What's up Hawk fans it has been a while since I had time to write but coming up tomorrow night is a huge basketball game. I thought I would give a quick preview on the CyHawk game. First of all this is probably one of the most anticipated match ups in a long time due to the fact that both teams are ranked. Iowa State is undefeated on the season with a record of 7-0 quality wins at home against Michigan and on the road against BYU and are ranked 17th in the nation. Iowa on the other hand is 10-1 ranked 23rd in the country with quality wins at home against Notre Dame and wins in the Battle 4 Atlantis over Xavier and UTEP. This game is always important in the State but this year it has a lot of National appeal also. Both teams are ranked, have a combined one loss on the season plus it's a rivalry doesn't get any better than that. Lets jump into some of the key match ups on Friday Night.
The Hawkeyes play a very fast offense looking to run every second of the game, on the season they are averaging 89.5 points per game while shooting 46 percent from the field 18 assists per game. They also average 46 rebounds per game. Iowa seems to be the deeper team looking at the stats as 10 guys play more than 15 minutes per game. Iowa is led in scoring by Roy Devin Marble who is averaging 15.6 points per game with 3.6 rebounds per game and 3.5 assists. Aaron White also scores in double figures with 12.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Jarrod Uthoff is the third Hawk scoring in double figures with 10.3 points and 7 rebounds per game. Iowa also has 3 guys averaging over 7.7 points per game in McCabe 9.5 points, Peter Jok 8.4 points, Melsahn Basabe 7.7 points and 6.7 rebounds and Gabe Olaseni 7.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.
The Hawkeyes are balanced offensively they don't play through one guy specifically and the depth they have will be a major factor vs the Cyclones.Devin Marble has shown the ability to take over games. This will be the first Hostile Environment that Iowa has played in, but with the experience on this team I don't see this as a major factor. Three point shooting has been a pleasant surprise for Iowa with 4 guys shooting over 40 percent. Iowa State defensively is very good against the 3 point shot only allowing teams to shoot 26.9 percent. This will be an interesting match up with both teams likely to play a lot of zone defense Iowa should get some good looks from the outside the question will be can they make them.
The Cyclones allow 67.6 points per game and 37 percent from the field. Rebounding will be a major factor on Friday as both teams are out rebounding opponents by 9 per game. Iowa State has forced 86 turnovers on the season while Iowa has taken pretty good care of the ball only turning it over 10.6 times per game. For Iowa to have success on offense they must take advantage of their size advantage Iowa State is going to play a lot like Villanova a small lineup that shoots a lot of 3 pointers. The Iowa bigs need to be ready to play tomorrow as they will have a chance to put a big game together.
The Cyclones on offense play a lot like Iowa pushing the ball every second of the game averaging 91.7 points per game shooting 49.3 percent from the field. They play very good team ball with 19.9 assists, 46.3 rebounds per game. As a team ISU is shooting 37.4 percent beyond the Arc. The Cyclones are also a 68 percent free throw shooting team which could play a major role in the game. Fouls have changed in College Basketball more fouls are being called than ever before but these two teams have been able to avoid fouls with Iowa averaging 16.8 and ISU a little over 18 per game. Iowa is allowing opponents 64.7 points per game on 36 percent shooting. The Hawks are also holding opponents to 25 percent from beyond the Arc. Iowa State has a very balanced attack with 5 guys scoring in double figures and one scoring 9.9 points per game.
Melvin Ejim is the leader for the Cyclones and will present Iowa with some problems he is scoring 18 points and 7.8 rebounds, shooting 52 percent from the field and 39 percent from 3. Ejim is a 6 ft 6 Forward so Iowa has a number of options they can put on him but I expect to see Aaron White guarding him the majority of the time. DeAndre Kane is their second leading scorer the 6 ft 4 guard averaging 15.4 points 8.0 rebounds 5.3 assists per game. Kane will be a difficult match up on Friday night he is a big guard build wise so I think Marble will likely be defending him and he will have his hands full. Georges Niang is their main post presence a 6 ft 7 forward averaging 13.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. Iowa State also gets double figure scoring from Dustin Hogue 12.7 points and Matt Thomas 10.3 points. Naz Long scores 9.9 points per game. Iowa State is turning the ball over 11 times per game while Iowa is very good at forcing turnovers getting 7.1 steals per game.
There are a lot of intriguing match ups in tonight's ball game Iowa clearly has the size advantage but can they utilize it tonight. How much zone will Iowa State play since Iowa is the bigger team the Cyclones will likely play a lot of 2-3 zone to keep the Hawks on the perimeter. I have the same question for Iowa how much zone do we see from the Hawkeyes they have played it a lot already this season but with Iowa States ability to hit 3 pointers we will probably see that tonight. The Match up Devin Marble against DeAndre Kane both of these guys have been the leaders on the team so seeing them go head to head should be interesting to see if this is the match up we see. Kane is a big guard at 6 ft 4 but Marble is even bigger than that at 6 ft 6. Kane play's point guard for the Cyclones so he will be have the ball in his hand most of the game. Gesell could get the assignment at first but I think when the game is on the line in the second half Marble will be the guy to guard him. On the inside Iowa needs to attack Georges Niang he had a tendency to get in foul trouble last year if Iowa gets him in foul trouble that takes a huge weapon away from Iowa State. So there is a little preview of the game and some of the key match ups I see.
My prediction is Iowa hands the Cyclones their first loss on the season 87 to 77. I see an extremely close game but I just think Iowa has too much depth for the Cyclones. In a game that will likely be a shoot out the team that doesn't get tired will be the one that wins. I don't think Iowa State will be able to handle Iowa's size in the post which will allow the Hawkeyes to get Niang in foul trouble. I still think it will be a close game I just see Iowa pulling away at the end. This would be a signature win for either team as we will see both of these teams in March which great for the State to have 2 great basketball teams again.
On a Special note congratulations to the Iowa Football team for making the Outback Bowl against LSU I will preview that game when we get closer to January 1st. We aren't far from the start of the Big Ten Conference Basketball Season so I may write up a little preview on the Conference. Thanks for Reading
GO Hawks
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