Halfway done, Big Ten schedule lightens a tad for Iowa Hawkeyes

IOWA CITY - Halfway through the Big Ten season, Iowa's 1-8 start in the Big Ten is virtually unprecedented in recent memory. Only twice has Iowa reached that mark after nine games and both times were during world wars.

Iowa's first-half Big Ten schedule was brutal. The Hawkeyes' first nine Big Ten opponents were 47-34 in conference action. Twice Iowa (8-13 overall) has faced top-ranked Ohio State. Iowa has played four consecutive Sunday games, including three on the road.

Inconsistency has plagued Coach Fran McCaffery in his inaugural season at Iowa. He's still trying to determine what works with whom, which presents him with multiple challenges.

“Every time we move forward, somebody else takes a step back and then they take a step back and, well, that's what this year has been,” McCaffery said. “I think the thing for me is at what point do I maintain my composure and patience, and at what point do I blow a gasket and get in somebody's face?”

While the players' future performances remains undetermined, the second half of Iowa's Big Ten schedule sets up more competitively for the young and inexperienced Hawkeyes. Iowa's next nine opponents, beginning Wednesday with Michigan State, have combined for a 39-41 league record. Iowa has only four more road contests and those against opponents that are 15-22 in league play. After Saturday's game at Indiana, Iowa travels on the weekend only one more time.

Here's a look at Iowa's second-half opponents, compiled with facts that could help the Hawkeyes in those match-ups.

• Michigan State (Wednesday, Carver-Hawkeye Arena) - The Hawkeyes' last win over a ranked team (a 22-game losing streak) was against then-No. 6 Michigan State in 2008. Iowa since has lost five straight to the Spartans but there might not be a better time to play Michigan State than now. Michigan State is 3-4 in its last seven games with every win coming in overtime. The Spartans have struggled to replace backup point guard Korie Lucious, who was kicked off the team for violating team rules.
• Indiana (Saturday, Assembly Hall) - The Hawkeyes have won three straight against the Hoosiers, including a 14-point win last week in Iowa City. Iowa also earned its only Big Ten road win since 2008 last year by 15 points in Bloomington. But the Hoosiers rebounded with a win against Illinois and a one-point overtime loss at Michigan State.
• Wisconsin (Feb. 9, Carver-Hawkeye Arena) - Iowa has dropped two straight to Wisconsin, but beat the Badgers in the teams' last game in Iowa City. The all-time series is one of college basketball's tightest among long-playing rivals (Iowa leads 77-75).
• Minnesota (Feb. 13, Carver-Hawkeye Arena) - The Gophers have won five straight in the series. Iowa remained competitive in a 10-point loss at Williams Arena last month. Gophers point guard Al Nolen, who caused several problems for Iowa in the teams' first meeting, is out for the season with a broken foot.
• Northwestern (Feb. 17, Welsh-Ryan Arena) - The Wildcats torched Iowa for 14 3-pointers in the teams' first game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. But since that win, Northwestern has dropped four of five league games, including three straight. All-everything junior John Shurna (16 points, 5 assists, 3 steals vs. Iowa) has battled multiple injuries this year, including a recent concussion.
• Michigan (Feb. 19, Carver-Hawkeye Arena) - Iowa battled the Wolverines to 13 first-half lead changes before falling apart defensively in Ann Arbor. It's hard to imagine Michigan shooting 73 percent again in practice, let alone against Iowa in a rematch. The teams' last two meetings in Iowa City ended up in overtime with each winning one game.
• Illinois (Feb. 26/27, Assembly Hall) - Iowa has lost 20 of its last 21 and 59 of 73 games historically in Champaign. Enough said.
• Michigan State (March 2, Breslin Center) - Michigan State has beaten Iowa 16 consecutive times in East Lansing. I suppose anything is possible.
• Purdue (March 5/6, Carver-Hawkeye Arena) - The Boilermakers have a grinding second-half schedule playing Wisconsin and longtime rivals Indiana and Illinois twice, plus single games against top-ranked Ohio State and Michigan State. Despite losing eight straight to Purdue, the Hawkeyes play the Boilermakers much closer in Iowa City. The average margin of victory in West Lafayette, Ind., in Purdue's last three wins: 23 points; in Iowa City: 6.7 points.