The Iowa Hawkeyes hope to end a late season slide that could take them back to the NIT. Losers of five of their last six the Hawkeyes open the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday night in Indianapolis when they take on Northwestern.
Just weeks after being in the league title chase the Hawkeyes are now the sixth seed and coach Fran McCaffery says there is no magic formula to get things turned around. “I think folks who think that coaches have these unbelievable speeches to get everybody revved up, I think that’s foolish, that doesn’t happen, it just doesn’t,” McCaffery says. He says you have to prepare to play Northwestern and that’s what the Wildcats are doing.
Iowa is 20-11 and hammered Northwestern twice during the regular season but McCaffeery says there is no chance his team will be overlooking them. Defense has been a problem in recent weeks and McCaffery says that needs to change against Northwestern or the Wildcats will carve them up.
The winner advances to take on third seeded Michigan State on Friday night.