Hawkeyes-Boilermakers  Preview
GAME NOTES: Big Ten rivals face off today hoping to break free from the middle of the pack in the conference standings when the Iowa Hawkeyes head to West Lafayette, Indiana to take on the Purdue Boilermakers.
Iowa has been wading in mediocrity for the majority of the season. The Hawkeyes have faced a brutal stretch of late, taking four nationally-ranked teams in their last five games. They have risen to the occasion however, going 3-2 in those outings, including a convincing 75-59 win over No. 15 Michigan on Saturday.
Purdue has experienced its share of success so far this campaign, already accumulating three winning streaks of three games or longer. The Boilermakers have been stumbling lately though, losing two of their last three. Their latest setback came on Saturday to Wisconsin, 67-62.
Purdue holds a small lead in the all-time series with Iowa, 84-71. The Boilermakers defeated the Hawkeyes earlier this season, 79-76, on December 28 behind 16 points and 11 rebounds from Robbie Hummel.
Iowa is led on offense by guard Matt Gatens, who averages 13.4 ppg on 45.6 percent shooting while draining 1.5 three-pointers per contest. Gatens was the spark in the Hawkeyes' recent win over Michigan, going 5-of-10 from the field and 4-of-7 from beyond the arc en route to 19 points. Roy Devyn Marble is the only other Iowa player to average double figures in points with 10.8 ppg. He also dishes out a team-high 3.4 apg. Aaron White adds 9.7 ppg and is a two- time Big Ten Freshman of the Week. Melsahn Basabe chips in 8.9 ppg and a team- high 5.6 rpg. While the Hawkeyes possess the conference's fourth-best offense (74.1 ppg), they are dead-last by a wide margin in scoring defense (71 ppg).
Purdue is propelled by its star forward Hummel. The senior ranks fifth in the Big Ten in scoring (16 ppg), eighth in rebounding (6 rpg), sixth in three- pointers made (38), and tied for eighth in blocks per game (1.2). Hummel struggled in the loss to Wisconsin however, shooting just 5-of-17 from the field for 13 points. Ryne Smith nets 10.1 ppg and is one of the Big Ten's best three-point shooters, connecting on 2.8 triples per game at a 45 percent rate. Lewis Jackson tallies 9.8 ppg and leads the team in assists with 3.7 apg. Terone Johnson has been effective off the bench of late, leading the Boilermakers with 16 points in Saturday's loss. Despite its scoring success this season, Purdue has been brutal from the foul-line, shooting a conference- worst 61 percent from the charity stripe.
Iowa has been impressive recently against strong competition, but Purdue has played very well at home this year and will prove to be a tough test for the Hawkeyes.
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