Iowa @ Nebraska preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 6, 2019 ) Nebraska 84, Iowa 93

Iowa coach Fran McCaffery wasn't overly pleased with the officiating the last time he was on the sidelines, and he was probably even less thrilled about his team's performance during his two-game suspension. The Hawkeyes attempt to end a season-high three-game losing streak Sunday when they visit Nebraska in search of a regular-season sweep of the Cornhuskers.

McCaffery was handed a two-game suspension for directing profane comments at an official following a 90-70 defeat at Ohio State on Feb. 26, and his team responded with a flat performance in its home finale four days later in a 14-point loss to Rutgers. The Hawkeyes followed that effort up with one of their worst in recent memory, shooting a season-low 31 percent during a 65-45 loss at No. 21 Wisconsin - the team's worst offensive output of the season by 20 points and lowest point total overall since a 74-41 defeat to Virginia in 2016. McCaffery is set to return for the regular-season finale against Nebraska, which fell to the Hawkeyes 93-84 in the team's first meeting on Jan. 6. The Cornhuskers' collapse began less than two weeks after, and it continued with Tuesday's 91-76 loss at Michigan State - Nebraska's 11th setback in 13 contests.

TV: 2 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

ABOUT IOWA (21-8, 10-8 Big Ten): Two key factors in Tuesday's loss were the Hawkeyes' inability to get to the foul line (4-of-6 after leading the country in made free throws entering the contest) and leading scorer Tyler Cook (15.3 points, 8.0 rebounds) going scoreless for the first time in his career. “Obviously, I need to look to be more effective on that end. I need my teammates to help me out more, too. … I think we’re all taking good shots. I think we’re doing a decent job of getting each other open. Once we start getting more out of our transition game, I think that will help us out a lot, too," Cook told HawkCentral.com. Jordan Bohannon, who scored a season-high 25 points in the first meeting, is 5-for-22 beyond the arc over the last three games after converting a 41.2-percent clip over his first 27 outings.

ABOUT NEBRASKA (15-15, 5-14): James Palmer Jr. (team-high 18.9 points), who rebounded from a season-low seven-point effort Feb. 28 at Michigan with his third career 30-point performance Tuesday, will break the school record for most free-throw attempts in a season (227) with his next attempt and is six shy of setting the single-season program mark for made free throws (184). Isaiah Roby (11.1 points, 7,1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks 1.3 steals) is on pace to become only the fifth Big Ten player in the last 25 years to average at least 1.3 steals and blocks. Coach Tim Miles on Thursday suspended reserve guard Nana Akenten indefinitely for violating team rules - another blow to a backcourt that lost starter Thomas Allen (ankle) to what Miles called a "significant" injury versus the Wolverines.

TIP-INS

1. A victory over Nebraska would give Iowa 22 regular-season wins for the first time since 2005-06.

2. Cook has failed to attempt at least one free throw in only six career games, half of which have come over his last five outings.

3. The Cornhuskers have allowed an average of 63.6 points through nine Big Ten home games, 16.3 fewer points per game than on the road.

PREDICTION: Nebraska 66, Iowa 64