Jan Jensen seems frustrated about constant Caitlin Clark era comparisons for Iowa Hawkeyes: "Let this year's team be this year's team"

Iowa coach Jan Jensen is aware of the undeniable impact Caitlin Clark left on women's college basketball, especially for the Hawkeyes. Even though she is already in the WNBA, Jensen does not want the expectations on Clark's teams placed on the program this season.

No. 23-ranked Iowa is coming off its second consecutive defeat on Thursday, losing 62-57 on the road to Illinois. The Hawkeyes fell to 2-3 in conference play, a slow start for a team that typically dominates to begin league play the last few years when Clark was the star attraction.

However, this concept is one that Jensen wants everybody to avoid making about the Hawkeyes squad this season as they built an identity different from the one that was present during Clark's time with the program.

"I think it's really important for everybody to let this year's team be this year's team," Jensen said on Friday, via WHBF's Blake Hornstein. "Everybody keeps looking back and saying, oh, you know, they didn't lose that. And you know, we didn't. We had a really good crew. They played together for four years. And so my job is to keep them here.

"There's a lot of season left. There is so much season, whether we would have won Sunday and would have won tonight, I can't afford to compare what has happened in the past, because these guys are giving me a lot."

Jan Jensen, Iowa performing well post-Caitlin Clark

Despite the slow start in conference play, Jan Jensen has done well in her first year as Iowa's coach after a few decades of being the team's assistant.

The Hawkeyes have an overall record of 12-4, averaging 75.6 points on 47.2% shooting, including 32.1% from beyond the arc, and outscoring opponents by 11.0 points per game. They are active in rebounding and playmaking, grabbing 39.9 rebounds and creating 17.8 assists.

Lucy Olsen leads the way with averages of 17.0 points, 3.9 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.0 steals. Hannah Stuelke follows suit with 13.3 ppg and 8.0 rpg while Addison O'Grady provides 12.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg and 1.2 bpg.

Jensen and the No. 23-ranked Hawkeyes will look to end their two-game losing skid when they host Indiana at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.