Iowa basketball: Three takeaways from win over Indiana

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: Connor McCaffery #30 of the Iowa Hawkeyes reacts in the second half against the Connecticut Huskies during the championship game of the 2K Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: Connor McCaffery #30 of the Iowa Hawkeyes reacts in the second half against the Connecticut Huskies during the championship game of the 2K Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
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EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 03: Head coach Fran Mccaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes reacts as his team plays the Michigan State Spartans in the first half at Breslin Center on December 3, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 03: Head coach Fran Mccaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes reacts as his team plays the Michigan State Spartans in the first half at Breslin Center on December 3, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

Hawks get biggest road win of the season

The Iowa basketball team in recent history has struggled mightily on the road.

Last seasons’ 14-19 squad won just one game on the road and that was against Rutgers who, like in most Big Ten sports, is typically at the bottom of the totem pole.

To find a more quality win then last night’s victory, you have to go back to the Peter Jok-era two years ago when the Hawks took down #22 Wisconsin on March 2nd of 2017 at the Kohls Center.

Unfortunately for Fran’s squad, with the struggle of the Hawks last season (especially on the road), it’s been sort of a cloud hanging over them even more so after getting spanked on the road against Michigan State and Purdue earlier this season.

Give credit where credit is due though, Iowa went in to Bloomington and came out strong. When Indiana battled back, the Hawks were able to stop their scoring binges and retaliate with scoring streaks of their own, and despite Indiana’s record being 13-10, this is a fringe NCAA tournament contender. The Hoosiers are a quality basketball team that was hit by the injury bug.

This is a huge win, and it very well could give the Iowa basketball team the mojo and swagger to finish this season very strong.