Tom's article.
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After one of the best weeks of the Fran McCaffery era, with the Hawkeyes knocking off two nationally ranked opponents to open conference play, Iowa returns home on Tuesday night to host an improving Nebraska team. We have all the news you need to know before tip time and we offer up our prediction for the outcome of the game.
Nebraska Cornhuskers (8-7, 0-2) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (11-3, 2-0)
Tip Time: 8 p.m.
TV: BTN - Dave Revsine and Shon Morris
Location: Carver Hawkeye Arena
History: Iowa holds a 17-9 advantage in the series between the two schools. Iowa and Nebraska meet only once this season. Iowa has won five of the seven meetings between the border rivals since the Huskers joined the Big Ten, including sweeping the two games last season. Iowa is 11-3 against Nebraska in games played in Iowa City including eight of the last nine.
THE LINE: Iowa is a 15.5 point favorite.
THE LINEUPS
IOWA
Adam Woodbury - 8.6 ppg
Jarrod Uthoff - 18.1 ppg
Peter Jok - 13.5 ppg
Anthony Clemmons - 8.2 ppg
Mike Gesell - 9.1 ppg
NEBRASKA
Michael Jacobson - 4.3 ppg
Shavon Shields - 15.4 ppg
Andrew White - 17.3 ppg
Glynn Watson - 7.1 ppg
Benny Parker - 5.3 ppg
USA TODAY SPORTS
Jarrod Uthoff leads the Hawkeyes against the Huskers.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Andrew White - The Kansas transfer hasn't missed a beat coming off a redshirt year. White is checking in at just over 17 points per game this season and has added a much needed scoring punch to the Husker offense. He has a very diverse game, averaging nearly 3 made three point field goals per game and has been in double figures in 13 of the Huskers 15 games this season. White dropped in 22 points against Northwestern. He is also pretty active on the glass, pulling down 5.5 rebounds per game. White is going to be a tough cover for the Hawkeyes, who might actually end up putting Jarrod Uthoff on him if Anthony Clemmons is limited on Tuesday evening.
KEY MATCH-UP
Jarrod Uthoff vs. Shavon Shields - A pair of veterans are set to match-up with each other at the power forward position. Both are players that stuff the stat sheets each and every game. Uthoff is averaging over 18 points a game, 6 rebounds, over 3 blocks, and shooting 50% from the floor this season. Shields is averaging 15 per game, over 5 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. They both can do it all and lead their respective teams. Shields has a bit more strength, but not as much length as Uthoff, so there's a little bit of an advantage on both sides. This will be a really good match-up between two of the better experienced and seasoned forwards in the Big Ten.
STATS AND NOTES
Tuesday will be Adam Woodbury bobblehead night. The first 1,500 fans will receive the bobblehead. Among Iowa players who have attempted at least 20 free throws this season, Woodbury leads the Hawkeyes making 82% from the charity stripe. Iowa is 2-0 on Tuesday's this season and 4-0 on games played on the BTN. The Hawkeyes are 7-0 this season at home. Anthony Clemmons is questionable for Tuesday's game, according to Fran McCaffery. Clemmons sustained a hip pointer late in the second half against Purdue. Iowa is off to a 2-0 start in Big Ten play for the second straight year. Iowa's three losses this season have come by a combined 12 points. Mike Gesell now has 446 career assists, which is good for 6th all-time at Iowa. This season he is averaging a career best 6.7 assists per game. Nicholas Baer is averaging 12.5 points per game in the last four games for the Hawkeyes.
THE PICK
The betting line suggests that this could be a one sided affair, but my sense is this will be a bit tighter than the folks in Vegas are suggesting. Coming off two huge wins to start conference play, Iowa will have to guard against resting on their success and thinking that Nebraska will be an easy win at home. While the Huskers record doesn't indicate it, they are a very competitive bunch with scorers in Shields and White that are more than capable of pulling of a big night that could lead to an upset. Throw in the fact that Clemmons will certainly be less than 100% with his hip pointer and you have a key player who has been a big part of the last two games not at full strength. One positive out of that is the weak point of the Husker team is their guard play, with a young player in Watson being their best option.
Iowa should have an advantage on the glass with Woodbury being the stronger option at center, but you can bet that Jacobson, a freshman from the state of Iowa, will be giving his best effort against his home state school. Peter Jok and his defense will be tested in a big way going against White, who can score in a variety of ways. Jok has come a long way on that end of the floor since his freshman year, but this will be a tough match-up for him and I wonder if with Clemmons hobbled they opt to play a bit more with Uthoff at the three against the Huskers so he can check White.
Iowa will have more than week off after this one and that makes this game even more important. Given what they have done in the last week, a loss would be a setback to what they have accomplished. This Hawkeye team is playing with a different look in their eyes since that loss to Iowa State. They appear to have learned from it and more importantly, learned to close out games. Iowa should win, but it won't be easy. IOWA 75 NEBRASKA 65
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After one of the best weeks of the Fran McCaffery era, with the Hawkeyes knocking off two nationally ranked opponents to open conference play, Iowa returns home on Tuesday night to host an improving Nebraska team. We have all the news you need to know before tip time and we offer up our prediction for the outcome of the game.
Nebraska Cornhuskers (8-7, 0-2) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (11-3, 2-0)
Tip Time: 8 p.m.
TV: BTN - Dave Revsine and Shon Morris
Location: Carver Hawkeye Arena
History: Iowa holds a 17-9 advantage in the series between the two schools. Iowa and Nebraska meet only once this season. Iowa has won five of the seven meetings between the border rivals since the Huskers joined the Big Ten, including sweeping the two games last season. Iowa is 11-3 against Nebraska in games played in Iowa City including eight of the last nine.
THE LINE: Iowa is a 15.5 point favorite.
THE LINEUPS
IOWA
Adam Woodbury - 8.6 ppg
Jarrod Uthoff - 18.1 ppg
Peter Jok - 13.5 ppg
Anthony Clemmons - 8.2 ppg
Mike Gesell - 9.1 ppg
NEBRASKA
Michael Jacobson - 4.3 ppg
Shavon Shields - 15.4 ppg
Andrew White - 17.3 ppg
Glynn Watson - 7.1 ppg
Benny Parker - 5.3 ppg
USA TODAY SPORTS
Jarrod Uthoff leads the Hawkeyes against the Huskers.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Andrew White - The Kansas transfer hasn't missed a beat coming off a redshirt year. White is checking in at just over 17 points per game this season and has added a much needed scoring punch to the Husker offense. He has a very diverse game, averaging nearly 3 made three point field goals per game and has been in double figures in 13 of the Huskers 15 games this season. White dropped in 22 points against Northwestern. He is also pretty active on the glass, pulling down 5.5 rebounds per game. White is going to be a tough cover for the Hawkeyes, who might actually end up putting Jarrod Uthoff on him if Anthony Clemmons is limited on Tuesday evening.
KEY MATCH-UP
Jarrod Uthoff vs. Shavon Shields - A pair of veterans are set to match-up with each other at the power forward position. Both are players that stuff the stat sheets each and every game. Uthoff is averaging over 18 points a game, 6 rebounds, over 3 blocks, and shooting 50% from the floor this season. Shields is averaging 15 per game, over 5 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. They both can do it all and lead their respective teams. Shields has a bit more strength, but not as much length as Uthoff, so there's a little bit of an advantage on both sides. This will be a really good match-up between two of the better experienced and seasoned forwards in the Big Ten.
STATS AND NOTES
Tuesday will be Adam Woodbury bobblehead night. The first 1,500 fans will receive the bobblehead. Among Iowa players who have attempted at least 20 free throws this season, Woodbury leads the Hawkeyes making 82% from the charity stripe. Iowa is 2-0 on Tuesday's this season and 4-0 on games played on the BTN. The Hawkeyes are 7-0 this season at home. Anthony Clemmons is questionable for Tuesday's game, according to Fran McCaffery. Clemmons sustained a hip pointer late in the second half against Purdue. Iowa is off to a 2-0 start in Big Ten play for the second straight year. Iowa's three losses this season have come by a combined 12 points. Mike Gesell now has 446 career assists, which is good for 6th all-time at Iowa. This season he is averaging a career best 6.7 assists per game. Nicholas Baer is averaging 12.5 points per game in the last four games for the Hawkeyes.
THE PICK
The betting line suggests that this could be a one sided affair, but my sense is this will be a bit tighter than the folks in Vegas are suggesting. Coming off two huge wins to start conference play, Iowa will have to guard against resting on their success and thinking that Nebraska will be an easy win at home. While the Huskers record doesn't indicate it, they are a very competitive bunch with scorers in Shields and White that are more than capable of pulling of a big night that could lead to an upset. Throw in the fact that Clemmons will certainly be less than 100% with his hip pointer and you have a key player who has been a big part of the last two games not at full strength. One positive out of that is the weak point of the Husker team is their guard play, with a young player in Watson being their best option.
Iowa should have an advantage on the glass with Woodbury being the stronger option at center, but you can bet that Jacobson, a freshman from the state of Iowa, will be giving his best effort against his home state school. Peter Jok and his defense will be tested in a big way going against White, who can score in a variety of ways. Jok has come a long way on that end of the floor since his freshman year, but this will be a tough match-up for him and I wonder if with Clemmons hobbled they opt to play a bit more with Uthoff at the three against the Huskers so he can check White.
Iowa will have more than week off after this one and that makes this game even more important. Given what they have done in the last week, a loss would be a setback to what they have accomplished. This Hawkeye team is playing with a different look in their eyes since that loss to Iowa State. They appear to have learned from it and more importantly, learned to close out games. Iowa should win, but it won't be easy. IOWA 75 NEBRASKA 65
