By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – In many ways, Big Ten regular-season championships in men’s basketball are won on the road.

They’re won by doing with some degree of consistency what is considered perhaps the hardest thing to do in team sports, which is win on somebody else’s court.

It might not be quite as challenging during this COVID-19 season because the Big Ten arenas mostly are empty for health concerns.

But playing on the road still requires a road trip, a stay in a hotel, a shoot-around, and being away from the comforts of home for almost two days.

It also means a matchup against a team that will be playing on its home floor where its players are comfortable and used to the rims and the surroundings.

And in the case of fourth-ranked Iowa (7-1), that means facing Minnesota (7-1) on Christmas night at Williams Arena in Minneapolis.

To play on Christmas is highly unusual, but that still doesn’t take away from what’s at stake on Friday.

It might take no worse than a 15-5 record to win the Big Ten regular-season title this season, and to achieve that mark would take at least five road wins, and finishing undefeated at home.

No disrespect to Minnesota, but it isn’t considered one of the top Big Ten contenders, while Iowa has that respect, and that expectation.

It’s easier to see Iowa winning at Minnesota then at Illinois, Michigan State, Wisconsin, and new to the group, Northwestern, which is 2-0 in conference play after impressive wins over Michigan State and at Indiana.

Iowa, as incredible as it might seem, hasn’t won a Big Ten regular-season title since the 1978-79 season.

And one of the biggest reasons why has been the inability to win on the road with any consistency in conference play.

The same could said about all of the Big Ten teams.

It’s hardly a mystery that teams win more at home than on the road.

Iowa had a 14-2 home record last season, but finished just 2-7 on the road in the Big Ten. Iowa also finished 4-6 in Big Ten road games in the 2018-19 season and 1-8 in the 2017-18 campaign.

As long as a team defends its home-court on a pretty regular basis, it can make the NCAA Tournament if it’s able to squeeze out two or three Big Ten road wins.

But more is expected from this current Iowa team than just making the NCAA Tournament as a mid-level seed.

This Iowa team has elite potential according to the rankings, and the enormously high expectations. And part of being elite is winning championships, or at least, being in contention until the very end.

Iowa, even with All-America senior center Luka Garza scoring points at a legendary pace, won’t contend for the Big Ten regular-season championship without winning probably half of its conference road games.

That’s why Friday’s Christmas special in Minneapolis is so important, even with it being the first conference road game.

Garza and his talented supporting cast want to be special, and part of being special is winning the Big Ten regular-season title.

Garza embraces the opportunity to play on Christmas, which Iowa has done just twice in holiday tournaments in the 1980s.

“I love it,” Garza said. “I love playing the game of basketball, it doesn’t matter what day of the year it is. To play on Christmas, is definitely awesome.

“This year, it’s a lot different with not being able to travel home and seeing families. I’d rather play than anything else, so I’m excited to play.”

The sobering fact that Iowa hasn’t won the regular-season title since 1979 shows just how difficult it is to finish on top of the rugged Big Ten grind.

It takes good luck, good health, good players, good coaching, and the ability to win probably at least two-thirds of your conference road games to get it done.

Iowa’s 1978-79 squad, which was led by dynamic junior point guard Ronnie Lester, finished 7-2 in Big Ten road games. Its only road losses were against eventual national champion Michigan State, which was led by Magic Johnson, and at Indiana.

As for Minnesota, it owns a 65-36 advantage in games played at Minnesota. However, seven of the last eight meetings at Williams Arena have been decided by six points or fewer, dating back to 2012, with the seventh contest a double-digit decision in double overtime in 2017.

The Gophers (7-1) have won all seven nonconference games, including its last outing against Saint Louis (90-82) on Sunday. The Golden Gophers’ lone setback came in its conference opener at nationally-ranked Illinois (92-65) on Dec. 15. All seven of Minnesota’s nonconference contests were played in Williams Arena.

Iowa won both games against Minnesota last season, including a 58-55 victory last February in Williams Arena.

Iowa is also 7-0 at home this season, its only setback coming on a neutral court against top-ranked Gonzaga (99-88) last Saturday in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Friday’s game at Williams Arena will be Iowa’s first true road test this season.

And to be elite, it’s a game that Iowa needs to win.

 

 

 

Iowa vs. Minnesota

When: Friday, 7:07 p.m.

Where: Williams Arena, Minneapolis

TV: Big Ten Network

Radio: Hawkeye Radio Network

Series: Minnesota holds a 106-97 advantage in the series. The 203 meetings are the most Iowa has played against any opponent. The two teams have split the last 10 contests, dating back to 2014. Last year, Iowa recorded its first season sweep over the Golden Gophers in eight seasons.
The Gophers own a 65-36 advantage in games played at Minnesota. Seven of the last eight meetings at Williams Arena have  been decided by six points or fewer, dating back to 2012, with the seventh contest a double-digit decision in double overtime in 2017.