The gang's all at Carver on Saturday

Big Ten standings

Conf.

All

Michigan State

2-0

14-1

Penn State

2-1

13-4

Michigan

2-1

9-6

Indiana

2-1

8-7

Wisconsin

2-1

7-8

Ohio State

1-1

10-4

Illinois

1-1

6-9

Iowa

1-2

13-3

Northwestern

1-2

12-4

Purdue

1-2

10-5

Minnesota

0-3

8-8

IOWA CITY -- You've got hundreds of shrieking Girl Scouts, warming up their vocal cords for the "Thin Mints" chant.

You've got Kachine Alexander and 1,000 bobbleheads in her likeness.

You've got CBS' Dave Ryan and Deb Antonelli calling the game to a national audience.

You've got all-American Jantel Lavender and her flamboyant, combustible sidekick Samantha Prahalis.

In the words of Ohio State's fight song, Across the Field:

"Hail! Hail! The gang's all here."

The most highly anticipated game of the University of Iowa women's basketball season has arrived. The 21st-ranked Hawkeyes (13-3 overall, 1-2 Big Ten) host No. 20 Ohio State (10-4, 1-1). Tipoff is 3 p.m. Saturday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

It's a rematch of last year's Big Ten tournament championship, won by the Buckeyes, 66-64.

"It was a tough game," Alexander recalled. "There was a lot of back and forth. It was a good, competitive game.

"This is a new season, and there definitely is going to be a lot of fire."

A lot of it will come from Prahalis, the Buckeyes' emotional leader. And a lot of it will be directed at her. Iowa fans recall last year's tirade at an official in the Big Ten tourney final (probably not suitable for Girl Scouts' ears) that was caught on TV but did not draw a technical foul.

The Hawkeyes spoke of Prahalis on Thursday with respect.

"She's emotional, like me," Alexander said. "It takes a lot to be that way. You have to respect emotional leaders."

Said Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder: "(Prahalis) is a competitor. She's a very emotional player, but she can back it up."

Both teams have struggled somewhat lately. Ohio State had dropped four of five games before winning its last two while Iowa started 0-2 in the Big Ten before rallying from a 13-point second-half deficit to beat Minnesota, 63-57, Wednesday.

But still ...

"I still think this is a game that is going to shape the Big Ten outcome," Bluder said.

PROMOTIONS: OHIO STATE at IOWA (3 p.m. Saturday)

* Girl Scout Day: Doors open at 1 p.m. for Girl Scouts (2 p.m. for the public)

* First 1,000 fans receive a Kachine Alexander bobblehead

* Every fan receives a scratch card that could win an Alexander bobblehead, $5 off at the Hawk Shop, a free season ticket or free admission to selected Iowa athletic events

* Pack the House Challenge

* Elementary School competition: Elementary school with the most students attending will win a visit from Coach Bluder and the Hawkeyes

* Fans can puchase $5 tickets by following the Hawkeyes on a social media page

* Ticket prices: $9 for adults, $5 for youths (18 & under), free for UI students with ID