As No. 25 Iowa returns to Carver-Hawkeye Arena for a prominent conference matchup against UCLA on Saturday night, Big Ten action picks back up. The game will only be streamed on Peacock, and Hawkeye Radio Network affiliates will provide radio coverage. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. Fans are urged to wear white shirts as there will be a whiteout inside Carver. The atmosphere should be commensurate with the stakes, and rally towels will be distributed. UCLA is 10-3 overall and 2-0 in league play, while Iowa is 11-2 overall and 1-1 in Big Ten play going into the weekend. In the all-time series, the Hawkeyes have a slim 5-4 advantage.
Iowa just defeated Massachusetts-Lowell 90-62 on Monday afternoon, demonstrating their offensive prowess. In the first half, the Hawkeyes shot an incredible 69.2 percent from the field, making 18 of 26 shots. The majority of those baskets were made from point-blank range, indicating decisive play around the rim and sharp ball movement. Once again, guard Bennett Stirtz was in the middle of it all. He finished with 22 points and eight assists, which helped him reach 500 career assists during his time in college at Northwest Missouri State, Drake, and Iowa. With an average of 17.1 points per game, Stirtz has been Iowa’s offensive engine all season.
Iowa still lacks a second player averaging double figures this season, despite Stirtz’s output. That might soon change. At 9.5 points per game, guard Tavion Banks and forward Alvaro Folgueiras are both on the rise. Off the bench, Folgueiras in particular has shown promise. He has scored 13, 17, and 14 points in the Hawkeyes’ last three games while making an outstanding 17 of 26 field goals. His rise has provided Iowa with a much-needed scoring boost outside of its starting lineup. In the past, this impressive start has not gone unnoticed. Iowa’s 10-1 non-conference record is the program’s best since the 2021–22 season, and its 11-2 record is its best start to the season since the 2020–21 campaign.
The calling card has been defense. The Hawkeyes are giving up just 60.1 points per game, which is fourth in the country and leads the Big Ten. However, Iowa has already surpassed 90 points six times this season, demonstrating its ability to score in large quantities. Iowa is one of the league’s more intriguing early contenders thanks to this combination of efficiency on both ends. A brief test has already been given by conference play. After losing to seventh-ranked Michigan State 72-51 in their Big Ten debut, Iowa recovered to defeat Maryland 83-64 at home. In contrast, UCLA started league play with consecutive victories, defeating Oregon 74-63 at home and Washington 82-80 away from home.
This season, the Bruins have lost three games away from home to Arizona, California, and Gonzaga at neutral venues. On December 23, they defeated California-Riverside 97-65 at home in their most recent game. Iowa City benefits greatly from UCLA’s firepower. 6-foot-9 forward is in the lead. Tyler Bilodeau, a transfer from Oregon State, is ranked seventh in the Big Ten with an average of 19.0 points per game. Guard Skyy Clark leads the conference in 3-point shooting at 49.3 percent going into the week, adding 14.2 points per game. UCLA is dangerous in both transition and half-court sets thanks to point guard Donovan Dent, who averages 12.6 points and leads the Bruins in assists.
Forward Cam Manyawu of Iowa remarked, “They’re a very athletic team.” It will be a fight because they are well-coached and have a lot of ball screens. They’ll mix in zone and press on defense, so we’ll be prepared. These worries were echoed by head coach Ben McCollum, who cited UCLA’s balance on the floor. McCollum remarked, “They’re good.” “Clark and Dent are excellent guards. They have some wings that can shoot and defend, and they have a powerful inside presence. They’ll cause issues.
Following the game on Saturday, Iowa will travel once more, visiting Minneapolis to play Minnesota on Tuesday, January 6 at 7 p.m. on the Big Ten Network. But for the time being, all eyes are on Carver-Hawkeye Arena as Iowa attempts to maintain its momentum and defend home court against a self-assured UCLA team.
