Ohio State is set to face Iowa in a pivotal Big Ten showdown on Wednesday night in Iowa City. With both teams tied at 9-7 in the conference standings, this matchup is crucial for conference tournament seeding and bolstering NCAA Tournament resumes.
Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET, and fans can catch the action on BTN with Cory Provus and Earl Watson providing commentary.
For those tuning in via radio, the Ohio State Radio Network from Learfield will have Paul Keels and former Buckeye captain Ron Stokes on the call.
This game marks the 173rd meeting between the two programs, with the series currently tied at 86-86. However, Iowa holds a slight edge when considering NCAA vacated games, leading 84-81.
The recent history between these teams is as tight as it gets, with each squad winning five of the last ten encounters. Notably, Iowa has taken three of the last four games in Iowa City, with Ohio State's last victory there coming in 2021 during a fanless game.
Last season, the teams split their meetings. Ohio State dominated in Columbus with an 82-65 victory, but Iowa answered back in the Big Ten Tournament, ending the Buckeyes' season with a 77-70 win. Bruce Thornton shone in those games, tallying 15 points in the regular season and an impressive 24 points with nine assists in the tournament clash.
The Buckeyes are coming off a narrow 66-60 loss at No. 15 Michigan State.
Bruce Thornton was outstanding, scoring 32 points without committing a single turnover while playing the entire game. His performance was even more critical as the team was shorthanded, with Devin Royal out due to illness and John Mobley Jr. sidelined with a hand injury.
Amare Bynum also played through illness. Despite leading for over 17 minutes, Ohio State couldn't hold off a late Michigan State surge.
Thornton's stellar play earned him the Big Ten Player of the Week honors for his performances against No. 24 Wisconsin and No.
15 Michigan State. This marks his second award of the season and the third of his career, a feat last achieved by a Buckeye when Keita Bates-Diop earned multiple awards during his 2018 Big Ten Player of the Year campaign.
Over the past three games, Thornton has averaged 29 points, 6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, shooting over 54% from the field.
Taison Chatman has stepped up in Mobley's absence, starting the last three games and logging career-high minutes.
Iowa, like Ohio State, has faced a tough stretch, going 1-2 against ranked opponents in their last three outings. They suffered a 78-57 home loss to No.
13 Purdue, secured a 57-52 victory over No. 9 Nebraska, and fell 84-71 at No.
24 Wisconsin. Bennett Stirtz has been a standout for the Hawkeyes, leading the team with 20.6 points per game and sinking 67 three-pointers this season.
This matchup promises to be a thrilling chapter in the storied rivalry, with both teams eager to gain an edge in the tightly contested Big Ten race.