Iowa basketball: Hawks take on UNI Panthers tomorrow evening

The men’s Iowa basketball team is back in action tomorrow as they square off vs the UNI Panthers in the Big Four Classic. Here is a preview.

It’s been over a week since the Iowa basketball team took the court and promptly took care of business against in-state rival Iowa State. A week later, they are getting ready to take on another in-state team, the Northern Iowa Panthers in the annual (and soon to be over) Big Four Classic.

Unlike previous seasons, the Northern Iowa Panthers are not quite the formidable opponent they have been in the past. A year after suffering through their worst season in the MVC in the Ben Jacobson era, the Panthers were hoping to rebound in 2018. So far, the results have been mixed, and the Panthers have limped out to a disappointing 4-5 record through nine games this season.

That being said, that’s within expectations from an outsider’s perspective. Prior to the season, Busting Brackets had Northern Iowa finishing seventh in the MVC this season.

Either way, the Iowa basketball team cannot overlook this team for a two reasons.

First, they’ve struggled out of the gate against weaker teams, allowing them to stay in the game longer then they should have and it’s almost cost them (i.e. Pitt).

Second, the Panthers are not devoid of talent. They are led by four-star freshman guard A.J. Green who is currently leading the team in points (15.8) and assists (1.4) per game. When a team has a guy like that, they can always be dangerous if he gets hot.

Now that we’ve discussed two reasons why the Panthers could theoretically compete, let’s be honest. This should be a blowout.

The Iowa basketball team holds a significant size advantage (only one of UNI’s top eight scorers is over 6’5”) and a significant talent advantage over the Panthers. I could go into details like Iowa has four former four-star recruits compared to UNI’s one but the situation should speak for itself. The Hawks are a big-time school that is ranked in the top-25 and the Panthers are a small school competing in the weakened Missouri Valley Conference.

Moreover, the Panther are ranked 179th in the KenPom ratings where as the Hawkeyes are coming in at 38th.

The key matchup will be whoever guards AJ Green. Stop him and stop the Panthers. Not only is he leading the team is scoring but he doubles the next closest guy in ball possession time and shots. It’ll be interesting to see who Fran places on him but my guess is a combo of Isaiah Moss/Joe Wieskamp.

Tip off for this game is at 6 PM CST and will take place at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.