Hawkeye men have the fans Saturday against Wisconsin, now they need to please them

Payton Sandfort spoke to the Carver-Hawkeye Arena crowd during a timeout at the Iowa women’s basketball game Thursday night, thanking the fans for selling out Saturday’s Wisconsin-Iowa men’s basketball game.

Sandfort asked the fans to bring similar energy to Saturday’s contest. Then, he operated the gizmo that shoots T-shirts into the crowd and more fun was had in a night of big fun.

Now, it’s up to Sandfort — the Big Ten leader in 3-pointers — and his teammates to bring fun to their 1:15 p.m. clash with the No. 20 Badgers. It’s Iowa’s first home sellout of the season, and the start of a rugged three-game, eight-day stretch.

The Hawkeyes go to Michigan State next Tuesday and No. 14 Illinois next Saturday. Call it a crucible, if you will. Call it a last chance to make a big impression in the regular season.

“When you watch teams fall apart,” Sandfort said Friday, “it comes from a place of not being together, not being connected. That’s not who we are. We’re a tight-knit group.”

Iowa is 6-8 in the Big Ten and 14-11 overall, not numbers that make a case for an NCAA tournament berth. The Hawkeyes are 0-4 against ranked teams, 0-7 in Quadrant 1 games.

Quad 1 games are home games against teams in the top 30 of the NET rankings, neutral-site games against the top 50 and away games against the top 75.

The Hawkeyes have yet to hit a consistent high level this season. Their last seven games have been loss-win-loss-win-loss-win-loss. Iowa led for 29 minutes and by as much as 10 points in the second half at Maryland Wednesday, but fell, 78-66.

Wisconsin was gliding not long ago. It was ranked No. 6 and atop the Big Ten at 8-1. Then came losses in succession to Nebraska, Purdue, Michigan and Rutgers, the last one by 22 points.

The Badgers halted the streak with a 62-54 home win over Ohio State Tuesday, and the Buckeyes then fired head coach Chris Holtmann.

Now, Wisconsin meets Iowa and a full house. If the Hawkeyes have a big kick left this season, they must start kicking Saturday.

“As tough as losing is,” Sandfort said, “I think (his teammates) believe we still have a chance.”

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