Iowa, Nebraska in search of first Big Ten win

A pair of Massive Ten groups trying to find their first convention win hope to finish the 12 months on a excessive notice when Iowa visits Nebraska on Thursday night time in Lincoln, Neb.

Iowa (8-4, 0-1 Massive Ten) has misplaced 4 of seven since a 5-0 begin, dropping an extra time battle with Wisconsin in its convention opener. However the newest outcome was essentially the most disturbing, because the Hawkeyes misplaced 92-83 at residence to an Japanese Illinois workforce that had just one earlier victory over a Division I faculty.

“These video games all the time have a distinct really feel to them, proper earlier than Christmas,” Iowa coach Fran McCaffery stated.

The Hawkeyes had been lacking senior guard Connor McCaffery, who was coping with a hand damage, however he is anticipated to play in opposition to Nebraska. The standing is extra unsure for junior ahead Kris Murray, who has missed the previous 4 video games with a again damage and was averaging 19.4 factors and 10.1 rebounds earlier than getting damage.

Nebraska (7-6, 0-2) went into the vacation break with a 75-65 residence win over Queens, snapping a three-game shedding streak. The Cornhuskers are 5-1 at residence, the one loss by three factors in extra time to No. 1 Purdue on Dec. 10.

5 gamers scored in double figures for Nebraska in opposition to Queens, sticking with the season development by which six guys are averaging between 9.4 and 14 factors per sport.

“That, ideally, is what must occur with our group,” Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg stated.

Iowa averages 83.8 factors per sport, which ranks fifteenth in Division I coming into Tuesday, and performs at one of many quickest paces within the nation. Nebraska has slowed down its tempo this season, leading to solely three opponents scoring greater than 70.

The Hawkeyes maintain a 24-13 edge within the all-time sequence, claiming the final 4 conferences together with final February in Lincoln, however this might be solely their second true highway sport of the season. Nebraska is making an attempt to keep away from an 0-3 begin in Massive Ten play for the third 12 months in a row.

–Discipline Stage Media