When Ohio State and Iowa clash on Wednesday night in Iowa City, there's more than just a game on the line-there's a pivotal Big Ten tournament seed up for grabs. With the season winding down, the Hawkeyes (19-8, 9-7 Big Ten) currently edge out Ohio State (17-10, 9-7) for the eighth spot, thanks to a tiebreaker. Securing a top-eight finish means a coveted double bye in the conference tournament, a strategic advantage that could pave the way to the NCAA Tournament.
Despite the stakes, Iowa coach Ben McCollum is keeping his focus on the immediate task at hand rather than getting lost in the numbers game. "Winning the next game is our priority," McCollum emphasized. "The standings and NET rankings will take care of themselves if we keep winning."
Currently, the Hawkeyes stand at No. 28 in the NET rankings, boasting a 3-7 record against Quad 1 opponents. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes are at 37th, still searching for their first Quad 1 victory-an opportunity they have against Iowa.
Ohio State enters the game following a narrow 66-60 defeat to No. 13 Michigan State, a game they played without key scorers John Mobley Jr. and Devin Royal.
Coach Jake Diebler confirmed that while Mobley remains sidelined, Royal is set to return, providing much-needed support to Bruce Thornton. Thornton, who recently delivered a stellar 32-point performance against the Spartans, is closing in on Ohio State's all-time scoring record.
"Bruce is playing at an elite level," Diebler praised. "His focus and drive are exactly what we need as we head into this crucial part of the season."
Iowa's Bennett Stirtz is another player to watch. Coming off a 23-point effort against Wisconsin, Stirtz has been consistently impressive, scoring 20-plus points in nine of his last ten outings. His 20.6 points per game rank him third in the Big Ten, just ahead of Thornton.
"Stirtz is the engine of their team," Diebler noted. "His performance is nothing short of remarkable."
As these two teams prepare to face off, the stakes are high, and both squads are ready to leave it all on the court.