IOWA CITY, IOWA • Missouri women’s basketball senior guard Sophie Cunningham wasn’t surprised to find out that Tigers coach Robin Pingeton and Drake coach Jennie Baranczyk came from the same coaching tree.
That background is built around competitiveness and toughness. Part of the reason both Pingeton and Baranczyk coach that way now is because of Iowa coach Lisa Bluder.
“(Bluder) is one of the most competitive people I know,” Baranczyk said. “I got into coaching because I got to play for her.”
On Friday, the two Bluder disciples will face each other in the first round of the NCAA Tournament — and on their former coach’s home court at Iowa’s Carver Hawkeye Arena.