Iowa has uphill battle against one of the best teams in college basketball on Wednesday night.
The Hawkeyes are coming off back-to-back losses to Minnesota and No. 15 Illinois, in which they dug themselves an early hole and could not climb out.
They will not have the same luxury against Purdue because if they have another slow start, the Boilermakers will bury them early.
No. 5 Purdue is having another torrid start to the season, dropping one game to No. 2 Iowa State, and boasts the Big Ten's best player from last year in Braden Smith.
Smith is leading the Boilermakers this season in points (14.1) and assists per game (9.8).
While the Boilermakers look like a juggernaut on paper, games are won on the court, and we have what Iowa needs to do to leave Indiana with a win.
Have to get out to a fast start
The Hawkeyes have made a bad habit out of starting games slowly and working extremely hard to come back.
They got down early against Minnesota on the road and were down by as many as 18 points to Illinois in their most recent game.
Both resulted in losses.
If that trend continues, Iowa will find it a lot harder to come back against Purdue in one of the toughest arenas to play at, Mackey Arena.
Iowa has to stay close in the first half to have a chance in this game.
The supporting cast must step up
We have discussed this at length in the past, but when Bennett Stirtz is taken away or limited, the supporting cast has struggled.
Isaia Howard and Kael Combs have stepped up in recent games, and they could be called upon again against Purdue.
Purdue ranks in the top 50 in overall defense (No. 54 overall), and most of that defense will be focused on Stirtz.
If Howard, Combs, and the rest of the supporting cast can take some of the pressure off Stirtz, Iowa can force Purdue to guard for all 24 seconds of the shot clock.
Hold Purdue to one-and-done possessions
The Hawkeyes have been stellar defensively through the early stages of the season, and they cannot have any lapses against the Boilermakers.
Unlike past years, where Zach Edey and company dominated the glass, Purdue has not been very good on the glass this season, averaging only 38.8 rebounds per game (ranked No. 71 overall).
If Iowa can limit them to one shot per possession and keep them off the glass, they have a good chance to win this game.
Limiting second chance opportunities is something Iowa has been good at this year, and they will have to do the same against Purdue.
Prediction
Iowa has a tough task ahead of them and Purdue is nearly unbeatable at home.
The Hawkeyes always play the Boilermakers tough, regardless of how highly they are ranked, but without the raucous Carver-Hawkeye Arena crowd, it is a big ask for the Hawkeyes to upset Purdue.
While it is not impossible, the Hawkeyes are in the midst of a rough stretch, and the Boilermakers have been consistently winning.
Purdue has not looked impressive over its past five games, winning all of them by tight margins, but being at home gives them the advantage.
Iowa keeps it close, but Purdue ultimately pulls off the win at home.
Final score: Iowa 73, Purdue 81