Iowa at Purdue: 2021-22 key storylines for Big Ten matchup opener

Iowa’s ability to attack the rim

The more the Hawkeye’s can get to the free-throw line, the greater their chances of coming away with a victory. Not just because every made free-throw adds to the Hawkeye’s nation-leading, 94 points per game, but because every time they get to the free-throw line that is one foul closer to somebody sitting on the bench for the Boilermakers.

Executing this plan will not be easy and it has to do with the fact that the Boilermakers, just do not foul that much. With an average of 12.9 team fouls per game, the Boilermakers are tied for the seventh-fewest per game in the nation. Trevion Williams should be the Hawkeyes’ primary target as he is the sole player on Purdue to average almost three personal fouls per game, as he has finished with four finals twice and three fouls once. Edey has managed to avoid foul trouble in order to be available down the stretch of games, as he has reached three fouls just once.

Attacking the rim and challenging Trevion Williams and Zach Edey is easier said than done, but teams have managed to score in the paint versus the Boilermakers. Florida State scored twenty-six points in the paint as Villanova and North Carolina managed 18 each.

While it will be difficult to score in the paint versus the big frontcourt of the Boilernakes, the Hawkeyes have demonstrated they are more than capable when they scored 30 points in the paint against Virginia. Getting into the paint, then getting shots off, and getting the contact is not an easy process, but either is beating Purdue.