The 3 Things Nebraska Must Do to Defeat Iowa
Sports Illustrated • • sports
Key Points:
- Nebraska avoided facing top-seeded Florida in the Sweet 16 but now faces a tough challenge against Big Ten rival Iowa, with both teams having split their regular-season meetings.
- To win, Nebraska must contain Iowa's Bennett Stirtz, who averages 19.7 points and 4.5 assists per game and has previously dominated the Huskers.
- Defense will be crucial as both teams rank similarly in national defensive statistics, but Nebraska may exploit Iowa's weaker three-point defense.
- Nebraska's balanced offense, with multiple players capable of stepping up, contrasts with Iowa's reliance on Stirtz; former Iowa player Pryce Sandfort could be Nebraska's key star in the matchup.
- The game carries emotional narratives, including Pryce Sandfort playing against his former school and family ties highlighted by his brother Payton's NBA career, adding a human-interest angle to the Sweet 16 showdown.
