Iowa Faces Key Test vs. Nebraska with Kylie Feuerbach's Status in Question
As the Big Ten schedule heats up, Iowa finds itself preparing for a major early-season test - and possibly doing so without one of its most reliable veterans.
Senior guard Kylie Feuerbach has landed in what Iowa head coach Jan Jensen calls the “Day-to-Day Club,” dealing with what she described as a “weird ankle bone jam.” And while that might not sound like much, the pain and tenderness are very real - especially when Feuerbach tries to push off or move laterally.
“She’s a fifth-year player. She never messes up plays.
She can break the press. She’s our best defender.
She keeps us calm,” Jensen said, summing up just how much Feuerbach means to this team - even if she’s not lighting up the scoreboard.
Her potential absence looms large as No. 14 Iowa (11-2, 2-0 Big Ten) gets ready to host No.
20 Nebraska (12-1, 1-1) on Thursday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.
ET on BTN, and this one’s got all the makings of a classic Big Ten showdown.
Nebraska comes in averaging a blistering 87.8 points per game, and the Hawkeyes could absolutely use Feuerbach’s defensive prowess to help slow down Britt Prince - the Huskers’ rising sophomore guard who’s putting up 18.5 points per game. Prince, a 5-foot-11 Omaha native, has already made a name for herself with her scoring ability and deep shooting range.
“We recruited the heck out of her,” Jensen said with a smile. “She’s a great player. Her shooting is a little Caitlin-esque, but not with quite the range.”
That’s high praise, considering Jensen coached Caitlin Clark - a generational scorer who helped elevate Iowa’s national profile. And while Clark is now off to the WNBA, the rivalry with Nebraska hasn’t lost any juice.
In fact, it might be getting even more intense.
Since the Big Ten expanded to 18 teams two seasons ago, Iowa and Nebraska are what the league calls “double-play” opponents - meaning they face each other twice every year. That familiarity has only added fuel to an already fiery border rivalry.
“I think most people would consider them our biggest rivals,” Jensen said. “We had some intense games with them when we had Caitlin, and I think that intensified the rivalry. It’s a good, old-fashioned border rivalry.”
Last season, the two teams split their regular-season meetings - each winning on the other’s home floor. So don’t expect either side to back down Thursday, especially with both teams looking to make an early statement in the Big Ten race.
Nebraska, for its part, is coming off its first loss of the season - a 74-66 setback at home against USC. Iowa, meanwhile, is riding high after a 99-76 win over Penn State on Sunday. That game was a bit of a breakthrough for the Hawkeyes, who had struggled coming out of halftime in recent weeks.
“It was a solid performance,” Jensen said. “We had a good third quarter, which was good because we hadn’t been coming out in the second half well.”
The coaching staff was also encouraged by the play of freshman Ava Heiden, who stayed out of foul trouble and gave Iowa valuable minutes in the paint. And while Feuerbach didn’t suit up, the Hawkeyes managed to get the job done - a positive sign with the conference schedule only getting tougher from here.
Still, Feuerbach’s presence - especially on the defensive end - could be critical against a Nebraska team that loves to run and shoot. She’s one of several Hawkeyes who’ve missed time this season, alongside Chit-Chat Wright and Teagan Mallegni (both of whom are now back in action), and Emely Rodriguez, who remains questionable.
As Thursday’s matchup approaches, all eyes will be on Feuerbach’s status. Because while Iowa has the firepower to hang with just about anyone, having their defensive anchor on the floor could be the difference between a big home win and a tough conference setback.