The Iowa Hawkeyes, coached by Jan Jensen, are considered not to have played up to their usual standard in their recent regular-season game, causing onlookers to get furious. On Thursday, Jan. 29, coach Jensen and her 2025-26 Hawkeyes matched up against coach Lindsay Gottlieb’s USC Trojans in the latter’s home floor, the Galen Center in Los Angeles, California.
But all throughout the game between two powerhouse programs from the Big Ten conference, the Hawkeyes struggled against a team that was not even playing with its best player. This is because the Trojans superstar JuJu Watkins is still in her injury recovery process with her torn ACL. Even with this, USC looked great against Iowa, even if the latter was coming in the game with an eight-game winning streak.
Women’s college basketball fans and spectators were vividly disappointed in the Hawkeyes for how they fared against the Trojans, citing a lack of their usual standard of play.
“Iowa women’s basketball is dead and embarrassing tonight,” one fan claimed.
“The Iowa WBB team from last week did not travel west. Don’t know what is happening. This is shocking,” another fan shared.
“The entry passes into the post for this Iowa WBB team is some of the worst I’ve ever seen. Have no idea what they’re looking at,” another user said.
“Need more defensive intensity on Sunday for sure. Ladies looked a little lost on the defensive end tonight,” a user wrote.
Other users all over X/Twitter were then quick to point out that the Iowa-based program usually struggles against California-based opponents especially the Trojans.
“Can any Hawkeye team win in California?,” one user questioned.
“Look, USC was unconscious at times. We will learn from this and move on,” another fan asserted.
“Play some defense! They had what 2 turnovers all game, maybe press them! Lemme guess, half the team is sick or something. You’re the #8 in the country and you play like complete garbage. No adjustments whatsoever. Now you’ll get blown out by UCLA if you don’t get your sh*t together,” a user explained.
Jensen is currently in her second year of head coaching the Iowa-based program after she took over the team last year in the 2024-25 campaign, serving as long-time coach Lisa Bluder’s successor. The Hawkeyes are yet to win a national title in program history, but have reached the winner-take-all game twice in 2023 and in 2024. Iowa is looking to return to that college basketball mountaintop.
The Iowa Hawkeyes Succumbed To A 12-Point Defeat Against The USC Trojans
Citing a lack of effort and team synergy on their part by their fans and supporters, the Iowa Hawkeyes lost to the USC Trojans in away territory by 12 points, 81-69. As mentioned, this halts Iowa’s gained momentum as they were heading into the matchup on an eight-game winning streak.
The Hawkeyes look to return to their winning ways when they face the UCLA Bruins on Sunday, Feb. 1.
Also Read:
Caitlin Clark Drops 3-Word Reaction to Ex-Iowa HC Lisa Bluder’s Question for Fever Star’s Collab with Viral Brand
Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Dealt Major Blow As Highest Rated Recruit Since Caitlin Clark Joins Jan Jensen’s Iowa
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