Iowa Basketball Prepares for Crucial Illinois Game

The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team faces a crucial game against Illinois as both teams strive to improve their standings ahead of the NCAA Tournament. Iowa, having recently secured a victory over Washington, is 15-12 overall and currently 13th in the Big Ten. They need to finish in the top 15 to qualify for the Big Ten Tournament, with only four games remaining. Illinois, ranked seventh in the conference, is on a three-game losing streak against top-ranked teams but views the upcoming home game against Iowa as an opportunity to regain momentum. Meanwhile, the Iowa women's basketball team narrowly lost to No. 3 UCLA, with Elina Aarnisalo's late-game free throws securing a 67-65 victory for UCLA. Iowa's Lucy Olsen led her team with 17 points, contributing significantly to the close contest.