When the Wildcats (11-11, 4-6) take the floor against Iowa on Saturday, they will be facing a markedly different team than the one they defeated in overtime Jan. 26.

Pierre Pierce, who was the Hawkeyes’ leading scorer with nearly 18 points per game, was dismissed from the team Feb. 2 following a police investigation into a possible burglary at the apartment of Pierce’s girlfriend Jan. 27-28.

Pierce was charged Wednesday with first-degree burglary, two counts of domestic assault, assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, false imprisonment and fourth-degree criminal mischief in connection with the break-in.

Pierce was charged with third-degree sexual abuse in 2002. He later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, performed community service while on probation and redshirted the 2002-03 season.

In the games following Pierce’s dismissal, Iowa has struggled, losing to Michigan State and Wisconsin. Guard Mike Henderson replaced Pierce in the Hawkeyes’ starting lineup and has averaged three points and two assists in the last two games.

Iowa (15-7, 3-6 Big Ten) also features guard Jeff Horner, who is averaging nearly 14 points and 5.5 assists per game, and forward Greg Brunner, who scored 28 points against NU in the teams’ last meeting.

Cats guard T.J. Parker, who hit the game-winning shot against Minnesota on Wednesday in NU’s first road win of the season, is averaging 13 points in the last five games, including an 18.5 scoring average in the last two contests.

Injured center Mike Thompson will likely be unavailable for the Iowa game because of a severely sprained right foot.

NU sits in seventh place in the Big Ten; Iowa is eighth.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Reach Zach Silka at [email protected].