Iowa
As culture gets tested, Iowa women’s basketball feels structure for success still intact
Hear from Iowa women’s basketball coach Jan Jensen after the Hawkeyes fall to Indiana
Hear from Iowa women’s basketball coach Jan Jensen after the Hawkeyes fall to Indiana
IOWA CITY — A program’s culture truly becomes impeccable when it can survive both ends of the emotional spectrum. It’s easy to tout core values during the best of times. Whether they hold up when adversity invades is arguably more significant.
Such is the current test for Iowa women’s basketball as it slogs through a Big Ten skid full of concerning elements. Everything that fueled the Hawkeyes’ recent ascension is under the microscope amid Iowa’s first three-game losing streak in seven years. Sunday’s 74-67 home stumble to Indiana extended several troubling trends.
The “everyone matters” mantra has turned into “no lead dog capable of stabilizing things” when things go awry. The riveting Carver-Hawkeye Arena crowds designed to aid a developing team are generating clunky home starts with mounting pressure to perform. Iowa’s elite offensive standard that goes back well beyond the last two historical seasons isn’t being met in the slightest. In fact, piling up points has been the Hawkeyes’ most glaring issue.
Iowa’s program pillars weren’t constructed overnight, nor are they going to crumble after one tough stretch in mid-January with ample basketball left. But this is clearly a different test than what’s been recently experienced. What has arrived is a bit harsher than what was projected, and it’s on Iowa to weather the storm.
“All three of these losses have been such different losses, and we’re trying to learn a lot from each,” said junior guard Taylor McCabe, one of Sunday’s few bright spots with 15 points off the bench. “Compared to last year, I think this team is so different. I don’t think we ever stop fighting. The Iowa culture is definitely still there. That’s something we’re going to keep building off.
“I still think it’s pretty early on, and we have plenty of season left. So we’re not going to let this affect us too much.”
Taylor McCabe, Taylor Stremlow gave Iowa a chance in loss to Indiana:
McCabe knocked down four 3-pointers and led the Hawkeyes with 15 points, while Stremlow had seven points, nine rebounds and five steals.
Hawkeyes schedule only gets harder after January
The various reactions from those invested in Iowa women’s basketball depend on what hat is worn. Countless fans offer different degrees of freakout, ranging from justifiable concerns to illogical thoughts of a coaching change and multiple decommits. The Hawkeyes became experts on mitigating outside noise during the Caitlin Clark years. That objective doesn’t change here.
Elsewhere, coach Jan Jensen and her players continue an ongoing stream of positivity that at least carries some legitimacy. Remember, inconsistency was to be expected with an extensive roster reset and a first-year head coach. Assessing January’s reality with the same energy as October’s forecast is understandable to some degree. And the Hawkeyes are correct that more than enough time remains for this stretch to become a distant memory by March.
Somewhere between the extremes is where the Hawkeyes’ urgency should lie. It’s fair to outline the opportunity Iowa has up ahead, while acknowledging these stumbles are happening in what is clearly the Hawkeyes’ easier month of Big Ten action. As of now, February features three top-10 foes and only one game against a team definitely not going to the NCAA Tournament.
January was supposed to be the win-stacking month against squads that looked more like the Hawkeyes, rather than the Big Ten’s elite upper crust. With three toss-up games still remaining this month against Nebraska, Oregon and Washington before a perceived breather versus cellar-dweller Northwestern, it’s hard to envision Iowa’s current product trekking into February with confidence that high-end upsets are coming.
It’s crucial that Iowa’s veterans step up
As much as the Hawkeyes’ freshman injection has provided some promise amid futility, this turnaround starts at the top of the roster. All five starters, four seniors and a junior, have been liabilities for extended stretches in ways not previously seen. Whatever the reason — inability to adjust from the past, reluctance to disrupt Iowa’s traditional fun-loving energy, overwhelming pressure to uphold the Hawkeyes’ recent standard — Sunday’s loss felt like a crossroads as many of those veterans watched Iowa’s closing stretch from the bench.
“I’ve got to get them in better positions where they are a little bit more confident, the vets,” Jensen said. “But I do think the promise of our youth, what they’re doing is really, really hopeful. The old saying is you can wait for a break, or you can create a break. I’d sure love to get a break here or there in this conference season. But I’ve got to keep working to create a break too.”
Things haven’t fully spiraled yet, but the start of a damaging avalanche often looks like this. The historical context only gets uglier the longer these struggles go. A loss to Nebraska on Thursday would mark Iowa’s first four-game losing streak since February 2016 and first time dropping three consecutive home games since February 2013.
Conquering the mental battle is as crucial as anything directly happening on the floor — and there’s plenty to correct there. What direction this season goes will depend on how strong the structure in place is.
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.
Iowa
Where Iowa State basketball stands in NCAA Tournament bracketology
Iowa State basketball coach TJ Otzelberger on prepping for Arizona
Iowa State basketball coach TJ Otzelberger on prepping for Arizona after loss to Texas Tech.
We’re heading down the homestretch.
Iowa State men’s basketball has two regular-season games left, followed by the Big 12 Tournament.
Iowa State enters the final week of the regular season with a 24-5 overall record and an 11-5 mark in Big 12 action.
The Cyclones have a NCAA Tournament resume-bolstering opportunity on Monday, March 2 with a road game against Arizona, before wrapping up the regular-season on Saturday, March 7 against Arizona State.
Plenty can still change with bracketology from now until Selection Sunday on March 15, but here is where experts are projecting Iowa State to land in the NCAA Tournament entering the final week of the regular season:
Iowa State basketball’s computer metrics as of Tuesday
Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at erapay@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5
Iowa
Iowa Lottery Pick 3 Midday, Pick 3 Evening results for March 1, 2026
The Iowa Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big with rewards ranging from $1,000 to millions. The most an Iowan has ever won from playing the lottery was $343 million in 2018 off the Powerball.
Don’t miss out on the winnings. Here’s a look at Sunday, March 1, 2026, winning numbers for each game:
Winning Pick-3 numbers from March 1 drawing
Midday: 6-9-4
Evening: 4-2-5
Check Pick-3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick-4 numbers from March 1 drawing
Midday: 1-7-4-8
Evening: 7-6-9-1
Check Pick-4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 1 drawing
10-11-12-35-56, Bonus: 04
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Iowa Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 3 (Day): 12:20 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 3 (Evening): 10:00 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 4 (Day): 12:20 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 4 (Evening): 10:00 p.m. CT daily.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Iowa editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Iowa
Nebraska Men’s Basketball’s Week Ahead: Crucial Games at UCLA and Home vs. Iowa
Nebraska men’s basketball faces a critical week that will determine its Big Ten Conference and NCAA Tournament seeding.
The Huskers play at UCLA on Tuesday night and finish the regular season next Sunday at home vs. Iowa.
The Huskers are currently tied for second place in the Big Ten with Michigan State. Both teams have four conference losses. They are one game in the loss column ahead of Illinois and Purdue, with five losses. Wisconsin has six losses.
The top four teams earn the coveted triple bye for the Big Ten Tournament. Regular-season champion Michigan has one spot locked up.
Here are the remaining schedules of the contenders for the triple bye, with conference record in parentheses:
Nebraska (14-4)
* Tuesday: at UCLA
* Sunday: vs. Iowa
Michigan State (13-4)
* Sunday: at Indiana
* Thursday: vs. Rutgers
* Sunday, March 8: at Michigan
Illinois (13-5)
* Tuesday: vs. Oregon
* Sunday, March 8: at Maryland
Purdue (12-5)
* Sunday: at Ohio State
* Wednesday: at Northwestern
* Saturday: vs. Wisconsin
Wisconsin (12-6)
* Wednesday: vs. Maryland
* Saturday: at Purdue
Maintaining an NCAA seed no worse than 3 should benefit the Huskers, who wouldn’t have to play, theoretically, the No. 1 seed until the Elite Eight game.
It’s a ton to play for in the final week of a historic regular season for Nebraska. But that’s what March is all about.
Nebraska at UCLA
When: Tuesday, 10 p.m. CT
Where: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles
Records: Nebraska, 25-4, 14-4 in Big Ten; UCLA, 19-10, 11-7 in Big Ten
TV: FS1
Rankings updated based on games through Saturday.
UCLA rankings
* Associated Press Top 25: Not ranked
* NCAA Net Ratings: 40
* USA Today Coaches Poll: Not ranked
* Kenpom.com: 41
* ESPN Power Index: 34
* Top 25 and 1: Not ranked
* Team Rankings.com: 41
In Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology projections for ESPN, UCLA is a 9-seed for the 68-team NCAA Tournament. The next Bracketology will be released Tuesday.
Nebraska rankings
* Associated Press Top 25: 12
* NCAA Net Ratings: 12
* USA Today Coaches Poll: 10
* Kenpom.com: 11
* ESPN Power Index: 15
* Top 25 and 1: 8
* Team Rankings.com: 11
In Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology projections for ESPN, Nebraska is a 3-seed for the 68-team NCAA Tournament.
Nebraska-UCLA analysis
The Bruins are coming off a strange week. They crushed visiting rival USC, 81-62, on Tuesday, then lost at Minnesota, 78-73, on Saturday.
UCLA is 16-1 at home, its only loss to Indiana, 98-97, in double overtime on Jan. 31.
The game will be a homecoming for Huskers forward Berke Buyuktuncel, who played at UCLA in 2023-24, his freshman season. Buyuktuncel has started 27 games and averages 6.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game this season for the Huskers and frequently earns praise from coach Fred Hoiberg.
Nebraska thoroughly dispatched USC on Saturday, 82-67, an impressive performance on the road against a Trojans team desperate for a statement win to help — or save — their NCAA hopes.
Pryce Sandfort scored 32 points — one short of his career high — as the Huskers won their 14th conference game, a school record. Nebraska is 7-2 on the road in conference games.
This should be a great matchup — UCLA a strong team playing at home vs. a Nebraska team playing well and full of confidence. This feels like a one-possession game.
Iowa at Nebraska
When: Sunday, March 8, 4 p.m. CT
Where: Pinnacle Bank Arena
Records: Nebraska, 25-4, 14-4 in Big Ten; Iowa, 20-9, 10-8 in Big Ten
TV: Fox
Rankings updated based on games through Saturday.
Iowa rankings
* Associated Press Top 25: 33
* NCAA Net Ratings: 28
* USA Today Coaches Poll: 30
* Kenpom.com: 24
* ESPN Power Index: 35
* Top 25 and 1: Not ranked
* Team Rankings.com: 31
In Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology projections for ESPN, Iowa is an 8-seed for the 68-team NCAA Tournament.
Nebraska rankings
* Associated Press Top 25: 12
* NCAA Net Ratings: 12
* USA Today Coaches Poll: 10
* Kenpom.com: 11
* ESPN Power Index: 15
* Top 25 and 1: 8
* Team Rankings.com: 11
In Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology projections for ESPN, Nebraska is a 3-seed for the 68-team NCAA Tournament.
Nebraska-Iowa analysis
The Hawkeyes are coming off a puzzling, 71-69 loss at Penn State on Saturday. Iowa led 67-62 with 3:49 to play, and then scored only one more basket. Iowa plays host to Michigan on Thursday.
Nebraska will get a final curtain call at Pinnacle Bank Arena, where the Huskers are 15-2.
Nebraska should have revenge on its mind after losing at Iowa, 57-52, on Feb. 17, in Sandfort’s return to Iowa City, where he played for two seasons.
Whatever Nebraska nerves were a factor at Iowa shouldn’t be in play at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Nebraska shot only 21 percent from distance in Iowa City. Sandfort scored 13 points, his lowest total since Jan. 10, when he scored 12 at Indiana.
Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz scored 25 points. That won’t happen in this game. Neither will Nebraska’s ice-cold shooting from distance, especially if the game could determine the triple bye for the Huskers.
More From Nebraska On SI
Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.
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