After Iowa's baffling loss to Maryland on the road, the squad has a perfect chance to get back on track with a signature win against Purdue this weekend.
The Maryland game was a clear case of Iowa looking ahead to the game against Purdue, and they will need to be firing on all cylinders to upset the Boilermakers at home.
In their previous matchup against Purdue, Iowa was in control for most of the game until a late collapse sealed their fate.
Even though the Hawkeyes ultimately lost to the Boilermakers in their first matchup this season, they were solid defensively and played with good rhythm on offense, something head coach Ben McCollum said they must repeat.
McCollum wants the Iowa offense to play with more rhythm
Over the past two games against Northwestern and Maryland, McCollum noted that the squad looked out of sync and lacked much rhythm.
He also said that because of that, the offense was getting stuck and stalled out way too much.
Everyone has also gotten in the habit of watching and waiting for Bennet Stirtz to take over the game, or do something amazing to save them.
All of that combined has led to some bad offense, which they cannot have against Purdue.
McCollum liked the way they defended the Boilermakers in the first game and how they played on offense; they just needed a few more shots to fall.
McCollum acknowledged that, to keep up with Purdue, they will need "elite intensity" on both ends and must adapt to the offensive runs they will inevitably go on.
It all comes back to the flow and rhythm on offense, and if Iowa can keep the ball moving and knock down some open shots, they have a chance to knock off Purdue in front of a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena.