Iowa vs UConn are two of the most storied programs in college basketball. Their playing styles, coaching philosophies, and championship pedigrees make any game between the Hawkeyes and Huskies must-see television in the college basketball world.
Coaching
She is the all-time winningest coach in Iowa women’s basketball history with over 450 victories. Coach Bluder has led the Hawkeyes to 20 NCAA tournament appearances including two trips to the Elite 8. She focuses on fundamentals and defense.
He has established UConn as the premier program in women’s college basketball with over 1,000 wins and 11 national championships. Known for recruiting elite talent and pushing players to their full potential, Coach Auriemma Iowa vs UConn has led UConn to 24 Final Four appearances. His motion offense and various defensive schemes have dominated women’s basketball.
Recent Seasons
Furthermore, the Hawkeyes have won at least 23 games each of the past five years. Additionally, they’ve made the NCAA Tournament in each of those seasons, reaching the Sweet 16 in 2019 and the Elite Eight in 2022. Moreover, Iowa has been ranked for the majority of the last five seasons, climbing as high as #5 in the 2020-21 season.
Caitlin Clark
Clark is the star point guard for Iowa and one of the best players in the Iowa vs UConn country. Clark is known for her elite scoring ability and court vision.
Monika Czinano
She is an excellent interior scorer and anchors Iowa’s offense in the paint. Czinano was named First Team All-Big Ten in 2021-22.
Gabbie Marshall
Marshall provides valuable shooting and perimeter scoring as a wing Iowa vs UConn for the Hawkeyes. Marshall stretches the defense with her outside shooting.
UConn
Azzi Fudd
She is an elite three-point shooter and has a polished all-around Iowa vs UConn scoring game.
Aubrey Griffin
She is an athletic forward who makes an impact on the glass and defense. Griffin was named to the Big East All-Freshman team in 2021-22.
Nika Muhl
She is a tenacious on-ball defender and facilitates the offense.
Iowa
Iowa likes to play at a methodical pace, averaging around 70 possessions per game. They are very patient on offense, using a lot of ball screens and motion to find open shots. Defensively, the Hawkeyes play mostly man-to-man and focus on limiting opponents’ three-point attempts. They are not a high-pressure defensive team, preferring to keep opponents in front of them.
On offense, Iowa is led by center Luka Garza, one of the best low post scorers in college basketball. The Hawkeyes look to establish Garza early and often, running their offense through him on the block. Guards Joe Wieskamp and CJ Fredrick provide outside shooting to complement Garza inside. Iowa is very efficient on offense, ranking in the top 20 nationally in offensive efficiency.
UConn
In contrast to Iowa, UConn likes to play fast, averaging over 73 possessions per game. They push the ball at every opportunity and seek to score early in the shot clock before the defense gets set. The Huskies apply full-court pressure after making baskets to speed up opponents.
Defensively, UConn mixes up man-to-man and zone looks, sometimes within the same possession.
On offense, UConn is powered by guard James Bouknight, who averages over 20 points per game. Bouknight excels at attacking the rim off the dribble. The Huskies move the ball well and have several other capable scorers like RJ Cole and Tyrese Martin who contribute. UConn ranks in the top 50 nationally in offensive efficiency.
The contrast in pace and defensive styles between Iowa and UConn make their matchup compelling to watch. Their playing styles are nearly opposites.
Home Arenas
The Iowa Hawkeyes play their home games at Carver-Hawkeye Arena located in Iowa City. The arena opened in 1983 and seats 15,400 for basketball games. It’s known for having one of the best home-court advantages in college basketball. The passionate Iowa fans pack the arena and create an electric atmosphere that energizes the Hawkeyes.
The UConn Huskies play at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion located in Storrs, Connecticut. The arena opened in 1990 and seats 10,167 fans. The arena is compact which amplifies the crowd noise and intensity.
Conference Strength
Both conferences are known for having elite women’s basketball programs that consistently qualify for the NCAA tournament.
The Big Ten has historically been one of the strongest conferences in women’s college basketball. It has produced national championship teams like Maryland and Purdue. In recent years, Iowa has emerged as a Big Ten powerhouse, winning the regular season title in 2020 and 2022. The Big Ten sent seven teams to the 2022 NCAA tournament.
UConn has dominated the conference, winning 20 regular season and tournament titles. Other strong teams include Creighton, Marquette, and DePaul. In 2022, UConn and Villanova represented the Big East in the NCAA tournament.
The competition prepares them well for tournament success.
While the Big Ten holds a slight edge in conference strength, the Big East stands out in women’s basketball, especially with UConn’s presence. Consequently, the Iowa-UConn matchup features two powerhouse programs from respected conferences.
UConn has been dominant over the past two decades, winning a record 11 national championships under coach Geno Auriemma. The Huskies won four straight titles from 2013-2016 and have appeared in 14 straight Final Fours. Some of the program’s all-time greats include Rebecca Lobo, Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, and Breanna Stewart.
Iowa has a long tradition of excellence as well. The Hawkeyes have reached the Final Four 10 times, winning championships in 1993 and 1996 under legendary coach C. Vivian Stringer. Has produced many WNBA players over the years like Michelle Edwards, Tangela Smith, and Megan Gustafson.
The two schools have somewhat flipped roles, with UConn now the perennial powerhouse while aiming to regain national prominence. But both have rich histories and remain among the elite in women’s basketball.
Head to Head
Iowa and UConn have played each other 12 times in their histories, with UConn holding a 7-5 edge in the all-time series.
The first meeting came in the second round of the 1996 NCAA Tournament when UConn defeated Iowa 78-77 in overtime in Tempe, Arizona.
Since then, the teams have met in various early-season tournaments and one regular-season game. Most recently, they clashed in the 2018 2K Classic at Madison Square Garden, with UConn winning 91-72 behind 24 points from Alterique Gilbert.
Other notable games include Iowa’s 79-68 win over UConn in the 2001 Preseason NIT title game, and UConn’s 65-59 win in Iowa City in 2013.
The teams are scheduled to play a home-and-home series in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
Conclusion
Iowa and UConn are two of the most storied programs in women’s college basketball, with a combined 11 national championships between them. Both teams feature talented rosters loaded with WNBA-caliber players. Visit our Website Time Speed Magazine.
While UConn has more overall success and name recognition, has been one of the most dominant teams this season. The Hawkeyes are undefeated and have blown out highly-ranked opponents behind the play of All-American Caitlin Clark. This matchup will likely come down to guard play. Clark and the backcourt will look to push the pace and score in transition. UConn has great guard depth, but Azzi Fudd’s injury could be a factor. Rebounding and paint play will also be key, with Monika Czinano and Aaliyah Edwards battling down low.
In the end, I predict Iowa will stay undefeated and hand UConn its second straight loss. The Hawkeyes are clicking on all cylinders and playing with tremendous confidence at home. Their high-powered offense and strong rebounding should be enough to take down the Huskies. Iowa wins 85-80 in a hard-fought game between two championship contenders.
