Iowa

[Queens_NYC]

Saturday, December 21st
9:00 PM
United Center (Chicago, IL)
Big Ten Network

Iowa (8-3, #29 NET, #20 KenPom) is coming into Saturday's match-up after an extended break of 9 days since their 16-point win @ rival Iowa State.

However, they will come into the match-up missing a major cog with senior point guard Jordan Bohannon announcing he'll undergo season-ending hip surgery just a few days ago. Bohannon has started 100+ games for the Hawkeyes in 3+ years and scored 13 against us last year in Columbus.

In his place, Iowa will start true freshman Joe Toussaint alongside 2018 Cov. Cath grad, RS Frosh CJ Fredrick, in the Hawkeyes backcourt.

Otherwise, all focus will be on star junior center Luka Garza, an early all-american candidate who is averaging 22 & 10 while shooting 55% FG and 42% 3FG. Garza is currently #5 in the country in PER with a 34.5 rating. Garza gave us 20 and 7 last season on 8-11 shooting.

Iowa is one of the best teams in the country at scoring (80.0 ppg), passing the ball (17.5 apg), and taking care of the ball (11 TO/game).

They are a little less athletic/physical than last year's team though.

If the Tennessee game proved we can beat high major talent, hopefully this game will prove we can beat high major talent away from home. They will likely have a strong fan contingent in attendance.

 

[kskenyon4]

This game is beyond massive on the heels of the Tennessee win. Optimism at a season high with a W, yet an L makes it seem like we need to win the AAC to get into the tourney.

All eyes on MAW and Jarron for me. Followed by the Defense on Garza.

 

[TheLivingLegend]

Garza a matchup nightmare.... Be curious how we approach that.

 

[cincrulz11]

Garza a matchup nightmare.... Be curious how we approach that.

he destroyed us last year, hard to see it going much different.

 

[Queens_NYC]

Garza a matchup nightmare.... Be curious how we approach that.

I watched him effortlessly go for 44 against Michigan a few weeks back. He was mostly guarded by Teske, who's the exact same size as Vogt, but is a lot more agile and is arguably twice the defender Vogt is right now.

I hope we give him some good hacks and force him to beat us from the line rather than allow him to develop a strong rhythm from the field.

 

[waterhead]

he destroyed us last year, hard to see it going much different.

I would be happy if we held him to last years numbers.

I just hope we can execute like we did against TN on offense since Iowa is going to score some points. If we can keep them in the mid 70's we might have a shot

 

[cincrulz11]

I would be happy if we held him to last years numbers.

I just hope we can execute like we did against TN on offense since Iowa is going to score some points. If we can keep them in the mid 70's we might have a shot

20 points would be below his season average.


But he did score 44 in a loss to Michigan.


You're right, we're just going to have to outscore them.

 

[waterhead]

20 points would be below his season average.


But he did score 44 in a loss to Michigan.


You're right, we're just going to have to outscore them.

We had a good game plan against Wesson. I just hope we can mitigate the damage again even if not to the same degree.

 

[mdchick]

We had a good game plan against Wesson. I just hope we can mitigate the damage again even if not to the same degree.

Feel like Wesson and Garza are different players though, Wesson wants to shoot the 3 and Garza wants to post up

 

[TheRealMick]

Diarra sure as heck better foul out before Garza drops 30 and 15 on us. If he go beat us make sure he's beat up also. Foul him often and hard 1st half to throw him off his rhythm. We should beat them by 10. I have feeling McNeal steps up to plate after getting benched and finally display veteran leadership for us a win.

 

[TheRealMick]

I wouldn't start a FR against FR. Move McNeal back into lineup or go with Barron at point. Don't let their FR back court get into any type flow. Let the stronger vets on our team break them down first then throw MAW speed at them.

 

[cincyguy13]

Garza abused brooks and Scott last year and is better this year. If we hold him to around 20, I would consider that a win. Skyblade can not wait for this game. Already working on his Vogt takes.

 

[Queens_NYC]

Iowa a 3 to 4 point favorite with most oddsmakers now.

 

[skyblade]

I'd say the best bet is to double Garza on every touch and force him to kick it out and Iowa to beat us from three. Iowa is a pretty good 3 point shooting team, so that plan may backfire. But maybe we get lucky and they have an off night. Either that or get Garza into foul trouble, but Iowa will probably be getting a more friendly whistle then we do.

I think this is a game where the correct decision would be to just not play Vogt. This game is a matchup nightmare for Vogt, Garza has the size to keep Vogt away from the basket on defense and is too agile for Vogt on offense. Let Sorolla start and Diarra back him up.

This is a game where it is hard to see us winning. Iowa is one of the best in the country at not turning the ball over and we all know that we aren't. Iowa is also a very good offensive rebounding team.

Our best chance to win is to outscore them. But we can't give them a bunch of extra possessions with TO's and offensive rebounds.

 

[cincyguy13]

I'd say the best bet is to double Garza on every touch and force him to kick it out and Iowa to beat us from three. Iowa is a pretty good 3 point shooting team, so that plan may backfire. But maybe we get lucky and they have an off night. Either that or get Garza into foul trouble, but Iowa will probably be getting a more friendly whistle then we do.

I think this is a game where the correct decision would be to just not play Vogt. This game is a matchup nightmare for Vogt, Garza has the size to keep Vogt away from the basket on defense and is too agile for Vogt on offense. Let Sorolla start and Diarra back him up.

This is a game where it is hard to see us winning. Iowa is one of the best in the country at not turning the ball over and we all know that we aren't. Iowa is also a very good offensive rebounding team.

Our best chance to win is to outscore them. But we can't give them a bunch of extra possessions with TO's and offensive rebounds.

How do you think would diarra do in the post against him? Honestly?

 

[cincrulz11]

How do you think would diarra do in the post against him? Honestly?

probably hold him to 0 points, diarra is the best defender on the team.

 

[cincyguy13]

probably hold him to 0 points, diarra is the best defender on the team.

True. Also not playing Vogt at all after averaging 13-7 would be an odd coaching decision. And replacing him with a terrible player would be even more odd.

 

[cincrulz11]

True. Also not playing Vogt at all after averaging 13-7 would be an odd coaching decision. And replacing him with a terrible player would be even more odd.

i think genius coaching decision is what you're looking for.

 

[Alum2013]

i think genius coaching decision is what you're looking for.

If Diarra was starting we'd be 12-0. Yea. He's so good we would have won an extra game. Don't know how the world isn't seeing what Skyblade sees.

 

[mdchick]

We will be staying up a little later tonight