IOWA CITY, Iowa — The Iowa women’s basketball team has made it to seven straight NCAA tournaments. If that streak is to continue this season, the Hawkeyes will need their underclassmen to make an immediate impact.

In total, nine of the 14 Iowa players are either freshmen or sophomores.

For the returning players, their focus is on making sure the young players feel comfortable.

“Encouraging them in everything. It’s really hard to come in, learn a new system and play without any encouragement. So if we are giving them encouragement, it makes a little easy for them,” said Hannah Stuelke, an Iowa senior forward.

“So when I thought about this, it’s so exciting, and it’s fun because we have a lot of different ways we can go,” said Jan Jensen, Iowa women’s basketball’s head coach. “But I think the word, and I think I’m talking to myself here more than anybody else, is ‘Patience.’ I think we’re planting a lot of seeds for this year, and we’re going to be using a lot of water with that patience. I think it’s not only this year but in everything that will come after this year.”