Saturday, January 03, 2009

MEN'S BB: Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Indiana Hoosiers

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/7/7c/Iowa_Hawkeyes_Logo.svg.png vs.

GAME INFO: Sat., Jan. 3rd, 2009 - 3:35 PM CST - Carver-Hawkeye Arena; Iowa City, IA
IOWA: 10-4 (0-1); POM: 46; RPI: 42 / INDIANA: 5-7 (0-0); POM: 218; RPI: 192

TV COVERAGE: BTN
LISTEN ONLINE - http://www.kscj.com/

LINE - Iowa is a 14 point favorite at home.

It's not going to get any easier in the Big Ten this year than this one today. Iowa gets the worst team in the Big Ten at home. Indiana starts the Big Ten season on the road, while Iowa already has a game under its belt. The Hawkeyes put up a great fight on the road against Ohio State, and was quite possibly the funnest game to watch this year so far. Another thing to note is Iowa's RPI and KenPom ratings, both are above the 50 mark, which is EXCELLENT for this year's squad.

Iowa has not lost a game at home this year. Indiana hasn't won on the road this year.

It's no secret that this is a completely different Hoosier team than last year. In fact, if you look at the minutes logged in last year's game in Carver, not one player on this year's team logged minutes in that one.

Iowa is infinitely better than last year's squad, while Indiana has gone south thanks to their ex-coach, Kalvin Sampson.

Iowa has made 129 3pt FGs this year, 4th best in all of college basketball. Even more impressive is that Iowa isn't just heaving up three pointers to be able to make that many treys. Iowa is also ranked in the Top 10 in the nation in 3pt FG%, as they are shooting 41.1% from behind the arc (9th).

Indiana has only attempted 608 shots so far this year, which ranks them 296th in the nation. The reason for such few FG attempts? Turnovers. The Hoosiers average the 4th most turnovers per game in the nation at almost 20 per game. They also shoot an abysmal 29.% from behind the arc.

PROBABLE STARTERS:
INDIANA: Jones/Moore, Dumes, Williams, Taber, Pritchard
IOWA: Peterson, Davis, Kelly, Gatens, Tate

KEYS TO THE GAME FOR IOWA:
1.) Shoot Well from the Outside. They have almost every game, and it's the reason they win ballgames.
2.) Pound the Ball Inside. It's sickening how many missed opportunities Iowa has this season thanks to ignoring Tate.
3.) Get to the FT line. Iowa shots well from the line, but do not have enough attempts.

PREDICTION:
Iowa - 70
Indiana - 51

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