3 things to watch as Iowa women’s basketball faces Ohio State in Big Ten Tournament

INDIANAPOLIS — Two days into the Big Ten Tournament, and Iowa women’s basketball couldn’t have scripted a more productive postseason entrance. Now comes another late-night challenge more daunting than the last.

The No. 11 seed Hawkeyes march into Friday’s quarterfinal against No. 3 seed Ohio State (8 p.m., BTN) as a confident bunch after tackling No. 6 seed Michigan State on Thursday and No. 14 seed Wisconsin on Wednesday. Iowa has 80 Big Ten Tournament minutes under its belt before the Buckeyes have a single one. Can the Hawkeyes execute well enough to make that matter?

Here are three things to watch ahead of another Iowa-Ohio State collision.

How do the Hawkeyes swing Ohio State’s rest/rust debate in their favor?

It’s a bit absurd to think about — that 10 of the 15 Big Ten Tournament teams will be eliminated before Ohio State takes the floor for the first time. The late-night double bye makes for a lengthy wait.

Contrast that with Iowa’s current situation — two games played, two significant showings — and it’s fair to wonder if that massive difference will make a difference Friday night.

“I feel like you can look at it either way,” junior Taylor McCabe said. “Me personally, I kind of like that we’ve been here for a few days just getting adjusted to the arena. It is a little different. For the past two years, we were playing in Minneapolis (for the Big Ten Tournament). Most of us have never even been here. So I do like that we have been here for a few days.

“We’ll have another shootaround (Friday) morning. I mean, they are fresh. So there’s an advantage to that. They only really had to scout two teams, where we’ve had to scout a couple. I do think it helps that we played them pretty recently as well. We’ll be ready to go.”

Hear from Hannah Stuelke after Iowa women’s basketball topples Michigan State in Big Ten Tournament

Hear from Hannah Stuelke after Iowa women’s basketball topples Michigan State in Big Ten Tournament

Speaking of that first matchup, how can it productively fuel Iowa’s second crack at Ohio State?

“Revenge Tour” made its way into the postgame dialogue for the first time this week, as the Hawkeyes look to get back several foes that snuck by them in the regular season. Ohio State sits right at the top of the list.

Crossing off the Buckeyes will require a cleaner effort that what was largely seen in Iowa’s 86-78 overtime loss in Columbus on Feb. 17. Yes, the Hawkeyes’ incredible regulation rally to erase a 12-point deficit in the final 90 seconds offered a valuable lesson on belief. But Iowa unsuccessfully played catch-up after a sluggish start stuck the Hawkeyes in an early double-digit hole.

A better opening than that day is likely needed Friday.

“We have to handle their press,” Iowa coach Jan Jensen said. “We have to handle their speed. (Big Ten freshman of the year) Jaloni (Cambridge) got downhill on us real fast, real often there — and I don’t know if anybody’s been able to really slow her down. So we’re going to have to try to figure out how to minimize that. We’re going to have to score a little bit more efficiently than we did (Thursday).” 

Iowa’s Kylie Feuerbach on Jan Jensen’s first T, beating Michigan State

The Hawkeye senior scored six big fourth-quarter points to help Iowa pull away from the Spartans, 74-61.

After ample freshman contributions to start the Big Ten Tournament, who’s next for Iowa to steal an unlikely spotlight?

Reliability is essential in March, but so is versatility. And Iowa has shown in Indianapolis that its depth is a weapon beyond just saving legs.

Freshman contributions — divvied up Wednesday, lots of Ava Heiden Thursday — dominated the Iowa dialogue after two days. Similar efforts from those not always in the spotlight create the Hawkeyes’ best chance for an even lengthier run.

Iowa women’s basketball vs. Ohio State prediction

Another tight affair late against Ohio State that calls for flawless execution. The Buckeyes, full of urgency with a win likely clinching an NCAA Tournament hosting spot, knock off Iowa in dramatic fashion. Ohio State 75, Hawkeyes 71

Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.