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Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Penn State Nittany Lions: Start Time, Stream, and Game Preview

By Dylan Burn

Feb 3, 2016; Iowa City, IA, USA; The Iowa Hawkeyes bench celebrates during the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa won 73-49. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 3, 2016; Iowa City, IA, USA; The Iowa Hawkeyes bench celebrates during the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa won 73-49. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Iowa Hawkeyes will face a tough test when they travel to state college to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions on Wednesday evening.  

This doesn’t look like a lot on paper, but if you really dig down deep, this could be a tough test for the Iowa Hawkeyes.  They travel to take on the 3-9 (in B1G play) Nittany Lions who have given teams a run for their money at home.  They played Wisconsin tough, only losing by 6, they lost to Michigan by 7, and they beat the Indiana Hoosiers.

During my day job, I tend to listen to Todd Brommelkamp and Tyler Ryder, who are the co-hosts of KGYM’s “The Afternoon Players Club”.  Well, the other day I heard TB say that Penn State’s gym has the feel of a 4A high school when the Lions are playing.  And when I thought back to every game I’ve watched on TV that have featured the Lions playing at home, I couldn’t help but agree.

They have the most bizzare form of home court advantage.  Teams like Iowa are used to playing in charged up gyms.  On the road against Maryland and Indiana are two that come to mind right off the bat.  Well, Penn State’s is the complete opposite of that.  Iowa is going to have to bring their own energy to the contest, they won’t be able to feed off of the crowd like they’re used to.

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Start Time: Wednesday, February 17th, 2016 | 5:31 p.m. CT

TV/Stream: BTN, BTN2Go (if you can get it to work. haha)

Official Game Notes: Iowa leads all time series, 28-14.

PREVIEW

As I said before, Iowa is going to have their hands full.  The last time the Hawkeyes were in first place this late into a Big Ten season was February 23rd, 2006.  With the Hawkeyes being in first place, that also brings a big target on your back.  Iowa will get Penn State’s best shot, but will Penn State get Iowa’s?

The senior class for Iowa hasn’t lost to Penn State inside the Bryce Jordan Center since they arrived on the campus of the Univerisity of Iowa.  While the Hawkeyes will look to push that record inside BJC to 4-0, the Nittany Lions will look to build on their 8-3 home record.

Penn State’s Shep Garner, who is usually a pretty consistent three point threat, is 0-16 in his last three games from beyond the arc.  This may be Garner’s breakthrough game where he hits 4 or 5.  Iowa will need to be prepared.  Iowa will need to limit Penn State’s Brandon Taylor, who leads the Nittany Lions in scoring at 16.5 points per game, and finally get that bench going.  In the last two games, Iowa has had a combined 6 points from their bench.

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It would be nice for Iowa to get out early and smother the Lions before they can even get going.  This would help get the bench involved a little bit and get their confidence back.  One I am looking at to hopefully have a big game is Nicholas Baer.  It seems as though he’s been absent over the course of the last three games or so.

Baer gave the Hawkeyes 8 points off the bench in their last meeting with Penn State.

Tune in tomorrow as the Hawkeyes look to build on their 11-2 conference record.  A win takes them one step closer to an outright Big Ten regular season title.

Stay on the lookout for a roundtable preview from Dear Old Gold tomorrow morning as the guys and I give you keys to the game.

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