Tip Time: Northwestern at Iowa
Joe Weiskamp and the Hawkeyes look for the season sweep over the Wildcats.
Tom Kakert • HawkeyeReport.com
@hawkeyereport
NORTHWESTERN (12-10, 3-8) at IOWA (18-5, 7-5)
TIME: 5:30 p.m.
TV: BTN – Brandon Gaudin and Robbie Hummel on the call.
SERIES: Iowa holds a 110-60 advantage in the all-time series between the two schools. The Hawkeyes have a 68-18 edge in this series in games played in Iowa City and a 28-4 advantage in games played at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa has won five straight over Northwestern in games played in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes beat Northwestern in Evanston earlier this year, 73-63.
THE LINE: Iowa is a 9.5 point favorite.
THE NUMBERS
OFFENSE: NORTHWESTERN– 67.7 PPG, 40.9% FG, 33.3% 3 PT FG, IOWA – 81.7 PPG, 47.4% FG, 37.5% 3 PT FG.
DEFENSE: NORTHWESTERN– 64.3 PPG, 42.6% FG, 29.1% 3 PT FG. IOWA – 72.9 PPG, 44.0% FG, 31.1% 3 PT FG.
THE LINEUPS
NORTHWESTERN
6-6 guard Ryan Taylor – 11.4 points, 1.2 assists per game
6-7 forward Vic Law – 15.0 points, 6.8 rebounds per game
6-4 forward Anthony Gaines – 6.5 points, 4.5 rebounds per game
6-8 forward Aaron Falzon – 5.1 points, 1.0 rebounds per game
6-8 center Dererk Pardon – 14.0 points, 7.8 rebounds per game
IOWA
6-1 guard Jordan Bohannon – 10.9 points, 3.4 assists per game
6-5 guard Isaiah Moss – 9.3 points, 2.6 rebounds per game
6-6 guard Joe Wieskamp – 11.5 points, 4.9 rebounds per game
6-9 forward Tyler Cook – 16.4 points, 8.0 rebounds per game
6-11 center Luka Garza – 14.5 points, 4.9 rebounds per game
PLAYER TO WATCH – Joe Wieskamp – In the first meeting between the Hawkeyes and the Wildcats it was Wieskamp who put Iowa on his back for a stretch in the second half that led to a big road win. Wieskamp scored a team high 19 points in the victory and was more aggressive than normal on the offensive end of the floor. On Thursday night he showed that same level of shot making and aggression, making four three pointers on his way to 13 points at Indiana. He’s also tended to play better at home, so look for a big game from the freshman.
KEY MATCHUP – Isaiah Moss vs. Vic Law – The two Chicago area products will likely go head to head and that always adds intrigue to the game. Both players are kind of slumping a bit right now. Moss had a big game at Minnesota, but in the last two games against Michigan and Indiana, he’s 0-11 shooting and he hasn’t scored a point. Meanwhile Law had a month to forget in January, averaging just 8 points a game and shooting only 24% from the floor. Both players can fill it up pretty quickly and have a big game, so it will be interesting to see if either can get back on track.
STATS AND NOTES
Sunday is the Superhero Game. Fans can take photos with their favorite superheroes on the concourse of Carver-Hawkeye Arena between 4-5:30 p.m.
Fran McCaffery has moved to second on Iowa’s all-time win list with 169 victories following the Hawkeyes win over Indiana.
KenPom.com has Northwestern rated 66th in the country and Iowa at 23rd. The new NCAA selection committee tool, NET, which has replaced the RPI, has Iowa rated 23rd in the country and Northwestern rated 74th. KenPom.com projects Iowa winning this game, 76-67.
Jordan Bohannon and Tyler Cook were honorable mention All-Big Ten last season. Bohannon is one of three players from a major conference with more than 300 assists and 150 three pointers thru their sophomore season. He is the only player nationally in the past 25 years to have 150 assists and more than 80 three pointers in his freshman and sophomore season. Bohannon scored his 1,000th career point in the win over Ohio State. He now has 1,068 points, which is 42nd on Iowa’s all-time list. He is 68 assists from becoming the 6th Hawkeye to score 1,000 points and dish out 500 assists.
Tyler Cook is the first Iowa player in 25 years to score 15 points and pull down 5 rebounds in ten straight games. Cook pulled down his 500th career rebound in the win over Illinois. He is now the 20th player in Iowa basketball history to have 1,100 points and 500 rebounds. Cook has now scored 1,181 points in his Iowa career, which is tied for 26th on Iowa’s all-time list with Val Barnes.
Senior forward Nicholas Baer is the only player in program history to have 500 points, 500 rebounds, 100 blocks, make 100 three pointers, and 100 steals. Baer is now 9th all-time at Iowa with 111 career blocked shots.
Freshman wing Joe Wieskamp led the Hawkeyes in scoring in the first game of his college career and posted his first career double-double against Pitt in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge. Wieskamp was named Big Ten freshman of the week twice this season, including this past week.
Iowa will have three players redshirting this year. True freshman guard C.J. Fredrick and sophomore forward Jack Nunge has opted to redshirt in the 2018-19 season. After returning to action against Iowa State, junior forward Cordell Pemsl decided to have surgery to remove hardware from his knee and will now redshirt.
Iowa is 3-1 this season in games played on a Sunday. Under Fran McCaffery, Iowa is 23-28 in games played on a Sunday. The Hawkeyes are 8-2 this year in games played on the BTN. The Hawkeyes are 70-62 under Fran McCaffery in games on BTN.
THE PICK
For the first time in conference play, the Hawkeyes face a team for a second time.
Northwestern is sliding a bit, losing their last three, including falling at home to Penn State, who picked up their first conference win.
The Wildcats have been offensively challenged in recent weeks, scoring 46 and 52 points twice in the last three games. It’s hard to beat anyone with scoring outputs like that, especially in the Big Ten. Their struggles have coincided with Vic Law, their leading offensive player, struggling shooting the basketball. As mentioned earlier, he’s averaging only 8 points a game in the last month and that’s showing up in the W/L column.
One new player who is contributing in recent weeks is Aaron Falzon. He has battled quite a few injuries in his career and he’s come from deep on their bench to become a fairly consistent scorer. Falzon scored a career best 21 points in their win over Indiana last month.
Really this game is about Iowa and how they handle a relatively quick turnaround after a big road win.
Iowa won by ten points in Evanston and they are favored to repeat that on Sunday afternoon.
However, there have been times in the past where the Hawkeyes haven’t brought their best game on a quick turnaround and this will be a real test to their developing maturity this season.
The Hawkeye coaches will need to get the team ready to play out of the gate and you can bet that if Iowa comes out flat that Fran McCaffery is going to go to his bench early to try and lite a fire under his team.
We mentioned earlier that a match-up to watch would involve Isaiah Moss and Iowa really needs to get him back on track. He’s one of those x-factor type players in every game and when he’s going well, it usually means the Hawkeye offense is clicking. He’s really struggled shooting the ball the last two games, so look for McCaffery to try and get him an easy bucket in one of the first possessions so he can see the ball go into the basket.
Iowa’s zone was very effective the first time around and I would bet we will see more of it this time around, along with some of the 1-3-1 press against a Northwestern team that lacks guard play.
The Hawkeyes should get control of the game in the first half and on paper this should be their easiest remaining game on the regular season schedule. IOWA 81 NORTHWESTERN 68.
Joe Weiskamp and the Hawkeyes look for the season sweep over the Wildcats.
Tom Kakert • HawkeyeReport.com
@hawkeyereport
NORTHWESTERN (12-10, 3-8) at IOWA (18-5, 7-5)
TIME: 5:30 p.m.
TV: BTN – Brandon Gaudin and Robbie Hummel on the call.
SERIES: Iowa holds a 110-60 advantage in the all-time series between the two schools. The Hawkeyes have a 68-18 edge in this series in games played in Iowa City and a 28-4 advantage in games played at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa has won five straight over Northwestern in games played in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes beat Northwestern in Evanston earlier this year, 73-63.
THE LINE: Iowa is a 9.5 point favorite.
THE NUMBERS
OFFENSE: NORTHWESTERN– 67.7 PPG, 40.9% FG, 33.3% 3 PT FG, IOWA – 81.7 PPG, 47.4% FG, 37.5% 3 PT FG.
DEFENSE: NORTHWESTERN– 64.3 PPG, 42.6% FG, 29.1% 3 PT FG. IOWA – 72.9 PPG, 44.0% FG, 31.1% 3 PT FG.
THE LINEUPS
NORTHWESTERN
6-6 guard Ryan Taylor – 11.4 points, 1.2 assists per game
6-7 forward Vic Law – 15.0 points, 6.8 rebounds per game
6-4 forward Anthony Gaines – 6.5 points, 4.5 rebounds per game
6-8 forward Aaron Falzon – 5.1 points, 1.0 rebounds per game
6-8 center Dererk Pardon – 14.0 points, 7.8 rebounds per game
IOWA
6-1 guard Jordan Bohannon – 10.9 points, 3.4 assists per game
6-5 guard Isaiah Moss – 9.3 points, 2.6 rebounds per game
6-6 guard Joe Wieskamp – 11.5 points, 4.9 rebounds per game
6-9 forward Tyler Cook – 16.4 points, 8.0 rebounds per game
6-11 center Luka Garza – 14.5 points, 4.9 rebounds per game
PLAYER TO WATCH – Joe Wieskamp – In the first meeting between the Hawkeyes and the Wildcats it was Wieskamp who put Iowa on his back for a stretch in the second half that led to a big road win. Wieskamp scored a team high 19 points in the victory and was more aggressive than normal on the offensive end of the floor. On Thursday night he showed that same level of shot making and aggression, making four three pointers on his way to 13 points at Indiana. He’s also tended to play better at home, so look for a big game from the freshman.
KEY MATCHUP – Isaiah Moss vs. Vic Law – The two Chicago area products will likely go head to head and that always adds intrigue to the game. Both players are kind of slumping a bit right now. Moss had a big game at Minnesota, but in the last two games against Michigan and Indiana, he’s 0-11 shooting and he hasn’t scored a point. Meanwhile Law had a month to forget in January, averaging just 8 points a game and shooting only 24% from the floor. Both players can fill it up pretty quickly and have a big game, so it will be interesting to see if either can get back on track.
STATS AND NOTES
Sunday is the Superhero Game. Fans can take photos with their favorite superheroes on the concourse of Carver-Hawkeye Arena between 4-5:30 p.m.
Fran McCaffery has moved to second on Iowa’s all-time win list with 169 victories following the Hawkeyes win over Indiana.
KenPom.com has Northwestern rated 66th in the country and Iowa at 23rd. The new NCAA selection committee tool, NET, which has replaced the RPI, has Iowa rated 23rd in the country and Northwestern rated 74th. KenPom.com projects Iowa winning this game, 76-67.
Jordan Bohannon and Tyler Cook were honorable mention All-Big Ten last season. Bohannon is one of three players from a major conference with more than 300 assists and 150 three pointers thru their sophomore season. He is the only player nationally in the past 25 years to have 150 assists and more than 80 three pointers in his freshman and sophomore season. Bohannon scored his 1,000th career point in the win over Ohio State. He now has 1,068 points, which is 42nd on Iowa’s all-time list. He is 68 assists from becoming the 6th Hawkeye to score 1,000 points and dish out 500 assists.
Tyler Cook is the first Iowa player in 25 years to score 15 points and pull down 5 rebounds in ten straight games. Cook pulled down his 500th career rebound in the win over Illinois. He is now the 20th player in Iowa basketball history to have 1,100 points and 500 rebounds. Cook has now scored 1,181 points in his Iowa career, which is tied for 26th on Iowa’s all-time list with Val Barnes.
Senior forward Nicholas Baer is the only player in program history to have 500 points, 500 rebounds, 100 blocks, make 100 three pointers, and 100 steals. Baer is now 9th all-time at Iowa with 111 career blocked shots.
Freshman wing Joe Wieskamp led the Hawkeyes in scoring in the first game of his college career and posted his first career double-double against Pitt in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge. Wieskamp was named Big Ten freshman of the week twice this season, including this past week.
Iowa will have three players redshirting this year. True freshman guard C.J. Fredrick and sophomore forward Jack Nunge has opted to redshirt in the 2018-19 season. After returning to action against Iowa State, junior forward Cordell Pemsl decided to have surgery to remove hardware from his knee and will now redshirt.
Iowa is 3-1 this season in games played on a Sunday. Under Fran McCaffery, Iowa is 23-28 in games played on a Sunday. The Hawkeyes are 8-2 this year in games played on the BTN. The Hawkeyes are 70-62 under Fran McCaffery in games on BTN.
THE PICK
For the first time in conference play, the Hawkeyes face a team for a second time.
Northwestern is sliding a bit, losing their last three, including falling at home to Penn State, who picked up their first conference win.
The Wildcats have been offensively challenged in recent weeks, scoring 46 and 52 points twice in the last three games. It’s hard to beat anyone with scoring outputs like that, especially in the Big Ten. Their struggles have coincided with Vic Law, their leading offensive player, struggling shooting the basketball. As mentioned earlier, he’s averaging only 8 points a game in the last month and that’s showing up in the W/L column.
One new player who is contributing in recent weeks is Aaron Falzon. He has battled quite a few injuries in his career and he’s come from deep on their bench to become a fairly consistent scorer. Falzon scored a career best 21 points in their win over Indiana last month.
Really this game is about Iowa and how they handle a relatively quick turnaround after a big road win.
Iowa won by ten points in Evanston and they are favored to repeat that on Sunday afternoon.
However, there have been times in the past where the Hawkeyes haven’t brought their best game on a quick turnaround and this will be a real test to their developing maturity this season.
The Hawkeye coaches will need to get the team ready to play out of the gate and you can bet that if Iowa comes out flat that Fran McCaffery is going to go to his bench early to try and lite a fire under his team.
We mentioned earlier that a match-up to watch would involve Isaiah Moss and Iowa really needs to get him back on track. He’s one of those x-factor type players in every game and when he’s going well, it usually means the Hawkeye offense is clicking. He’s really struggled shooting the ball the last two games, so look for McCaffery to try and get him an easy bucket in one of the first possessions so he can see the ball go into the basket.
Iowa’s zone was very effective the first time around and I would bet we will see more of it this time around, along with some of the 1-3-1 press against a Northwestern team that lacks guard play.
The Hawkeyes should get control of the game in the first half and on paper this should be their easiest remaining game on the regular season schedule. IOWA 81 NORTHWESTERN 68.
