Awards Don't Drive Logic

Nov. 12, 2013

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Editor’s Note: The following first appeared in the University of Iowa’s Hawk Talk Daily, an e-newsletter that offers a daily look at the Iowa Hawkeyes, delivered free each morning to thousands of fans of the Hawkeyes worldwide.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Samantha Logic has made a career out of thinking of others before herself. That’s why she was ho-hum about seeing her name on a preseason All-Big Ten women’s basketball team.

Logic, a junior from Racine, Wis., who led the Hawkeyes in assists the past two seasons, joins Rachel Banham of Minnesota, Jordan Hooper of Nebraska, Maggie Lucas of Penn State, and Courtney Moses of Purdue on the media’s all-conference team. She is one of two juniors named.

“I didn’t expect it or think of it,” Logic said. “I feel honored, it’s a nice thing to have, but at the same time it’s preseason — other people’s expectations don’t define what we do. You appreciate people thinking that of you, but you have to heighten your expectations for the team, those individual accolades aren’t important.”

A lot of players say individual awards aren’t important, but Logic lives it. In Iowa’s most-recent game — a 97-93 upset of No. 14 Dayton — she will be remembered for sinking a game-tying 3-point field goal with nine seconds left in regulation. But she also handed out more assists (14) in a game than any other women’s basketball player who has ever taken to Mediacom Court in the 30-year history of Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Logic led the Big Ten Conference in assists last season with an average of 6.4 per game. She currently leads the league in assists this season (9.5) and is tied for fifth in points per game (22).

“Sam doesn’t need awards to come to work every day, that’s not what drives her,” UI head coach Lisa Bluder said. “What drives her is competing, and the relationships with her teammates. What drives her is playing with an `I want to win this basketball game’ attitude.”

Sunday against Dayton wasn’t the only time Logic has been credited with 14 assists in a game — or against a nationally ranked opponent. She did it first against No. 20 Texas on Dec. 28, 2012 during an 86-63 win by the Hawkeyes in the San Diego Surf `N Slam Classic. Logic finished the season with 217 assists — the most ever by an Iowa player.

In 67 career games, Logic has 372 assists (an average of 5.6 per game). She is 205 assists from breaking the record of 576 set by Cara Consuegra from 1997-2001. At her current pace, Logic will have that mark in 37 more outings. Seven times in her career she has compiled 10 or more assists in a game. Logic has also scored in double figures 30 times and grabbed 10 or more rebounds in a game 12 times.

She averages 9.5 assists per game this season, even though the Hawkeyes look to her for more scoring. Logic also leads the team in that category after pouring in a career-high 28 on Nov. 9 against UC-Riverside and 16 on Nov. 10 against the Flyers.

The undefeated Hawkeyes (2-0) return to action Wednesday, Nov. 13, against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Logic might be called on to be a scorer. She might be asked to distribute the ball. It’s all the same to her, as long as Iowa has more points than the Golden Lions at the end of the game.

“I’m going to do what I can to win, this whole team has that mentality,” Logic said. “We want to win so badly in whatever way we need to do it. There are going to be ugly games, there are going to be great offensive games, you have to do what you have to do to win, and I think we’re going to do that.”