SCOUTING OHIO STATE
• Ohio State enters Saturday's game 67th in the RPI. After starting conference play 0-4, the Buckeyes have won three of their last four contests.
• The Buckeyes played three of their last four games at home, where they are 11-3. Away from Columbus, Ohio State is 2-5, including an 0-1 mark on a neutral court. Ohio State won its last road game, 74-73, at Nebraska on Jan. 18.
• Ohio State has played 12 games decided by six points or less this season, including its last four games (3-1).
• All five Buckeye starters average double figures in scoring, led by Jae-Sean Tate's 13.9 points per game, followed by JaQuan Lyle (12.3), Marc Loving (11.5), Trevor Thompson (11.0), and Kam Williams (10.1).
• Ohio State has two players who have made 30 or more 3-pointers: Kam Williams (35-of-92, .380) and Marc Loving (33-of-92, .359).
• Ohio State won its last game, 78-72, over Minnesota Wednesday night in Columbus. The Buckeyes outscored the Golden Gophers, 23-14, at the free throw line. Marc Loving and Trevor Thompson each netted 19 points to lead the Buckeyes. Thompson also pulled down 10 boards to register his seventh double-double of the season of 10th of his career. Ohio State is 5-2 this season when Thompson posts a double-double.
• Junior forward Keita Bates-Diop will miss the remainder of the season due to injury after playing in nine games. Bates-Diop was averaging 9.7 points and 5.2 rebounds prior to being sidelined.
• Ohio State ranks 27th nationally in defensive rebounds per game (28.14) and 36th in field goal percentage defense (40.0). Individually, Trevor Thompson ranks 41st in the country in rebounds per contest (9.3), 48th in blocked shots per game (1.86), and 54th in double-doubles (7), while JaQuan Lyle is 52nd in assists per game (5.2).
• Thad Matta is in his 13th season as head coach of Ohio State (333-116, .742). Matta has guided the Buckeyes to five Big Ten regular season championships during his tenure.
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS
The all-time series is tied, 78-78. Twenty-four of the last 33 meetings, including the last six, have been decided by 10 points or less, with 13 decisions by five points or less.
Iowa holds a 48-27 overall advantage in Iowa City and an 18-12 record versus the Buckeyes in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes snapped a five-game home losing skid to Ohio State the last time the Buckeyes visited Iowa City on Jan. 17, 2015 (76-67).
LAST MEETING
• Ohio State outscored Iowa, 12-2, over the last four minutes of the game to post a 69-64 victory over Iowa on Feb. 28, 2016 in Columbus, Ohio, in the only regular season meeting between the two teams.
• Three Hawkeyes netted double figures: Mike Gesell (16), Jarrod Uthoff (16), and
Peter Jok (12).
• Iowa was held to a season-low 3-of-12 (.250) shooting from 3-point range. Ohio State was 5-of-18 (.278) from long distance.
• Ohio State blocked six shots, including Mike Gesell's game-tying layup attempt in the final seconds. For the first time in 95 games, Iowa did not register at least one block.
• Three Buckeyes scored in double figures: Marc Loving (25), Keita Bates-Diop (19), and Kam Williams (11).
