3 keys and a prediction for Nebraska’s rematch with Iowa

Thanks to Wisconsin’s win over Purdue, there isn’t a ton at stake in terms of the Big Ten Standings for Nebraska basketball as it plays host to Iowa on Sunday.

That doesn’t mean the game isn’t important, though.

The Huskers are guaranteed a top-four seed and a triple bye in the Big Ten tournament. That’s the second time in three seasons they have earned that.

Nebraska can get second with a win and a loss by Michigan State. But the bye to the quarterfinals was the big thing.

Now, it’s about honoring the seniors, Sam Hoiberg included, and building some momentum heading into the postseason.

Iowa is a 20-win team. The Hawkeyes are ranked in the top 30 of the NET rankings, but are also a 6.5-point underdog. It would be a quadrant-1 victory, and Iowa isn’t as good at home, just like Nebraska, and most teams.

Last year, Iowa knocked Nebraska out of the Big Ten tournament. Earlier this season, the Hawkwyes won 57-52. Bennett Stirtz scored 25 points but needed 22 shots to get there (36 percent).

Only one Iowa player, who attempted three shots, making two, was better than 50 percent.

Looking ahead to Sunday, Nebraska basketball is a 6.5-point favorite. Here are three keys and a prediction for the Huskers vs. Hawkeyes.

Nebraska basketball needs to start fast

Slow starts have been a theme. UCLA got the first five on Tuesday. Even that early, you could tell it was going to be a tough night.

The Bruins set the tone. Nebraska needs to do that. It was doing that often early in the season. Iowa is a good team. They have shooters, and one of the best scoring guards in the Big Ten.

But they are 3-6 on the road. They lost their last game to Penn State. Nebraska should win this game. A start fast would certainly help.

Force the pace

Iowa limits possessions. They want to play at a slow pace, ranking 361st out of 364 teams in adjusted tempo per KenPom.

However, the Hawkeyes are aggressive. They will deny the ball and close out hard. They try to limit 3-point attempts, and give up the fewest shot attempts (48.8 in the Big Ten).

In other words, they are completely different than when Fran McCaffrey was the head coach. The Huskers fell into the trap during the first game and turned the ball over too much while allowing Iowa to rebound 35 percent of its missed shots. Nebraska got just eight percent of its own.

Hard to win when that happens. For Nebraska, it will also be hard to win playing this game at Iowa’s pace.

Low turnovers, low fouls

When Nebraska was 20-0, it had fewer than 10 turnovers and fewer than 10 personal fouls per game.

Fouls haven’t been as big of an issue. It’s been offensive rebounds allowed and turnovers. Iowa dominated on the boards last time.

That can’t happen again. Nebraska basketball also has to get back to playing the way it did earlier in this season, when it wasn’t turning the ball over and was playing elite defense without fouling.

Defense includes rebounding. Back to basics, and Nebraska will win.

Nebraska 69, Iowa 62

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