Despite the fact No. 25 Iowa has lost three straight conference games, Sunday’s matchup against No. 5 MSU (19-3 overall, 8-3 Big Ten) at Breslin Student Events Center should still spark interest among many college basketball fans.
The matchup will feature the nation’s best individual rebounder in Hawkeyes forward Reggie Evans, averaging 12 per game, and the nation’s top rebounding team in the Spartans, who sport a 16.6 rebounding advantage over their opponents.
MSU head coach Tom Izzo said the Hawkeyes (17-7, 6-5) are still a formidable team despite the loss of guard Luke Recker, who was sidelined after Iowa’s home win against Indiana on Jan. 27 with a chipped fracture to his right kneecap.
“I think they’re one of the best rebounding teams we will play this year,” Izzo said. “They are a very aggressive team and run a lot of good things offensively. Losing Recker hurts their offense since he was a guy who would knock down a lot of open shots, but regardless I think they’ll be ready to play.”
Izzo said MSU needs to be cautious of Hawkeye guard Dean Oliver, who averages 14.3 points and a team-high 4.5 assists per game.
“Oliver is definitely one of the best point guards in the conference,” Izzo said. “If you let him get going and penetrate he’s very effective.”
Sophomore guard Jason Richardson anticipates the Hawkeyes to play aggressively against a Spartan defense that has given up 36 three-pointers in the past three games.
“Iowa has some guys like Oliver who can penetrate to the basket,” Richardson said. “I really think they are going to do that against us since our defense has been lacking a little intensity as of late. We have been working on improving that this week in practice, so hopefully we’ll be ready.”
Sunday’s game also features two players with local ties, Iowa forward Cortney Scott and freshman guard Marcus Taylor, who were teammates on Lansing Waverly High’s Class A state championship team last season.
Scott is averaging 2.9 points and 2.4 rebounds on the season, while Taylor is averaging 7.4 points and 1.6 rebounds.
Taylor said he looks forward to the much-anticipated matchup between the two former high school teammates.
“I haven’t really talked to him much since he left for school since we both have been so busy,” Taylor said. “I’m really happy that he’s doing well, it seems like he’s in a really good situation at Iowa.
“We are going to talk a little bit before the game starts, but once the game starts, we are going to get down to business.”
