Two Tough Games Three Days Apart....

...in the early part of the season. Good barometer and/or wake-up call.

Iowa returns it's top 4 scorers, led by All-American Forward/Center Megan Gustafson at 25.0 PPG. She's joined in double figures by guards Kathleen Doyle (11.1 ppg) and Makenzie Meyer (10.8 ppg).

Don't know what other teams we're facing beforehand at this moment, but this game will very much be a good challenge for defensive ace Brianna Turner.

That's Thursday and then UConn rolls into the Bend on Sunday afternoon. If anything, the Iowa game should get the Irish into gear for the Huskies, who have to replace the departed Kia Nurse and Gabby Williams, both now in the WNBA.

The top two scorers: Katie Lou Samuelson(17.4 ppg) and Napheesa Collier (16.1) are both back, as is starting point guard, Crystal Dangerfield (9.5 ppg, 142 assists). The 142 assists, btw, were second on the team after Williams, who had 191. UConn's motion offense very often went through Williams at the top of the key. Williams was also their top rebounder.

Who will step into the starting lineup? Megan Walker, the top rated frosh of 2017 who had an in-and-out year her first year in Storrs? Christyn Williams, the all-everything incoming guard from Arkansas? Baltouly Camara, the transfer forward from Kentucky who played a lot as a frosh but barely got off the bench for UConn before garbage time?

In any case, there's still a lot of talent and Geno/Chris Daily will figure it out.

Two games for our local Benchers who are not season tix holders to get tix for ASAP. I've already penned these in my calendars.