Hoops Gameday: Nebraska at Iowa
Who, what, where, when
Nebraska Cornhuskers (8-7, 0-2) at Iowa Hawkeyes (11-3, 2-0)
Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016 - 8 p.m.
Carver-Hawkeye Arena
TV: BTN
Radio: Husker Sports Network
Internet: BTN2Go
| NAME | HT/WT | YEAR | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Benny Parker |
5-9/175 |
Sr. |
Had 10 points, 2 assists, 2 steals and 0 turnovers vs. Indiana |
|
Glynn Watson |
6-0/165 |
Fr. |
Scored 7 points on just 3-of-11 shooting vs. Indiana |
|
Andrew White |
6-7/216 |
Jr. |
Scored team-high 16 points in loss to IU |
|
Shavon Shields |
6-7/225 |
Sr. |
Had 10 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists vs. IU |
|
Michael Jacobson |
6-8/222 |
Fr. |
Finished with 5 points in 28 minutes vs. Indiana |
| NAME | HT/WT | YEAR | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mike Gesell |
6-2/190 |
Sr. |
Averaging 9.1 points and 6.7 assists per game |
|
Peter Jok |
6-6/200 |
Jr. |
Scoring 13.5 points per game |
|
Anthony Clemmons |
6-2/195 |
Sr. |
Averaging 8.2 ppg and 3.9 apg |
|
Jarrod Uthoff |
6-9/210 |
Sr. |
Leads team with 18.1 ppg and 6.0 rpg |
|
Adam Woodbury |
7-1/245 |
Sr. |
Averaging 8.6 ppg and 6.2 rpg |
Three keys to victory
1. Step up on D
After facing the top-scoring offense in the Big Ten just four days ago against Indiana, Nebraska will now have to try and contain the league's second-best offense tonight in Iowa. The Hawkeyes come in averaging 81.7 points per game, paced by senior Jarrod Uthoff, who ranks second in the conference with 18.1 ppg. Iowa's entire starting five is averaging at least 8.2 ppg on the year, so it's not as if focusing on Uthoff alone solves the problem. The Huskers have to be at their best defensively to keep this one from getting away from them.
2. Come out shooting
As good as Iowa has been with the basketball, it has struggled to keep opponents from scoring in bunches on the other end of the court. The Hawkeyes are currently giving up 67.7 ppg, ranking 10th in the Big Ten in scoring defense. Nebraska hasn't exactly been lighting it up offensively, averaging 73.3 ppg, but if they come out hot and are able to knock down early shots from the perimeter, there's a chance the Huskers will be able to keep pace with Iowa's potent offense.
3. As always, REBOUND
Nebraska could potentially do everything right on both ends of the floor, but if it can't find a way to rebound consistently, especially on the defensive boards, it won't stand a chance against anyone in the Big Ten. The Huskers simply cannot afford to give up second-chance points and extra possessions, especially against a scoring team like Iowa. The good news is that the Hawkeyes rank 12th in the Big Ten in defensive rebounding, so there might actually be a chance for NU to capitalize on the offensive glass if it can take advantage.
QUOTABLE
"Obviously as a coaching staff, the biggest thing is ‘Did your team play hard, and did your team play together?’ That’s kind of how you evaluate a game regardless of the outcome. I think we did both of those (vs. Indiana). (Head coach Tim Miles) was disappointed but we’re not taking any moral victories. At this point the game is over, so we need to use whatever positives we do have and carry it into the next game.”
- Junior guard Andrew White
Prediction
Iowa 76, Nebraska 61
Robin's season record: 13-2