West Lafayette, IN (SportsNetwork.com) - Coming off their worst loss of the season, the 25th-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes turn their attention to the Purdue Boilermakers for a Big Ten Conference clash at Mackey Arena.
Iowa began its two-game road trip on Tuesday night with a lopsided 82-50 loss at the hands of No. 6 Wisconsin. It was a stark contrast from the same Hawkeyes squad that had won five of its previous six games to climb into the national rankings. Following this tilt, they will play three of their next four back at home.
Purdue has been on the losing end of three of its last four contests. Most recently, the Boilermakers were dealt a 66-57 setback at Illinois on Wednesday night.
Purdue leads the all-time series, 86-73, although Iowa has won the last two head-to-head meetings.
The Hawkeyes were simply outclassed by Wisconsin earlier this week, as the Badgers knocked down nine 3-pointers for the game (.409) and committed only one turnover. Iowa was also outrebounded, 37-23, and made just four free throws, well short of its season average of 17 entering the tilt. Jarrod Uthoff was the team's lone player in double figures, finishing with 12 points. On the season, Uthoff is averaging 11.8 points and 6.4 rebounds in addition to leading the Hawkeyes with 32 3-pointers made (.390). Aaron White, a 52-percent shooter from the floor, is the top scorer (15.6) and rebounder (6.8). However, he managed only seven points on 2-of-5 shooting against the Badgers.
Purdue has three players averaging double figures in the scoring column this season, with Kendall Stephens' 10.9 ppg tops on the team. Stephens is dangerous from beyond the arc, where he is shooting 42 percent (48-of-114). A.J. Hammons (10.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and Vince Edwards (10.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg) complement Stephens down low. Despite lacking a true go-to scorer, the Boilermakers are putting up a healthy 72.7 ppg and are +6.0 in rebounding margin. Jon Octeus and Rapheal Davis shared team-high scoring honors against Illinois with 14 points apiece. The Boilermakers held Illinois to 28.6-percent shooting from the floor in the first half yet still trailed at the break. The Fighting Illini finished the contest with a huge 21-4 scoring edge at the foul line.
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