Iowa Basketball: 3 keys to Round of 64 upset over Cincinnati
2. Shoot the lights out
Cincinnati’s reputation as a defensive stalwart precedes them wherever they go. While possible, the Bearcats aren’t likely planning on any shootouts in this tournament.
If the Hawkeyes play into Cincinnati’s gameplan, they’re going to be sweating before the first media timeout. Really, Iowa wants to be sweating because they’re blitzing Cincinnati on the defensive end possession after possession.
Iowa has the scoring and shooting prowess to start strong. Whether it’s enough to break the Bearcats is a separate issue.
Cincinnati surrendered just 62.4 points per game this season, good for 12th in the nation. Unsurprisingly, they surrendered more than that in five of their six losses, showing cracks in the defensive armor.
Let’s look at a few of Cincinnati’s losses:
- They opened the season with a 64-56 loss to Ohio State. The Buckeyes shot 42.6 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range.
- They lost at Mississippi State, 70-59. The Bulldogs shot 45.8 percent from the field, including 52.2 percent from 3-point range.
- East Carolina upset the Bearcats by shooting 40.9 percent from 3-point range, while holding Cincinnati under 20 percent for the game.
In the other three Cincinnati defeats, the victorious opponent shot 33.3 percent from 3-point range (twice) and 52.2 percent (Houston, naturally).
Iowa’s best 3-point shooter is Joe Wieskamp, who hit 42.2 percent of his 3-point shots during his freshman campaign.