Minnesota Golden Gophers at Iowa Hawkeyes, Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City, IA
Sunday, February 13, 2011, 6:05 pm Eastern, TV: Big Ten Network
Opening Line: Iowa -1 1/2
Current Line: Minnesota -1
Opening Total: 136 1/2
Current Total: 136
Money Line: Minnesota -115 / Iowa -105
Minnesota beat Iowa 69-59 in Minneapolis January 16, as part of a four game winning streak for the Gophers. how things have changed. The Gophers are now on a 4 game losing streak and have dropped out of the top 25 (or at least they will when the new polls come out tomorrow.) Minnesota now travels to Iowa desperate for a conference win to stop the 4 game skid. Minnesota is 18-6 overall and 5-7 in Conference. The Iowa Hawkeyes are 10-14 overall and 3-9 in the Big Ten under first year coach Fran McCafferey. The Hawkeyes nearly upset Wisconsin at home 62-59 in overtime Wednesday night. Minnesota lost 71-62 at home against Illinois Thursday night. Minnesota has wins over North Carolina, West Virginia, Indiana, Purdue, Michigan and Northwestern. They have losses to Virginia, Wisconsin, Michigan St, Ohio St twice, Purdue and Indiana. Iowa has wins over Alabama, Northern Iowa, Drake, Indiana twice, and Michigan St. The Hawkeyes opened Big Ten play 0-6 but are playing better right now as they are 3-3 in their last 6 conference games. Iowa has losses to South Dakota St, Xavier, Long Beach St, Wake Forest, Iowa St, Illinois, Ohio St twice, Purdue, Norhtwestern, Penn St and Michigan.
Minnesota leads the overall series 94-81 against Iowa. Minnesota has won the last 5 in the series since Tubby Smith took over the program. The Gophers are 3-1 ATS in the last 4 games against Iowa. The Gophers are 8-19 ATS on the road the last 3 seasons. The Gophers are 2-10 in road games off a loss to a conference rival the last three seasons.
Minnesota guard Al Nolan is out until at least the Big Ten tournament (and maybe the season) with a broken foot. Nolan averages 8.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and leads the team in steals with 2.4 a game. It is no coincidence that the Gophers went on their losing streak the game after Nolan went down with the injury. Three Gophers average double figure scoring. Guard Devoe Joseph left the team and transferred to Oregon. He was averaging 11.3 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.3 rebounds a game, but he only played in 8 games for the Gophers. Guard Blake Hoffarber averages 14.2 points to lead the team, 3.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists to lead the team, and 1 steal a game. Forward Trevor Mbakwe is averaging 13.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1 steal and 1.7 blocks a game. He leads the team in rebounds. Junior forward/center Ralph Sampson III averages 11.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and leads the team in blocks with 2.2 a game. Minnesota is outscoring opponents 72-68 on the season. The Gophers are shooting 46.1% from the field and 32.9% from 3-point range. Minnesota is holding opponents to 39.7% shooting from the field. Minnesota makes 64.9% from the free throw line. Minnesota pulls down 39 rebounds a game and has a rebounding margin of +5. The Gophers average 15.8 assists and 13.8 turnovers a game. They force 12.1 turnovers a game on defense. Minnesota averages 7.1 steals and 6 blocks a game on defense.
Iowa has no significant injuries. They are led by junior guard Matt Gatens. Gatens is averaging 12.8 points to lead the team, 2.4 rebounds, 2 assists, and he leads the team in steals with 1.5 a game. Guard Bryce Cartwright averages 11 points, 2.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists to lead the team, and 1 steal a game.Freshman forward Melsahn Basabe is averaging 10.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks a game. He is the teams leading rebounder and shot blocker. Guard/forward Eric May averages 9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.4 steals a game. Iowa is outscoring opponents 68-67 on the season. The Hawkeyes are shooting 44.4% from the field and 33.6% from 3-point range. Iowa opponents are shooting 43.2% from the field. Iowa makes 67.4% of their free throws. They average 35.2 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of +1.9. The Hawkeyes average 13.6 assists and 14.6 turnovers a game. The Hawkeyes force 15.1 turnovers a game on defense. Iowa averages 7.2 steals and 3.1 blocks a game.
Minnesota is missing Both Nolan and Joseph especially on offense. Since Nolan went down Minnesota has yet to score over 70 points in a game. They were averaging just under 78 points a game before Nolan was injured and now are only scoring 66 points a game. That is a big difference when you are giving up almost 72 points a game since Nolan was injured. Minnesota has won 2 times in a row at Iowa, and are desperate for a win in the Big Ten. Minnesota is probably pretty safe as far as the NCAA tournament goes, but a 4 game losing streak doesn’t help their chances any.
Our college basketball handicappers are red hot in 2011. Don’t miss out on any more winners this season.
