VS.
GAME INFO: Fri., Nov 28, 2008 - 8:05 CST - Orleans Arena; Las Vegas, NV
IOWA: 5-0 (0-0); RPI: 56 / West Virginia: 3-0 (0-0); RPI: 8
TV COVERAGE: MASN and SNY - DIRECTV (Ch. 639 and 640) and on the sportpack / DISH Network (Ch. 432). Mediacom will carry the game, as well.
LISTEN ONLINE - http://www.kscj.com/
OFFICIAL GAME NOTES - HERE
LINE - Iowa is a 9.5 point underdog at the neutral site.
The Mountaineers are a very dangerous, physical team. De'Sean Butler is probably their best player, but Alex Ruoff is guy that can really create match-up problems with his height and overall game. WVU also has a stud frosh in Devin Ebanks, who, in my opinion, could be their best player by the end of the year; he can do everything. The Mountaineers have shot the ball well through 3 games, esp. from 3 pt land. Overall, the Mountaineers are going to come out very tenaciuous tonight and Iowa had better be ready to be physical. WVU has a pretty stacked starting 5, but they can afford to be aggressive, as they are a very, very deep team.
Anthony Tucker for the Hawks continued his hot shooting last time out and, once again, finished with double digits points (his fifth straight to start his collegiate career) - AT finished the last game with a double-double (pts and boards). Look for Tate and Cole to be a bit more involved in the game tonight, as Iowa will need the on the glass and physical on the D end, as well. This game has special meaning for Devan Bawinkel, as he was shown the door by Mountaineer coach, Bob tHuggins back when he played for WVU two years ago.
KEYS TO THE GAME FOR IOWA:
1.) Handle the Press. There's no guarantee that WVU will press, but it would seem very likely if tHuggins did any sort of prep work for this game that he would be pressing Iowa all game long.
2.) Guard-Play Under Control. Peterson, Kelly, Tucker, Gatens all need to play poised tonight against a very hard-nosed backcourt from WVU.
3.) Limit Turnovers. Obvious.
4.) Knock Down the Open Jumpers. Iowa isn't going to get a lot of open looks tonight, they need to knock them down when they get them.
PREDICTION:
Iowa - 55
West Virginia - 64
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