Iowa-Purdue breakdown

RECORDS

RV/25 Iowa 13-6 (4-2 Big Ten); Purdue 11-8 (3-3 Big Ten)

TV

11 a.m. BTN (Kevin Kugler and Shon Morris)

PREVIOUS MEETING

Teams have not played this year and this is the season's only scheduled meeting; Purdue leads all-time series 86-73

KEY MATCHUP

Gabe Olaseni/Adam Woodbury vs. Isaac Haas/A.J. Hammons.

This is one game where Iowa will give up size in the post. While Olaseni stands 6-foot-10 and Woodbury is 7-1, Haas is 7-2 and Hammons is 7-0. Both Purdue posts are wide bodies and physical. Haas ranks second in Big Ten play in field-goal percentage at 60.9. There will be significant banging in the paint. Foul calls likely will dictate the game's pace as both teams will try to impose their will in the post.

'You've got to move your feet, you've got to keep their hands off and you can't get lazy,” Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery said. 'The game will be called the way it's called. We can change defenses. Every game it's a been a difficult challenge with regard to how you're defending the low post because both of those guys can score, and they're going to throw it in.”

KEY STATISTICS

SCORING/OPP:

Iowa 69.7/62.5; Purdue 72.7/65.3

FG%/OPP FG%:

Iowa 42.1/39.5; Purdue 45.7/40.6

3PT%/OPP 3PT%:

Iowa 31.7/32.5; Purdue 33.3/37.4

FT%:

Iowa 75.0; Purdue 67.4

LIKELY STARTERS

Iowa:

G Mike Gesell (6-2); G Peter Jok (6-6); F Jarrod Uthoff (6-9); F Aaron White (6-9); C Adam Woodbury (7-1)

Purdue:

G Rapheal Davis (6-5); G Kendall Stephens (6-6); G Jon Octeus (6-4); F Vince Edwards (6-7); C Isaac Haas (7-2)

KEY RESERVES

Iowa

: C Gabe Olaseni (6-10); G Anthony Clemmons (6-2); G Josh Oglesby (6-6); F Dominique Uhl (6-9)

Purdue:

C A.J. Hammons (7-0); G P.J. Thompson (5-10); G Bryson Scott (6-1); F Basil Smotherman (6-7); G Dakota Mathias

KEY STORYLINES

1. Rebounding.

Purdue is back to its usual perch as one of the league's best rebounding teams. Among Big Ten teams, the Boilermakers rank third overall in rebounding margin at plus-6, while the Hawkeyes are eighth at plus-2.7. In league-only games, Purdue is plus-5.2 to lead the league. Purdue and Iowa ranks 2-3, respectively, in blocked shots.

2. Defense.

The Boilermakers have improved defensively, allowing Big Ten opponents to shoot just 39.6 percent from the floor. Last year Purdue's Big Ten foes shot 43.3 percent. The Boilermakers are a rugged defensive squad that has given up 70 points only once in league play, and Penn State needed overtime to do that.

Iowa fell to fifth in Big Ten field-goal percentage after its porous effort against Wisconsin in an 82-50 loss.

3. Perimeter shooting.

Neither team has shown much prowess from 3-point range. Purdue ranks 10th in the Big Ten at 33.3 percent, while Iowa is 12th at 31.7. So whoever loosens the quagmire in the post with some outside shots will have an advantage.

Purdue guard Kendall Stephens' status is undetermined with an injured left pinkie finger. Stephens is the team's leading scorer at 10.9 points per game.

BOTTOM LINE

While this is not a 'must-win” for Iowa, it certainly carries importance in the big picture. The Hawkeyes erase their 32-point blowout loss at Wisconsin with a good performance and a victory at Purdue. Iowa has lost its last six at Mackey Arena, although this it takes its best squad to West Lafayette since that 2006 win.

'They've proven they can beat some very good teams and beat them on the road,” Purdue Coach Matt Painter told reporters Friday morning. 'What scares me is just how hard they play. Any time you deal with guys as competitive as they are and you don't have a good day, you always bounce back.”

For Purdue, this is much more important. The Boilermakers are 3-3 in league play but more importantly, just 11-8 overall. Early-season losses to North Florida, Gardner-Webb and Vanderbilt will hurt their chances at the postseason without quality wins. That includes beating a ranked opponent anywhere, but especially on its own floor.

'I like Matt's team,” McCaffery said. 'And the reason I do is starts with what everybody says about Purdue. They're going to compete and they're going to play hard. OK, they've got some experienced guys who are stepping up. They've got some new guys that are playing well. I think he's got pieces that he likes. I know he likes this team a lot better than he liked his team last year. You can see it.”

Which team gets into foul trouble first? Which team feels the pressure to win? Which team shoots better from the perimeter? Those are the most important questions and usually the answer lies with the home - not better - team.

PREDICTION: Purdue 66, Iowa 63

l Comments: (319) 339-3169; scott.dochterman@thegazette.com