Hawkeye Tip Time
Tom Kakert | Editor
Iowa Hawkeyes (22-10) vs. Villanova Wildcats (30-5)
Tip Time: Approximately 11:10 p.m. (central)
TV: CBS: Verne Lundquist, Jim Sparnakel, and Allie LaForce
Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
History: Villanova is 4-1 against the Hawkeyes. The last meeting between the two schools was November of 2013 at the Battle for Atlantis in the championship game that was one by the Wildcats in overtime, 88-83. Iowa and Villanova in the NCAA Tournament back in 1983 with the Wildcats winning that contest 55-54. Iowa’s only win against Villanova was in the Maui Classic in November of 1987.
THE LINE: Villanova is a 7 point favorite
THE LINEUPS
IOWA
Adam Woodbury – 7.8 ppg
Jarrod Uthoff – 19.0 ppg
Peter Jok – 16.2 ppg
Anthony Clemmons – 8.9 ppg
Mike Gesell – 8.2 ppg
VILLANOVA
Daniel Ochefu -10.0 ppg
Kris Jenkins – 13.3 ppg
Josh Hart – 15.3 ppg
Jalen Brunson – 9.9 ppg
Ryan Arcidiacono – 11.9 ppg
The Hawkeyes hope to celebrate another win at Barclays Center on Sunday
USA Today Sports
PLAYER TO WATCH
Daniel Ochefu – He’s really the only player on the Wildcats with size and experience, so he’s a big part of their interior defense. Villanova doesn’t have a lot of size and basically play three guards and an undersized power forward in Kris Jenkins. Ochefu was a question mark coming into the NCAA Tournament because he was nursing a sprained ankle and on Saturday, Head Coach Jay Wright basically acknowledged that he’s not 100% and he was nervous going into the opening game against UNC-Asheville because he had no idea how Ochefu would react. Well, all he did was post 17 points and 10 rebounds in just 20 minutes of work on Friday afternoon. It should be noted that Asheville didn’t have much size, so he will have much more resistance on Sunday against Iowa’s frontcourt.
KEY MATCH-UP
Mike Gesell vs Ryan Arcidiaconco – The battle of the point guards will be very important in this match-up between the Hawkeyes and the Wildcats. If you watch Villanova play, they thrive when Arcidiaconco is playing well. He has the ability to hit big shots and make big plays for his teammates. When the Wildcats are going well and making a run, he’s usually right in the middle of it. This season he has averaged almost 12 points and 5 assists per game leading the Wildcats to a 30 win season this year. The same can be said for Gesell, who as we saw on Friday, is usually in the middle of an Iowa run like they had when they opened up a lead in the first half against Temple. But, Gesell is struggling from the field right now, especially in late game situations. On Friday he was 0-8 from floor, including a late game miss that was put back by Woodbury for the overtime win. This should be a real defining match-up. Gesell has done well defensively against good guards and he will have to elevate his offensive game in this one as well.
STATS AND NOTES
Iowa is the 7th seed in the South Regional of the NCAA Tournament and won a game in the tournament game in back to back years for the first time since the 1992-93 season. Forward Jarrod Uthoff is a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award, which is award to the top player in the country, and the Karl Malone Award, which is awarded to the top power forward in the nation. Uthoff continues his march up Iowa’s all-time scoring list. He has scored 1,282 career points, which ranks 19th on the all-time list. Uthoff has 84 blocks this season, which is the 5th best single season total in Iowa Basketball history. He has 175 career blocks, which is the 4th most in school history. Mike Gesell has scored 1,066 career points, which ranks 39th on Iowa’s all-time list. Gesell has handed out 551 career assists, which is 4th in Iowa Basketball history. He has dished out 199 assists this season, which is the most in a single season by any Iowa player in Hawkeye Basketball history. Peter Jok has made 78 three point field goals this season, which is the 6th highest single season total for an Iowa player. Iowa is 7-1 this season in games played on a Sunday. The Hawkeyes are 0-1 this year in games played on CBS.
THE PICK
The NCAA Tournament is all about survive and advance. On Friday the Hawkeyes did just that. They survived in the type of game that they have lost recently and advanced to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament with a buzzer beating overtime win over Temple.
The task gets tougher, much tougher, on Sunday when they face Villanova at the Barclays Center with a spot in the Sweet 16 on the line. Obviously this won’t be easy for the Hawkeyes. The Wildcats were ranked #1 in the country for several weeks this season and they have piled up 30 wins. They are one of the better teams in the country, but they are also battling the demons of the past because they haven’t advanced past the second round of the NCAA Tournament since 2009 and they have lost as a higher seed in those contests. On Saturday, the Wildcats were asked by their local media over and over again about those past losses, so it’s clearly on their minds heading into this game.
Two seasons ago these two teams met in the championship game of the Battle for Atlantis and it was simply one of the best college basketball games I have witnessed in person in many years. It was like a heavyweight fight where two boxers were trading haymakers at a rapid pace. The game went to overtime and the Wildcats emerged with the win, but it was a great game. Both teams playing at a fast pace, going on runs, making big shots, and making big plays for teammates. I suspect that on Sunday the pace will be quick and both teams will be trading blows once again.
Iowa will have the size advantage in this one. Villanova will have the bench advantage in terms of depth and experience. Villanova likes to shoot the three ball and they will do it with great frequency. In the meeting two years ago, the Wildcats won because they made 14 three point field goals. If they do that again on Sunday, the Iowa season will be over. Iowa wants to run, but they can’t get caught up in a quick shooting run and gun game with this Wildcat team. They have to run, but they need to be very smart about how much they run and if the opportunity is there.
What are the keys for the Hawkeyes? They need to shoot better than they did on Friday. They will have to shoot somewhere in the mid 40’s if they have a chance to win. It’s probably unrealistic to think Iowa will only turn the ball over three times in the game, like they did on Friday in the win over Temple. Having said that, they need to keep the turnover number under ten Iowa also needs to hit the three ball at a high percentage. Iowa started out red hot making 5 of 7 and then missed 19 of their next 21. Iowa needs to get to double figures from three to entertain the idea of winning this game.
On paper, Villanova has the advantage. They are an experienced team that can score and shoots the ball well from the field and beyond the arch. But, they are beatable, especially if Ocefu is limited or in foul trouble. Iowa needs to do a much better job on the glass than they did against Temple. The Hawkeyes cannot allow the Wildcats to make hay on the offensive glass, they are going to need to corral long rebounds of misses from three point range. The Hawkeyes haven’t lost by double figures all season long. The last time they did lose by double figures was in this spot last season against Gonzaga and it’s certainly possible that history could repeat itself here. If Iowa plays at the level they did during the month of January, they are going to the Sweet 16. They need to keep this game in the 70’s and keep tempo in their favor and not get caught up in a fast paced quick shot game. I think Iowa keeps it close, but in the end, Villanova has too much fire power. VILLANOVA 80 IOWA 72
Tom Kakert | Editor
Iowa Hawkeyes (22-10) vs. Villanova Wildcats (30-5)
Tip Time: Approximately 11:10 p.m. (central)
TV: CBS: Verne Lundquist, Jim Sparnakel, and Allie LaForce
Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
History: Villanova is 4-1 against the Hawkeyes. The last meeting between the two schools was November of 2013 at the Battle for Atlantis in the championship game that was one by the Wildcats in overtime, 88-83. Iowa and Villanova in the NCAA Tournament back in 1983 with the Wildcats winning that contest 55-54. Iowa’s only win against Villanova was in the Maui Classic in November of 1987.
THE LINE: Villanova is a 7 point favorite
THE LINEUPS
IOWA
Adam Woodbury – 7.8 ppg
Jarrod Uthoff – 19.0 ppg
Peter Jok – 16.2 ppg
Anthony Clemmons – 8.9 ppg
Mike Gesell – 8.2 ppg
VILLANOVA
Daniel Ochefu -10.0 ppg
Kris Jenkins – 13.3 ppg
Josh Hart – 15.3 ppg
Jalen Brunson – 9.9 ppg
Ryan Arcidiacono – 11.9 ppg
The Hawkeyes hope to celebrate another win at Barclays Center on Sunday
USA Today Sports
PLAYER TO WATCH
Daniel Ochefu – He’s really the only player on the Wildcats with size and experience, so he’s a big part of their interior defense. Villanova doesn’t have a lot of size and basically play three guards and an undersized power forward in Kris Jenkins. Ochefu was a question mark coming into the NCAA Tournament because he was nursing a sprained ankle and on Saturday, Head Coach Jay Wright basically acknowledged that he’s not 100% and he was nervous going into the opening game against UNC-Asheville because he had no idea how Ochefu would react. Well, all he did was post 17 points and 10 rebounds in just 20 minutes of work on Friday afternoon. It should be noted that Asheville didn’t have much size, so he will have much more resistance on Sunday against Iowa’s frontcourt.
KEY MATCH-UP
Mike Gesell vs Ryan Arcidiaconco – The battle of the point guards will be very important in this match-up between the Hawkeyes and the Wildcats. If you watch Villanova play, they thrive when Arcidiaconco is playing well. He has the ability to hit big shots and make big plays for his teammates. When the Wildcats are going well and making a run, he’s usually right in the middle of it. This season he has averaged almost 12 points and 5 assists per game leading the Wildcats to a 30 win season this year. The same can be said for Gesell, who as we saw on Friday, is usually in the middle of an Iowa run like they had when they opened up a lead in the first half against Temple. But, Gesell is struggling from the field right now, especially in late game situations. On Friday he was 0-8 from floor, including a late game miss that was put back by Woodbury for the overtime win. This should be a real defining match-up. Gesell has done well defensively against good guards and he will have to elevate his offensive game in this one as well.
STATS AND NOTES
Iowa is the 7th seed in the South Regional of the NCAA Tournament and won a game in the tournament game in back to back years for the first time since the 1992-93 season. Forward Jarrod Uthoff is a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award, which is award to the top player in the country, and the Karl Malone Award, which is awarded to the top power forward in the nation. Uthoff continues his march up Iowa’s all-time scoring list. He has scored 1,282 career points, which ranks 19th on the all-time list. Uthoff has 84 blocks this season, which is the 5th best single season total in Iowa Basketball history. He has 175 career blocks, which is the 4th most in school history. Mike Gesell has scored 1,066 career points, which ranks 39th on Iowa’s all-time list. Gesell has handed out 551 career assists, which is 4th in Iowa Basketball history. He has dished out 199 assists this season, which is the most in a single season by any Iowa player in Hawkeye Basketball history. Peter Jok has made 78 three point field goals this season, which is the 6th highest single season total for an Iowa player. Iowa is 7-1 this season in games played on a Sunday. The Hawkeyes are 0-1 this year in games played on CBS.
THE PICK
The NCAA Tournament is all about survive and advance. On Friday the Hawkeyes did just that. They survived in the type of game that they have lost recently and advanced to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament with a buzzer beating overtime win over Temple.
The task gets tougher, much tougher, on Sunday when they face Villanova at the Barclays Center with a spot in the Sweet 16 on the line. Obviously this won’t be easy for the Hawkeyes. The Wildcats were ranked #1 in the country for several weeks this season and they have piled up 30 wins. They are one of the better teams in the country, but they are also battling the demons of the past because they haven’t advanced past the second round of the NCAA Tournament since 2009 and they have lost as a higher seed in those contests. On Saturday, the Wildcats were asked by their local media over and over again about those past losses, so it’s clearly on their minds heading into this game.
Two seasons ago these two teams met in the championship game of the Battle for Atlantis and it was simply one of the best college basketball games I have witnessed in person in many years. It was like a heavyweight fight where two boxers were trading haymakers at a rapid pace. The game went to overtime and the Wildcats emerged with the win, but it was a great game. Both teams playing at a fast pace, going on runs, making big shots, and making big plays for teammates. I suspect that on Sunday the pace will be quick and both teams will be trading blows once again.
Iowa will have the size advantage in this one. Villanova will have the bench advantage in terms of depth and experience. Villanova likes to shoot the three ball and they will do it with great frequency. In the meeting two years ago, the Wildcats won because they made 14 three point field goals. If they do that again on Sunday, the Iowa season will be over. Iowa wants to run, but they can’t get caught up in a quick shooting run and gun game with this Wildcat team. They have to run, but they need to be very smart about how much they run and if the opportunity is there.
What are the keys for the Hawkeyes? They need to shoot better than they did on Friday. They will have to shoot somewhere in the mid 40’s if they have a chance to win. It’s probably unrealistic to think Iowa will only turn the ball over three times in the game, like they did on Friday in the win over Temple. Having said that, they need to keep the turnover number under ten Iowa also needs to hit the three ball at a high percentage. Iowa started out red hot making 5 of 7 and then missed 19 of their next 21. Iowa needs to get to double figures from three to entertain the idea of winning this game.
On paper, Villanova has the advantage. They are an experienced team that can score and shoots the ball well from the field and beyond the arch. But, they are beatable, especially if Ocefu is limited or in foul trouble. Iowa needs to do a much better job on the glass than they did against Temple. The Hawkeyes cannot allow the Wildcats to make hay on the offensive glass, they are going to need to corral long rebounds of misses from three point range. The Hawkeyes haven’t lost by double figures all season long. The last time they did lose by double figures was in this spot last season against Gonzaga and it’s certainly possible that history could repeat itself here. If Iowa plays at the level they did during the month of January, they are going to the Sweet 16. They need to keep this game in the 70’s and keep tempo in their favor and not get caught up in a fast paced quick shot game. I think Iowa keeps it close, but in the end, Villanova has too much fire power. VILLANOVA 80 IOWA 72
