Iowa vs. Bucknell Preview: Hawkeyes Look to Stay Hot in Des Moines
Matchup: Iowa (9-2) vs. Bucknell (3-9)
When/Where: Saturday, 5 p.m. CT, Casey’s Center, Des Moines
TV: Big Ten Network (Jake Eisenberg, Jess Settles)
Radio: Hawkeye Radio Network affiliates
Series History: Iowa leads 1-0
Next Game for Iowa: Dec. 29 vs.
UMass-Lowell, Carver-Hawkeye Arena, 4 p.m. CT (BTN)
Coming off one of their most dominant performances of the season, Iowa heads to Des Moines this weekend with momentum firmly on their side. The Hawkeyes didn’t just beat Western Michigan-they dismantled them.
A 91-51 final score only tells part of the story. Iowa shot a blistering 65.6% from the field in the first half and built a lead that ballooned to 50 points in the second.
It was a wire-to-wire showcase of offensive efficiency and defensive discipline.
Five different Hawkeyes hit double figures in that win, a testament to the team’s growing depth and unselfish play. Bennett Stirtz, Alvaro Folgueiras, and Brendan Hausen each put up 13 points, while Cam Manyawu and Tate Sage chipped in 11 apiece.
The balanced scoring was impressive, but make no mistake-Stirtz continues to be the engine. He’s averaging 17.5 points per game, the only Hawkeye currently in double figures for the season, and he’s doing it with a mix of poise and polish that belies his age.
Defensively, Iowa’s been just as sharp. The Hawkeyes are holding opponents to 61.8 points per game, the best mark in the Big Ten and eighth-best in the country.
That’s not just a stat-it’s an identity. They’re contesting shots, closing out hard, and finishing defensive possessions with rebounds.
That kind of effort travels, and it’ll be key again on Saturday.
Iowa enters the weekend ranked 19th in the NCAA’s NET rankings, a solid early-season position that reflects both their record and strength of schedule. The Hawkeyes are building a resume, and games like this one-neutral site, against a struggling opponent-are the kind they need to handle with maturity.
On the other side, Bucknell comes in trying to find its footing. After starting the season 2-0 with wins over Delaware and Mount St.
Mary’s, the Bison hit a rough patch, dropping nine straight before snapping the skid with a 51-38 win over Rider back on Dec. 9.
That means they’ll be coming into Des Moines with a 10-day layoff and looking to reset.
Bucknell sits at 307th in the NET rankings, and while this is a team in transition, they do have a promising young piece in 6-foot-11 freshman Amon Dorries. The German big man leads the Bison with 13.5 points per game and gives them size in the paint. But he’ll have his hands full against an Iowa team that’s defending well and pushing tempo.
For the Hawkeyes, this is about staying sharp, continuing to develop chemistry, and avoiding any letdowns before Big Ten play kicks into full gear. The pieces are coming together-now it’s about consistency.
Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. Saturday in Des Moines. Expect Iowa to come out aggressive, looking to build on their recent dominance and handle business before the holiday break.