Iowa Vs. Iowa State Preview, Prediction, And Live Stream: Hawkeye Length And Versatility Will Prevail In Matchup Of High Powered Offenses
ByCollege basketball's two highest scoring teams happen to share the same state and play tonight on ESPNU at 9:30.
No, not Michigan vs. Michigan State or North Carolina vs. North Carolina State. Tonight's matchup pits #23 Iowa (10-1) vs #17 Iowa State (7-0).
Called one of the "deepest and most dangerous teams in the country" by ESPN, Iowa's averaging nearly 90 points per game -- sixth in the country and just over two points away from Iowa State's leading mark of 91.7 -- but doesn't have a player averaging more than 16 points per game. Instead they have a rotation extending to ten players who average at least 15 minutes and 4.9 points per game. Not one guy averages more than the 26 minutes per game of 6-foot-6 senior swingman Roy Devyn Marble. Marble's mindset, if not his outside shot, typifies Iowa's aggressive and versatile drive-and-dish offense. They don't necessarily have a true center, but they've got size everywhere else and players with a variety of skill sets. Fans of pure offense will fall in love with this Hawkeye team.
Iowa State enters Friday night's game slightly less battle-tested than its states other major college basketball program. They did, however, unseat Michigan, earlier in the year -- a victory that gets less impressive by the game as the Wolverines have already lost three games (but they get a chance at redemption against #1 Arizona on Saturday at noon). The Cyclones have posted point totals greater than 90 in five of their seven games. They too have a deep roster supporting nine players who average at least 11 minutes. More extraordinary, three players 6-foot-6 or shorter average at least 7.8 rebounds or more and 12 points per game, including leading scorer Melvin Ejim, who also shoots the three (just under 40 percent), passes respectably (2.0 apg) and creates turnovers (1.4 spg).
Iowa may be one of the few teams uniquely qualified to guard the bullish guards and combo forwards of the Cyclones. Fortunately for Iowa State, they'll be playing at home. Still, I think the superior versatility and length of Iowa prevails tonight.
Live stream here on Watch ESPN.