Iowa is back home from the West Coast after dropping back-to-back games against Southern California and UCLA.
But the Hawkeyes (12-6, 3-4 Big Ten) remain supremely confident in their abilities as they turn their attention to Minnesota (9-9, 1-6). The teams will tip off Tuesday night in Iowa City.
Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said his team would stay self-assured as it tries to avoid a third straight loss.
“We always do,” McCaffery said. “We don’t get too emotional one way or the other. The season is too long. Teams are too good.
“We have a good team, we have good players, we have character. They’ll be fine with that.”
The Hawkeyes might not have forward Payton Sandfort, who is dealing with shoulder and leg injuries, against the Golden Gophers. Sandfort, who missed practice on Monday, ranks second on the team with 16.2 points per game, behind only Owen Freeman (16.7).
McCaffery said Pryce Sandfort or Ladji Dembele would replace Payton Sandfort if needed.
Cooper Koch also will miss the game because of injury, McCaffery said. He is averaging 4.6 points and 2.1 rebounds in 10 games this season.
As Iowa tries to rebound from a pair of losses, Minnesota hopes to build upon its best win of the year. The Golden Gophers knocked off then-No. 20 Michigan 84-81 in overtime last Thursday for their first conference win.
Minnesota coach Ben Johnson said his team was coming together after early-season struggles.
“Our guys have this togetherness,” Johnson said. “I’ve been telling people we’re getting better, and nobody probably believes me. I’ve been telling people we’re this close, and nobody probably believes me — my players included. I’ve had a great feeling about the direction.”
Dawson Garcia leads Minnesota with 19.1 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Mike Mitchell Jr. ranks second on the team with 12.1 points per contest.
“Garcia is a handful,” McCaffery said. “They’ve got some veteran guys that are playing really well. I thought they did a good job in the portal adding some experience. They’re big and physical and their guards are playing well.”
This is the 211th game in the border rivalry between the schools. Minnesota leads the all-time series 107-103, but Iowa has won six straight games and eight of its past nine against the Golden Gophers.
–Field Level Media
