The Hawkeyes have stumbled down the stretch. They have not won a game since February 22 against the Washington Huskies, and are facing elimination from the Big Ten Tournament. They head to Lincoln, Nebraska, to face the rival Cornhuskers in a game that will decide the last team in.
Nebraska has also stumbled into the final regular season game, losing their last four games. In three of those games, they lost by a single possession. Iowa has lost five of six games, including a disappointing loss to Michigan State, where they held a 14-point lead.
Iowa has searched for consistency on both ends of the floor and hopes it can stave off the "Fran Fade" in their final game.
The Hawkeyes' offense continues to brace them as they slide closer to the Big Ten Tournament. They are second in the Big Ten in scoring with 82 points per game and field goal percentage per game at 48.6 percent. They face problems when teams ramp up their defensive pressure and the offense goes cold.
Iowa had fewer than ten turnovers in five of the previous eight games, but when they go cold on offense, they cannot rely on their defense to get stops. The Hawkeyes rank near the bottom of the conference in defensive efficiency, so they must outscore teams to win.
Iowa won 97-87 in the last matchup versus Nebraska in Iowa City on January 7. Josh Dix and Payton Sandfort combined for 61 points as the Hawkeyes bested the Cornhuskers in overtime. Iowa has won the last two meetings in Iowa City, but are 1-5 in their last six games in Lincoln.
Iowa will have to shoot a high percentage from the field and score close to 90 points if they want to leave Lincoln with a win. The Hawkeyes have given up an average of 80 points per game over their last five, so they will need an offensive explosion to get the job done.
When the Hawkeyes score more than 90 points this season, they are 6-0. They will need to come out hot early and keep their foot on the gas to give themselves a chance to make the Big Ten Tournament.