Iowa vs. Indiana: Two Iowa Natives, Two Recharged Programs, One Big Ten Battle
What a difference a year makes.
This time last season, whispers about Darian DeVries potentially landing at Iowa were floating around, while Indiana was just beginning a tumble that would ultimately cost Mike Woodson his job. Iowa, meanwhile, was in the middle of a three-game skid, and both programs were staring down a second half of the season clouded by uncertainty.
Fast forward to now, and both benches look very different - and a lot more stable. Indiana pulled the trigger on a coaching change, bringing in DeVries, who’s quietly built a reputation as a winner.
Iowa, after parting ways with longtime head coach Fran McCaffery, turned to Ben McCollum - a hire that raised eyebrows at first but is already showing promise. It was the first major move for new athletic director Beth Goetz, and so far, it’s looking like a good one.
Both teams come into this mid-January matchup sitting at 12-5 overall, and both have climbed about 20 spots higher in KenPom rankings compared to where they were a year ago. The dark clouds that loomed over each program last winter? They’ve cleared - at least for now.
Road-Weary Hawkeyes Looking to Close Tough Stretch
Iowa (12-5, 2-4 Big Ten) has been grinding through a brutal stretch - three of their last four games have been on the road, with the lone home contest coming against a top-15 Illinois squad. It’s the kind of schedule that tests your depth, your legs, and your resolve. Now, they’re looking to finish strong with a win in Bloomington.
Assembly Hall hasn’t been quite the haunted house for Iowa that places like Mackey Arena or the Breslin Center have been - the Hawkeyes have managed a couple of wins there in recent seasons - but it’s still a tough place to play. And for longtime Iowa fans, the venue carries its own ghosts, like the infamous 2014 incident when a chunk of concrete fell from the ceiling. That moment remains a bizarre footnote in the program’s history - and a reminder of how unpredictable these road trips can be.
Indiana Looking to Regain Footing After Back-to-Back Losses
The Hoosiers (12-5, 3-3 Big Ten) are also trying to bounce back. After a convincing road win at Maryland, they’ve dropped two straight - a tough home loss to Nebraska and a blowout at Michigan State. They’ve also suffered a loss at Minnesota that stung more than it probably should have.
Right now, their best win is a solid home victory over Washington a couple of weeks ago. Not exactly a résumé-maker, but it’s something. The Hoosiers are still trying to find consistency, especially on the defensive end, where lapses have been costly in conference play.
The Matchup: Two Iowa Guys, One Shared Mentality
There’s a bit of a Spider-Man meme vibe here - DeVries and McCollum, two Iowa natives, now leading Big Ten programs against each other. Both are known for their offensive minds and player development chops, and both have quickly put their fingerprints on their respective teams.
Let’s talk numbers. According to KenPom, Indiana is sitting at 32nd overall with an adjusted offensive efficiency of 121.4 (30th nationally) and a defensive rating of 101.5 (47th).
BartTorvik has them even higher, at 23rd overall. This is a team that can score - and they do it efficiently.
They're putting up 83.1 points per game while holding opponents to 68.8. That +14.3 scoring margin shows they’re not just surviving - they’re winning with purpose when they’re on.
The Hoosiers are getting strong production from Lamar Wilkerson, who’s averaging 20.2 points per game and shooting a blistering 42.4% from deep - tops in the Big Ten. Tucker DeVries, the coach’s son, is right behind him at 14.6 points per game and leads the team in rebounding at 4.9 boards per night. Sam Alexis and Reed Bailey are also cleaning up the glass, while Tayton Conerway and Conor Enright are facilitating the offense, each dishing out over four assists per game.
Efficiency-wise, Alexis is shooting an eye-popping 65.2% from the field, and Bailey isn’t far behind at 56.2%. That inside-out balance is what’s making Indiana a tough scout - they’ve got shooters, slashers, and post presence, all working in sync when things are clicking.
Recent Form: A Mixed Bag
Indiana’s last five games have been a rollercoaster:
- W vs. Siena (81-60) - Took care of business.
- W vs. Washington (90-80) - Solid win at home.
- W at Maryland (84-66) - Dominant road showing.
- **L vs.
Nebraska (83-77)** - Let one slip away at home.
- L at Michigan State (81-60) - Got run out of the building.
That’s three wins followed by two frustrating losses - a stretch that’s highlighted both the team’s potential and its growing pains.
What’s at Stake
For Iowa, this is a chance to stop the bleeding and pick up a valuable road win in conference play. For Indiana, it’s about halting a losing streak before it snowballs. Both teams are in the thick of the Big Ten’s middle tier, where a couple of wins - or losses - can swing your tournament outlook dramatically.
This game won’t decide the conference, but it’s the kind of matchup that helps shape the season. Two programs that were in flux a year ago, now led by two homegrown coaches trying to build something sustainable. It’s a Big Ten battle with a Midwestern twist - and it should be a good one.
Tip-off is set for 1:00 PM ET on FOX, with Jason Benetti and Steve Smith on the call from Assembly Hall.