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Breaking Down How MSU Can Attack Iowa’s Strengths

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Breaking Down How MSU Can Attack Iowa’s Strengths


The Michigan State Spartans are looking to remain undefeated as they take on the Iowa Hawkeyes tonight. 

Iowa is also undefeated, and while the Hawkeyes have not played as tough a schedule as MSU, Ben McCollum’s team looks impressive in his first season leading the squad. This win would be good for Tom Izzo’s team if it can pull it off. 

Iowa looks far different this season than it did with Fran McCaffery, who was at Iowa for 15 seasons before he was let go this past offseason. McCollum brought in several players, including a star transfer at point guard in Bennett Stirtz. 

What are some of the Hawkeyes’ biggest strengths, and how can MSU prevent them from using those? Let’s break down where Iowa might give the Spartans problems. 

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Nov 20, 2025; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Bennett Stirtz (14) passes the ball against the Chicago State Cougars during the second half at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images / Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Iowa shoots the three-ball exceptionally well as a team, connecting on 38 percent of its shots from the outside. Like McCaffery’s teams, McCollum’s Hawkeyes are connecting on their long shots. 

The Spartans are good at defending shots from beyond the arc, so Izzo’s team will try to limit the Hawkeyes from getting many good looks. The Spartans have done a nice job of that so far this season, so expect them to make life difficult for Iowa.

Stirtz has played like one of the best players in the conference, averaging nearly 19 points and five assists per game. He will face Spartan point guard Jeremy Fears Jr., who will most certainly bring defensive intensity to try to slow down the future NBA Draft pick. 

One area Iowa is not strong in is rebounding. The Hawkeyes are ranked last in the Big Ten in defensive rebounds per game, only grabbing about 22. 

The Spartans are a better rebounding team, as it is a staple of Izzo’s philosophy. His teams have always been strong on the glass, and this team is no different. 

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Feb 3, 2018; Bloomington, IN, USA; A view of the Michigan State Spartans logo on a pair of Nike Lebron 15s worn by a member of the Michigan State Spartans against the Indiana Hoosiers in the first half at Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images / Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

MSU will out-effort Iowa on the glass and create more offensive opportunities, leading to more buckets. 

Iowa has been one of the best defensive teams in the conference, allowing the fewest points per game in the Big Ten at 61.1. The Spartans are right behind them at 61.6 points allowed per game. 

McCollum has done what McCaffery has not: built a high-level defense in Iowa. MSU occasionally struggles in the half-court, so finding open looks and connecting on them will be key. 

Iowa will not be an easy opponent for this Spartan team, so MSU must be on its A-game to remain undefeated.

Keep up with all our content when you follow the official Spartan Nation page on Facebook, Spartan Nation, WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and be sure to share your thoughts on the game against Iowa when you join our community group, Go Green Go White, WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.

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Don’t forget to give us a follow on X @MSUSpartansOnSI as well.



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Where to watch Iowa women’s basketball vs. Indiana today, TV, time

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Where to watch Iowa women’s basketball vs. Indiana today, TV, time


Looking for a second road win this week, No. 14 Iowa women’s basketball heads to Indiana for today’s 4 p.m. contest inside Assembly Hall. BTN will televise the game.

The Hawkeyes (13-2, 4-0 Big Ten Conference) remained perfect in league play with a 67-58 win at Northwestern on Jan. 5, a game in which Iowa survived despite enduring heavy foul trouble.

Meanwhile, Indiana (11-6, 0-5) has reached desperation territory. The Hoosiers have dropped four straight, including two at home, during this extended skid.

Here’s how to watch today’s game.

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  • Date: Sunday, Jan. 11
  • Start time: 4 p.m. CT
  • Location: Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana

Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.



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Iowa women’s wrestling finishes third at National Duals

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Iowa women’s wrestling finishes third at National Duals


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CEDAR FALLS − The undefeated start to the Iowa women’s wrestling program has ended after the Hawkeyes lost a dual for the first time in program history at the NWCA National Duals on Jan. 10.

A 40-5 win over William Jewell College and a 39-3 victory over Sacred Heart set up a major semifinal clash with rival North Central College on Jan. 10.

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Iowa won six of 10 matches in the semifinals. Karlee Brooks beat national runner-up Yele Aycock by a 8-4 decision, 138-pounder Skye Realin defeated a former national champion by a 6-6 score on criteria in Claire Dicugno with a four-point throw at the buzzer, Reese Larramendy knocked off No. 1 ranked and former Hawkeye teammate Bella Mir in a 10-4 decision at 145 and 180-pounder Kylie Welker wrestled and won in just her second match back after a period of rest to start the season.

All of those wins helped put Iowa in front, 21-18, going into the final bout at 207 pounds.

What did the Hawkeyes in was losses by fall at 110, 124 and 207. The 207 loss, with Dasia Yearby pinning Jaycee Foeller in the first period, gave North Central a 23-21 victory despite the Cardinals dropping six of 10 matches. North Central also scored team points in nine of 10 bouts because they scored match points and did not lose by fall.

As a result, the Iowa program’s 42-0 unblemished record in duals was broken.

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The final result was eerily similar to the dual between the two teams at the same tournament two years ago, where the Hawkeyes also lost six of 10 bouts, but got crucial bonus points and at least one team point in all 10 bouts to escape with a 21-20 win.

Iowa women’s wrestling coach Clarissa Chun emphasized to her team two years ago that every point mattered in the win. This time around, it worked against them as the Cardinals got the upset victory.

“Every point does matter,” Chun said. “You can’t replicate those moments in those times, in certain moments and positions. We got to be better at finishing, that’s apparent. We can get to the legs, but we got to continue to wrestle through that to the strong finish.”

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Iowa women’s wrestling’s Skye Realin discusses loss to North Central

VIDEO: Iowa women’s wrestling’s Skye Realin discusses loss to North Central

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Chun said the emotions were raw afterwards, with wrestlers in and out of the lineup taking the loss to heart. Welker, who won her bout 8-2 against Jael Miller, took it hard since she nearly had a pin that could have flipped the final result.

“There was a lot of us that felt it was hard to take a loss, especially for me, and there was a couple other girls that took it pretty hard,” Welker said. “I have girls that look to me, so I’m like, ‘I got to pull myself together and step forward with them, alongside them so we can finish this tournament.’”

Ultimately, the Hawkeyes finished with a win in the third-place bout shortly after by defeating a solid Grand Valley State team, 26-15. The main difference, they said, was the positive energy exuded from the coaching staff to not harp on the past and look for the next best thing.

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Iowa women’s wrestling’s Karlee Brooks discusses loss to North Central

VIDEO: Iowa women’s wrestling’s Karlee Brooks discusses loss to North Central

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While the loss brings an unfamiliar feeling to the program, it’s something they knew would come eventually. While it was their main rival today, McKendree will also present a tough challenge to the field when the NCAA Championships come in March.

Behind stars Welker and Kennedy Blades, rising wrestlers like Brooks and Realin, as well as proven veterans in Larramendy, Brianna Gonzalez and Foeller, Iowa will have a good chance to win a third-consecutive team title this season.

Even in a crushing loss, they got some key wins from those like Realin, Larramendy and Brooks that bode well for the Hawkeyes in the future. The places they faltered were spots they’ll have confidence to bounce back or won’t apply come the NCAA Championships, like Nyla Valencia’s loss by fall after controlling most of the bout at 110 pounds, and Welker and Blades giving up team points in their matches.

Regardless, the third-place finish served as a reminder to the program and fans alike that this year is going to bring Iowa’s toughest challenge yet.

“Everyone on our team knows it, this sport has depth,” Chun said. “There are great wrestlers across the entire country.”

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Iowa women’s wrestling’s results at NWCA National Duals

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Iowa women’s wrestling’s Kylie Welker’s National Duals press conference

VIDEO: Iowa women’s wrestling’s Kylie Welker discusses program’s first loss

Round of 16: Iowa 40, William Jewell College 5

  • 103 – Sterling Dias (Iowa) over Juliana Alejandro (William Jewell College) TF 11-0
  • 110 – Nyla Valencia (Iowa) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
  • 117 – Alexandra Waitsman (William Jewell College) over Harlee Hiller (Iowa) Fall 1:04
  • 124 – Isabella Gonzales (Iowa) over Miyah Palacios (William Jewell College) TF 10-0
  • 131 – Emily Frost (Iowa) over Shelby Kemp (William Jewell College) Fall 1:22
  • 138 – Lilly Luft (Iowa) over Zainab Ibrahim (William Jewell College) Fall 2:01
  • 145 – Cadence Diduch (Iowa) over Mckinzie Ross (William Jewell College) TF 11-0
  • 160 – Kennedy Blades (Iowa) over Paige Barber (William Jewell College) TF 10-0
  • 180 – Katja Osteen (Iowa) over Jianna Chavez (William Jewell College) Fall 1:22
  • 207 – Jaycee Foeller (Iowa) over Desiree Hall (William Jewell College) TF 10-0

Quarterfinal: Iowa 39, Sacred Heart University 3

  • 103 – Valarie Solorio (Iowa) over Aaliyah Payne-Parris (Sacred Heart) Fall 0:54
  • 110 – Ava Bayless (Iowa) over Tiffany Stoshak (Sacred Heart) TF 10-0
  • 117 – Brianna Gonzalez (Iowa) over Tatiana Walker (Sacred Heart) TF 11-0
  • 124 – Cali Leng (Iowa) over Lauren Nguyen (Sacred Heart) TF 10-0
  • 131 – Bella Williams (Iowa) over Bella Sowards (Sacred Heart) TF 10-0
  • 138 – Skye Realin (Iowa) over Elleahna Anderson (Sacred Heart) Fall 2:21
  • 145 – Reese Larramendy (Iowa) over Selena Sifuentes shaffer (Sacred Heart) TF 10-0
  • 160 – Kennedy Blades (Iowa) over Love Daley (Sacred Heart) TF 10-0
  • 180 – Kylie Welker (Iowa) over Madeline Hodges (Sacred Heart) TF 10-0
  • 207 – Josephine Larson (Sacred Heart) over Libby Dix (Iowa) Dec 5-2

Semifinal: North Central College 23, Iowa 21

  • 103 – Valarie Solorio (Iowa) over Brianne Graves (North Central College) TF 12-0
  • 110 – Kaelani Shufeldt (North Central College) over Nyla Valencia (Iowa) Fall 5:38
  • 117 – Riley Rayome (North Central College) over Brianna Gonzalez (Iowa) Dec 3-3
  • 124 – Sara Sterner (North Central College) over Cali Leng (Iowa) Fall 1:45
  • 131 – Karlee Brooks (Iowa) over Yele Aycock (North Central College) Dec 8-4
  • 138 – Skye Realin (Iowa) over Claire Dicugno (North Central College) Dec 6-6
  • 145 – Reese Larramendy (Iowa) over Bella Mir (North Central College) Dec 10-4
  • 160 – Kennedy Blades (Iowa) over Taylor Graveman (North Central College) TF 11-1
  • 180 – Kylie Welker (Iowa) over Jael Miller (North Central College) Dec 8-2
  • 207 – Dasia Yearby (North Central College) over Jaycee Foeller (Iowa) Fall 1:38

Third-place dual: Iowa 26, Grand Valley State 15

  • 103 – Sterling Dias (Iowa) over Rayana Sahagun (Grand Valley State) Dec 7-0
  • 110 – Ava Bayless (Iowa) over Kiely Tabaldo (Grand Valley State) Dec 6-0
  • 117 – Brianna Gonzalez (Iowa) over Libby Roberts (Grand Valley State) TF 10-0
  • 124 – Sage Mortimer (Grand Valley State) over Isabella Gonzales (Iowa) Fall 0:37
  • 131 – Karlee Brooks (Iowa) over Aspen Blasko (Grand Valley State) Dec 8-3
  • 138 – Katerina Lange (Grand Valley State) over Lilly Luft (Iowa) TF 10-0
  • 145 – Cadence Diduch (Iowa) over Margaret Buurma (Grand Valley State) TF 10-0
  • 160 – Kennedy Blades (Iowa) over Noelle Gaffney (Grand Valley State) Fall 3:45
  • 180 – Kylie Welker (Iowa) over Maddison Ward (Grand Valley State) TF 10-0
  • 207 – Sabrina Nauss (Grand Valley State) over Jaycee Foeller (Iowa) Fall 4:47

Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.





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Ben Kueter earns top-10 in return to Iowa men’s wrestling lineup

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Ben Kueter earns top-10 in return to Iowa men’s wrestling lineup








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Iowa heavyweight Ben Kueter is back and feels better than ever | The Gazette






























































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