Nebraska Heads to Iowa Looking to Flip the Script in Big Ten Road Clash
Tuesday night in Iowa City, Nebraska men’s basketball gets its shot at rewriting a narrative that’s been tough to shake. The Huskers hit the road for a primetime matchup against the Iowa Hawkeyes - a team that’s had their number, especially at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network, with Kevin Kugler, Shon Morris, and Andy Katz on the call. Fans can also tune in via the Huskers Radio Network, where Kent Pavelka and Jeff Smith will have the action.
A Tough History in Iowa City
There’s no sugarcoating it - Carver-Hawkeye Arena hasn’t been kind to Nebraska. Since joining the Big Ten in 2012, the Huskers are just 2-11 in Iowa City. All-time, Iowa holds a commanding 20-3 home record against Nebraska and leads the Big Ten series 14-8.
But this year’s Nebraska squad has been a different animal on the road. They’re 6-1 in true road games - all in Big Ten play - and have shown the kind of poise and grit it takes to win in hostile environments.
“We’ve had a solid road record to this point,” head coach Fred Hoiberg said Monday. “But we know it’s going to be a great atmosphere in Carver tomorrow night.”
A win Tuesday would mark Nebraska’s first in Iowa City since March 5, 2023 - and it would be a statement that this team is built to handle the Big Ten’s toughest venues.
Pryce Sandfort’s Return to Carver
One of the biggest storylines heading into the game? Pryce Sandfort’s return to his old stomping grounds.
The junior guard spent his first two college seasons with the Hawkeyes, averaging 5.6 points per game during his time in Iowa City. Now, he’s leading the Huskers in scoring and sits just one made three-pointer shy of tying the program’s single-season record (89), set by Cary Cochran back in 2001-02.
There’s bound to be emotion in the building - both for Sandfort and the fans who watched him grow. But Hoiberg isn’t worried about his sharpshooter being rattled.
“He had two really good years at Iowa,” Hoiberg said. “I’m sure a lot of things will be going through his mind, but once that ball goes up, all that stuff will go out the window. It’s all about doing the things that have made him one of the top players in our league.”
Hoiberg praised Sandfort’s consistent approach, noting that his even-keeled mindset is what makes him so dependable.
“To me, the emotions are the lead-up to the game,” Hoiberg said. “But once the ball goes up, he’s going to be OK.”
Scouting the Hawkeyes
Iowa enters the matchup at 18-7 overall and 8-6 in Big Ten play. Under first-year head coach Ben McCollum, the Hawkeyes have undergone a near-complete roster overhaul. McCollum brought in six players from his NCAA Tournament team at Drake, and the transition has been smoother than expected.
The centerpiece of this Iowa squad is senior point guard Bennett Stirtz - a 6-foot-4 playmaker who’s been lighting it up all season. He’s averaging 20.4 points and 4.7 assists per game, and he’s doing it efficiently. His true shooting percentage of 64.8% ranks 52nd nationally.
“He’s one of the top players, not only in our league, but in the country,” Hoiberg said. “He can score at all three levels, he’s got great size, he’s a really good passer, and he doesn’t turn the ball over.”
But Iowa isn’t just the Stirtz Show.
Tavion Banks, a 6-foot-7 forward and another Drake transfer, brings toughness and balance to the lineup. He’s averaging 10.9 points and a team-high 4.6 rebounds per game while shooting an efficient 56% from the field. Banks also draws 5.5 fouls per 40 minutes - a stat that highlights just how physical and aggressive he plays.
“I think Banks is one of the more underrated players in our league,” Hoiberg said. “He’s a really good complement to Stirtz. They’ve got players all over the place that can hurt you.”
Defensively, Iowa makes you work. They’re one of the best in the country at forcing opponents into long, grinding possessions. The average Iowa opponent uses 18.3 seconds per possession - 331st longest nationally - a sign of how well the Hawkeyes disrupt rhythm.
“They’ll get in the passing lanes, they’ll deny, they’re really good with their hands,” Hoiberg said. “You can’t give them easy ones going the other way.”
Keys to the Game for Nebraska
If Nebraska wants to snap the streak in Iowa City, it starts with ball security.
The Huskers turned it over 14 times against Purdue and 18 times against Northwestern - and Hoiberg knows that won’t cut it on the road.
“There’s no chance we end up on top if we turn the ball over that many times,” he said.
Both teams are elite at forcing turnovers. Iowa ranks second in the Big Ten in defensive turnover rate (19.1%), and Nebraska leads the league at 19.2%. The Huskers also top the conference in defensive steal percentage during league play (10.8%), while Iowa sits right behind at 10.3%.
In short: whoever wins the turnover battle will likely control the tempo.
The second key? Rebounding.
Nebraska showed improvement on the glass against Northwestern, and they’ll need that same edge against Iowa. While neither team is dominant on the offensive boards - Iowa ranks 13th in the Big Ten in offensive rebounding rate (28.7%), Nebraska 17th (23.7%) - every second-chance opportunity matters in a game like this.
“I thought our attention to detail on our block-outs was so much better [against Northwestern],” Hoiberg said. “We hit first, which we didn’t do against Purdue. That turned into a jumping match, and we’re not going to win those very often.”
Finally, the three-point line could be the difference-maker.
Nebraska leads the Big Ten in three-point shooting percentage during conference play (38.5%), while Iowa ranks eighth (34.6%). On the season, the teams are neck-and-neck - Iowa at 36.5% (47th nationally), Nebraska at 36% (65th).
But defensively, the Huskers have the edge. Nebraska is holding opponents to just 29.2% from beyond the arc - 22nd in the country. Iowa, by comparison, allows 32.1% (75th).
If Nebraska can take care of the ball, win the rebounding battle, and continue its hot shooting from deep, they’ll give themselves a real shot to break the Iowa City curse.
And if Pryce Sandfort caps his return with a record-tying three-pointer or two? That would just be the icing on the cake.