MBB: Bears in Iowa tonight
The Hawkeyes enter tonight’s game after a 82-68 Saturday win over Drake which improved their record to 6-5 this season. Tonight will be the Bears’ first game since the 7-point Arkansas State loss. In that game, LaQuentin Miles only scored three second-half points was held seven points below his average.
Iowa’s only quality win so far has been over Drake. On the other hand, UCA’s only win over a team with an RPI better than 200 was against Eastern Illinois. And if you’re wondering who UCA’s next opponent is – well, it’s Drake on Wednesday night.
Iowa plays 8-10 guys a night and has gotten balance throughout the stat sheet this season. Eight players average more than six points and only one, Matt Gatens, is averaging double-figures. Gatens is a 6-5 senior guard that’s averaging 14ppg. The same is also true of rebounding. The Hawkeyes have just one guy averaging more than 5 a game, but they are still out-rebounding their competition.
They have three guys who are 6-9+ but those guys are currently deeper on the bench. But this isn’t the same UCA team that’s been trotting out undersized players. With Tidwell, Henson, Borden and especially Harks as of late, we have some 6-8+ bodies to throw out there.
It will be important for UCA to take smart 3-pt chances (shooting an abysmal 23% so far) and limit Zach McCabe’s opportunities behind the arc. Equally important is keeping Gatens off the free throw line where he’s an 88.6% shooter.
