The Iowa Hawkeyes (8-3) can extend a five-game home winning streak when they match up with the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (8-4). Action starts at 8:30 pm ET on Tuesday, Dec. 22 and can be seen on ES3.
The Hawkeyes defeated Drake 70-64 on Saturday. Mike Gesell was the team’s leading scorer with 17 points on 7-for-8 shooting. The Golden Eagles, meanwhile, are coming off a 77-64 win over Miami (OH) on Friday. Ryan Martin stood out for Tennessee Tech, recording 16 points, eight rebounds, and two assists.
Iowa is a substantial 19-point favorite at home and the Over/Under (O/U) for this matchup is set at 150 points. The Hawkeyes come into this game 8-3 Straight Up (SU) and 4-4 Against The Spread (ATS). The Hawkeyes have one of the most prolific offenses in the entire nation, averaging 82.4 points per game. Iowa is excellent from the perimeter with 103 three-pointers made (9.0 per game), the 35th-most in the country. Iowa is one of the best passing teams in the nation with an average of 18.7 assists per game. Turning to the defensive side, the Hawkeyes prevent teams from making three-pointers, ranking 44th in the nation with a .300 opponent field-goal percentage from three-point range. The Hawkeyes are the 19th-best team in the country at blocking shots, averaging 6.0 blocks per game. Iowa is very careful and attentive with the ball, averaging the 26th-fewest turnovers per game at only 10.6.
In the other locker room, the Golden Eagles head into the game with records of 2-2-1 ATS and 8-4 SU. The Golden Eagles are an excellent long-range shooting team with 97 three-point shots made (8.0 per game), ranking 50th in Division I.
This game will be the first meeting for Iowa and Tennessee Tech in recent seasons.
Predictions: SU Winner – Iowa, ATS Winner – Iowa, O/U – Over
Notes
Iowa is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games.
Iowa averages 82.4 points per game (ranked 41st). Tennessee Tech, on the other hand, allows 73.2 points per game (ranked 222nd).
Ranked 28th, the Iowa Hawkeyes have an offensive rating of 117.0. The Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles rank 180th with a defensive rating of just 101.6.
The Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles average 71.7 possessions per game and 1.108 points per possession. The Iowa Hawkeyes earn fewer possessions with 70.4, but they score more points with 1.170.
Iowa averages an effective field goal percentage of 54.6%. Tennessee Tech has not won a game this season when opponents have a similar or higher effective field goal percentage (0-4).
On average, the Iowa Hawkeyes attempt 23.0 three point field goals per game and the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles attempt 23.0. In games where they attempt at least 20 threes, Iowa has a solid 7-3 record, while Tennessee Tech is 6-4.
The seventh-ranked team in the category, Iowa has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.76 this season. Tennessee Tech ranks 99th with an A/TO of 1.21.
Iowa, the 80th-ranked team in rebounding, register an average of 39.8 rebounds per game. Tennessee Tech does worse, ranked 164th with 37.6.
The Iowa Hawkeyes make an average of 6.7 steals per game. When the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles allow 6 or more steals, they are a winning 4-2.
