The Iowa Hawkeyes (8-6, 0-3 Big Ten) search for their first conference victory when the welcome the #15 Indiana Hoosiers (10-3, 1-1 Big Ten) in a Big 10 showdown. Indiana owns the all-time record in the series with a 106-80 advantage; the two teams have split the last eight contests in recent matchups.
The tipoff of Thursday’s Big 10 contest is at 9 p.m. EST inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa is a 1-point favorite, and the over/under total is 152.5 points.
What to Know – #15 Indiana Hoosiers
The Hoosiers carry a two-game winning streak into the matchup with the Hawkeyes after going 2-2 over their last four games, all non-conference. Indiana is 1-2 early in the season in road contests. Head coach Mike Woodson is in his second season as the coach of the Indiana program.
Indiana’s offense averages 79.6 points per game while shooting 50% from the floor and 36.0% from the 3-point line. The Hoosiers defense surrenders 65.6 points per game, holding opposing teams to 39.7% shooting from the field and 30.9% shooting beyond the arc. Indiana ranks 19th overall in the KenPom and 16th in the Basketball Power Index.
For the Hoosiers, Trayce Jackson-Davis does it all, leading the team in scoring (16.4 ppg), rebounding (8.2 ppg) and blocked shots (2.7 bpg). The senior is hitting 63.4% of his shots from the field, putting him near the top of individuals in the country.
Indiana is 6-6-1 against the spread to begin the year and 0-2-1 ATS in road tests. The Hoosiers own a 5-1 mark ATS in their previous six contests against the Hawkeyes.
What to Know – Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa looks to snap a three-game losing skid and capture its first Big Ten victory of the season. After a 5-0 start to the season the Hawkeyes have gone just 3-6 since. Veteran head coach Fran McCaffery is in his 13th season as the head coach of the Hawkeyes.
Offensively, Iowa pours in 81.1 points per game, hitting 44.6% of its shots from the field and 31.7% from deep. Iowa’s defense limits opponents to 71.4 points per game, 44.4% shoot from the floor, and 31.8% from three.
The Hawkeyes sit 50th in the KenPom and 41st in the BPI.
Kris Murray paces the Iowa offense leading the team in scoring, averaging 20.4 points per game. Murray is coming off a season-high 32-point effort in their last game.
The Hawkeyes are an even 7-7 ATS this season with a 6-2 record ATS on their home hardwood. Iowa is 1-4 ATS over their last five games.
The Pick is In
Iowa has been a tough team at home, but there is a cause for concern inside the Hawkeyes locker room. The Hoosiers are a tough team, and Iowa hasn’t shown us anything to get excited about in recent games.
We like Indiana to snatch an always-difficult Big Ten road win and send Iowa to a surprising 0-4 start in conference play.
The Pick: #15 Indiana Hoosiers ML
