But these are still big games. Iowa (15-7, 5-6) rebounded from a five-game losing streak with three straight wins, including the upset of USC, the kind of signature win that can make a difference on selection day. Indiana (14-7, 6-4) has three victories over teams ranked at the time, something the Gophers don’t have.

Beating Iowa or Indiana wouldn’t be considered an upset or a signature win. But, Creme said, such wins would be quality wins.

“They need to be solid and win some of these games,” he said. “Minnesota is a team that has been in the 20s in the net rankings for a long time. But you look at their plate, and it’s kind of empty. They haven’t lost to anyone they shouldn’t have, which is something to say. But they haven’t elevated either. They’re going to have to win a few of these games for sure.”

The Iowa team coming to town is not as formidable as the one Clark led to consecutive NCAA championship game appearances. But under new coach Jan Jensen — the longtime assistant promoted when Lisa Bluder retired — they have many of the same pieces plus the addition of guard Lucy Olsen, who transferred from Villanova.

The Hawkeyes still play a similar style: up-tempo, looking for post Hannah Stuelke, with formidable scoring on the outside. Olsen is 10th in the Big Ten in scoring (16.4), but in her last three games — all Iowa wins — she has averaged 21.3 points, shot 60% overall and hit five of 10 threes with 5.3 assists. She outdueled USC’s JuJu Watkins on Sunday, scoring a game-high 28 points on 10-for-18 shooting.

Annika Stewart, who transferred from Nebraska to the Gophers for her final college season, knows what it takes to make the NCAA tournament.