By JOHN BOHNENKAMP

Lisa Bluder wants sophomore forward Hannah Stuelke to be more confident this season.

That wasn’t a suggestion from the Iowa women’s basketball coach. That was a command.

“I want her to put her shoulders back and know that she owns it,” Bluder said at media day earlier this month.

Stuelke was the Big Ten’s Sixth Player of the Year after averaging 6.5 points and 3.9 rebounds last season. But, with the losses of forward McKenna Warnock and center Monika Czinano, Stuelke is going to be a starter.

And when you’re in the lineup, you have to act like you should be there.

“Just being more of a presence,” Stuelke said. “Not being so shy.”

Stuelke’s credentials are worthy of confidence. She came to Iowa as a three-time first-team All-State selection at Cedar Rapids Washington High School, and was ranked 45th nationally by ESPN in the 2022 recruiting class.

There was plenty of star power surrounding Stuelke last season, so she didn’t need to speak up.

But Bluder wants Stuelke to recognize her talents, and she’s doing that.

“I think just being more confident on the floor, knowing I can drive to the basket, knowing I can post up and get the ball and score,” Stuelke said. “And I think my teammates have helped me in building that confidence.”

Bluder knows how much adjustment a player can make after that first season.

“I always see the biggest jump between their freshman and sophomore years,” she said. “Now they’ve had a year of working in the weight room. They understand how physical and how fast the Big Ten is. They just understand it a little bit better, and they’re more comfortable. It’s like the game slows down for them a little bit in that sophomore year. They understand what we’re trying to do philosophically.”

Stuelke scored in double figures 11 times, and was a 61 percent shooter from the field. But she made just 1-of-6 3-point attempts, and she knew that her 46 percent shooting in free throws was also unacceptable.

“I think, absolutely, I have to elevate my offense,” Stuelke said. “I’ve been working on my shot, on my free throws.

It all goes back to confidence.

“Being able to just step up and shoot (3-pointers) was really hard for me last year,” Stuelke said. “Now I’m growing out of that.”

The growth in Stuelke has been evident in Iowa’s two preseason exhibitions. She had 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting against DePaul in the outdoor “Crossover at Kinnick” game, then followed that with 27 points on 11-of-15 shooting on Sunday against Clarke University.

Sunday’s game included Stuelke making a 3-pointer as well as going 4-of-5 in free throws.

The second achievement was her favorite.

“Oh, that’s a great question,” Stuelke said when asked whether the 3-pointer or the free throws was her favorite part of the day. “Probably the 4-for-5. I struggled with that last year. It’s good to start off at 80 percent.”

“And she worked hard at it, too,” Bluder quickly added.

It’s time, Stuelke said, that she turns up the volume.

“Being louder on the court. I came in really quiet, like this,” she said, lowering her voice to a whisper. “Now I’m finding my voice, so that’s really exciting.”

That wasn’t easy, she said.

“I think it was really hard, but I had to,” Stuelke said with a smile. “I was kind of forced into it, which makes it easier.”

Photo: Iowa’s Hannah Stuelke drives to the basket in Sunday’s exhibition against Clarke University. (Brian Ray/hawkeyesports.com)