Meet the Opponent: Iowa Brings High-Powered Offense, Struggling Defense to Indiana

Despite the loss of leading scorer Kris Murray, Iowa continues to have one of the most efficient offenses in the country, thanks to growth from Payton Sandfort and Tony Perkins, plus the addition of transfer Ben Krikke and freshman Owen Freeman. Here's a breakdown of Indiana's Tuesday opponent, the Iowa Hawkeyes.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana looks to snap a three-game losing streak on Tuesday when it hosts the Iowa Hawkeyes at 7 p.m. ET inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

Coach Mike Woodson and the Hoosiers came close to pulling off an upset at No. 10 Illinois on Saturday, but poor free throw and 3-point shooting were too much to overcome. Iowa picked up an 88-78 win at Michigan on Saturday after suffering a close home loss to Maryland on Wednesday.

Here's a full breakdown of Iowa.

Key returners

(2023-24 stats)

• G Tony Perkins: 15.2 ppg, 4.2 apg, 33.3 3-pt FG%
• G Payton Sandfort: 14.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 39.3 3-pt FG%
• F Patrick McCaffery: 9.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 26.5 3-pt FG%
• G Josh Dix: 6.6 ppg, 47.4 3-pt FG%
• G Dasonte Bowen: 5.4 ppg, 2.4 apg, 25.0 3-pt FG%

Key departures

(2022-23 stats)

• F Kris Murray: 20.9 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 33.5 3-pt FG%
• F Filip Rebraca: 14.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 57.1 FG%
• G Connor McCaffery: 6.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 33.3 3-pt FG%

Key newcomers

(2023-24 stats)

• F Ben Krikke (Valparaiso transfer): 15.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 56.0 FG%
• F Owen Freeman (No. 182 freshman): 11.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 64.3 FG%
• G Brock Harding (No. 150 freshman): 3.4 ppg, 3.0 apg, 31.0 3-pt FG%
• G Pryce Sandfort (No. 85 freshman): 2.8 ppg, 32.4 3-pt FG%
• F Ladji Dembele (No. 163 freshman): 2.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg

Schedule (12-8, 4-5 in Big Ten)

• W, 110-68 vs. North Dakota
• W, 98-67 vs. Alabama State
• L, 92-84 at Creighton
• W, 88-74 vs. Arkansas State
• L, 79-67 vs. Oklahoma (neutral site in California)
• W, 85-72 vs. Seton Hall (neutral site in California)
• W, 103-78 vs. North Florida
• L, 87-68 at Purdue
• L, 90-65 at Iowa State
• L, 90-80 vs. Michigan
• W, 88-52 vs. Florida A&M
• W, 103-81 vs. UMBC
• W, 103-74 vs. Northern Illinois
• L, 83-72 at Wisconsin
• W, 86-77 vs. Rutgers
• W, 94-76 vs. Nebraska
• W, 86-77 at Minnesota
• L, 84-70 vs. Purdue
• L, 69-67 vs. Maryland
• W, 88-78 at Michigan

Mike Woodson's history against Iowa

• L, 90-68 vs. Iowa at Assembly Hall on Feb. 28, 2023
• L, 91-89 vs. Iowa at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Jan. 5, 2023
• L, 80-77 vs. Iowa at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 12, 2022
• L, 83-74 vs. Iowa at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Jan. 13, 2022

Iowa Hawkeyes guard Dasonte Bowen (5) and guard Tony Perkins (11) and forward Ben Krikke (23) and forward Patrick McCaffery (22) react during the second half against Alabama State Hornets at Carver-Hawkeye Arena / Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Strengths

Iowa has built a reputation of playing a fast-paced, efficient offense for the last 14 years under coach Fran McCaffery, and that's no different this season. The Hawkeyes rank 11th in the nation in adjusted tempo, 14th in shortest average possession length and 21st in offensive efficiency. They do a great job of sharing the ball, seen through the nation's fourth-highest assist rate and the 10th-lowest turnover percentage. The biggest change with this year's Iowa team is that it's taking fewer 3-point attempts while still maintaining a high-powered offense. Iowa ranked first in the Big Ten in 3-point attempts in 2021-22 and fifth last season, but the Hawkeyes are 320th in the nation in 3-point attempt rate. For context, Indiana is 352nd. Iowa is middle of the pack in the Big Ten with a 34.2 3-point percentage, but that hasn't stopped Iowa from being one of the most potent offenses in the country. The Hawkeyes are second in the Big Ten with 85.3 points per game, which ranks 11th in the nation. 

After losing leading scorer Kris Murray, returning guards Tony Perkins and Payton Sandfort have taken steps forward in their senior and junior seasons. Sandfort ranks second in the Big Ten with 55 3-pointers made on 7.0 attempts per game, and Perkins is sixth in the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio. McCaffery did a good job recruiting both the transfer portal and high school class, most notably adding former Valparaiso big man Ben Krikke, who leads the Hawkeyes with 15.7 points per game. He's not a tenacious rebounder or feared shot blocker, but his skilled offensive game has made him a perfect fit at Iowa. Owen Freeman, a 6-foot-10 forward, is making a strong case for Big Ten Freshman of the Year, having won a conference-high six Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards. Krikke and Freeman aren't frequent 3-point shooters, but they have great touch around the rim and run the floor in transition.

Weaknesses

Iowa's offensive success is offset by continued struggles on the defensive end. Iowa ranks 111th in the nation in defensive efficiency and allows the second-most points per game in the Big Ten at 77.4. In seven of the Hawkeyes' eight losses, they've allowed at least 79 points, including three 90-point games. 

Iowa has played a difficult Big Ten schedule, with two losses to Purdue and one to Wisconsin, the current conference leaders. But the Hawkeyes did themselves no favors by losing at home to both Michigan and Maryland. Against Michigan, Iowa allowed 90 points and six Wolverines scored in double figures. They lost a close, lower-scoring game at home against Maryland on Wednesday and had no defensive answer for Jahmir Young down the stretch.

Season outlook

Iowa was picked ninth in the preseason Big Ten media poll, and it's currently in a four-way tie for seventh place in a conference that may only get five or six NCAA Tournament bids. Iowa has no trouble playing its fast-paced style and scoring on most opponents, but it'll miss the Big Dance for the first time since 2019-20 if the defense doesn't improve in the second half of conference play.

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