[Herky] Iowa vs Auburn Analysis -Both Teams Inconsistent

[Larry Edwards]

8. [ https://theathletic.com/college-basketball/team/iowa-hawkeyes-college-basketball/ | Iowa ] Hawkeyes 


Record: 19-13 (11-9 Big Ten) 

How they got here: Iowa has one of the nation’s most inexplicable records. Against [ https://theathletic.com/college-basketball/team/nebraska-cornhuskers-college-basketball/ | Nebraska ] , [ https://theathletic.com/college-basketball/team/wisconsin-badgers-college-basketball/ | Wisconsin ] and [ https://theathletic.com/college-basketball/team/ohio-state-buckeyes-college-basketball/ | Ohio State ] — the Big Ten’s No. 11-13 seeds — the Hawkeyes were 1-6 counting their early-exit tournament loss to the Buckeyes. But against everyone else in the Big Ten, Iowa was 10-4 with two-game sweeps against Indiana and [ https://theathletic.com/college-basketball/team/rutgers-scarlet-knights-college-basketball/ | Rutgers ] . 

What you need to know: The Hawkeyes have led the Big Ten in scoring the last five seasons and rank third in adjusted offensive tempo by KenPom. They also were last in Big Ten scoring defense and field-goal percentage. 

Iowa’s Kris Murray. (Ron Johnson / USA Today) 


Spotlight on: All-Big Ten junior forward [ https://theathletic.com/college-basketball/player/kris-murray-ajlx1wMddDJWAgrQ/ | Kris Murray ] (6-8) is the only Division I player to average 20-plus points and 8-plus rebounds with more than 60 3-pointers this year. The twin brother of Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray, Kris Murray has scored 25 points or more nine times this year. 9. Auburn Tigers 


Record: 20-12 (10-8 SEC) 

How they got here: The Tigers might be in a different position if they hadn’t scored the most valuable win on their resume’ in the regular-season finale, dominating down the stretch to beat [ https://theathletic.com/college-basketball/team/tennessee-volunteers-college-basketball/ | Tennessee ] 79-70 at home. That followed up an excruciating loss at Alabama that could have/should have been the resume topper – Bruce Pearl’s angry postgame ranting spoke to both the opportunity lost and his analysis of the officiating. That followed up an 86-54 embarrassment at [ https://theathletic.com/college-basketball/team/kentucky-wildcats-college-basketball/ | Kentucky ] . Of course, that was less than two weeks after an 89-56 home romp over [ https://theathletic.com/college-basketball/team/missouri-tigers-college-basketball/ | Missouri ] . This team can cook but doesn’t do so consistently. It enters the tourney off a disappointing 76-73 loss to [ https://theathletic.com/college-basketball/team/arkansas-razorbacks-college-basketball/ | Arkansas ] in the SEC Tournament. 

What you need to know: Auburn can play some defense and has been in some grinders – such as a 43-42 win over [ https://theathletic.com/college-basketball/team/northwestern-wildcats-college-basketball/ | Northwestern ] in Cancun and a 46-43 loss at Tennessee. The Tigers have top-30 defensive efficiency numbers, but the offensive inconsistency looks a lot like last season when things went sideways, without a top-three NBA Draft pick (Jabari Smith) around to save the day. [ https://theathletic.com/college-basketball/player/wendell-green-jr-hc8AX2SJP5i3l4u5/ | Wendell Green Jr. ] is a very good player and fantastic competitor, but 29.5 percent shooting from 3 hasn’t stopped him from taking 139 of them, by far the most on the team. [ https://theathletic.com/college-basketball/player/kd-johnson-unmvqzwSxnVq3AlG/ | K.D. Johnson ] has a reduced role this season off the bench but still gets his deep shots up (33 for 101, 32.7 percent). When Auburn gets it inside to [ https://theathletic.com/college-basketball/player/johni-broome-lmoWbc3RMmirIRub/ | Johni Broome ] and gets more shots for [ https://theathletic.com/college-basketball/player/jaylin-williams-6kHuoPy0LtR0OpWn/ | Jaylin Williams ] and [ https://theathletic.com/college-basketball/player/allen-flanigan-igchi5CIWAh9UeN6/ | Allen Flanigan ] , it has a better chance. 

Spotlight on: Broome, the OVC Defensive Player of the Year last season at Morehead State, has been a crucial addition. The 6-10, 235-pound sophomore leads the team in scoring (14.0), rebounding (8.4) and blocks (2.3). He’s especially effective facing up and driving, giving problems this season to traditional bigs in particular. Broome is better attacking than settling for triples (27.6 percent on 29 attempts). That’s a recurring theme for a team that shoots 31.4 percent from deep overall. 

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