By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Jan Jensen didn’t necessarily set out to become the first Iowa women’s basketball coach to begin her tenure with an 8-0 record.

Of course, she wants to win every game her team plays, but Jensen, like many head coaches, believes the best way to have success is to focus on the daily grind and not worry about the big picture.

She appreciates still being undefeated heading into Saturday’s game against Tennessee in New York City, but it rarely enters her mind.

“We really haven’t talked about it,” Jensen said. “It wasn’t a goal. I just feel like we’ve just been pretty locked in to doing what we do and trying to improve and really enjoy the journey.

“I know that sounds cliche. But we never had that goal. I never said that. So, when that happened it was just kind of fun. You started thinking about it as you’re coaching, it’s just the next game and everybody else tells you you’re 5-0 and 6-0, whatever.”

But as the wins started to mount in November, Jensen and her players decided to set a goal.

“When we got there, then I decided it would be kind of fun to have a no-lose November,” Jensen said. “So, that was kind of fun.

“But now I think it’s a new month, a new page. And I’ve told you before, I’m clearly aware of the schedule. It gets markedly harder on Saturday night. It’s a big stage. It’s an SEC team, and after that, it’s Iowa State and they’re tremendous. They have all their bigs and great people back.”

Kim Caldwell is in her first season as the Tennessee head coach, and like Jensen, her team is also undefeated, but with just six wins,

Tennessee leads the nation in three-pointers attempted per game at 38.8 per contest.

Caldwell also will go deep into her bench.

“They like to go, go, go and they also do some of those hockey subs, so it just always poses a little bit of a different challenge when you’ve got five coming in,” Jensen said. “What’s fun about basketball is every game presents a different game plan and strategy.

“So, it’s difficult. But it’s also interesting because we haven’t faced this for a real long time and it’ll be interesting to see how our team responds.”

Jensen was asked on Monday how she think her team will handle an opponent that shoots nearly half of its shots from 3-point range.

“We’re going to find out aren’t we,” Jensen said. “I think it goes back to kind of knowing personnel and trying to figure out how to take away some of their favorite things that they like to do.

“They’re pretty talented. They’ve got some kids that get down hill real fast. So, they’re going down hill real fast so you need to help if you’ve got that amazing shooter in the corner. So we need to be pretty locked in to who does what well and try to make that a little harder.”

Since Oct. 28, 2022, the Hawkeyes are 22-3 in neutral site contests. A season ago, the Hawkeyes were 13-1 at a neutral venue.

Villanova transfer Lucy Olsen missed both games in Cancun due a laceration on her knee, but Jensen seemed optimistic on Monday that Olsen would play against Tennessee.

“I think it’s more likely than not because she’s so tough,” Jensen said of Olsen, who has reached double figures and four or more assists in all six career games with Iowa.

Senior center Addi O’Grady has been in double figures in seven games after having just two total games scoring in double figures over her previous two seasons.

Freshman point guard Aaliyah Guyton also saw her first extensive action in the two games in Cancun, scoring a career-high 11 points in one of the games.

She suffered a season-ending knee injury as a high school senior, and has spent the past year recovering.

Saturday’s game is part of the Women’s Champions Classic.

Louisville and Connecticut will meet in the other game.

Iowa (8-0) vs. Tennessee (6-0)

When: Saturday, 6 p.m.

Where: Brooklyn, New York

What: Women’s Champions Classic

TV: FOX

Radio: Hawkeye Radio Network

All-time series: The Lady Vols lead the all-time series, 2-1.