Iowa Riding Hot Streak into Big Ten Clash with Struggling Northwestern
What: Iowa (17-5, 7-4 Big Ten) vs. Northwestern (10-13, 2-10 Big Ten)
When/Where: Sunday, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m. CT, Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Radio: Hawkeye Radio Network affiliates
Series History: Iowa leads all-time, 126-62; 72-19 in Iowa City
Next Up for Iowa: Wednesday, Feb. 11 at Maryland, 5 p.m. CT
Two teams. Two very different trajectories. When Iowa hosts Northwestern this Sunday in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the contrast couldn’t be more stark.
Let’s start with the Hawkeyes, who are riding a five-game Big Ten win streak - their longest since the 2021-22 season - and doing it with a level of confidence and cohesion that’s hard to miss. Their recent West Coast swing was a statement: double-digit wins over both Oregon (84-66) and Washington (84-74), the latter coming after digging out of a seven-point halftime deficit.
Leading the charge has been sophomore guard Bennett Stirtz, who’s been on an absolute tear. He dropped 22 points against Washington, including four from beyond the arc, and has now scored 20 or more in each game during Iowa’s current streak.
His shot selection has been sharp, but it’s the poise and rhythm he’s playing with that’s really setting him apart. He’s not just scoring - he’s controlling games.
Alvaro Folgueiras is another name to keep an eye on. The forward poured in 16 points in the Washington win and continues to show steady growth on both ends of the floor. Head coach Ben McCollum highlighted Folgueiras’ improved feel for the offense, particularly when it comes to cutting, screening, and letting the game come to him.
“He’s just making winning plays defensively in particular,” McCollum said. “A lot of that leads to his good offense.”
It’s the kind of development that coaches love - a player buying into the system, doing the little things, and seeing the results start to snowball. Add in Cooper Koch and Tavion Banks, who each chipped in 11 points at Washington, and Iowa’s depth is becoming a real asset.
Now, flip the script.
Northwestern rolls into Iowa City having dropped eight of its last 10, including a lopsided 84-44 loss at Illinois. The Wildcats are clearly in a tough stretch, and while their record might not turn heads, their effort still demands respect.
Senior forward Nick Martinelli is the engine of this team - and not just in name. He leads the Big Ten in scoring at 22.8 points per game and has taken 134 more shots than the next closest Wildcat, guard Jayden Reid. Martinelli is a volume scorer, and when he gets going, he can tilt a game in a hurry.
Despite the recent struggles, McCollum isn’t taking this matchup lightly.
“Just like everybody in the Big Ten, I think records kind of go out the window a little bit,” he said. “They’ve got one of the best players in the league on their team, and they continue to compete, continue to fight.”
And he’s not wrong. Big Ten basketball has a way of leveling the playing field.
Toughness matters. Execution matters.
And even a team in a slump can flip the switch on any given night - especially when they’ve got a scorer like Martinelli.
But right now, Iowa’s playing with momentum, chemistry, and a growing sense of identity. If they can keep up the defensive intensity and continue getting balanced production across the board, they’ll be in a strong position to extend the streak.
Sunday’s matchup may look lopsided on paper, but in this conference, nothing comes easy. Expect a battle.