The 13th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes will
attempt to complete the regular-season sweep of the Iowa Hawkeyes when the two
meet in Columbus today for a Big Ten Conference clash.
Iowa is in desperate need of a victory, as it has suffered three consecutive
defeats to fall to 8-15 overall and 2-8 in league play. The Hawkeyes were most
recently in action on Wednesday when they struggled at the offensive end in a
57-49 loss to Illinois. Iowa has played six true road games so far this
season, and the team has lost five of those tilts.
Ohio State has been perfect at home this season, as it has won all 14 of the
games it has played in Columbus. The Buckeyes are 17-6 overall, including 7-3
in Big Ten action, and they have won their last three outings. On Wednesday,
Ohio State defeated Penn State in a 75-62 final.
Iowa owns a 75-71 series lead over Ohio State, but the Buckeyes edged the
Hawkeyes by a score of 65-57 final on January 27th.
The Hawkeyes have been held to fewer than 50 points in back-to-back affairs,
and a lack of offensive production has plagued the team all season. Through 23
games, Iowa is scoring a mere 61.2 ppg on 41.4 percent shooting from the
floor. Defensively, the club is permitting 64.8 ppg to foes. Matt Gatens is
scoring 12.1 ppg on 36.7 percent shooting from the field, so his team-leading
output would be better if not for a lack of efficiency. Anthony Tucker is the
only double-digit scorer in the fold for the Hawkeyes, as he is netting 11.9
ppg. In the loss to Illinois last time out, Iowa connected on only 29.6
percent of its field goal attempts.
Evan Turner is scoring 18.9 ppg on 55.9 percent shooting from the floor this
season to pace Ohio State. More than just a scorer, Turner is pulling down 9.5
rpg to go along with 97 assists. William Buford provides 14.2 ppg for the
Buckeyes, while both David Lighty and Jon Diebler add 12.9 ppg. The team is
generating 74.9 ppg on 50 percent shooting from the floor, while opponents are
being limited to 61.0 ppg on 41 percent field goal efficiency. Against Penn
State last time out, Ohio State shot 50 percent from the field and earned an
18-12 edge in points from the foul line. Turner posted 27 points, 10 rebounds
and six assists for the Buckeyes, while Buford added 19 points and five
assists.
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