Nebraska Needs a Statement Win-And Iowa Presents the Perfect Opportunity
With three losses in their last five outings, Nebraska basketball finds itself at a bit of a crossroads. The Huskers are 22-3 on the season-a record most programs would celebrate-but recent stumbles have dimmed some of the shine.
Tuesday’s road matchup at Iowa isn’t just another game. It’s a chance to steady the ship and pick up a resume-boosting quad-1 win.
Iowa currently sits at No. 28 in the NET rankings, which puts this game squarely in quad-1 territory. Nebraska is 5-3 in quad-1 games this season, but their NCAA Tournament seeding has taken a hit.
ESPN’s most recent bracket projection dropped them to a No. 4 seed, despite the gaudy win total. It’s a reminder that not all 22-win teams are viewed equally-especially when the losses start to pile up late in the season.
To be clear, Nebraska’s losses haven’t come against pushovers. All three defeats have been to top-10 opponents, and in each one, the Huskers were right there.
They held second-half leads in two of those games and had a chance to win the third at the free-throw line with 10 seconds left. It’s not hard to imagine an alternate timeline where Nebraska is still undefeated-especially if not for untimely injuries and illness to key contributors like Braden Frager and Rienk Mast.
But hypotheticals don’t help in February. Wins do.
Iowa’s New Look Under Ben McCollum
The Hawkeyes come into this one at 18-7, led by first-year head coach Ben McCollum, who brought a sizable chunk of his roster with him from Drake. Four players followed McCollum to Iowa, including standout guard Bennett Stirtz.
Stirtz has been the engine for Iowa’s offense. At 6-foot-4, he’s logging heavy minutes-36 per game-and producing at a high level, averaging 20.4 points, 4.7 assists, and knocking down 40.3% of his threes. He’s not just a scorer; he’s the guy who makes Iowa go.
Tavion Banks, a 6-foot-7 guard, is the only other Hawkeye averaging double digits (10.7 points per game), but he’s lethal from beyond the arc, shooting 46.7%-albeit on lower volume.
This is a team built on transfers and quick cohesion. And while they may not be a defensive juggernaut, they’ve found ways to win, especially at home.
Three Keys for Nebraska
1. Take Care of the Ball
Turnovers have been a thorn in Nebraska’s side lately. In their three losses, the Huskers averaged 11 giveaways per game. Against Northwestern, they coughed it up 10 times in the first half alone-fueling a Wildcat run that put Nebraska in a second-half hole.
Iowa’s defense isn’t elite by any stretch-they rank near the bottom of the Big Ten in opponent field-goal percentage (14th in both 2-point and overall FG%), and 10th in 3-point defense. But they are opportunistic, forcing 11.3 turnovers per game, good for third in the conference.
The math is simple: if Nebraska keeps its turnovers under 10 (ideally under 8), they’ll be in a strong position to control the game.
2. Attack the Paint
Yes, Nebraska lives and dies by the three. That’s part of Fred Hoiberg’s DNA. But lately, the offense has become overly reliant on perimeter shots-averaging 12.6 threes per game in their three losses.
The real concern is the drop-off in 2-point efficiency. Earlier in the season, Nebraska was converting nearly 62% of its shots inside the arc. That number has dipped to 58% overall and just 56% in Big Ten play.
They don’t need to abandon the three, but they do need to be more aggressive and efficient around the rim. Iowa’s interior defense is vulnerable, and Nebraska has to capitalize.
3. Lock Down Bennett Stirtz
This one’s personal-and tactical. Sam Hoiberg’s defensive assignment is clear: make life miserable for Bennett Stirtz.
The Huskers have been solid defensively all season, holding opponents to just 39.8% shooting overall and 42.3% in Big Ten play (4th in the conference). They also lead the league in turnovers forced per game (12.1).
Nebraska also boasts the Big Ten’s best 3-point shooting offense and the second-best 3-point defense. That combination is rare-and potent.
But Carver-Hawkeye Arena isn’t an easy place to maintain that edge. The Huskers will need to bring intensity, discipline, and a game plan focused on denying Stirtz the ball and forcing others to beat them.
The Bottom Line
This is a pivotal moment for Nebraska. A win at Iowa would not only halt a concerning slide, but also reinforce their standing as a top-tier NCAA Tournament team.
The Huskers have the tools, the talent, and the track record to pull it off. But they’ll need to tighten up the ball-handling, finish better at the rim, and make life tough on Iowa’s top scorer.
It’s mid-February, and the margin for error is shrinking. If Nebraska wants to make noise in March, it starts by making a statement in Iowa City.