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2019-20 Big Ten Women’s Basketball preview and predictions

By Ben Rosof

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 10: The Iowa Hawkeyes are the 2019 Women's B1G Tournament championship game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Iowa Hawkeyes on March 10, 2019 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, in Indianapolis Indiana.(Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 10: The Iowa Hawkeyes are the 2019 Women's B1G Tournament championship game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Iowa Hawkeyes on March 10, 2019 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, in Indianapolis Indiana.(Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 10: Head coach Lisa Bluder of the Iowa Hawkeyes cuts down the nets after a victory over the Maryland Terrapins in the Big Ten Women’s Championship game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 10, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 10: Head coach Lisa Bluder of the Iowa Hawkeyes cuts down the nets after a victory over the Maryland Terrapins in the Big Ten Women’s Championship game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 10, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

Iowa Hawkeyes

2018-19 Record / Finish:

  • 26-6 (14-4 B1G, 2nd in standings)
  • Champions of Big Ten Tournament, defeated Maryland in finals
  • Lost to Baylor in Elite Eight of NCAA Tournament

2018-19 Leaders:

  • Megan Gustafson (27.8 ppg, 13.4 rpg) – Was a senior, Graduated
  • Hannah Stewart (11.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg) – Was a senior, Graduated

Key Additions:

  • #84 overall prospect, 4-star wing McKenna Warnock from Wisconsin

After an impressive 2018-19 regular season during which the Hawkeyes finished second in the Big Ten standings, Iowa defeated 1st-place Maryland to capture the Big Ten Tournament championship. They advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament, falling to eventual national champion Baylor. Expect a large dropoff for the Hawkeyes this season, primarily due to the loss of ESPNW and AP National Player of the Year Megan Gustafson to graduation and the WNBA. Besides Gustafson, Iowa’s two other graduating seniors from last year’s roster, Tania Davis and Hannah Stewart, ranked third and fourth on the team in scoring, respectively.

Iowa welcomes just one prospect ranked in the top 100 this season, Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year McKenna Warnock. The wing joins fellow freshmen Megan Meyer, sister of senior McKenzie Meyer, Gabby Marshall, who made three-pointers at a 53% clip as a high school senior, and Kate Martin, who redshirted last season.

Expect senior Kathleen Doyle to take a step forward this year, as she ranked second on last year’s team in scoring and first in assists, at 12 points and 5.9 assists per contest. Without Gustafson, Doyle should emerge as the undisputed leader of the team.

Before beginning Big Ten play, Iowa has a date with in-state rival Iowa State, a team that finished 17th in the AP Poll last year, on December 11. Without several weapons that led to a high level of success for the Hawkeyes just one year ago, Head Coach Lisa Bluder will attempt to keep her retooled roster afloat in 2019-20.

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