After an Iowa season dominated by Megan Gustafson’s stellar play, the Big Ten media recognized her magical season by naming her Big Ten Player of the Year.
All season long, it seemed as though nothing could stop the double-double machine as she fought for an average of 25.3 points per game and 12.8 rebounds per game. She finished the year in the top five of the two aforementioned categories as well as six others, which contributed to her unanimous selection to the media and coaches All-Big Ten first team.
In typical Gustafson fashion, she credited her omnipresent humility after hearing that she won the award.
“This means a lot,” she said in a release. “I’ve put in so much work the past three years at Iowa. My teammates, my coaches, and the support staff have all been amazing. It’s a dream come true to play the sport that I love with the people I love. At the end of the day, I just have to thank my teammates, my coaches and my family.”
As if winning Player of the Year honors weren’t enough to show her dominance this year, she also sprinkled her name in the Iowa record book this season, rewriting six single-season records and Iowa’s career double-double record for both men and women.
Gustafson’s single season records include points (734), rebounds (370), field goals made (285), free throws made (164), free throws attempted (204), and double-doubles (26).
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Along with those records, she picked up a conference-record nine Big Ten Player of the Week honors.
Her dominance made games easier for her teammates who, when in doubt, knew they could throw the ball down to the post almost certain that Gustafson would put up 2 points.
“Just chuck it into her; she’ll catch it,” Makenzie Meyer said.
Even when the pass isn’t on the mark, Gustafson is a lock in the paint.
“Yeah, I don’t know how she catches some of the passes I make to her,” Chase Coley said. “Sometimes, I like to think I’m a pretty good passer, but sometimes, I’m like ‘Go get it,’ and she does. She makes some amazing finishes. It’s fun to watch.”
Watching Gustafson dominate has mystified her teammates and anyone who saw her play this season, but it is her humility through all the accolades that has been most impressive.
Gustafson has been as consistent in deflecting praise back to her teammates as she has been at putting the ball in the basket, and that is not lost on her teammates.
“Off the court just how humble she is that speaks to her personality so much,” Meyer said. “She’s a great teammate and a really fun person.”
Gustafson wasn’t the only Hawkeyes recognized during Monday’s Big Ten award show. Sophomore Kathleen Doyle was named to the All-Big Ten second team by the coaches and an honorable mention by the media.
Playing Morty to Gustafson’s Rick, Doyle followed her All-Big Ten freshman team nomination, averaging put up 11.2 points per game while dishing out 6.6 assists per game.
The last Hawkeye to be honored by the Big Ten was Iowa’s sixth woman, Hannah Stewart, who was selected as Iowa’s Sportsmanship Award honoree.
The awards recognize the players for their stellar regular season and also signal the start of the postseason. Iowa begins its postseason riding a seven-game winning streak, and it is preparing to head to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Tournament.
