Prior to the Minnesota test, No. 19 Iowa must deal with the reality of the Big Ten with a quick turnaround. IOWA CITY — No one is comfortable playing Big Ten basketball. It immediately plunges you into the deep end, and No. 19 Iowa is experiencing this firsthand. Iowa’s men’s basketball team is still getting used to the grind that characterizes Big Ten life after just three conference games. The players are not the end of that learning curve. Ben McCollum, a first-year head coach, is also navigating it despite having a record of success at several collegiate levels.
Everywhere McCollum has gone, he has triumphed. He has adapted habits and philosophies from Division II dominance to the Power Four world. But now he’s witnessing firsthand one of the most difficult realities in the league: the Big Ten schedule’s unrelenting nature. There are no more breathers after this. Every game is a matchup between conferences. Every opponent perceives danger. From January through March, the schedule is jam-packed with ranked teams, resume opportunities, and live competitions.
That reality hits sharply this week.
Iowa’s first real Big Ten road game since starting league play at Michigan State is scheduled for Tuesday night when it travels to Minnesota. The difficulty is increased just by the timing. The Hawkeyes defeated UCLA 74-61 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena just 72 hours prior, putting on one of their most comprehensive performances of the year. This league requires quick turnaround times, and McCollum is aware that the challenge extends beyond physical recuperation.
McCollum stated on Monday, “I think more importantly, the ability to get yourself back up for these games is really tricky.” “You have to find some kind of niche that you have because the players’ level is a little bit different.”
Minnesota has particular issues of its own. A season ago, the Golden Gophers defeated Iowa by five points in Iowa City to take the lead in the two programs’ 211-match series. However, the Hawkeyes have a recent advantage when traveling. Iowa has won six of their previous encounters overall and three straight games in Minneapolis. This Minnesota team has already shown that it is capable of succeeding. Earlier this season, the Gophers defeated then-No. 22 Indiana and won on the road at Northwestern, a facility that has humiliated many seasoned Big Ten teams.
According to McCollum, “they also really were still trying to find themselves a little bit.” However, they defeated Indiana. It was quite impressive that they prevailed at Northwestern. It’s difficult to play there. Although I haven’t played there, I understand that playing anywhere in the Big Ten is extremely challenging.
McCollum pointed out that Minnesota’s offensive structure is what sticks out the most on camera. Movement, reads, and spacing are the cornerstones of the Gophers’ Princeton-style offense, which puts discipline and communication to the test on each possession. When you combine that with a defense that limits clean looks and closes gaps, it becomes clear why Minnesota has been a difficult opponent.
That is supported by the numbers. Minnesota has one of the best defensive records in the conference, allowing just 65.7 points per game. Iowa, which has the second-highest field-goal percentage in the Big Ten, counters effectively.
Each team distributes their output in a different way. Cade Tyson, Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, and Isaac Asuma are Minnesota’s three players who average in double figures, while Bennett Stirtz is Iowa’s only player. That difference illustrates two approaches: efficiency-driven execution and balanced scoring.
On the sidelines, there is also a shared plot. Both McCollum and the head coach of Minnesota are in their first seasons at Big Ten schools, having both earned the chance following successful stints at the mid-major level.
Although there is a steep learning curve, creating successful cultures is nothing new. Iowa spent the entire offseason getting ready for this stretch. McCollum emphasized strength, mental toughness, and conditioning because he knew the league would require quick consistency.
McCollum stated, “Ours is our ability to be ready consistently and get ourselves to an intense level.” And that instruction was beneficial. Strength, power, and similar qualities are not overrated, in my opinion. And I believe we do a pretty good job of putting our children through it. The challenge doesn’t end on Tuesday night. A top-20 matchup with No. 16 Illinois is just a few days away, and it will be another test in what looks to be a pivotal period for Iowa’s campaign. Momentum doesn’t last in the Big Ten. Every time you walk on the floor, you earn it once more. The grind has arrived for Iowa, and there is no going back at this point.
