By Susan Harman

ALBANY, N.Y. – Jan Jensen is probably a believer in the old adage that there are lies, damned lies and statistics. Iowa’s Associate Head Coach remembers an unheralded reserve shooting the Hawkeyes out of last year’s national championship game.

She said flexibility is the operative mode in games like Iowa’s Elite 8 matchup with LSU Monday. Statistically LSU doesn’t shoot a lot of 3-pointers, averaging about 13 3-point shots and 4.3 made threes per game. But creativity and flexibility are demanded when the action on court doesn’t match the statistical profile.

“I’m analytics to a degree, but I’m also heart, soul and guts,” Jensen said. “This is to go to the Final Four. So you start out, and then you have to adapt on the fly. Because sometimes the kid you thought wasn’t really going to hit it, she’s been waiting for the moment, or maybe a kid that’s really high has been hot, and she can’t buy it.”

So Iowa will go in with a game plan, but it may find out quickly that plan has to change.

“You’re likely not going to win with Plan A; you’re probably going to get to the B, C or D,” Jensen said. “That’s what makes the tournament fun.”

As usual the Hawkeyes revealed very little about Plan A. But there are some obvious keys against a quick, transition-oriented team. Rebounding will be key in order to limit LSU’s dangerous transition offense and to prevent easy follow shots on offense. It is key to Iowa’s transition game as well.

“They are such a different type of rebounding team,” Jensen said. “They’re unlike anybody (else). They are wired to rebound. They chase the rebound, and a lot of their scoring is rebounds. You know how you work on moves? Their move is a rebound.  So they’re really good at it.

“They are innate; they’re quick; they’ve worked tirelessly at it. If you’re late on a turn or you’re late even thinking about a box out, they’re already in front of you and probably will snatch it and put it back or they turn it into transition. So that’s a big key.”

All American Angel Reese will match up against Iowa’s Hannah Stuelke in the post. Reese leads the Tigers in scoring (19 ppg) and rebounding (13.2 rpg).

“I really like Hannah’s game. She’s a strong post player,” Reese said. “She’s more versatile than (Monika) Czinano, so I know I’m going to have to guard her much higher than I had to guard Czinano last year. I’m going to have to guard her more out of the paint this game.

“I think our advantage is going to be at that four spot. Aneesah (Morrow) is going to do a great job, and then (6-6) Aalyah (Del Rosario) being able to come in, too. We have some depth this year.”

Outside of the post and the point, Iowa plays a position-less offense, but Kate Martin is clearly Iowa’s answer at the power forward with Sydney Affolter in the wings.

On the perimeter LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson will start off guarding Iowa’s Caitlin Clark.

“I want to compete at the highest level, and right now Caitlin is the highest level,” Johnson said.

“Our game plan will not even mention what we did last year because we don’t have the same personnel,” LSU coach Kim Mulkey said. “The biggest same is Caitlin Clark. The difference is those that were role players last year are now big players.

“They’re still going to shoot a lot of threes. But Caitlin Clark is a generational player. She’s not all about threes. She can pass the ball. She can take you off the dribble. Obviously our focus will be on her but not solely on her.”

“We are different from last year, but it’s different in a good way,” Affolter said.

Johnson herself is a dynamic playmaker and causes all kinds of problems with her twisting, turning drives to the basket. She averages 14 points but has been more productive in the tournament. LSU’s quickness on the perimeter will be a real challenge.

Gabbie Marshall said Iowa’s guards will “just kind of do what we’ve done a lot here. We might try to  throw a couple of different things at them just to kind of keep them on their toes.”

“Either way I think this game is going to be won or lost with who executes, who really handles their game plans the best,” Jensen said.

Whatever those game plans turn out to be.