The Iowa Hawkeyes need a victory to stay in the Big Ten title hunt when they host Penn State to open the final week of the regular season. Iowa won the first matchup with the Nittany Lions 80-76 in State College and coach Steve Alford says the Hawkeyes expect another tough matchup.
Alford says Penn State got their attention by winning against Illinois in Champaign, a place where Iowa just lost. Alford says if they can win in Champaign, Penn State can win at Iowa as well.
Penn State won the rebounding battle the first time around and that area has been a focus for the Hawkeyes this week. Alford says they have to take care of the rebounding and the transition game or it will be a nightmare game.
Iowa is 9-5 in the Big Ten and a game behind league leader Ohio State. The Hawks are 20-8 overall and with a victory tonight and this weekend over Wisconsin would become the first Iowa team to finish the season unbeaten in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.