Iowa hosts Iowa State in the 63rd meeting in the series. The Hawkeyes are 5-4 and opened the in-state series on Tuesday night with a 51-39 victory over U.N.I. The Cyclones are 7-2 and this will be their final in-state contest. The Cyclones beat Drake at home and lost to U.N.I. on the road.
Iowa coach Fran McCaffery says he watched the U.N.I./Iowa State game as they prepared for Northern Iowa and says the Cyclones have been good coming out of the gate and have some guys who’re playing well. McCaffrey says while junior Matt Gatens is still struggling from the field he is making an impact in other areas.
He says Gatens defensively is rebounding and he has a low number of turnovers and he makes his free throws. If the Hawkeyes win tonight the only need a win next week against Drake to sweep the in-state series for the first time since 2004.
Senior forward Jarryd Cole says the last go around of his career against the in-state schools is important. Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg says the Cyclones need to be physical in the paint. He says Iowa did what it had to do to win against U.N.I. and he says they have some good young players that battle.
Hoiberg says the Cyclones need all five players to rebound on defense. Iowa leads the all-time series 42-21. Tip off in Carver-Hawkeye is 7-35.