Scouting Iowa basketball's double-plays: First batch

Iowa's Big Ten opponent list is set for the upcoming season. The Hawkeyes know who and where they're playing; they just won't know when for a few more months.

Until we get the dates and can dissect the Big Ten schedule in entirety, here's a look at four opponents Iowa will face home-and-home in the upcoming Big Ten season.

INDIANA (12-20, 3-15)

• Recent Action vs. Iowa -- The Hawkeyes have won three straight and 6 of 7 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena and the last two at Bloomington for its only two Big Ten road wins since 2008 .
• Who's Back? -- Indiana returns its top seven scorers from last year's team. Highly touted guard Maurice Creek, who has missed significant portions of Indiana's last two seasons with injuries, gives it another go. If he's healthy, Indiana's a different team. The Hoosiers also return forward Christian Watford (16 ppg), combo guard Verdell Jones III (12.5 ppg) and point guard Jordan Hulls (11 ppg, 94 assists).
• Who's Gone? -- Guard Jeremiah Rivers was the only senior last year for the Hoosiers but averaged just 3.8 ppg. Post Bobby Capobianco left the team following the spring semester.
• Who's New? -- Indiana scored one of the nation's top recruits with 6-11 power forward Cody Zeller of nearby Washington, Ind. Zeller was a Rivals 5-star recruit and ranked fifth nationally regardless of position. The Hoosiers also gained a pair of 3-star forwards in 6-6 Austin Etherington and 6-4 Remy Abell. All three could make an impact right away.
• Relating to Iowa-- This has the potential to be a burgeoning rivalry resembling the Knight-Olson era in the late 1970s/early 1980s. Indiana Coach Tom Crean twice took swipes at Iowa after the Hawkeyes won at Assembly Hall, touting former Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter's recruiting efforts in assembling Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery's roster. Both Iowa and Indiana are trying to reinvigorate their proud traditions and each school's path to respectability goes over the other. This could get fairly salty this season.
• Outlook-- The Hoosiers struggled for the third straight season under Crean after the program was left as a deserted wasteland under former coach Kelvin Sampson. But there's hope in Hoosierland with Zeller, a healthy Creek and solid returnees in Watford, Hulls and Jones III. But the pressure is on Crean. If he can't guide Indiana to the postseason next year, I can't imagine Hoosier Nation accepting him for a fifth year.

PURDUE (26-8, 14-4)

• Recent Action vs. Iowa -- Iowa upset Boilermakers in Iowa City in March; Purdue has won four straight at West Lafayette
• Who's Back? -- Purdue returns an experienced back-court in point guard Lewis Jackson, 3-point shooter Ryne Smith and combo guard/forward D.J. Byrd. Jackson, an honorable mention all-Big Ten guard, set the Boilermakers' tempo last year, and Smith thrived as a third/fourth option. Backup guard and diligent defender Kelsey Barlow was suspended in March but remains listed on the team's roster. It's likely he'll return. Purdue could get its biggest lift from forward Robbie Hummel, one of the Big Ten's best players until twice tearing an ACL. Hummel sat out last year and red-shirted. Hummel was a first-team all-Big Ten player as a freshman and a second-team All-American as a junior. If he's healthy and 100 percent, he immediately lifts the Boilermakers to among the league's elite. Sophomore Travis Carroll, who started six games last year, likely will start inside. ... Coach Matt Painter flirted with Missouri this offseason and nearly took the job before Purdue ponied up with a huge raise.
• Who's Gone? -- No Big Ten team loses more value than Purdue this offseason. JaJuan Johnson, the Big Ten's player of the year, defensive player of the year and leading scorer as well as a first-team All-American, expired his eligibility after averaging 20.5 ppg and 8.6 rpg last year. E'Twaun Moore, who scored 2,136 points in his career, was Purdue's all-time leader in games played, minutes played and 3-pointers, also bolts after earning first-team Big Ten honors. They were the first combination in school history to each score 600 points in a season. Calling their departures a huge loss is an understatement. The Boilermakers also lose backup post Patrick Bade (3 starts) to the football team. ... Purdue also lost assistant coach Paul Lusk, who took over as Missouri State's head coach.
• Who's New? -- The Boilermakers signed just two players this offseason in 3-star forwards Jacob Lawson and Donnie Hale.
• Relating to Iowa -- Purdue has scorched Iowa at Mackey Arena by a 23-point average the last three years. The Boilermakers had won a series record eight straight against Iowa before the Hawkeyes shocked them in Iowa City. The loss sent the Boilermakers from a possible No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament to a No. 3.
• Outlook -- It's inevitable the Boilermakers will take a step back this season after losing all-time players Johnson and Moore. But Purdue still has a nucleus that will keep them competitive in a rebuilding Big Ten. If Hummel can stay healthy, Purdue will compete among the Big Ten leaders.

NORTHWESTERN (20-14, 7-11)

• Recent Action vs. Iowa -- The Wildcats swept the Hawkeyes last season and have won three straight in Evanston.
• Who's Back? -- The Wildcats return leading scorer John Shurna (16.6 ppg), one of the Big Ten's most versatile forwards. Shurna, who hit 43.4 percent of his 3-point shots last year, averaged 24.4 points through the first nine games. He then suffered a sprained ankle and a concussion that limited him all season. Northwestern also brings back long-range shooters Drew Crawford, Alex Marcotullio and JerShon Cobb. Overall, seven of the Wildcats' eight leading scorers return from its second-straight 20-win season.
• Who's Gone? -- Northwestern now has a gaping hole at point guard with the absence of Michael "Juice" Thompson, the Wildcats' all-time leader in assists, game played, games started and minutes played. He averaged 16.3 points a game (ninth in the Big Ten) and finished in the league's top seven in assists, steals, free-throw percentage, 3-pointers made and assist-turnover ratio. On top of his statistics, Thompson was the unquestioned on-court leader.
• Who's New? -- Northwestern picked up a pair of 3-star guards in Tre Demps and David Sobolewski and also signed 6-8 forward Mike Turner.
• Relating to Iowa -- The rivalry between the schools seems to escalate in basketball as much as football. Northwestern has won three straight overall, including last year's massacre in Iowa City. The Wildcats hit 10-of-16 3-pointers to start the game and built a 27-point lead in a 19-point Northwestern win. Iowa rallied at Evanston but lost by three.
• Outlook -- Like in the past, Northwestern's deliberate offensive style and tough defense will keep the Wildcats in some games and help it surprise a few opponents. Shurna and Crawford are among the Big Ten's top 25 players, but for the Wildcats to reach their first NCAA Tournament someone has to fill Thompson's role.

WISCONSIN   (25-9, 13-5)

• Recent Action vs. Iowa --In one of the league's top games last year, the Badgers beat Iowa 62-59 in overtime last year at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Wisconsin has won three straight overall and nine straight in Madison dating to 2001.
• Who's Back?-- Point guard Jordan Taylor elevated his stature from good to great last season and became the nation's top point guard. He was a second-team All-American last year after averaging 18.1 points and 4.74 assists a game. He led the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.83. He scored 39 points at Indiana, the most in a Big Ten road game in 15 years. Sophomore Josh Gasser became the first freshman since Magic Johnson to register a triple-double (the first Badger as well) in a blowout at Northwestern. Red-haired icon Mike Brusewitz also returns after putting up 4.6 points a game.
• Who's Gone?-- All-Big Ten forward Jon Leuer leaves a void at power forward after averaging 18.3 points and 7.2 rebounds a game last year. The Badgers also lose post Keaton Nankivil and combo guard/forward Tim Jarmusz.
• Who's New?-- Wisconsin signed four 3-star recruits, headlined by Cedar Rapids Jefferson forward Jarrod Uthoff, who averaged 25 points and 11 rebounds to earn Iowa's Mr. Basketball award. Wisconsin also inked guards Traevon Jackson and George Marshall and center Frank Kaminsky. Former Linn-Mar prep Zach Bohannon, brother of former Wisconsin guard Jason Bohannon, will walk on after two years at Air Force.
• Relating to Iowa-- The recruiting scene between Bo Ryan and Iowa's Fran McCaffery has sizzled from day one. Former Iowa recruit Ben Brust spurned McCaffery when he replaced Todd Lickliter and changed Big Ten legislation to sign with Wisconsin. Ryan then beat Iowa for Uthoff last summer, a body blow for McCaffery with instate recruits. Expect everything about this rivalry to heat up in the coming years -- if Iowa can win some games.
• Outlook -- Every year media outlets overlook Wisconsin, and every year the Badgers exceed outside expectations and dominate in Madison. In each of Ryan's 10 seasons, the Badgers never have finished lower than fourth in the Big Ten, and he has the best winning percentage in Big Ten history. Last year Wisconsin was 16-0 at Kohl Center and the Badgers are 78-6 under Ryan in Madison. Although the Badgers must replace their front wall, they return a talented back-court tandem in Taylor and Gasser, which should be enough to finish at least fourth.