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Iowa Basketball: Hawkeyes Head to Champaign to Take on Illini

By Dylan Burn

Dec 7, 2015; Iowa City, IA, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes forward Jarrod Uthoff (20) goes to the basket during the second half against the Western Illinois Leathernecks at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa won 90-56. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2015; Iowa City, IA, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes forward Jarrod Uthoff (20) goes to the basket during the second half against the Western Illinois Leathernecks at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa won 90-56. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /
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With Indiana’s loss to Penn State last night, the Iowa Basketball team has the chance to become the second Big Ten team to 10 conference wins.  What do the Hawkeyes need to do to make that happen? 

The Iowa Hawkeyes take to the road this afternoon to take on the Illinois Fighting Illini.  While the Illini only hold a 3-7 conference record, it is still tough to win on the road in the Big Ten.  Indiana proved that by losing to Penn State last night inside the Bryce Jordan Center.

The Fighting Illini are a dangerous team for two reasons.  Malcolm Hill and Kendrick Nunn.  While they only have two players that really contribute, that’s all it takes sometimes to win one game.  All it would take is for the pair to combine for about 40-45 points and then get guys like Maverick Morgan and Jalen Coleman-Lands to chip in here or there.

Hill is the leading scorer in the Big Ten and Nunn ranks inside the top 10, so they have scorers.  Unfortunately for the Illini, the Hawkeyes also have two guys inside the top 10 in points per game.  Jarrod Uthoff ranks third and Peter Jok ranks 10th.  Iowa also has a much better supporting cast that the Illini.  Illinois will be minus Leron Black who is likely done for the year and Mike Thorne, who also may be done for the year.  They will, however, get Mike Finke back.  He sat out against Rutgers.

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It really seems like Iowa is going to be able to take advantage of the Illini in two different categories.  Iowa rebounds well, Illinois does not and Iowa shoots extremely well from behind the arc, while Illinois doesn’t defend the arc well at all.  The Fighting Illini rank dead last in rebounding margin during conference play at -5.

The Illini also allow teams to shoot 38% from behind the arc and the Hawkeyes currently shoot it at a 40% clip.  I see heavy doses of Jarrod Uthoff and Peter Jok from three point range and wouldn’t be surprised if the Hawkeyes run away with it this afternoon.

If Illinois is going to pull off the upset they are going to need more than Hill and Nunn.  Hill will get his fair share of points and will get to the line a lot, he has 144 makes at the free throw line this season.  Nunn is also going to get his fair share.  It’s really going to depend on how well Morgan and Coleman-Lands play.  Coleman – Lands had 26 points and Morgan had 2o points in their triple overtime win against Rutgers back on February 3rd.

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It should be a shootout tomorrow, but their is no reason Iowa shouldn’t prevail.  They’re deeper and more talented than the Illini are.  You may see some sluggishness from the Illini as well, they aren’t a very deep team and all of their starters played 40+ minutes against Rutgers.

PREDICTION: 

Iowa 85, Illinois 74.

The Hawkeyes and Illini will tip off today at Noon CT inside the State Farm Center.

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