She made 6-of-9 threes.

“She’s handled it like a pro,” Bluder said. “Syd’s been playing really well. She’s confident; she’s strong; she’s big, and she can play a couple positions for us.

“Syd has just gotten better every game out this year, and she’s certainly playing her best basketball right now. Syd’s a smart player; she really knows the game well. She had a natural instinct for the game.”

“It’s always something I expected of myself,” Affolter said, recounting her limited minutes her first two seasons. “Definitely a way bigger role this year, and I’ve been ready for it ever since.”

Affolter was clearly ready, but Davis’s injury limits Iowa’s depth. Affolter’s energy off the bench was a tonic for Iowa. Feuerbach has had her moments for Iowa and so has Taylor McCabe. Iowa will need them.

Stuelke has come of age this year after being the first post off the bench all last year. She is a dynamic player, the likes of which Iowa hasn’t seen since the Vivian Stringer era. She scored 25 in the Big Ten championship game and earlier torched Penn State for 47.

“She’s done it for most of the year for us since right after the Thanksgiving holiday,” Bluder said. “She kind of moved into that position permanently for us, so I think she’s ready for it. I think she’s really excited about it.”

Statistically, while the numbers are close, Iowa is scoring more points, shooting better from the foul line, rebounding better and turning the ball over less than last year. Its defensive average, assists and 3-point shooting are about the same. The field-goal percentage is down (.503 to .511), but Czinano was money inside all last year.

The eye test will tell you that Clark is a better player this season. She has weathered unprecedented and unyielding scrutiny with grace and has shown leadership and maturity. She has the endurance and pace of a marathon runner crossed with a quarter-miler.

Kate Martin, asked to score more this season, has done so, and she’s demonstrated time and again she has that clutch gene to provide what the team needs. Gabbie Marshall hasn’t shot the 3-pointer as well as a year ago, but she’s been much better toward the end of the season. She still provides button-down defense on the perimeter.

The main core of players is as experienced as you can get. The new kids are up to the task.

“I think we’re honestly a little more gritty this year,” Affolter said-. “I think we somehow have gotten better at rebounding, even though we’re definitely a smaller team in terms of size. But I think our advantage really is in our guard play, for sure. And our posts have really been doing an amazing job, which is really important.”

Clark said the team’s experience includes understanding how difficult it is to win four tournament games to get to the Final Four.

“Our group, having five seniors, there shouldn’t be much need to motivate each other when we step on the floor every single game from here on out,” she said.

Marshall echoed that point. She, Martin, Clark, Davis and Sharon Goodman will all be done when this season ends.

“I think this being my last year it hits a little different,” Marshall said. “Because if you lose, I know it’s my last game of my whole career. So it brings a new motivation for me at least, and I know for these other seniors as well. Just using that to fuel my energy and leave it all on the court every time I step out there.”

Of course luck, injuries and what happens elsewhere are all factors in a tournament run and those are uncontrollable variables. But overall, Iowa is in pretty good position if a bit depth deprived.

“We’re hungry for another fun run,” Associate Head Coach Jan Jensen said.

In terms of experience, Bluder pointed out Iowa has played in front of big, hostile crowds all year.

“Every game we’ve played in this year has been that NCAA atmosphere,” Bluder said. “We’ve had our name circled on everybody’s schedule.”

As a No. 1 seed with the nation’s No. 1 player, that will not change.