It figures to be a high-scoring affair as the No. 16-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes (20-9) visit Michigan to play the Wolverines (20-10). The game gets underway at 8:00 pm ET on Saturday, Mar. 5 and will air on BTN.
The Wolverines lost to Wisconsin 68-57 the last time they played. Duncan Robinson had a good game for Michigan, finishing with 10 points, two assists, and one steal. The Hawkeyes, meanwhile, are coming off a tough 81-78 loss at the hands of Indiana in their last outing. Jarrod Uthoff had a good shooting night, leading the team with 18 points.
This matchup figures to be a high-scoring affair as Michigan ranks 23rd in the nation in offensive efficiency (115.0), while Iowa is 28th (114.6). Moreover, the Hawkeyes are among the nation’s elite on the offensive backboards, ranking 30th in OR% at 32.6%. But the Wolverines rank 18th at corralling defensive rebounds with a DR% of 74.0%.
This will be the second matchup of the season between these two teams. The Hawkeyes won the first game 82-71. Uthoff was a standout player in the game, producing 23 points, four rebounds, one assist, one steal, one block, and two three-pointers.
The Wolverines are attempting to build on their records of 20-10 Straight Up (SU) and 15-14 Against The Spread (ATS). They are 3-7 ATS over their last 10 games. Michigan has been steady from the free throw line, shooting a superb .738. The Wolverines, sporting the 10th-best assist-to-turnover ratio in Division I (1.52), have proven themselves to be an extremely efficient offensive team.
On the other side, the Hawkeyes head into the game with records of 14-13 ATS and 20-8 SU. During the last 10 games, they averaged 70.7 PPG, below their 78.8 PPG season average. When it comes to making good decisions with the ball, not many are better than the Hawkeyes. They have one of the top assist-to-turnover ratios in the country at 1.54.
Iowa beat Michigan in their most recent meeting this season, but Michigan still leads the head-to-head record, 6-4 SU, over their most recent matchups. However, with a 6-4 record, Iowa has the advantage ATS. When it comes to field goals, rebounds, and three-pointers, Michigan and Iowa each held the edge in all three of these categories once in the last five meetings.
Predictions: SU Winner – Iowa, ATS Winner – Iowa
Notes
Michigan scores an average of just 75.4 points per game (ranked 104th). Iowa ranks 93rd in points allowed, giving up 69.0 points per game.
Michigan scores just 77.0 points per home game (ranked 130th). Iowa ranks 95th in points allowed on the road, giving up 72.3 points.
In its last game, Iowa lost by a margin of three points. Michigan is 1-0 in games decided by a margin of three points or less. Iowa has a 1-2 record in close games.
The Iowa Hawkeyes rank 28th for their offensive rating of 114.6. The Michigan Wolverines have a defensive rating of 102.3 (ranked 49th).
Michigan has an average field goal percentage of 47.7%. Iowa is a losing 1-4 when opponents have a similar or higher field goal percentage.
The Michigan Wolverines and the Iowa Hawkeyes both rank higher in average effective field goal percentage when compared to their field goal percentages. Michigan is 29th and ninth in the nation for FG% and eFG% respectively, while Iowa is 120th and 106th in these categories.
Michigan ranks 74th in assists, recording 15.0 per game. Iowa ranks 45th with 15.8 assists per game.
Iowa, the 32nd-ranked team in blocked shots, registers an average of 5.0 per game. Michigan does worse, ranked 316th with 2.2.
Michigan ranks 339th in offensive rebounds, while Iowa ranks 90th in defensive rebounds.
The Michigan Wolverines make an average of 5.6 steals per game. The Iowa Hawkeyes are 12-8 when they allow 5 or more steals.
