Big Ten Basketball: Wisconsin, Ohio State falls, Rutgers rises in latest power rankings

9. Iowa Hawkeyes - 14-10 (6-7)

The past few weeks for the Hawkeyes have all been against the bottom half of Big Ten Basketball. Since they split the past six games against them, that’s why the Hawkeyes are in the same spot as them. 

In the past week, Iowa lost on the road at Penn State, 89-79. Ben Brikke had 22 points and they shot 56% from the field but defensive issues once again were their downfall. They were able to bounce back on Sunday, despite trailing by 20 points at one point against Minnesota.

In a big second-half comeback that included 52 points in the final 20 minutes, Iowa won 90-85. Payton Sandfort had 21 points, as did Patrick McCaffery off the bench. Tony Perkins had 18 points while Owen Freeman went for 17 points and 14 rebounds. The freshman forward has made a good case for being the Big Ten Freshman of the Year with his play of late, now averaging 10.9 ppg and 6.3 rpg on the season.

Iowa has a very rough stretch of games coming up, with 3 of the next 4 coming on the road. Maryland is up first, followed by a home battle with a reeling Wisconsin squad.