Badgers Seek Redemption at Home vs. Iowa

The 24th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers return home to face the Iowa Hawkeyes on Sunday, looking to recover from a recent 86-69 road defeat against Ohio State. This loss ended a streak of nine wins in eleven games that had propelled Wisconsin into the Top 25. Coach Greg Gard emphasized moving forward, stating, "Last week doesn't matter." Iowa, with a 19-7 overall record and 9-6 in the Big Ten, is coming off a significant 57-52 upset victory over the ninth-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers. This win marked Iowa's first triumph against a ranked opponent since 2024. The Badgers currently sit in sixth place in the Big Ten standings, with five conference games remaining. Iowa is among three teams positioned one game behind Wisconsin, highlighting the competitive race for top seeds in the Big Ten tournament which grant a triple bye to the quarterfinals.

Wisconsin's offense, averaging 83.1 points per game, struggled against Ohio State, making only 7 of 26 three-pointers. Key players Nick Boyd and John Blackwell, who average a combined 39.1 points, scored 28 points against the Buckeyes, falling below their usual output. Coach Gard noted a lack of mentality, aggressiveness, and physicality in the team's performance. In contrast, Iowa's defense is a notable strength, allowing only 64.4 points per game, ranking 10th nationally and best in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes are 15-1 when holding opponents to 69 points or fewer. Bennett Stirtz has been a consistent scorer for Iowa, averaging 20.5 points per game, and Tavion Banks leads the team in rebounds. Wisconsin has a strong home advantage, holding a 13-2 record at home this season, while Iowa has struggled on the road with a 3-5 record in true away games. Historically, Wisconsin has dominated recent matchups, winning six of the last seven meetings against Iowa.