Indiana Basketball vs Iowa: Know your opponent, preview, and prediction
By Adam Childs
The Indiana basketball team looks to snap their four-game losing streak when they host the Iowa Hawkeyes on Thursday night at Assembly Hall.
The Indiana Hoosiers (15-8, 5-7) are looking to find their groove again when they host the Iowa Hawkeyes on Thursday night. The Hoosiers have lost four straight games including a rather uninspiring game against in-state rival Purdue last Saturday. On an afternoon when Bobby Knight made his triumphant return, the Hoosiers couldn’t replicate the excitement and lost to the Boilermakers.
The Hawkeyes are coming off a blowout win against Nebraska, but have lost two of their last four including a 36 shellacking at the hands of Purdue. Iowa hopes their second and last trip to the state of Indiana will produce better results than their shocking loss to the Boilermakers.
Iowa is led by Big Ten POY frontrunner Luka Graza who has been awesome this year. He is averaging 23.1 points per game and 9.9 rebounds per game. He has been their go-to guy all year long and he has answered the call.
Joe Wieskamp has been great for as Garza’s sidekick pitching in 15.4 points per game while CJ Fredrick has been lethal from three shooting just under 48% from deep.
Iowa definitely doesn’t have any trouble scoring points as they average just under 80 points a game. The problem the Hawkeyes run into is that they are sometimes allergic to defense and have given up over 100 points twice this year.
The Hoosiers need to take advantage of their leaky defense, but Indiana has been struggling to score lately and that is not good news against a team as potent as the Hawkeyes.
Archie Miller has hinted at mixing up the lineup yet again, but it all comes down to if the Hoosiers can hit their shots. They have been getting good looks, but they are having a tough time hitting anything from deep. Combine that with the bigs not converting inside and it is a recipe for long scoring droughts that Indiana keeps suffering from.
This game is the start of a season-defining stretch for the Hoosiers and they must protect their home court, but the Hawkeyes are a tough matchup for Indiana. If they can slow down Garza they have a chance but if not it could be a long night for the Hoosiers.
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Key Storylines
Indiana
Can the Hoosiers snap their four-game losing streak? Can anyone at least slow down Garza? Will Trayce Jackson-Davis snap out of his mini-slump? Will Devonte Green hit his shots from outside? Can the Hoosiers finish inside? Will they take advantage of Iowa’s porous offense?
Iowa
Can Garza continue his streak of 20+ point games? Can they keep Indiana under 70 points? Will they play better in the state of Indiana? Can they snap their two-game road losing streak? Will Wieskamp stay hot and can CJ Fredrick continue to knock down the three?
Key Players
Indiana
Trayce Jackson-Davis (13.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg), Justin Smith (11.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg), Devonte Green (10.2 ppg, 35.4% 3pt), Al Durham (9.7 ppg, 35.3% 3pt)
Ohio State
Luka Garza (23.1 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 40.9% 3pt), Joe Wieskamp.(15.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg), CJ Fredrick (11.2 ppg, 47.2% 3pt)
Next. Hoosiers in middle of muddled Big Ten. dark