Ben McCollum is trying to downplay Nebraska/Iowa matchup but he isn't fooling anyone

Iowa head coach Ben McCollum has done some pretty great things in his first season with the Iowa Hawkeyes, but unfortunately for him, he is about to run into the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who are dead set on making it to the Elite Eight.

This Sweet 16 matchup feels like it has a little more to it with the rivalry between Iowa and Nebraska. However, you would never know about it if you talked to McCollum. Nebraska and Iowa have had a long-standing rivalry, both being in the Midwest and sharing a state line, as well as being in the Big Ten.

According to McCollum, though, he is not playing into the rivalry of this matchup, but he isn't really fooling anyone with what he is saying.

"When you are in it, when you are playing, you probably don't pay attention to it to be perfectly honest," McCollum said. "I hate to say that for Iowa and Nebraska fans, but it's irrelevant that they're Nebraska and we are Iowa."

McCollum isn't fooling anyone with these claims that this is just any other game for the Hawkeyes. This is not only a Sweet 16 matchup, but this is a game where one team can end the season of one of their biggest rivals. McCollum is an outsider to this rivalry, though, with it being his first season and not being a fan of either team before joining Iowa.

The Iowa head coach was correct about one thing he said in his press conference. McCollum said that Nebraska is a really good team, and that was the truest thing he said all press conference.

Now, this won't be a cake walk for the Huskers either adn the Hawkeyes have really hit their stride in the NCAA TOurnament taking out Clemson and one-seed Florida in the first two rounds. Both Nebraska and Iowa have felt the pressure late in a game, and this one could also come down to the wire.

It will be heated and charged as this is for a trip to the Elite Eight and it is clear both teams want it bad.