Since Iowa is going to be playing in this tournament coming up on Thursday at 6pm I thought I would write up a preview of the Battle 4 Atlantis. Iowa hasn't been tested much yet but the number 23 team in the country will have some tests in this tournament. We will find out how good this team is as they could potentially play Xavier, Tennessee and Kansas on there way to the championship. Here are the first round match ups for the Battle for Atlantis Iowa vs Xavier, Utep vs Tennessee, this is the bottom half of the bracket on the top half it's Kansas vs Wake Forest, Villanova vs USC. This is what the bracket looks like lets dive deeper into all of these teams.
Iowa will be playing Xavier on Thursday night so I will start off with a preview of the Musketeers they are out of the Big East conference so this would be a good win for the Hawks. On the season they are 5-0 with a win over Tennessee 67 to 63 who is the team that could play the winner or loser of this game. On the season they averaging 79 points per game with 16.6 assists and shooting 52 percent from the field. Team stats are hard to read too much into this early in the season due to most teams level of competition. They are led in scoring by Semaj Christian a 6 ft 3 guard who is averaging 16.4 points per game looking at his numbers he has been to the free throw line 39 times this season only making 20 so he looks to drive to the basket a lot only shot 4 three pointers made 2 of them. They are a fairly balanced team with 5 guys averaging over 7 points per game. Matt Stainbrook is their interior threat the 6 ft 10 Center is averaging 10 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Xavier only allows 57 points per game so they play pretty good defense. Xavier is turning the ball over 13.5 times per game which isn't terrible but with the pressing defense Iowa plays this will be a key factor. They are a 39 percent 3 point shooting team making 24 of 61 with Miles Davis being their best 3 point shooter making 10 of 23 on the year. Also Xavier is only a 59.9 percent free throw shooting team so this could come in to play if it's a close game. That was a small preview on Iowa's first opponent.
If Iowa wins and Tennessee wins they would play each other on Friday night at 6 on the NBC Sports Network so lets do a quick preview of the Volunteers. Tennessee is 3-1 on the season with their only loss coming at the hands of Xavier. They play Utep with winner playing the winner of Iowa and Xavier. The Volunteers average 78 points per game shooting 47 percent from the field with 12.2 assists. Tennessee is led in scoring by Jordan McRae a 6 ft 6 guard who is averaging 21.5 points per game he is a 45 percent 3 point shooter 9 for 20 on the season. The other 3 key players for Tennessee are Jarnell Stokes a 6 ft 8 forward who is averaging 11.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Antonio Barton a 6 ft 2 Guard scoring 10.8 points per game and 2.3 assist. Barton is 61 percent 3 point shooter 8 of 13 and the final player is Jeronne Maymon the 6 ft 8 Forward averaging 9.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. On the season Tennessee is 24 of 54 from the three 44 percent they also shoot 69 percent from the foul line getting there 111 times. Tennessee turns the ball over 9 times a game which is a very good number as Iowa turns it over 11 times per game which is about where you want that number. Tennessee allows 64.8 points per game. This could be a very interesting match up in the second round if both teams win.
UTEP plays Tennessee so here is a look at what they have done so far this season they are 3-2 with their only 2 losses coming vs New Mexico State. The Miners average 74.8 points per game shooting 46 percent from the field with 15 assists per game. They are a very balanced team with 6 guys scoring above 8 points per game and 4 scoring in double figures. They are led in scoring by Mckenzie Moore a 6 ft 6 guard who is averaging 14 points 4.8 rebounds and 3 assists per game. Cedrick Lang 6 ft 10 Forward averaging 11 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Julian Washburn 6 ft 8 G/F averaging 10.4 points per game while shooting 44 percent from 3. Vince Hunter a 6 ft 8 forward scoring 10.2 points and 7.4 rebounds. John Bohannen 6 ft 11 Center averaging 9.3 points and 6.8 rebounds. So again the Miners are a very balanced scoring team so it will be interesting to see their game vs Tennessee which follows the Iowa game against Xavier. They turn the ball over 14 times per game so if they get by Tennessee expect Iowa to really pressure the ball to force the Miners into some turnovers. UTEP allows 64.6 points per game. We looked at the potential second round match ups now I'm going to preview the other half of the bracket.
Lets start out with a preview of Wake Forest the Demon Deacons are undefeated 5-0 on the season they haven't played a very strong schedule so it's hard to tell how good they are. They are the unlucky ones of the bunch drawing number 2 Kansas in their first game so I don't expect we will see this team but it's basketball anything can happen. They play a little faster than most of teams I've previewed so far they score 85 points per game shooting 44.5 percent with 17.2 assists per game. They have 4 players scoring in double figures leading them is Codi Miller-Mcintyre a 6 ft 3 Guard who is scoring 18.6 points and 4.8 assists. Devin Thomas the 6 ft 9 Forward averaging 14.4 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. Travis Mckie a 6 ft 7 Forward scoring 12.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Coron Williams the 6 FT 1 Guard averaging 11.2 points per game and is a 41 percent three point shooter. They take good care of the ball only averaging 9 turnovers per game. They shoot a lot of 3 pointers making 30 of 92 on the season while shooting 64.2 percent from the foul line. They allow 66.8 points per game. The only way Iowa would meet them is if they made it all the way to the Championship game.
Kansas is the team that most people feel are the favorite to win this tournament and they are the team I think Iowa would play in the Championship if they make it. The Jayhawks are ranked 2nd in the Nation 4-0 with a win over Duke 94 to 83. They are averaging 87 points per game while shooting 56 percent from the field with 19.3 assists per game. They play Wake Forest in the first round of this tournament and they are likely to make the championship game. Kansas is a very balanced team with 3 players scoring in double figures and 6 players scoring at least 7 points per game. Andrew Wiggins the 6 ft 8 guard leads the Jayhawks in scoring averaging 16.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Wiggins is the potential number one draft pick in next years NBA draft. Perry Ellis the 6 Ft 8 Forward is averaging 16.8 points and 7 rebounds per game. Wayne Selden Jr. is a 6 ft 5 guard who scores 10.5 points with 3.3 assists per game. Kansas does turn the ball over 12 times per game so if Iowa happens to play them they could take advantage of the Jayhawks not taking care of the ball.The Jayhawks are 21 of 56 from the 3 point line while shooting 68 percent from the free throw line. Kansas only allows 67.5 points per game so they do play pretty good defense.
The other match up on the top half of the bracket is USC vs Villanova. The Trojans are 4-1 on the season scoring 75.2 points while shooting 46 percent from the field with 15.4 assists per game. USC is based around their big 3 with leading scorer Byron Wesley 6 ft 5 Guard who is scoring 19.8 points and 8.8 rebounds with 3.4 assists. Omar Oraby a 7 Ft 2 Center averaging 13.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. J.T. Terrell scoring 10 points per game. USC is turning the ball over 12 times per game while shooting 31 percent from 3 26 for 82. They are a 65 percent free throw shooting team. USC is allowing 67.8 points per game. Again the only way Iowa would play this team would be in the championship game which is possible but not likely.
Villanova is undefeated on the season 4-0 with wins over Towson and Delaware so they haven't played a very difficult schedule. The Wildcats average 81 points while shooting 46 percent from the field with 17 assists per game. They are led in scoring by Jayvaughn Pinkston the 6 ft 7 forward who is averaging 20.3 points per game James Bell the 6 ft 6 Guard is scoring 18 points with 7 rebounds per game. Darrun Hilliard the 6 ft 6 guard is the third leading scorer averaging 14 points and 5 rebounds per game. Villanova averages 11 turnovers per game shooting 25 percent from 3 for 24 of 94, and shooting 72 percent from the foul line. They allow 60.5 points per game and they are a team we could play if they make the finals but I'm not sure they can get by Kansas.
Finally I'll preview the Iowa Hawkeyes they haven't really played a lot of competition yet so it will be very interesting to see how they do vs some of the better teams. Iowa is averaging 92.6 points per game shooting 47 percent from the field with 18.2 assists per game. Iowa like most of the teams in this tournament have a very balanced scoring attack with 4 guys averaging over 9 points and 7 players scoring over 7 points per game. The Hawks are led in scoring by Roy Devin Marble a 6 ft 6 guard scoring 14.6 points 3.8 assists per game. Aaron White the 6 ft 9 forward is scoring 13.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Jarrod Uthoff is the 3rd leading scorer for the Hawks which is kind of a surprise the 6 ft 9 transfer from Wisconsin is scoring 11.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Iowa is turning the ball over 11 times per game while shooting 35 percent from 3 29 of 82 and 74 percent from the foul line.Iowa is only allowing 54.6 points per game The Hawks like to play extremely fast and are probably the deepest team in the tournament Kansas has the most talent but going 9 almost 10 deep the Hawks are the deepest team.
Prediction time in the First Round Match ups I have Iowa defeating Xavier by 10 points it will be close for a while but the Hawks pull away in the end. I see Kansas Rolling to a first round victory over Wake Forest, I like Villanova to knock off USC in the first round, and I think Tennessee gets the win over UTEP in a very close one. I think this game could go either way but I like the Volunteers to advance. For the second round I think the games will both be close but I think Iowa will get by Tennessee in a close game to move on to the championship, Kansas will also beat Villanova so I have the two best teams making it to the championship on Saturday night. I think Iowa does have a chance to knock off Kansas it won't be easy but the Hawks have the depth and talent to compete with Kansas. Especially after playing for the 3rd night in a row this will be a huge factor in the game come Saturday. I think Iowa will upset Kansas on Saturday night the Jayhawks have the more talented team but I just have a feeling the Hawks get it done. It could go either way but I think Iowa's depth will allow them to knock off Kansas in a very close game. I will have a preview of the Nebraska game coming soon for the football team thanks for reading.
Go Hawks.
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