The Iowa basketball team needs a shot of confidence and that makes tomorrow’s game at home against Northwestern so important. The Hawks are 2-8 in the Big Ten after Wednesday’s loss at Indiana and will have three of their next four games at home.

Freshman forward Matt Gatens says it’s not fund losing and the sooner they understand that and want to win a little more the will turn things around. Gatens led the Hawks with 22 points at Indiana. Northwestern is 12-7 overall and 4-5 in the Big Ten. Gatens says Northwestern has had some big wins this season, and it will be tough going against their zone defense.

Iowa is 12-11 overall. Iowa State coach Greg McDermott says there is no quit in his team as they get set to host Missouri on Saturday. The Cyclones fell to 1-6 in the Big-12 after a loss at Kansas State, their fifth straight setback. McDermot says it’s easy to start pointing fingers and it happens a lot in society when things go wrong, but he says that’s not happening on this team and that’s why he believes they have a chance.

McDermott says the Cyclones really need a win right now and deserve to get a win as he says they are a good group to be around. He says even with the losses, he has enjoyed practices as the players truly want to win and will give it all they have. Missouri is 6-2 in the Big-12 and beat the Cyclones 77-46 in their first meeting in Columbia.