IU returns home Thursday night to defend its conference-best home record of 9-0 after losing to Maryland, 86-63, Saturday in College Park, Maryland.
The streak has included victories against then-No. 24 Chattanooga, then-No. 18 Michigan State and an overtime win against Michigan. IU’s game against Iowa tonight could add to the home win streak. The two teams are tied for seventh in the conference with Big Ten records of 5-5.
“Obviously now that there’s a streak, there’s an incentive there for teams now that come into Assembly Hall that want to beat us and end that streak,” IU Coach Teri Moren said. “To say that we’re happy to be home is an understatement.”
On the road against the Terrapins, Moren said it wouldn’t have mattered if they played perfectly, the Hoosiers still would have lost to the No. 5 team in the nation. They didn’t play perfectly, shooting less than 35 percent from the field and 12.5 percent from 3-point range.
The difference between Maryland and Iowa, though, is Maryland owns the second-best scoring defense in the conference. Iowa is ranked eighth in scoring defense, allowing 13 points more per game than Maryland.
Moren said even though its ranked eighth in defense, Iowa is still a sound defensive team.
“They’re your typical Iowa players that are fundamentally sound,” Moren said. “They can shoot it, and their post play has actually improved since the Purdue loss. After their Purdue loss, they kind of challenged each other, where they could either sink or swim.”
Against Purdue Iowa allowed 90, an unusual occurrence for an Iowa team. In fact, that Purdue loss capped a 3-game losing streak in which the Hawkeyes allowed 80 points to Michigan State and 82 to Penn State.
Since the Purdue loss, Iowa has won two consecutive games against Michigan and Northwestern, allowing just 69 and 64 points, respectively.
IU’s loss to Maryland ended a 3-game win streak that included Illinois, Northwestern and Rutgers, but Moren said it’s important for the Hoosiers to put the Maryland loss behind them and focus on maintaining a competitive record within the Big Ten.
“I don’t know that there is a Big Ten team that’ll come in here without confidence,” Moren said. “Especially with the incentive of beating us on our home court. Certainly any team that’s coming off back-to-back wins has a certain dose of confidence. It’s just us having to put that Maryland game behind us and playing really, really sound.”
