Fran McCaffery discusses Iowa's loss to Minnesota on Tuesday. Tyler Tachman. Video: Iowa coach Fran McCaffery previews matchup with Minnesota

With a massive wildfire raging in the hills surrounding Los Angeles, the Iowa men’s basketball team is on the ground in downtown LA as they prepare to play a basketball game on Tuesday evening against new Big Ten member,

Despite ongoing California wildfires, the Iowa men's basketball team remains scheduled to face USC and UCLA in Los Angeles. Head coach Fran McCaffery discussed the logistics of the trip on Monday.

Owen Freeman, Brock Harding and Fran McCaffery pointed the finger at defensive failings after dropping back-to-back games against USC and UCLA last week. Iowa faces Minnesota's worst-in-the-conference offense next.

Video: Iowa basketball coach Fran McCaffery reacts to loss to USC Video: Iowa coach Fran McCaffery on USC, recruiting Drew Thelwell

The Trojans (11-6, 3-3 Big Ten) never trailed, shot 37-of-57 (67%) from the field, 10-of-15 (60%) from 3-point range and outrebounded the Hawkeyes (12-5, 3-3 Big Ten) 37-20 in the win.

Fran McCaffery discusses a variety of topics ahead of Iowa's matchup with Penn State.

Iowa coach Fran McCaffery previews matchup with Minnesota. Tyler Tachman. Video: Iowa coach Fran McCaffery on USC, recruiting Drew Thelwell

Iowa is back home from the West Coast after dropping back-to-back games against Southern California and UCLA. But the Hawkeyes (12-6, 3-4 Big Ten) remain supremely confident in their abilities

Payton Sandfort and Owen Freeman meet with the media following Iowa's loss to Minnesota.

It’s not unique to see a team go on the road and get “jumped”, as Fran McCaffery says from time to time. On Friday evening, Iowa got jumped by UCLA and never recovered. The Bruins build a lead in the first half based on scoring 57 points and Iowa never made any sort of run in this contest.

Iowa fell back to .500 in Big Ten play on Tuesday, dropping the first of two games in Los Angeles. USC was on the winning end this go-round, taking down the Hawkeyes 99-89. Head coach Fran McCaffery was not too happy postgame,