Iowa heads back on the road where it has struggled this season like most teams
Hawkeyes will face Indiana Tuesday at Assembly Hall in Bloomington
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Uh-oh.
Just three days after making one of the greatest comebacks in program history, the Iowa men’s basketball team will head back on the road where it has a 2-7 record against Big Ten opponents this season.
And if playing on the road isn’t hard enough, Iowa will face an Indiana team on Tuesday that is 14-1 at home this season, including 7-1 in conference play.
The Hoosiers lead the conference in field-goal percentage (49.2) and are second in the Big Ten in three categories; assists per game (15.5), blocks per game (5.1), and effective field goal percentage (544).
Indiana also could have extra motivation after having lost to Iowa 91-89 on Jan. 5 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, a game in which the Hoosiers blew a 21-point lead (28-7) in the first half.
It was Iowa’s third largest comeback in program history, and the fact that it came at home probably isn’t a coincidence because teams just play better at home for lots of reasons.
That’s true in all sports.
Iowa took advantage of being at home this past Saturday when it trailed Michigan State by 11 points with less than one minute in regulation, but still would go on to win 112-106 in overtime.
Iowa made five 3-point baskets in the final 38 seconds of regulation to force overtime.
But again, that was at home where Iowa shoots considerably better than it shoots on the road where it’s only shooting 27.8 percent from 3-point range.
Iowa combined to make just 6-of-52 shots from 3-point range in its last two road games against Northwestern and Wisconsin, and not surprisingly, Iowa lost both games by double digits.
Against Michigan State this past Saturday, on the other hand, Iowa made 17-of-36 shots from 3-point range.
There are multiple reasons why teams play better at home, including having the support of fans, and being familiar and comfortable with the surroundings.

“I think there’s just natural advantages to being at home, and those would be some of them,” said Iowa coach Fran McCaffery. “I think that’s true everywhere. Every league, every team, every sport.
“I think it’s everything. All of that. But we’ve played some really good games on the road, too, and so have other teams.”
Fran McCaffery (125) is one win from tying Tom Davis (126) for the most regular season Big Ten victories in program history.
Iowa is 2-2 against AP ranked foes this season: 2-0 at home and 0-2 away from Iowa City.
The Hawkeyes are also seeking to beat Indiana four straight times since 2010-11.
Iowa has all but clinched a spot in the NCAA Tournament with 12 combined Quad 1 (4) and Quad 2 (8) wins on its resume, second most in the Big Ten behind Purdue (14).
Iowa also leads the Big Ten, and is 20th nationally in scoring offense (80.4). The Hawkeyes have led the league in scoring five of the last nine seasons, including the last four.
However, in its last two road games against Northwestern and Wisconsin, Iowa combined to score just 112 points, including 52 in the loss to the Badgers.
That is Iowa’s second lowest point total this season behind the 50 points it scored in a 66-50 loss to Nebraska Dec. 29 in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The good news for Iowa is that Tuesday’s game is its last road game this season.
Iowa will face Nebraska in the regular-season finale on March 5 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Then comes the postseason where the games will be played at neutral sites.
The Big Ten Tournament will be held March 8-12 at the United Center in Chicago.
Iowa (18-11, 10-8) vs. Indiana (20-9, 11-7)
When: Tuesday, 6 p.m.
Where: Bloomington, Indiana (Assembly Hall)
TV: ESPN2
Radio: Hawkeye Radio Network
Series: Indiana holds a 106-81 advantage in the series, da! ng back to 1909. The two teams have split the last 10 overall meetings, dating back to 2017. Iowa has won three straight over the Hoosiers, including this season’s earlier mee! ng in Iowa City on Jan. 5 (91-89). Six of the last nine meetings between the two teams have been decided by two possessions or less, including four one-possession games during that span. The Hoosiers hold a 62-30 advantage in games played at Bloomington. Iowa’s last victory in Assembly Hall came on Feb. 7, 2019 (77-72).