Top 20 matchup Saturday in Philly......

[IowaNiceHawk]

According to the Sagarin Computer, both Penn state and IOWA are
Top 20 teams, currently.

But, theeeeee IOWA HAWKEYES have played a much, much
Tougher schedule. Iowa's is #31 most difficult, so far and Penn is #124;

15 Villanova = 87.22 10 2 75.84( 53) 1 2 | 2 2 | 86.32 20 | 87.15 16 | 87.66 18 BIG
16 Florida State = 87.14 12 2 74.14( 102) 0 0 | 2 1 | 86.66 19 | 87.55 15 | 86.67 22 ATLANTIC
17 Iowa = 86.99 10 3 77.17( 31) 0 2 | 3 2 | 86.19 21 | 85.78 24 | 88.83 10 BIG TEN
18 Louisville = 86.91 11 2 73.63( 125) 1 1 | 1 2 | 88.41 8 | 88.79 8 | 84.35 32 ATLANTIC COAST
19 Seton Hall = 86.76 9 4 78.14( 15) 1 2 | 1 3 | 87.80 10 | 86.60 19 | 85.58 26 BIG EAST
20 Penn State = 86.56 11 2 73.64( 124

 

[EastIowaHawk]

Penn State is going to be very tough for the Hawks on the road.

 

[hawkeyeguy69]

Sure wish it was in Happy Valley!! They will actually have fans show up in Philly.

Kind of odd, but it isn't exactly a home game for PSU. It is MUCH better than a home game for their program!

Next year we should get a Home, Home series with Penn State to level things out.

 

[IllQChawk]

Sure wish it was in Happy Valley!! They will actually have fans show up in Philly.

Kind of odd, but it isn't exactly a home game for PSU. It is MUCH better than a home game for their program!

Next year we should get a Home, Home series with Penn State to level things out.

We do...they are scheduled to play Iowa again on February 29th in Carver at 11 am.
Iowa actually gets a break and doesn't have to play in that mausoleum called Jordan Bryce Center or whatever it's called, although watching some of their home games this year attendance seems to be on the rise...

 

[BeepBeepInMyJeep]

Penn State was way better than their record last year 14-18 (7-13). They started 0-10 in Big Ten play, but then finished the second half 7-3 once they got some confidence and started closing games out. They lost only 5 games by double digits all year, whereas Iowa, who we can objectively agree was a better team, had 7 losses by double digits. The efficiency metrics showed that on full display, because they were the only team to finish in the top 50 of KenPom and NET rankings but not to play in either the NCAA tourney or the NIT. It was very smart of PSU to stick with Chambers when most people thought he'd be gone after the sub-.500 season.

So after you break it down, it's pretty clear they've been a pretty good team for a while, and Iowa will have to be very good on Saturday to get out with a win.

 

[IowaNiceHawk]

Penn State is going to be very tough for the Hawks on the road.

Isn't that what some were saying before going to Lames?

Every BIG10 road game will be tough, this year.

GO HAWKS

 

[IllQChawk]

The pressure is on Penn State, Pat Chambers has said over and over in his press conference that this game is considered a home game for them and they must win this game, it's imperative that they win this game. Sounds pretty desperate to put that kind of pressure on young men so early in the conference season. I like our chances....

 

[hawkjt]

Is Connor going to guard Stephens? Huge mismatch.
PSU is more athletic at every position except maybe pg.
Toughest game of the year,
to date.

 

[DodgerHawki]

Isn't that what some were saying before going to Lames?

Every BIG10 road game will be tough, this year.

GO HAWKS

Penn State is much better than Iowa State this year. Iowa can win, but if Iowa does win they won't be winning by 23 points in the second half like in Ames.

 

[Packer54]

Tough game no doubt but these are the kind of games we CAN win. I feel better before this hame than Michigan for sure. Must play solid defense and limit second shots. If we do I think we will take it. No time for Garza to have foul issues though. Hawks!