Rival coaches: Iowa 'oozing confidence' and 'a contender'

IOWA CITY — Iowa's men's basketball team had to respond to adversity last month after a collapsing defeat at Iowa State. Now, the squad has to show it can handle success.

The Hawkeyes (11-3, 2-0 Big Ten) rallied from a 19-point road deficit to beat then-No. 14 Purdue 70-63. Coupled with Iowa's 83-70 win over previously No. 1-ranked Michigan State, the Hawkeyes became the second Big Ten over the last 20 years to start 2-0 with both wins against ranked opponents. It was the first time Iowa beat ranked league teams in consecutive games since 1987.

The victories propelled the Hawkeyes into the national rankings at No. 23 (coaches poll) and No. 19 (Associated Press). Iowa's cup is overflowing with praise from national outlets, including ESPN broadcaster Dick Vitale who labeled the Hawkeyes as his team of the week.

Team of the Week IOWA BABY /beat Spartans & today came back from 19 down @ Purdue & wins by 7 ! Fran McCaffrey Coach of the Week !January 3, 2016

Team of the Week IOWA BABY /beat Spartans & today came back from 19 down @ Purdue & wins by 7 ! Fran McCaffrey Coach of the Week !

— Dick Vitale (@DickieV)

'We always say, 'You can't let one game define you,'' Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery said. 'You feel awful after we lose to Iowa State after having the lead, but that can't define you. Then you have a big win, two big wins. That can't define you. It's on to the next one.

'It's such a long grind, the maturity that you need to continue to prepare the right way is really what's critical.'

Iowa has an opportunity for its first 3-0 Big Ten start since 2002-03. With the Big Ten's unbalanced schedule, the Hawkeyes are primed to contend for their first regular-season crown since 1979. Of Iowa's border rivals, it travels to only Illinois. The four others — Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska and Northwestern — all play single games at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

'I think they're a contender. You beat Michigan State, you beat Purdue, those are two contenders,' Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo said. 'I think that makes you an automatic contender whether (McCaffery) likes it or not. It's a long season yet. He knows it. We know it. Maintaining a level of high performance is hard for all of us to do, but Franny has done a great job over the years. I think this is his best team.'

'They've just come off a historic week. They've beaten two top-15 teams in the country, and they've just looked terrific,' Nebraska Coach Tim Miles said. 'They're oozing confidence right now, it looks like to me.'

Winning big games feels great, but a season is about handling your business. Iowa now must prepare for a clichéd trap game. Tuesday, the Hawkeyes face Nebraska (8-7, 0-2 Big Ten), a team they buried 74-46 in Lincoln last February. Iowa has won four straight in the series — all by double digits.

The Cornhuskers have firepower in senior forward Shavon Shields (15.4 points, 5.4 rebounds) and Kansas transfer Andrew White III (17.3 points, 5.5 rebounds).

A letdown against the Cornhuskers would stifle the team's momentum. But McCaffery doesn't see that happening. Neither does senior point guard Mike Gesell.

'We've been here before,' Gesell said. 'My sophomore year we were 10th in the country and then we slid the last (eight) games. We know what to expect. We know we're going to have a target on our back and any time a team gets to play a ranked team, they get excited. So that means we've got to bring our 'A' game every game and come out ready to play.'

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