Minnesota Golden Gophers at #14 Iowa Hawkeyes
Carver-Hawkeye Arena – Iowa City, Iowa
Sunday, January 19, 2014, 1:00 pm Eastern, TV: Big Ten Network
Opening Line: Iowa -9
Current Line: Iowa -9 1/2
Opening Total: 149 1/2
Current Total: 149
Opening Money Line: Iowa -485 / Minnesota +415
Current Money Line: Iowa -531 / Minnesota +444
The 14-3 Iowa Hawkeyes host the 14-4 Minnesota Golden Gophers Sunday in a key Big Ten match-up. Iowa is second in the conference with a 3-1 record, behind 5-0 Michigan State and Michigan. Minnesota is 3-2 in the Big Ten, and part of a three way tie for third with Wisconsin and Purdue.
Minnesota leads the series 101-91 against Iowa, but the Hawkeyes are 54-40 against the Golden Gophers in Iowa City. Iowa has won 3 of the last 4 against Minnesota. The two schools split the season series in 2013 with each winning on their own home court. The Golden Gophers won in Minneapolis 62-59 and the Hawkeyes won 72-51 in Iowa City. The two schools will play again February 25 in Minneapolis.
Minnesota is coached by Richard Pitino. The Golden Gophers have losses to Syracuse and Arkansas in the Maui Invitational, at home to Michigan and at Michigan State. Minnesota has key wins at home over Lehigh, Montana, Florida State, South Dakota State, Purdue and Ohio State 63-53 Thursday night. The Gophers have road wins over Richmond and Penn State. Minnesota is 6-7-1 ATS and the total is 5-7-1 this season.
Minnesota is outscoring teams 75-66 this season. The Golden Gophers are shooting 43.6% from the field and 34.7% from 3 point range. Minnesota is #14 nationally in free throw shooting at 75.5% from the line. Gopher opponents are shooting 41.1% from the field and 30.6% from 3 point range. Minnesota averages 37.1 rebounds per game and opponents average 30.8. The Golden Gophers average 14.4 assists, 11.7 turnovers, 8.4 steals and 4.9 blocks per game. Opponents average 12.7 assists, 13.4 turnovers, 5.5 steals, and 4.6 blocks per game.
Minnesota guard Andre Hollins averages 15.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Guard Austin Hollins (not related) averages 11.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. Guard Deandre Mathieu averages 11.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. Guard Malik Smith averages 9.9 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists. Forward Oto Osenieks (from Latvia) averages 6.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Center Elliott Eliason averages 6.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game. Joey King and Maurice Walker will also get significant minutes in the rotation. Forward Charles Buggs is questionable with an ankle injury but he averages less than 5 minutes a game.
Iowa is coached by Fran McCaffery. The Hawkeyes have losses to Villanova in the Championship game of a tournament in the Bahamas, plus road losses at Iowa State and Wisconsin. All three losses were by 5 points or less to teams currently in the top 10 of the AP poll. However, both Iowa State and Wiscconsin have lost twice this week, so they will drop when the new poll comes out Monday. Iowa has key wins over Pennsylvania, Xavier and UTEP both in the Bahamas, Notre Dame, Drake in Des Moines, Nebraska, Northwestern, and at Ohio State 84-74 last Sunday. The Hawkeyes have won 4 of their last 5 games including 2 straight. Iowa is 10-5 ATS and the total is 10-4 this season.
Iowa is outscoring teams 86-66 this season. The Hawkeyes are #5 nationally in scoring. Iowa is shooting 47.5% from the field and 37.7% from 3 point range. The Hawkeyes make 72.4% of their free throws. Opponents are shooting 36.8% from the field and 28.1% from 3 point range. The Hawkeyes are 11th or better nationally in both categories. Iowa is third nationally in rebound at 45 per game and opponents are averaging 30.6. The Hawkeyes average 17.4 assists, 11.9 turnovers, 7.2 steals and 5.6 blocks per game. Opponents average 11.9 assists, 14.3 turnovers, 6.5 steals, and 2.8 blocks per game.
Guard Roy Devyn Marble averages 16.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. Forward Aaron White averages 13.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. Forward Jarrod Uthoff averages 10.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. Forward Melsahn Basabe averages 7.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Forward Zach McCabe averages 7.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Guard Mike Gesell averages 6.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Guard Peter Jok averages 6.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Gabriel Olaseni, Adam Woodbury, Josh Oglesby, and Anthony Clemmons will also get significant time in the rotation.
Minnesota is 17-35 ATS in Sunday games, 6-13-1 against teams with winning records, 3-8-1 overall, 2-6 in Big Ten games, 3-9 against teams with winning home records, 3-10 in road games, 1-4-1 after a straight up win, and 1-4 after a cover. The last six games in this series have gone under the total. The under is 5-1 in the last 6 in iowa City between Iowa and Minnesota. The Golden Gophers are 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 trips to Iowa City.
Iowa is 4-1 ATS in Sunday games, 25-7 after a straight up win, 16-5 in Big Ten games, 6-2 against teams with winning road records, 22-8 after a cover, 19-7 against teams with winning records, 37-15 at home, and 35-16 overall. The Hawkeyes have covered the last four times against the Gophers.
Iowe has much more size than Minnesota, and the Hawkeyes also have more depth. Both teams give up around 66 points per game but Iowa scores 86 a game. Minnesota is comfortable playing in the mid 70’s. I think Iowa wins this game by double digits.
