This wasn't supposed to be a battle of unbeatens.
Iowa (5-0) and Pittsburgh (6-0), who meet on Tuesday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, are both coming off dismal seasons.
The Hawkeyes, who were just 4-14 in the Big Ten last season, climbed to 14th in Monday's AP poll and boast a Nov. 15 victory over then-No. 13 Oregon in New York. Iowa followed that with a 91-72 win over Connecticut to take the 2K Classic the next night.
Since then, the Hawkeyes have played just once -- an easy win over Alabama State -- as they gear up for a tough string of games.