Future of in-state basketball games undetermined

Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery is non-committal about maintaining the team's annual non-conference rivalries with Iowa State, Northern Iowa and Drake. But he's not against keeping the games, either.

“Right now I don't see any change in the foreseeable future.,” McCaffery said. “I'm fine with it. I think it's one of those things. When you have playoff atmospheres earlier in the season, it's sometimes more difficult for the coaches than it is for the players. The players, I think, like it, the fans like it. It gives the media a lot more to write about. But at the same time, it does limit some of our scheduling opportunities.”

Iowa has played Iowa State annually since 1970, Northern Iowa annually since 1988 and Drake all but one year since 1965. The schools rotate locations annually.

“I'm looking forward to the in-state challenges,” McCaffery said. “I know what Iowa-Iowa State is. I guess I really don't know because I haven't gone through it yet, but I saw it a little bit with football.”