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I have some fantastic news Vol fans (well, if you like me that is). I managed to pull some strings and will be completely clear to watch the NCAA Tournament this week. That means I will do whatever I can to provide coverage for this week: Pre-game reports, post game reports etc. I will give primers against Tennessee's opponents throughout the week as far as they advance. I hope Wednesday to have a complete breakdown of Tennessee's region also. Today we will do a breakdown of Iowa, Tennessee's opponent on Wednesday night, in the form of ten questions. All stats are from statsheet.com, an excellent website for basketball stats.
1. Who is Iowa, and what have they done this year?
Iowa wasn't exactly a big name this year, but most people figure this was a tournament team to start the year. Coach Fran McCaffery is in his fourth year, and has built Iowa back to respectability with their first tournament appearance since 2006. Iowa spent some weeks in the top 25 this season but faded. They started out hot, winning their first seven games and going 15-3 through the first two-thirds of the season. However in their last 12 games of the regular season, they went 4-8 with bad losses to Indiana and Illinois. They then were upset by Northwestern in the Big Ten tournament and haven't won in two weeks. Iowa is a cold team right now.
2. What kind of offensive style does Iowa play?
Iowa runs and runs and runs and runs and scores and scores and scores. They led the Big Ten in possessions per 40 minutes with 71, and also top 40 in the country overall. Not only can they score and push the pace, they are very efficient offensively, scoring 115.5 points per 100 possessions, top fifteen in the country. They don't shoot a lot of three's (11th in the Big Ten), but will attack the basket. They were 20th in the country in free throw attempts. Iowa is a driving team. They don't have much of a post presence scoring wise, but have athletic wings that can create their own shot in a myriad of ways and love to attack the paint.
3. What kind of defensive style does Iowa play?
Iowa doesn't have a great defense, but it's above average. They were 60th in points per 100 possessions on defense by giving up 98.7 points. Despite Iowa's fast paced offense, they don't force turnovers and only have a decent defensive rebounding percentage. They play mostly man, but Fran McCaffery will mix his defenses and play some zone. They also occasionally press and I wouldn't be surprised if they brought it out against Tennessee. One thing to watch is that Iowa gives up a good amount of three point shots. They don't have an elite shot blocker, so they pack the paint in force teams to shoot outside. Iowa's opponents score 30% of their points from three point range, but they did a solid job (top 100 in three point defense field goal percentage) making sure teams are not efficient. I'm interested to see how Iowa defends Jordan McRae.
4. Who is Iowa's best player?
Roy Devyn Marble is a 6'6 senior wing that can score, pass, and defend. He isn't the most efficient scorer, but he can drive and create his own shot. He can shoot the three ball at 36.4% and shoots 4.5 per game. What separates Marble from most wing players is his assist percentage at 23.3%, which is excellent for a wing. Marble is also a very good defender, using his length to steal the ball (two per game) and hound people from the perimeter. Marble's weakness is that he settles too much for the jump shot. If you stop him from getting to the paint and close out on his three point shots, he will take contested jumpers and become inefficient.
5. Who is the toughest matchup for Tennessee?
How about a 6'9/220 wing who is an inside-outside player that can create his own shot and is the most efficient scorer in the Big Ten? Aaron White led the Big Ten in effective field goal percentage and true shooting percentage, which is not easy to do for a wing player. He can drive from the perimeter, pull up for a jump shot, and thrives in the post against smaller defenders. He isn't much of a threat to shoot from three (only averaging 1 attempt per game at 27%) but he can hit the high post and baseline jump shot from the 15-18 feet range. Coach Cuonzo Martin will most likely put Richardson on him to start the game, using him and Moore against White, but they both give up length and strength against White. Jeronne Maymon doesn't have the quickness to stop White. When Iowa goes to a small ball lineup with White at the four, UT will be at a disadvantage. That means you SHOULD see either A) Armani Moore at the 4 and B) Tennessee using their 1-3-1 zone.
6. How deep is Iowa's bench?
About as deep a bench in college basketball as you can find. Iowa has eleven guys that played at least twenty games and 9 minutes per game this year, with only one player going 30 minutes a night. Iowa runs and keeps their guys fresh. They had five guys start thirty games, so their starting guys are set. They have some size from their bench, with Gabriel Olaseni, Jarrod Uthoff, and Zach McCabe being 6'10, 6'8, and 6'7 respectively and all averaging over 15 minutes a game.
7. Who is the bench player to watch for Iowa?
Josh Oglesby can flat out shoot the basketball. He averages close to 4 three point attempts a game and he shot 40.5% from outside the perimeter, almost all of that coming against Big Ten opponents since he didn't play the first 12 games of the year. It will be highly important to contain him and make sure he doesn't get open looks. If he does, it will be a long night for Tennessee.
8. What is Iowa's biggest strength?
Iowa moves the ball well, but what they do best is attack the paint when the defense isn't set and rotate the basketball. They have a top 50 assist percentage and do a great job spreading the basketball around. With their length (their starters go 6'1/6'6/6'9/6'7/7'1) they finish around the basket extremely well. Tennessee must rotate and force Iowa to take outside jump shots in order to win.
9. What is Iowa's biggest weakness?
They turn the ball over 16% of the time. It's not that big of a deal for a team that moves up and down the court, but at the same time they can get lazy with the basketball. Tennessee needs to take advantage of this by trapping a little bit more and attacking on offense when they get turnovers.
10. What is a secret about Iowa that Tennessee must realize?
They rebound the basketball extremely well on the offensive end. They were 14th in the country in offensive rebound percentage and they can get easy points using that. Tennessee is a top ten rebounding team in the country and they should be fine. But if they don't put in the effort on the glass then Tennessee will lose. It's already difficult enough to stop Iowa on offense. That's why it is highly important to limit their opportunities.
Bonus: So Z, what worries you most about Tennessee taking on Iowa?
Their ability to drive the ball to the basket and spread you out. Iowa isn't a great half court offense, but Tennessee has to stay in front of Iowa to win. Aaron White is a matchup nightmare and Roy Devyn Marble can do so many different things on offense. Iowa isn't a great three point shooting team but they can get hot and be unstoppable on offense if their perimeter shots are falling. Tennessee must rotate correctly, play pack line defense to stop Iowa's paint drives, and make sure they close out to shooters. If they can do that, it will be a good night for Tennessee.
1. Who is Iowa, and what have they done this year?
Iowa wasn't exactly a big name this year, but most people figure this was a tournament team to start the year. Coach Fran McCaffery is in his fourth year, and has built Iowa back to respectability with their first tournament appearance since 2006. Iowa spent some weeks in the top 25 this season but faded. They started out hot, winning their first seven games and going 15-3 through the first two-thirds of the season. However in their last 12 games of the regular season, they went 4-8 with bad losses to Indiana and Illinois. They then were upset by Northwestern in the Big Ten tournament and haven't won in two weeks. Iowa is a cold team right now.
2. What kind of offensive style does Iowa play?
Iowa runs and runs and runs and runs and scores and scores and scores. They led the Big Ten in possessions per 40 minutes with 71, and also top 40 in the country overall. Not only can they score and push the pace, they are very efficient offensively, scoring 115.5 points per 100 possessions, top fifteen in the country. They don't shoot a lot of three's (11th in the Big Ten), but will attack the basket. They were 20th in the country in free throw attempts. Iowa is a driving team. They don't have much of a post presence scoring wise, but have athletic wings that can create their own shot in a myriad of ways and love to attack the paint.
3. What kind of defensive style does Iowa play?
Iowa doesn't have a great defense, but it's above average. They were 60th in points per 100 possessions on defense by giving up 98.7 points. Despite Iowa's fast paced offense, they don't force turnovers and only have a decent defensive rebounding percentage. They play mostly man, but Fran McCaffery will mix his defenses and play some zone. They also occasionally press and I wouldn't be surprised if they brought it out against Tennessee. One thing to watch is that Iowa gives up a good amount of three point shots. They don't have an elite shot blocker, so they pack the paint in force teams to shoot outside. Iowa's opponents score 30% of their points from three point range, but they did a solid job (top 100 in three point defense field goal percentage) making sure teams are not efficient. I'm interested to see how Iowa defends Jordan McRae.
4. Who is Iowa's best player?
Roy Devyn Marble is a 6'6 senior wing that can score, pass, and defend. He isn't the most efficient scorer, but he can drive and create his own shot. He can shoot the three ball at 36.4% and shoots 4.5 per game. What separates Marble from most wing players is his assist percentage at 23.3%, which is excellent for a wing. Marble is also a very good defender, using his length to steal the ball (two per game) and hound people from the perimeter. Marble's weakness is that he settles too much for the jump shot. If you stop him from getting to the paint and close out on his three point shots, he will take contested jumpers and become inefficient.
5. Who is the toughest matchup for Tennessee?
How about a 6'9/220 wing who is an inside-outside player that can create his own shot and is the most efficient scorer in the Big Ten? Aaron White led the Big Ten in effective field goal percentage and true shooting percentage, which is not easy to do for a wing player. He can drive from the perimeter, pull up for a jump shot, and thrives in the post against smaller defenders. He isn't much of a threat to shoot from three (only averaging 1 attempt per game at 27%) but he can hit the high post and baseline jump shot from the 15-18 feet range. Coach Cuonzo Martin will most likely put Richardson on him to start the game, using him and Moore against White, but they both give up length and strength against White. Jeronne Maymon doesn't have the quickness to stop White. When Iowa goes to a small ball lineup with White at the four, UT will be at a disadvantage. That means you SHOULD see either A) Armani Moore at the 4 and B) Tennessee using their 1-3-1 zone.
6. How deep is Iowa's bench?
About as deep a bench in college basketball as you can find. Iowa has eleven guys that played at least twenty games and 9 minutes per game this year, with only one player going 30 minutes a night. Iowa runs and keeps their guys fresh. They had five guys start thirty games, so their starting guys are set. They have some size from their bench, with Gabriel Olaseni, Jarrod Uthoff, and Zach McCabe being 6'10, 6'8, and 6'7 respectively and all averaging over 15 minutes a game.
7. Who is the bench player to watch for Iowa?
Josh Oglesby can flat out shoot the basketball. He averages close to 4 three point attempts a game and he shot 40.5% from outside the perimeter, almost all of that coming against Big Ten opponents since he didn't play the first 12 games of the year. It will be highly important to contain him and make sure he doesn't get open looks. If he does, it will be a long night for Tennessee.
8. What is Iowa's biggest strength?
Iowa moves the ball well, but what they do best is attack the paint when the defense isn't set and rotate the basketball. They have a top 50 assist percentage and do a great job spreading the basketball around. With their length (their starters go 6'1/6'6/6'9/6'7/7'1) they finish around the basket extremely well. Tennessee must rotate and force Iowa to take outside jump shots in order to win.
9. What is Iowa's biggest weakness?
They turn the ball over 16% of the time. It's not that big of a deal for a team that moves up and down the court, but at the same time they can get lazy with the basketball. Tennessee needs to take advantage of this by trapping a little bit more and attacking on offense when they get turnovers.
10. What is a secret about Iowa that Tennessee must realize?
They rebound the basketball extremely well on the offensive end. They were 14th in the country in offensive rebound percentage and they can get easy points using that. Tennessee is a top ten rebounding team in the country and they should be fine. But if they don't put in the effort on the glass then Tennessee will lose. It's already difficult enough to stop Iowa on offense. That's why it is highly important to limit their opportunities.
Bonus: So Z, what worries you most about Tennessee taking on Iowa?
Their ability to drive the ball to the basket and spread you out. Iowa isn't a great half court offense, but Tennessee has to stay in front of Iowa to win. Aaron White is a matchup nightmare and Roy Devyn Marble can do so many different things on offense. Iowa isn't a great three point shooting team but they can get hot and be unstoppable on offense if their perimeter shots are falling. Tennessee must rotate correctly, play pack line defense to stop Iowa's paint drives, and make sure they close out to shooters. If they can do that, it will be a good night for Tennessee.
