The calendar might say there are still three games to go, but in Iowa City, all eyes are already locked on February 14. That’s when the Iowa Hawkeyes get another shot at the Purdue Boilermakers - and this time, it’s on their home court, in front of a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Let’s rewind to the first meeting between these two Big Ten heavyweights. It was a back-and-forth battle in West Lafayette, headlined by two of the conference’s premier guards.
Iowa came out swinging, putting the clamps on 2025 Big Ten Player of the Year Braden Smith in the first half. But Smith showed why he owns that title, catching fire after halftime and finishing with 16 points to help Purdue erase a deficit and pull out a 79-72 win.
Bennett Stirtz led the way for the Hawkeyes with 19 points in that one, but the efficiency wasn’t quite there. It was a tough shooting night for him and the team overall, and that proved costly down the stretch.
Fast forward to now - and the energy around this rematch is building fast. Carver-Hawkeye Arena is officially sold out for Valentine’s Day, and it’s not hard to see why. This one has all the makings of a classic.
Before we get there, though, Iowa has some business to take care of. Matchups with Washington, Northwestern, and Maryland come first - all winnable games against teams near the bottom of the Big Ten standings. And if the Hawkeyes can stay locked in and extend their current four-game win streak, they’ll roll into that Purdue game with confidence and momentum.
It’s also worth noting: this is a different Iowa team at home. The Hawkeyes are 12-1 in Iowa City this season, compared to just 2-4 on the road. That home-court advantage is real, and it could be the X-factor when Purdue comes to town.
Last time out, Iowa was on a two-game skid heading into West Lafayette, facing an uphill climb against one of the top teams in the nation. This time? They’ve found their rhythm, their fans are behind them, and the rematch is set for one of the most electric environments in college basketball.
Circle the date. Iowa vs.
Purdue, Round Two. This one’s going to be special.