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Iowa Basketball: Hawkeyes Shouldn’t Take Minnesota Lightly

By Dylan Burn

Feb 11, 2016; Bloomington, IN, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Anthony Clemmons (5) drives the ball toward the basket late in the second period of the game at Assembly Hall. Indiana Hoosiers defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes 85 to 78. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2016; Bloomington, IN, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Anthony Clemmons (5) drives the ball toward the basket late in the second period of the game at Assembly Hall. Indiana Hoosiers defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes 85 to 78. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Iowa Basketball team looks to bounce back after their road loss to the Indiana Hoosiers on Thursday night.  They welcome in the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Sunday evening, who haven’t exactly been crushing it lately.

When the day is over, the Iowa Basketball team may find themselves all alone in first place in the Big Ten again.  Thanks to Wisconsin ending Maryland’s Big Ten home winning streak, the Terrapins have 3 conference losses.  If Michigan State knocks off Indiana this afternoon in East Lansing, that will give them 3 conference losses as well.

This gives Iowa a chance to take over atop the Big Ten conference again, which none of us figured would happen so soon considering how dominant Maryland has been at home.

While things look good on paper for the Hawkeyes, they shouldn’t be taking the Golden Gophers lightly.  I don’t think they will be, considering they’ve manhandled every inferior opponent they have faced inside the conference this season.  But, let’s take a look at what the Gophers bring to the table.

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Minnesota brings an 0-12 conference record into Carver Hawkeye Arena on Sunday night, but they have given top Big Ten opponents a run for their money.  In two games against Indiana, they lost by a combined 13 points.  They lost to the Spartans by 8 and the Purdue Boilermakers by 4.  So, they’ve been playing tougher opponents pretty close, it seems.  I’m not saying the game will be a close one, because I don’t think it will be, but you’re dealing with a Minnesota team that has absolutely nothing to lose right now.

They rank near the bottom portion of the Big Ten in nearly every statistical category and have lost 13 straight games.  Right now, it looks like Iowa is a 20.5 point favorite at home where they haven’t lost a game all season long.

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X FACTORS

For Minnesota, it’s Joey King.  King is about the only experienced player the Gophers have.  He’s a senior and he’s played in Iowa City a few times.  He averages about 11 points and 3 rebounds per contest, but if the Gophers hope to pull off the upset, they’ll need to King to score 15+ and collect 7 or more rebounds to even have a chance.

For Iowa, it’s Adam Woodbury again.  Woodbury had yet another double double on Thursday night in Bloomington, IN and I see no reason why he shouldn’t have another tonight.  The Gophers don’t have anyone that can keep Woodbury off the offensive glass and he could be headed for another 15 rebound game.  The Gophers rank near the bottom in rebounding defense and Woodbury is one of the better rebounders in the conference.  He should have a field day.

PREDICTION 

Iowa 82, Minnesota 65

The Hawkeyes simply have too much fire power for the Gophers in this one.  The starters won’t play big minutes and we should see a little bit of Christian Williams in this game.  King will probably draw the assignment of guarding Jarrod Uthoff and he just simply isn’t athletic enough to hold his own against Jarrod.  Iowa will send Minnesota to their 14th straight loss and they’ll remain winless in the Big Ten conference.

The game between the Hawkeyes and the Gophers will tip off tonight at 6:30 p.m. CT and will be televised on BTN.

Stay locked into Dear Old Gold for constant coverage of the Iowa Hawkeyes.

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