Tip Time Preview: Rutgers at Iowa
RUTGERS (8-5. 0-2) at IOWA (8-6. 0-3)
TIME: 11:00 a.m.
TV: BTN – Connor Onion and Shon Morris on the call.
SERIES: Iowa holds an 11-3 edge in the overall series between the two schools. The Hawkyes have won the last three meetings and six of the last seven. Iowa is 5-1 at home against the Scarlet Knights.
THE LINE: Iowa is a 5 point favorite.
THE NUMBERS
OFFENSE: RUTGERS – 67.8 PPG, 39.8% FG, 28.9% 3 PT FG. IOWA – 86.7 PPG, 47.6% FG, 33.8% 3 PT FG.
DEFENSE: RUTGERS – 62.2 PPG, 38.1% FG, 30.8% 3 PT FG. IOWA – 77.6 PPG, 44.5% FG, 35.2% 3 PT FG.
RUTGERS
6-3 guard Derek Simpson – 10.0 points and 3.2 assists per game.
5-11 guard Noah Fernandes – 8.9 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.
6-7 forward Mawot Mag – 7.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.
6-6 forward Aundre Hyatt – 12.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
6-11 center Cliff Omoruyi – 11.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.
IOWA
6-10 forward Owen Freeman – 10.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
6-4 guard Tony Perkins – 14.1 points and 3.6 assists rebounds per game.
6-7 forward Payton Sandfort – 13.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.
6-9 forward Patrick McCaffery – 9.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
6-9 forward Ben Krikke – 16.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
PLAYER TO WATCH – Derek Simpson – The Rutgers point guard has been playing solid basketball of late. He hit a three pointer in the final seconds to beat Stonehill on the 30th and then helped to rally the Scarlet Knights to almost upset Ohio State. In that game he had 23 points, so Tony Perkins will need to keep him in check.
KEY MATCH-UP – Owen Freeman vs. Cliff Omoruyi – Young big man meet one of the toughest and athletic big men in the conference. Freeman has met most every challenge and shown zero fear since moving into the starting lineup. Omoruyi is tough and physical and he has 43 blocked shots this year, so he creates a presence.
STATS AND NOTES
Fran McCaffery is 3 wins from becoming the winningest coach in Iowa basketball history. Tom Davis has the record with 271 victories.
The Hawkeyes are 6-1 this season at home.
Iowa is adding eight newcomers to their roster, including six new scholarship players. The transfers are Ben Krikke and Even Brauns. The freshmen are Brock Harding, Pryce Sandfort, Owen Freeman, and Ladji Dembele. Harding and Sandfort were Mr. Basketball in their home states of Illinois and Iowa.
Freshman big man Owen Freeman was named Freshman of the Week by the Big Ten four times in the early portion of the college basketball season. He is averaging 10.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Fellow freshman Brock Harding recently posted his first career double-double with 10 points and 12 assists.
The Hawkeyes are one of ten teams in the country to make the last four NCAA Tournaments. Iowa has placed fifth or better in the Big Ten in five straight years.
Iowa went 3-0 on a foreign tour of France and Spain. They had victories over the Paris All Stars, Valencia All Stars, and Barcelona All Stars. Iowa averaged 127 points per game in the three victories.
Iowa is 2-0 this season in games played on a Saturday. The Hawkeyes are 53-28 in games on Saturday in the McCaffery era. Iowa is 3-3 this year on the Big Ten Network. In the McCaffery era, Iowa is 112-89 in games played on the Big Ten Network.
KenPom.com has Iowa ranked 55th in his rankings. Rutgers is ranked 86th. Rutgers 91st in the NET rankings and Iowa is 69th. KenPom.com has Iowa winning this game 78-72.
THE PICK
On Saturday, someone will get their first Big Ten win.
Will it be Iowa, who stands at 0-3 and having lost all three by double figures?
Or will it be Rutgers, who sits at 0-2 after seeing their rally in Columbus fall short on Wednesday night?
One thing we know is that it will be a contrast in styles. Iowa scores the most points in the Big Ten, averaging 86 per game. Meanwhile Rutgers scores the least and allows the fewest at 62.5.
Tempo is going to be huge in this game. If Iowa can get this game into the mid 70’s, then the Hawkeyes should be in pretty good shape. If it’s played in the 60’s, then Iowa is in trouble.
Another number that really jumps out at you is that Rutgers struggles shooting from the outside, particularly from three point range. This season, the Scarlet Knights are at just 28.9% for the season and only have two players in their rotation shooting over 30% from three.
So, what does that tell you as far as keys?
First, tempo. Iowa needs to force it. They need to push it. We know they will try, but can they get Rutgers to play along or will they get sucked into a slog?
Second, to get the tempo going, Iowa needs to rebound. On Wednesday, Rutgers had 13 offensive rebounds against Ohio State. That’s going to need to be under ten on Saturday.
Finally, Iowa can’t let Big Cliff control the paint. He’s a presence and a shot blocker and that can be a problem. The Hawkeyes can’t concede the paint to him and Rutgers. Also, Iowa needs to prevent Rutgers from getting paint scores. Force them to shoot from three, where they struggle.
I think Iowa gets their first Big Ten win of the season with a very solid performance. IOWA 78 RUTGERS 70
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