By JOHN BOHNENKAMP

IOWA CITY — Molly Davis laughed, because she knew where the interview was going.

Let’s talk about the headband.

“I get asked that a lot,” the Iowa guard said.

It’s so popular, it has its own account on social media site X — the account has 1,132 followers.

It’s a piece of her uniform that she has had since her junior year at H.H. Dow High School in Midland, Mich. It went with Davis to Central Michigan University — after some alterations — and then it came with her when she transferred to Iowa before last season.

“I’ve never played a game without it,” Davis said.

The pre-game ritual between player and headband is the same.

“A.J. (Ediger) bobby-pins it to my head,” Davis. “And then I try not to lose it during the game.”

It does come off, quite a bit. But Davis will pick it up, put it back on during a stoppage of play, and start over again.

And on road trips, she always makes sure it’s packed.

It looks like a generic headband, but it once had an Under Armour logo on it.

“CMU was an adidas school,” Davis said. “So I couldn’t wear anything with a different logo. My dad had to cut the Under Armour symbol out of it, and sew it back together. Every time it gets too stretched out, he’ll cut it again, make it a little stronger.”

It’s part of Davis’ comfort zone as a player.

Comfort is something Davis has now with the Hawkeyes. Her confidence heading into her final season has risen, just because she understands her role

Davis played in all 38 games with Iowa last season, making two starts, after transferring from Central Michigan. She played 634 minutes, backing up national player of the year Caitlin Clark.

Davis averaged 3.8 points per game, and was fourth on the team with 63 assists.

“It was hard coming in, and backing up the greatest player in women’s sports,” Davis said. “It was a hard thing to do — it took me a while to adjust to what that role was going to be. And once I figured it out, I was doing it to the best of my ability. But I knew coming into this season, it’s my last year, and I want to give it everything I got, and see where that takes me.”

“I think Molly has done a really good job,” Clark said. “She’s just playing with a different confidence level that maybe she didn’t have at times last year.

“But I also think she understands we lost a lot of people that scored a lot of points. She needs to go into the game with a mindset of yeah, I can score the ball, and she’s one of those people that puts in a lot of time in the gym.”

Davis shot 44.7 percent from the field last season, 31.4 percent in 3-pointers.

“I think my confidence has definitely improved, just having that last season under my belt,” Davis said. “I’m being a little more aggressive offensively, finding my shot more. And having a little more consistent shot from three.”

“I just tell her, trust that work — like, you’re really good,” Clark said. “Everybody always tells her, don’t pass up shots, shoot the ball, you’re really good.”

Davis’ offseason work has impressed coach Lisa Bluder.

“She looks so much more confident than last year, knocking down threes, passing, getting to the rim,” Bluder said. “She’s a player that we have to find more time for on the court. Molly can really play the 1, 2, or 3. So we need to accomplish that.”

Davis knew when she came to Iowa she would have a chance to play on one of the nation’s best teams. Making it to the Final Four and the national championship game was a moment she embraced.

“It was hard, because we were so focused on the game plan,” Davis said. “But there was a time where I was like, wow, I’ve watched the Final Four every single year on TV and just to be there with the group of people, the team, that I was with, it was really something special.

“I don’t think there was ever a doubt that we wouldn’t be able to do that. Just to be there, to see it come full circle, was really special.”

There’s one college season left for Davis, and yes, the headband will be along for the ride.

“I’ve put in the work,” Davis said, “and let’s see how it goes.”

Photo: Iowa guard Molly Davis passes the ball in a game against Belmont last season. (Keith Gillett/Icon SportsWire)