By James Kay
While the regular season has technically started, the real battle will begin when the Hawkeyes take on their Big Ten foes.
The Hawkeyes (8-3) have shown they are a team capable of competing against the best of the best. That being said, Iowa will be tested the next few weeks while the rest of us sport our Santa hats and eggnog mustaches. Here is what you need to know heading into the Big Ten season.
Illinois ranks 13th in the conference in points per game (61.3)
While Illinois isn’t the worst in the conference in generating offense (Rutgers is only averaging 49.7 points a game), the Illini don’t pose much of a challenge to the Hawkeyes.
To put in perspective how bad this offense is, Illinois has scored 414 fewer points than No. 4 Maryland while playing the same number of games.
When they play the Hawkeyes: Dec. 28
Nebraska holds its opponents to .285 from 3-point range.
Nebraska has done well guarding the perimeter so far this season, which could be troubling for the Hawkeyes. In the last three games, Iowa has shot 56 percent from deep and has relied on hitting 3s to get its offense going. Look for each team’s backcourt duke it out in this matchup.
When they play the Hawkeyes: Dec. 31
Penn State ranks last in the Big Ten in blocks per game
Despite having a 6-4 center and two 6-3 power forwards, Penn State has had trouble on defense blocking their opponent’s shots.
Any team that hopes to win against the Hawkeyes will have to contain sophomore Megan Gustafson on the boards and in the paint. Gustafson has made a point to exploit lazy frontcourts and has a plethora of post moves she can use on any given play.
When they play the Hawkeyes: Jan. 3
No. 4 Maryland has a plus-37.2-point differential
Maryland is 10-0 so far this season, and its dominance on both ends of the court is a big reason that.
The Terrapins average 92.5 points a game while holding their opponents to a mere 53.6 points a game. One of the reasons is that they shoot the ball .516 as a team.
When they play the Hawkeyes: Jan. 14
Rutgers ranks last in defensive rebounds
Rutgers hasn’t performed well for many reasons, but not hitting the boards on defense is the biggest one.
Great defense leads to good offense, and when you have a proclivity for allowing your opponents to stomp all over you on your end of the floor, there is no hope of winning.
The Hawkeyes had 22 second-chance points against Robert Morris. They want the same production when they face Rutgers.
When they play the Hawkeyes: Jan. 17
Minnesota ranks last in scoring defense
The Gophers have plenty of firepower on offense in Carlie Wagner, who averages 19.1 points a game. The problem is that they can’t play defense.
Minnesota allows 74. 1 points a game and is only one of four teams in the Big Ten to have a negative scoring margin (-2.5). The Gophers will have a hard time getting things going against a Hawkeye defense that ranks second in the conference in points allowed.
When they face the Hawkeyes: Jan. 21
