The Iowa Hawkeyes, sitting at the 9-seed with a 21-11 record, are gearing up for a showdown against the 8-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes, who boast a 20-11 record. After a rocky start against Maryland, Iowa found their rhythm and are now setting their sights on a strong Ohio State squad. The Buckeyes have rebounded impressively since their loss to Iowa, notching victories against Purdue, Penn State, and Indiana, which helped them climb the conference standings and solidify their tournament credentials.
In their previous encounter, Iowa's defense was on point, limiting Ohio State to one of their least efficient offensive performances of the season. This kind of defensive prowess could be key once again. Notably, Bruce Thornton was held to just 10 points on 3-of-8 shooting, a testament to Iowa's defensive strategy.
Ohio State's John Mobley, Jr., the league's top three-point shooter, along with Amare Bynum, sparked a 14-2 run with early threes. However, Iowa responded with an impressive 33-4 run over nearly 12 minutes in the first half, effectively sealing the game early. Replicating such a performance would be a dream scenario for Ben McCollum, who is aiming for his 32nd consecutive conference tournament victory.
Outside of their previous matchup with Iowa, Ohio State is in peak form, with six of their last seven game scores surpassing 90, according to Bart Torvik's metrics. This suggests they're playing some of their best basketball as of late, making today’s contest a must-watch.
Catch the action as Iowa and Ohio State tip-off today at 11:00 AM on the Big Ten Network, live from the United Center in Chicago. For those tuning in via radio, the Hawkeye Radio Network has you covered, and live stats are available through StatBroadcast.