Agree with this general summary. The staff has been proud to say to recruits, and rightly so, that ISU women's basketball is a "top 25 program" along with being "the best program in Iowa." They can't say either one right now.
I agree with Boxsters summary, also. Bluder will try to make hay out of this recent success, but she hasn't had a history of consistancy. This is a bit of a blip on the radar with them actually hosting, even with their terrible attendance. Women's basketball awards top teams with an easier path to post season success than the men's game, because they have to pay for it with attendance. Otherwise, it wouldn't happen IMO. That may change, but it's too pronounced, and affects recruiting fom a hype and visibility standpoint.
I would look at rankings over years, when referring to program strength. Bluder had these seniors for more than this year, and they didn't have this success. My frustration with our teams has been conference titles and finishes in conference tourneys. The conference schedule is tough, and the success of the league's teams on a national stage should reflect it more. If we want to be a player in getting "dominating" gals and mentioned on the national stage, we have to be more than the "little engine that could". It feels like we settle too much. Being the best program in Iowa isn't where it's at. Getting girls that fit a system, and trying to coach them up. How about getting the best available athlete, and working the system around that? That seems to be what Fred is doing to an extent. Just weird Friday thoughts.