As Iowa gears up for one of its toughest road tests of the season, the Hawkeyes (12-4, 2-3 Big Ten) are heading into West Lafayette to take on No. 5 Purdue (15-1, 5-0 Big Ten) in a high-stakes Big Ten showdown at Mackey Arena. This is a true Quad 1 opportunity for Iowa-a chance to make a statement against a top-five team in one of the most hostile environments in college basketball.
Ahead of tip-off, Iowa released its game day availability report, and there’s some tough news on the injury front: freshman guard Peyton McCollum is officially out for the season. McCollum suffered a foot injury during practice on Jan. 8, cutting short what was shaping up to be a developmental year for the young guard. While he hadn’t been a major contributor in the rotation yet, his absence still stings for depth and long-term growth.
The good news? Senior forward Tavion Banks is back and available.
Banks had been battling an illness that sidelined him during Iowa’s 75-69 loss to Illinois on Jan. 11.
According to head coach Ben McCollum, the illness hit hard-Banks reportedly lost 10 pounds in just a few days. But with no mention of him on the latest availability report, he’s good to go, and his return couldn’t come at a better time.
There are no other players listed on the injury report for either Iowa or Purdue, meaning both teams should be close to full strength for this marquee matchup.
Mackey Arena is sold out, as expected, and the stage is set for a classic Big Ten battle. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
CT, with coverage on the Big Ten Network. For Iowa, this isn’t just another game-it’s a chance to prove they can hang with the elite.
For Purdue, it’s about defending home court and continuing their dominance atop the conference standings. Buckle up.