A look at the Iowa Hawkeyes, Auburn's opening round opponent in the NCAA tournament
For the fourth time in the last five seasons, Bruce Pearl will bring Auburn to the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers (20-12) have earned a 9-seed in the Midwest Region of the bracket. They will face off against the 8-seed Iowa Hawkeyes in the opening round. Auburn gets Iowa in Birmingham, Alabama, just a two-hour drive from the Plains.
Here's a look at the Hawkeyes before they face off vs the Tigers.
References used are KenPom, NET Rankings, NCAA.com, Haslametrics, and ESPN.
Record: 19-13
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Conference Record (Big 10): 11-9
Lost in opening round of Big 10 tournament to 13-seed Ohio State
KenPom Ranking: No. 37
Net Ranking: No. 39
Record vs Quad 1: 4-7
Record vs Quad 2: 9-3
Record vs Quad 3: 1-2
Record vs Quad 4: 5-1
Record in Neutral Games: 1-3
Surface Stats
Points Per Game: 80.6 (17th nationally)
3P%: 34.3% (164th nationally)
2P%: 52.1 (90th nationally)
FT%: 73.9% (107th nationally)
Points Allowed Per Game: 74.5 PPG (294th nationally)
D3P%: 36.6% (316th nationally)
D2P%: 52.6% (296th nationally)
DFT%: 74.4% (310th nationally)
Assists Per Game: 16.6 (13th nationally)
Free Throw Attempts Per Game: 20.6 (58th nationally, tied with Auburn)
Average Height: 78.3" (27th nationally)
Efficiencies
© Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
Adjusted Tempo: 69.5 (66th nationally)
Adj. Offensive Efficiency: 120.5 (3rd nationally)
Effective FG%: 51.9% (103rd nationally)
Average Offensive Possession Length: 16.0 (31st nationally)
Turnover %: 14.1 (8th nationally)
Adj. Defensive Efficiency: 104.6 (167th nationally)
Effective FG%: 53.3% (308th nationally)
Average Defensive Possession Length: 18.4 (329th nationally)
Individual Leaders
Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Leader in PPG: F Kris Murray - 20.4 PPG (21st nationally)
Leader RPG: F Kris Murray - 7.9 RPG
Leader in SPG: F Tony Perkins - 1.5 SPG
Leader in BPG: F Kris Murray 1.2 BPG
Head coach: Fran McCaffery
© Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
Overall Record: 510-351 (.592%)
Record at Iowa: 258-172 (.600)
What Haslametrics says about Iowa (AO means average opponent):
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa has a fairly solid squad that likely falls within the top quartile of all teams in college basketball this year. Ranked 35th overall (out of 363) in our most recent ratings, they presently have a record of 19-13. Of the 14 schools in the Big Ten (average ranking 62.3), they're currently ranked as our #4 team in the conference.Iowa showcases one of the country's most efficient offenses. Racking up about 119 points for every 100 possessions vs. AO, the team is nationally rated third in efficiency on that end of the floor. Iowa appears to be one of the top-notch offensive rebounding teams you will find this year.
Against AO, the squad has a rating of 19.96 in potential points scored off of second chances (ranked fourth in the NCAA), and they convert 8.3% of their second-chance opportunities (ranked sixth) as well. Iowa is also one of the very best when it comes to maximizing field goal opportunities. The team is ranked ninth in the NCAA in offensive field goal attempt rate with a rating of 89.42 vs. AO. And when they do shoot, they make a fair portion of their shots. Ranked in the top-50 in field goal shooting percentage, the squad converts about 47.4% of their total attempts vs. AO.
Though they're not quite as efficient defensively as they are offensively, Iowa still does OK when the opposition has possession of the ball. The team ranks 170th nationally in defensive efficiency, allowing about 103 points every 100 trips upcourt vs. AO. Iowa is a superior unit when it comes to preventing opponents from getting to the foul line. With a defensive free throw attempt rate of 20.14 vs. AO, they are currently rated tenth in the country in that category. Iowa also does a super job to deny opponents offensive rebounds and second chances.
They have a rating of 10.91 vs. AO in potential points allowed off of second chances (ranked 17th in the country). If Iowa does exhibit a weakness on the defensive end of the floor, it'd likely be the team's troubles stopping opponents from converting mid-range jumpers.
AO will make good on 42.3% of their mid-range field goal attempts, and the squad ranks 35th-worst in that category because of it. Iowa has been one of the most erratic teams in college basketball this year (currently ranked 343rd overall in consistency), which makes the outcomes of their future games far more difficult to predict. On the road, Iowa performs noticeably worse than they do at home. The team is currently ranked third from the bottom in the country in the away-from-home metric we track.
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