Purdue Boilermakers at Iowa Hawkeyes
Carver-Hawkeye Arena – Iowa City, Iowa
Wednesday, December 28, 2011, 9:30 pm Eastern, TV: Big Ten Net
Opening Line: Purdue -4
Current Line: Purdue -4
Opening Total: 139 1/2
Current Total: 138 1/2
Opening Money Line: Purdue -215 / Iowa +185
Current Money Line: Purdue -190 / Iowa +160
The 10-3 Purdue Boilermakers open Big Ten play at the 8-5 Iowa Hawkeyes Wednesday night. The Boilermakers are coached by Matt Painter, and have losses to Alabama, Xavier, and Butler. Purdue has wins over Northern Illinois, Iona Temple, Western Michigan, Miami-FL, and Eastern Michigan.
Iowa is coached by Fran McCaffery and has losses to Creighton, Campbell, Clemson, Northern Iowa, and Iowa St. The Hawkeyes have wins over Northern Illinois, Brown, Drake, and Boise St. Purdue leads the series 83-71 against Iowa, but the Boilermakers are 25-48 in Iowa City. Purdue has won 8 of the last 10 meetings against Iowa. The Hawkeyes won the last meeting 67-65 last February in Iowa City to snap an 8 game losing streak to the Boilermakers.
Purdue is outscoring opponents 74-60 this season. The Boilermakers shoot 44.4% from the field, including 36% from 3 point range. Purdue makes 62.1% of their free throws. The Boilermakers average 36.2 rebounds a game, and have a rebounding margin of +2. Purdue averages 14.6 points, 9.7 turnovers, 7.9 steals, and 4.3 blocks a game. Boilermaker opponents are shooting 39.4% from the field including 33.6% from 3 point range. Purdue forces 15.5 turnovers a game.
Purdue forward Robbie Hummel averages 17.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.5 blocks a game. He leads the team in scoring rebounds, and blocks and is shooting 40.3% from 3 point range. Ryne Smith averages 11 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. Smith shoots 45.9% from 3 point range. Lewis Jackson averages 10.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists to lead the team, and 1.5 steals a game. Kelsey Barlow averages 8.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.7 steals a game to lead the team. Forward Sandi Marcius is questionable Wednesday night with a calf injury.
Iowa is outscoring opponents 78-70 this season. The Hawkeyes are shooting 45.4% from the field including 34.8% from 3 point range. Iowa makes 75.1% from the free throw line. The Hawkeyes average 36.9 rebounds and have a rebounding margin of +2.5. Iowa averages 16.1 assists and 11.8 turnovers a game. The Hawkeyes average 9.3 steals and 2.8 blocks a game. Iowa opponents are shooting 44.7% from the field, including 37.7% from beyond the arc. The Hawkeyes force 16.6 turnovers a game.
Iowa guard Matt Gatens averages 14 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.6 steals a game. Roy Devyn Marble averages 10.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 steals a game to lead the team. Melsahn Basabe averages 9.5 points, 6 rebounds to lead the team, and 0.8 blocks a game to also lead the team. Aaron White averages 9.2 points and 4.8 rebounds a game. Bryce Cartwright leads the team in assists with 4.3 a game, but is questionable with a hamstring injury. The Hawkeyes have only player over 6’9″ on the roster, and that is Center Gabriel Olaseni who only plays around 5 minutes a game.
Iowa is 4-4 against the spread and the total is 5-2-1 this season. Purdue is 6-4 ATS and the total is 3-7 this season. The home team is 6-0 ATS recently in this series, and the last 5 have gone under the total. The Boilermakers are 5-1 ATS as a favorite of 6.5 points or less, 5-2 in Wednesday games, and 0-5 after a cover. The Hawkeyes are 4-0 ATS at home against teams with losing road records, 5-1 at home, 4-1 as a home underdog, 8-20 after a cover, and and 2-6 in Wednesday games.
Like Iowa, Purdue is a very small team with no player over 6’9″ on the roster. Purdue plays better defense than Iowa but both teams are comfortable playing in the 70’s so this could be a high scoring affair. I think Purdue wins a close game.
