PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* NCAAB Game of the YEAR >> Top Play of 2016-17!
(NCAAB) Iowa vs. Minnesota,
Point Spread: 6.50 | -106.00 Iowa (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: 6.50 | -106.00 Iowa (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The 14-10 Iowa Hawkeyes have won three straight Big Ten games to reach 6-5 in conference play and now head to 16-7 Minnesota. The Gophers haven't been very 'golden' as of late, as Saturday's win over Illinois snapped a five-game losing streak and leaves them at just 4-6 in Big Ten action.
Iowa: The first two of Iowa's wins in its three-game streak came with its best player sidelined. 6-6 guard Jok (20.6 & 5.8) sat out wins over Ohio State and Rutgers with a back injury but played 30 minutes in an 81-70 win over Nebraska, scoring 12 points while adding five rebounds and five assists. Stepping up big time in his absence has been freshman PG Bohannon (9.4 & 4.5 APG), who has averaged 14.7 PPG in Iowa's three-game streak. The 6-9 Cook (11.9 & 4.8) is the only other Iowa player averaging double digits, but Bohannon leads a group of seven players contributing from 4.7-to-9.4 PPG. Notables in that group are 6-8 freshman Pernsl (9.1 & 4.9) and 6-7 sophomore Baer (6.7 & 6.2).
Minnesota. The Gophers won the NIT in Richard Pitino's first season at Minnesota (25-13) in 2013-14 but followed with just an 18-15 record the following year (6-12 in Bg Ten play) and then last season's 'nightmare,' with the Gophers going 8-23, including 2-16 in the Big Ten. Those struggles seemed behind them when Minnesota opened 15-2 this season (3-1 in Big Ten) but then five straight Big Ten losses (before Saturday's win), has tGophers in trouble. Pitino does have a very balanced team, with four guards averaging in double digits (Mason at 14.0 PPG and 5.3 APG leads the group) plus a solid trio up front in the 6-6 Murphy (9.4 & 7.3), the 6-10 Lynch (8.8 & 6.1) and the 6-9 Curry (5.6 & 4.7). However, the team is just not 'clicking!'
The pick: Pitino hardly owns an edge over Iowa's Fran McCaffrey, who led Siena to three straight NCAA appearances before taking over in Iowa for the 2010-11 season. He got off to a rough start but has led the Hawkeyes to four straight 20-win seasons and into the "Big Dance" in each of the last three seasons. Iowa is starting to 'smell' an at-large berth again this year and slumping Minnesota won't derail them down in this one. I like teh Hawkeyes SU in this one so with all therse points, make Iowa a 10* play.
Iowa: The first two of Iowa's wins in its three-game streak came with its best player sidelined. 6-6 guard Jok (20.6 & 5.8) sat out wins over Ohio State and Rutgers with a back injury but played 30 minutes in an 81-70 win over Nebraska, scoring 12 points while adding five rebounds and five assists. Stepping up big time in his absence has been freshman PG Bohannon (9.4 & 4.5 APG), who has averaged 14.7 PPG in Iowa's three-game streak. The 6-9 Cook (11.9 & 4.8) is the only other Iowa player averaging double digits, but Bohannon leads a group of seven players contributing from 4.7-to-9.4 PPG. Notables in that group are 6-8 freshman Pernsl (9.1 & 4.9) and 6-7 sophomore Baer (6.7 & 6.2).
Minnesota. The Gophers won the NIT in Richard Pitino's first season at Minnesota (25-13) in 2013-14 but followed with just an 18-15 record the following year (6-12 in Bg Ten play) and then last season's 'nightmare,' with the Gophers going 8-23, including 2-16 in the Big Ten. Those struggles seemed behind them when Minnesota opened 15-2 this season (3-1 in Big Ten) but then five straight Big Ten losses (before Saturday's win), has tGophers in trouble. Pitino does have a very balanced team, with four guards averaging in double digits (Mason at 14.0 PPG and 5.3 APG leads the group) plus a solid trio up front in the 6-6 Murphy (9.4 & 7.3), the 6-10 Lynch (8.8 & 6.1) and the 6-9 Curry (5.6 & 4.7). However, the team is just not 'clicking!'
The pick: Pitino hardly owns an edge over Iowa's Fran McCaffrey, who led Siena to three straight NCAA appearances before taking over in Iowa for the 2010-11 season. He got off to a rough start but has led the Hawkeyes to four straight 20-win seasons and into the "Big Dance" in each of the last three seasons. Iowa is starting to 'smell' an at-large berth again this year and slumping Minnesota won't derail them down in this one. I like teh Hawkeyes SU in this one so with all therse points, make Iowa a 10* play.
