Game Day Essentials: Game #14 vs Iowa

Iowa Info

Head Coach: Fran McCaffery
Location: Iowa City, IA
Conference: B1G
Nickname: Hawks

Coach's Nickname: White Magic

Mascot: Herky the Hawk

Shirt not to wear: Black, yellow

Last time out: lost to Eastern Illinois
Line: Iowa by 4.5
Typical Rotation Depth: 8+

KenPom rank: 37

A couple of Famous Alumni: Acie Earl, B.J. Armstrong

Other:  

• Blaise Keita is questionable in this game after rolling his ankle vs Queens
• Iowa lost the pay game to end all pay games, blowing one to 30+ point underdog Eastern Illinois
• Nebraska native Carter Kingsbury is a walk-on for Iowa. His father Chris Kingsbury was a star for the Hawkeyes in the 90s.
• Both coaches have sons on their teams as Fran McCaffery has sons Connor and Patrick on his team

KenPom Analysis:  Standard Iowa team: Efficient  up-tempo offense coupled with a defense that doesn't foul much.

Player to watch: Kris Murray

Finally expected back from a foot injury after missing the entire month of December, Keagan Murray's twin brother has been a scoring force for Iowa when on the court, averaging 19.4 ppg. The career 37% 3pt shooter is important to space the court for an Iowa team that doesn't have a ton of consistent outside shooting.

Player to watch: C Filip Rebraca

The former North Dakota transfer is in his second year at Iowa and plays most of the minutes at center. It's going to be a chess match between Rebraca and Derrick Walker about who can defend the other without fouling whether either can stop the other from scoring. Like Walker, Rebraca is a good passer and an efficient scorer.

KenPom most used lineup

Others to watch

• Patrick McCaffery is Iowa's second leading scorer and gets to the FT line.
• Payton Sandfort is a 3pt specialist who has been in a season long slump; is capable of taking the ball inside the arc
• Tony Perkins is the Iowa version of Bandoumel 
• Ahron Ulis and Dasonte Bowen split at PG. Neither shoots much. Bowen probably has the larger upside but he's a true freshman
• Connor McCaffery is a glue guy at this point in his career though he'll knock down shots if open.
• 6'5" freshman Josh Dix is guard depth
• Riley Mulvey and Josh Ogundele are center depth. If you see them in the game it's likely because Rebraca is in foul trouble or the game is out of hand

Probable starters for Nebraska
5    Sam Griesel    G    6-7
25  Emmanuel Bandoumel    G    6-4

0   C.J. Wilcher    G    6-5

4   Juwan Gary  F  6-6

13  Derrick Walker    F    6-9

Bench

15   Blaise Keita C   6-11

30  Keisei Tominaga    G    6-2

32  Wilhelm Breidenbach    F    6-10

10  Jamarques Lawrence - G  6-3

12  Denim Dawson - F  6-6

33  Oleg Kojenets    F    7-0
12   Sam Hoiberg    G    6-0

31  Cale Jacobsen  G  6-4

35  Henry Burt  F  6-6

24  Jeffrey Grace III  G  6-3

Injured

3   Quaran McPherson   G   6-3 - Out for the Year

The Skinny: 

Typically during semester break you'll find that B1G arenas are quieter without students. Tonight a sold out PBA should be buzzing as loud as it's been all season though we shall see how many of those holiday tickets were snatched up by Iowa fans.  Speaking of Iowa fans, the few that braved the weather in Iowa City last week got to see the Hawkeyes melt down vs one of the worst teams in Div 1.  How much of that embarrassment will fuel the Hawkeyes tonight?

This is a tall Iowa team but there isn't a ton of shot blocking and thus teams are attacking the Hawkeyes in the paint which suits Nebraska just fine. Seems like Derrick Walker could feast tonight if Nebraska prioritizes getting him the ball. Griesel will probably find it hard backing down Iowa forwards in this one and Keisei tends to fare poorly against height; Perhaps it's time for Bando and Wilcher to break out of their slumps.

How rusty is Murray after the month long break? It's an important question because the difference between Iowa winning and losing this season has mostly depended on their 3pt shooting.  If you're holding Iowa under 30% from the 3pt line, you're likely to win. Other paths to victory including eschewing offensive rebounds to stop Iowa's transition game and limiting Hawkeye trips to the FT line. 

I like Nebraska's chances in this game as they're a team set up to be able to take away what Iowa wants to do offensively.

Prediction: Nebraska 75 - Iowa 71