- Matchup: Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Iowa Hawkeyes
- Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
- Venue: Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City, IA
- Broadcast: BTN
The Nebraska Cornhuskers (22-3) are heading to Carver-Hawkeye Arena for an exciting matchup against the Iowa Hawkeyes (18-7) this Tuesday.
In their previous outing, the Nebraska Cornhuskers secured a convincing victory over Northwestern, ending the game at 68-49. Throughout the match, both teams committed 14 personal fouls. Nebraska managed to make 3 out of 15 attempts from beyond the arc, while Northwestern struggled at the free-throw line, converting only 6 of 11 attempts (54.5%). Northwestern grabbed a total of 19 rebounds (5 offensive, 14 defensive) but did not register any blocks. They recorded 13 assists and 9 steals during the game. Defensively, Nebraska allowed their opponents to shoot 40.0% from the field on 20 of 50 shooting. Nebraska made 16 assists, forced 16 turnovers from their opponents, and secured 10 steals. On the boards, they totaled 37 rebounds, including 11 offensive. At the free-throw line, Nebraska converted 9 of 12 attempts for a 75.0% success rate, finishing the game with a 45.3% field goal percentage (24 of 53) and making 11 out of 25 three-pointers.
Pryce Sandfort emerged as a key player in this game, shooting at 47.6% from the field, although he did not record any assists. He played for 36 minutes, collected 6 rebounds, and finished with a remarkable 29-point performance on 10 of 21 shooting.
Heading into this game, Nebraska boasts an impressive 22-3 overall record for the season. The team averages 9.4 turnovers per game and commits 14.5 fouls on average. Nebraska pulls in 35.6 rebounds per game and has racked up 460 assists this season, ranking 21st in Division 1 basketball for passing efficiency. The Cornhuskers connect on 36.0% of their three-point attempts (275 of 763) and have a free-throw conversion rate of 76.1%. They score an average of 79.4 points per game, placing them 108th in Division 1 basketball, while shooting at an impressive 47.1% from the field.
Defensively, the Cornhuskers force 13.1 turnovers per game while committing 15.6 fouls. They limit opponents to 29.9% from the three-point line and rank 19th in college basketball for points allowed per game (66.0). Nebraska has a field goal percentage against of 39.8% (588 of 1,476) and allows 35.0 rebounds per game overall. They sit at 202nd nationally for assists surrendered, giving up 352 throughout the season.
In their last game, the Iowa Hawkeyes faced a loss, finishing 78-57 against Purdue. Iowa managed to grab 20 defensive rebounds and 8 offensive rebounds for a total of 28. They recorded 6 turnovers while achieving 3 steals during the matchup. Purdue committed 17 fouls, allowing the Hawkeyes to take 17 free-throw attempts, of which they converted 11 for a rate of 64.7%. In terms of three-point shooting, Iowa made 6 of their 22 attempts (27.3%). Overall, the Hawkeyes shot 20 out of 53 from the field, totaling a shooting percentage of 37.7%. They allowed Purdue to hit 25 of 53 field goals, resulting in a 47.2% shooting rate for Purdue. Iowa countered by hitting 40.0% of their three-point attempts (12 out of 30) and converting 16 out of 20 free-throws (80.0%). Iowa conceded 36 total rebounds to Purdue, including 8 offensive boards.
Bennett Stirtz played a significant role for the Hawkeyes, converting 7 out of 12 attempts for a field goal percentage of 58.3%, while grabbing 5 rebounds. He also recorded 19 points during his 38 minutes on the court along with 1 assist.
The Hawkeyes currently hold an overall record of 18-7 for the season. When it comes to offensive efficiency, they enjoy a 50.1% shooting percentage from the field, ranking them 18th nationally. Iowa has scored an impressive 1,924 points so far this season, averaging 77.0 points per game. They grab roughly 29.9 rebounds each game and make 15.6 assists per game, placing them 89th in the country. Their turnover average is 9.6 per game, while they average 18.0 personal fouls and convert 76.4% from the free-throw line.
Defensively, the Hawkeyes rank 13th nationally in points allowed per game with a total of 64.9. They generate 13.6 turnovers per game and allow opponents a shooting percentage of 44.9% from the field (ranking 239th in college basketball). Iowa defends the three-point line with a rate of 32.2% (154 of 478), while opponents convert 72.7% at the free-throw line against them. They permit an average of 11.0 assists and 28.8 rebounds per game, placing them 26th and 2nd in the nation, respectively.
Who will emerge victorious in today’s NCAA matchup against the spread?
Tony Sink’s Prediction: Take Nebraska
