Preview: Purdue Visits Iowa in Key Big Ten Clash IOWA CITY, Iowa (Interstat) — A pivotal Big Ten Conference men’s basketball matchup with postseason seeding implications is set for Saturday when the Purdue Boilermakers visit the Iowa Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Purdue (20-4, 8-3 Big Ten) enters on a three-game winning streak, most recently surviving an 80-77 overtime road test at Nebraska on Tuesday. The Boilermakers are powered by guard Braden Smith, who is coming off a 13-point, 10-assist double-double against the Cornhuskers. Over his last seven games, Smith is averaging 17.1 points and 6.6 assists. They will face an Iowa squad (18-6, 7-4) looking to rebound after a 77-70 loss at Maryland on Wednesday snapped a five-game winning streak. The Hawkeyes are led by the explosive scoring of guard Bennett Stirtz, who poured in 32 points in the loss. Stirtz has been on a remarkable run, averaging 27.1 points over his last seven contests, including four games of 32 or more points. This is a rematch of a Jan. 14 thriller in West Lafayette, which Purdue won 79-72. In that game, the Boilermakers contained Stirtz to 15 points, but the Iowa star has since elevated his play to an elite level. The game features a stark contrast in momentum. Purdue has found its footing after a mid-January slump, while Iowa aims to prove its recent surge was no fluke and protect its home court. A Hawkeyes victory would forge a tie in the conference loss column and bolster their resume. A Purdue win would solidify its top-tier standing in the league. Defensive execution will be critical. Purdue must devise a plan to slow Stirtz, who has carried Iowa’s offense. Conversely, the Hawkeyes must contend with Purdue’s balanced attack, which saw Fletcher Loyer add 18 points and Oscar Cluff 12 in the overtime win at Nebraska. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.