Iowa Men’s Basketball Road Woes Continue as Hawkeyes Adjust to Big Ten Grind
MINNEAPOLIS — The early weeks of Big Ten play are exposing a tough learning curve for No. 19 Iowa, and Iowa men’s basketball road woes are becoming the defining challenge of the season. Despite thriving at home and on neutral floors, the Hawkeyes are still searching for answers away from Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
For a team that’s looked sharp, confident, and connected in nearly every other setting, the contrast has been hard to ignore. Iowa is unbeaten at home, perfect on neutral courts, yet winless in true road games — a reality reinforced by Tuesday night’s 70–67 loss to Minnesota.
Iowa men’s basketball road woes show up in Big Ten play
Head coach Ben McCollum didn’t hesitate to pinpoint one recurring issue: free throws. Or more accurately, the lack of them.
“We’ve got to find a way to get to the free-throw line,” McCollum said after the loss. “I don’t know why we don’t get there. But we put their people there a lot.”
The numbers back him up. Through Iowa’s Big Ten games, opponents have attempted 103 free throws compared to just 68 for the Hawkeyes. That gap has quietly tilted games, especially in hostile environments where whistles are harder to earn.
McCollum admitted some of that responsibility falls on coaching. Teaching players how to initiate contact, attack defenders’ bodies, and finish through fouls is part of the adjustment process. But he also acknowledged the reality of conference road games.
On the road, physicality is amplified. Crowds are louder. Officials are human. And some teams — and players — have mastered the art of selling contact.
“There are players in our league that do a great job of selling fouls — whether they’re fouls or not,” McCollum said. “They get into your body.”
That savvy is something Iowa is still learning.
Emotional swings complicate road environments
Free throws aren’t the only hurdle. Guard Bennett Stirtz pointed to another challenge: managing emotions when things start going sideways.
“I think we just get so negative around each other when we’re down, especially in road environments,” Stirtz said. “We’ve got to learn to stay positive.”
That emotional dip showed up against Minnesota. Iowa didn’t truly look like itself until the final minutes, when urgency replaced hesitation. The Hawkeyes erased a 14-point deficit, generated clean looks, and had three chances to tie the game in the closing possession. All three kick-out triples rimmed out.
The comeback effort was encouraging — but also frustrating. It highlighted what Iowa can be, while underscoring how thin the margin is on the road.
McCollum admitted afterward that the team didn’t fully settle in until it was almost too late. That delayed comfort is another wrinkle Iowa must iron out as Big Ten play ramps up.
Reset mode ahead of crucial stretch
The loss to Minnesota marked Iowa’s second conference defeat, but it hasn’t shaken the group’s belief. If anything, it’s pushed the Hawkeyes into reset mode.
Up next is a demanding three-game stretch, starting Sunday night at home against No. 16 Illinois. While the road has been unkind, there’s optimism in returning to familiar surroundings — and confidence rooted in McCollum’s track record.
Historically, McCollum-led teams respond well after losses. They tighten rotations, sharpen focus, and play with renewed edge. That trend gives Iowa reason to believe this setback can fuel growth rather than stall momentum.
“We’ve got a tough three-game stretch here,” Stirtz said. “But it’s a long season. We’ve just got to stick together, stay positive, and take it one game at a time.”
That mindset may be Iowa’s biggest asset moving forward. The talent is there. The effort is there. Now, it’s about translating those strengths into road toughness — drawing fouls, staying composed, and trusting each other when the noise gets loud.
Until that happens, Iowa men’s basketball road woes will remain a storyline. But with Big Ten play just beginning, the Hawkeyes still have time to turn a weakness into a lesson and maybe even a strength.
