NCAA Prediction: Indiana Hoosiers and Iowa Hawkeyes
Sunday, February 19, 2012
by Mike Stewart
Iowa Hawkeyes ranks last in the Big Ten in scoring defense, while No. 20 Indiana is the highest-scoring team in the conference.
The Indiana Hoosiers had one of their best offensive showings of the season in their first meeting with the Hawkeyes, riding Cody Zeller's 26 points to a 103-89 home win Jan. 29.
Indiana is the most improved of all BCS conference programs this season, already eight wins ahead of last year's finish. Iowa point guard Bryce Cartwright, who has a high ankle sprain, missed Thursday's loss at Penn State and is unlikely to play Sunday.
- Indiana Hoosiers @ Iowa Hawkeyes
When: 6:00 PM ET, Sunday, February 19, 2012
Where: Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City, Iowa
TV: ET, Big Ten Network.
The Hoosiers have opened as 4-point favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NCAA Basketball Odds.
Indiana Hoosiers (20-6): Zeller, a freshman forward, has been a major difference-maker for the Hoosiers in their turnaround season, leading the team with 15.7 points and 6.4 rebounds while shooting 65.6 percent from the floor. Indiana leads the conference in points per game (78.4), field-goal percentage (49.5) and 3-point percentage (42.7), and they are generating more points per game at the foul line (18.5) than any major conference team. Senior guard Matt Roth and junior guard Jordan Hulls are the league's top two 3-point shooters at 54.5 and 48.6 percent, respectively.
Iowa Hawkeyes (13-13): The Hawkeyes have remained competitive in league play thanks to a balanced and effective offense that averages 73.4 points, but they could be in trouble if Cartwright remains sidelined. Iowa has averaged only 62 points in two losses without the senior point guard this season. Senior guard Matt Gatens (14.2) scored a team-high 21 points against Penn State, and freshman forward Aaron White is averaging 16.7 points and 10.3 rebounds over the last three games. Despite their defensive struggles (72.3 points allowed), the Hawkeyes average a Big Ten-best 7.9 steals.
1. Indiana leads the all-time series 95-73, but has lost 10 of the last 15 meetings, including four straight defeats prior to this season.
2. The Hawkeyes have won six of the last seven meetings in Iowa City, including a 91-77 victory last January. Current sophomore forward Melsahn Basabe had 20 points and 10 rebounds.
3. Neither team has been overwhelming on the boards this season, but Indiana finished with a lopsided 37-22 rebounding edge in its win over Iowa three weeks ago.
NCAA BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Hoosiers 81, Hawkeyes 72.
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aaron white - bryce cartwright - carver-hawkeye arena - cody zeller - indiana hoosiers - iowa hawkeyes - jordan hulls - matt gatens - matt roth - melsahn basabe
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