North Carolina vs Iowa: 5 significant storylines in 2020-21 matchup

Iowa’s first Power Five conference opponent

Not only has North Carolina played two teams from a Power Five conference, but they were quality teams, from the PAC-12 they played Stanford, and from the Big-12 it was Texas. North Carolina Central ranks No. 99 in offensive efficiency and is the top opponent Iowa has faced on their way to three straight victories to begin the season.

In comparison, North Carolina lost by two to Texas who is ranked No.54 in offensive efficiency, and with the fact that the Tar Heels made 18 of 32 free throws, they could have beaten Texas.

With Iowa’s strength of schedule rating being negative 13.29,  and their closest game was a 27 point victory, the question raised is “Can Iowa play a competitive basketball game?” The 2020-21 reality of college basketball is that these non-conference games are designed to replace the usual exhibition games and secret scrimmages teams have prior to the non-conference schedule beginning.

Teams play some mid to low major teams in order for the coach to get his rotation in order and if they are lucky, get a game versus a team in quadrant one so it will help their NET at the end of the season.

Last season the Hawkeyes defeated North Florida on Nov.21, 2019, by a score of 83-68 in their fourth game of the season. Coach McCaffery only had a ranked team booked twenty days into the season in No.12 Texas Tech, in who they defeated 72-61.

This season the Hawkeyes have had just two weeks of actual game activity before going up against No.14 North Carolina. At the very least, the games versus North Carolina and then No.1 Gonzaga on Dec.19, 2020, will prepare Iowa for their Big Ten season, they just might not be ready for North Carolina.