NCAA BK

Sat, Mar 2, 2013 - 7:30 PM ET
Game Preview
 

Iowa-Indiana Preview

Share This Story

Updated Mar 1, 2013 12:09 PM ET
     
 

Indiana still owns control of first place in the Big Ten, but things just got a little tighter. The top-ranked Hoosiers might not be able to afford another misstep if they are to win their first outright league title since 1993.

They'll try to avoid a second consecutive upset loss Saturday at home against Iowa, which nearly knocked off Indiana to begin conference play.

The Hoosiers (24-4, 12-3) entered this week 1 1/2 games ahead of second-place Michigan State and two ahead of Wisconsin, but that lead has dropped to one over both teams. The Spartans have yet to play this week and the Badgers routed Nebraska on Tuesday, the same night Indiana had a four-game winning streak snapped with a 77-73 road loss to a Minnesota team which had lost eight of 11.

"Winning the Big Ten was going to be tough whether we won today or lost," said Victor Oladipo, the conference leader in field-goal percentage at 63.3. "We knew it was going to be tough from the jump. Now it's even tougher. But I think my team is ready for it. We just have to go back and see what we did wrong and correct it."

What happened to the Hoosiers was uncharacteristic - they were largely outmuscled. Averaging a plus-8.2 rebounding margin this season, Indiana was beaten on the glass 44-30 and outscored in the paint 40-22.

Perhaps most glaring, though, were the struggles of Cody Zeller, who along with Oladipo was recently named a finalist for Naismith Player of the Year. Ranked among the top three in the conference in scoring, rebounding and field-goal percentage, Zeller shot 2 of 9 for nine points with a career high-tying four turnovers.

He had averaged 18.3 points in his previous seven games.

"Cody's certainly capable of a lot," coach Tom Crean said, "and I think he'll bounce back just fine."

Indiana would like to see Zeller return to the form he displayed New Year's Eve in the first meeting with Iowa, when he finished 7 of 12 for 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. The Hawkeyes (18-10, 7-8), though, kept that game close throughout before losing 69-65.

They've won four of five but have yet to beat a ranked team, going 0-5 against Top 25 foes with three losses by four points or fewer.

Coach Fran McCaffery's squad bounced back from a loss at lowly Nebraska with a 58-48 home win over Purdue on Wednesday despite being without starting point guard Mike Gesell. The freshman missed his first game with a right foot injury and isn't expected to return until the Big Ten tournament.

Gesell is averaging 9.0 points, 2.9 assists and 1.2 steals.

"Anytime you lose a guy of his caliber, everybody has got to step up. It can't be one person," McCaffery said. " ... We're not a team that is going to play seven guys and one guy goes down, 'Now what do we do?'

"We'll be happy when he comes back, but right now we've got other guys that can play, let's go play."

Iowa's league-best 3-point defense (28.9 percent) will try to clamp down on an Indiana team which is among the best in the country from beyond the arc at 42.6 percent. The Hoosiers have made at least seven 3s in 10 straight games, and Jordan Hulls and Christian Watford are the conference's most accurate 3-point shooters at 50.0 and 49.5 percent, respectively.

In the first matchup, Indiana hit 4 of 14 3-point attempts.

The Hawkeyes hope for a better performance from leading scorer Devyn Marble (14.0 ppg), who was 1 of 14 from the field in the first meeting. He's averaged 18.8 points over the past five games.

Tagged: Iowa, Indiana

Related Stories

Member Comments

Please note by clicking on "Post comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be Polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.

powered by


Trending Now

Stories | Photos | Lists | Videos

NCAA BK Videos

Kansas lands top recruit Posted: May 14, 2013
Reid Forgrave on Kansas landing top recruit Andrew Wiggins. Find out if he think...

Burke bolts for NBA after 2 season Posted: Apr 14, 2013
Wooden Award winning guard Trey Burke talks about opting to head to the NBA afte...

Zeller to enter NBA draft Posted: Apr 11, 2013
Hear what Indiana's Cody Zeller has to say about entering the NBA draft.

MORE FOXSPORTS VIDEO »

Fox Sports Store

    itemName itemURL imageSrc price itemDescription
    Nike Florida Gators #1 Replica Elite Basketball Jersey - Black http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Florida_Gators/browse/featuredproduct/885881/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_885000/ff_885881_xl.jpg&w=100 74.95 Nike Florida Gators #1 Replica Elite Basketball Jersey - Black
    Nike Georgetown Hoyas #22 Hyper Elite Road Performance Jersey - Navy Blue http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Georgetown_Hoyas/browse/featuredproduct/1030243/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1030000/ff_1030243_xl.jpg&w=100 119.95 Nike Georgetown Hoyas #22 Hyper Elite Road Performance Jersey - Navy Blue
    Nike Duke Blue Devils #5 Tourney Takeover Replica T-Shirt - Duke Blue http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Duke_Blue_Devils/browse/featuredproduct/1032710/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1032000/ff_1032710_xl.jpg&w=100 27.95 Nike Duke Blue Devils #5 Tourney Takeover Replica T-Shirt - Duke Blue
    Nike Oregon Ducks X-Ray Ball T-Shirt - Green http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Oregon_Ducks/browse/featuredproduct/1052002/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1052000/ff_1052002_xl.jpg&w=100 24.95 Nike Oregon Ducks X-Ray Ball T-Shirt - Green
    Nike Ohio State Buckeyes Road Warrior Tri-blend T-Shirt - Scarlet http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Ohio_State_Buckeyes/browse/featuredproduct/1052645/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1052000/ff_1052645_xl.jpg&w=100 29.95 Nike Ohio State Buckeyes Road Warrior Tri-blend T-Shirt - Scarlet
    Indiana Hoosiers 2013 NCAA Men\'s Basketball Road to March Madness T-Shirt - Crimson http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Indiana_Hoosiers/browse/featuredproduct/1124528/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1124000/ff_1124528_xl.jpg&w=100 19.95 Indiana Hoosiers 2013 NCAA Men\'s Basketball Road to March Madness T-Shirt - Cri..
    adidas Louisville Cardinals 2013 March Madness #10 Premier Swingman Jersey - Red http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Louisville_Cardinals/browse/featuredproduct/1127200/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1127000/ff_1127200_xl.jpg&w=100 89.95 adidas Louisville Cardinals 2013 March Madness #10 Premier Swingman Jersey - Red
    adidas Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2013 March Madness #45 Premier Swingman Jersey - White http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Notre_Dame_Fighting_Irish/browse/featuredproduct/1127218/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1127000/ff_1127218_xl.jpg&w=100 89.95 adidas Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2013 March Madness #45 Premier Swingman Jersey ..
    Nike Gonzaga Bulldogs March Madness Bracketville T-Shirt - Navy Blue http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Gonzaga_Bulldogs/browse/featuredproduct/1155821/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1155000/ff_1155821_xl.jpg&w=100 24.95 Nike Gonzaga Bulldogs March Madness Bracketville T-Shirt - Navy Blue
    Top of the World Miami Hurricanes 2013 NCAA ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament Champions Adjustable Hat – Green http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Miami_Hurricanes/browse/featuredproduct/1177723/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1177000/ff_1177723_xl.jpg&w=100 25.95 Top of the World Miami Hurricanes 2013 NCAA ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament Cham..
Microsoft© 2013 Microsoft