Luka Garza and Iowa Basketball must outpace efficient Oregon offense

2. In addition to the two, the Hawkeyes must shut down Oregon outside

As deadly as the Ducks are from inside, they are even more threatening from the perimeter, where 33.8% of their offense has come from this season – which ranks in the top 100 in the country.  That mark is even greater in Pac-12 play at 36.6%, which leads the conference.

Those marks translate into stellar shooting percentages, where the Ducks are 18th across the entire season at 37.9% – and sit at the top of the Pac-12 in conference play with an astonishing 39.4% mark.  They feature a multitude of weapons, as well, with five different players having attempted over 50 threes each this season – and all five shooting over 35.5% from the perimeter.  Star guard Chris Duarte leads the pack at 43.0%.

Oregon’s recent success can almost directly be tied to their shooting from outside, and it is no coincidence that their lone loss in the month of March featured their worst 3PT shooting performance this season.  Across their first four games of the month, which were all wins, the Ducks shot a blistering 56.25% (45-80) – but the Pac-12 Tournament loss to Oregon State saw Oregon shoot just 24.0% (6-25).

This is a gravely concerning area for the Hawkeyes, who have struggled mightily in defending the perimeter.  Iowa ranks just 220th in the nation in 3P% defense, allowing teams to shoot 34.5% from outside – and that mark was even worse in Big Ten play, where teams drained 35.4% of their long-range bombs.  Across the season, teams saw 36.7% of their offense come on 3PTers against the Hawkeyes – and that clip was an abysmal 40.5% in conference.

Iowa has fared slightly better as of late, having held Grand Canyon to 26.9% and Illinois to just 20.0% – but this is still an area that the Hawkeyes cannot afford to slip-up.  Trading baskets will not be enough to overcome a team as efficient as Oregon, meaning they must clamp down on their perimeter defense.