Lisa Bluder has a supremely talented roster, but that can only take you so far. Every team runs into a squad with just as much talent or a team that is shooting lights out against you. At that point, the difference can be how well a team is coached.
The Iowa Hawkeyes are among the best-coached teams in the nation. Lisa Bluder knows how to win games, adapt on the fly and get the most from her squads. The strong showing this past week by the Hawkeyes has ESPN naming her as its Coach of the Week.
Coach of the Week: Lisa Bluder, Iowa
Sure, Bluder had a lot of players return from last season, starting with Clark, but she lost two key starters and has had to rely on some younger, less-experienced players to fill big roles.
The Hawkeyes are again competing for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Bluder has allowed Clark to soar while fostering a strong team chemistry. And the leader in Big Ten women’s hoops coaching victories got her first win at Maryland on Saturday. – Michael Voepel, ESPN
Bluder has the Hawkeyes 21-2 overall and 10-1 in Big Ten play. Iowa is trending toward a top seed in the NCAA Tournament and Big Ten regular season and tournament titles. Bluder has her work cut out for her, but she has her players confident and sometimes that is all that matters.
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