The Iowa basketball team takes an 11-2 record into Tuesday’s start of the Big Ten race at home against Nebraska. The Hawkeyes are looking for a strong conference finish to solidify their first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2006.

“You really have to protect your home court, everybody knows that,” Iowa coach Fran McCaffery says. “And at the same time, everybody looks at opportunity on the road, can we go get a road win.” McCaffrey  feels depth will be an advantage for the Hawkeyes in the league race because they go 11 deep. He says somebody is going to get injured or have some type of virus or infection and that can take a toll on a team that is only 7 or 8 players deep.

Nebraska enters the Big Ten race with a record of 8-4 and McCaffrey says they’ve got size, talent and can shoot the ball. McCaffery says the Huskers are making progress under second year coach Tim Miles. “He’s got some young guys who are really battling, he’s got some experience,” McCaffery says.