Oregon-Iowa pregame notes: Size an issue for Hawkeyes; Transfer Ducks find safe haven in Eugene

EUGENE, Ore. - Oregon's length could pose a problem for Iowa today in the teams' NIT second-round matchup at Matthew Knight Arena.

The Ducks' front wall of Tony Woods (6-foot-11), Jeremy Jacob (6-foot-8) and E.J. Singler (6-foot-6) has Iowa players and coaches concerned. Oregon also brings physical Olu Ashaolu (6-7) off the bench.

"They're athletic, they can rebound," Iowa senior guard Matt Gatens said. "This is an athletic, physical team who has had a lot of success so you've got to take care of the ball. Rebounding also is a big key against a team that likes to hit the glass and if we can get it, we can get out and run and do our thing."

Iowa traveled with only one player who stands taller than 6-foot-8: senior reserve center Andrew Brommer, who averages 1.4 points and 1.5 rebounds a game.

Similar statistically

The season-long box score shows similar statistics between the teams. Oregon averages 72.9 points a game; Iowa 72.3. Oregon sinks 46.5 percent of its shots, while Iowa sinks 45.4 percent. Iowa had 425 turnovers; Oregon 421. Iowa has 34.4 rebounds a game; Oregon 34.2.

For Gatens, eliminating turnovers and playing good defense are the most important factors for Iowa today.

"I think first off take care of the ball and be able take care of the ball against their press because that really fuels their offense," Gatens said. "They can get easy buckets and obviously get the crowd involved on the road. So definitely take care of the ball.

"When we play defense we win. If we don't, we struggle. I think that's always the key."

Transfer town

Oregon second-year coach Dana Altman has rebuilt the Ducks with help from transfers. Six different key players -- including three starters -- are either Division I or junior-college transfers.

The players aren't without controversy. Woods, a junior, was dismissed by Wake Forest last year and later pleaded guilty to beating his girlfriend in front of their infant child. Senior guard Devoe Joseph was suspended for the first six games of the 2010-11 season at Minnesota and later quit the team.

Jacob left Georgia after playing in only six games as a freshman in 2007-08. He red-shirted that season and transferred to Chipola (Fla.) junior college before playing three seasons at Oregon.

Ashaolu played the last three seasons at Louisiana Tech, even hitting Iowa for a double-double in Dec. 21, 2010. He graduated last spring and was eligible to play right away.

Key reserves Carlos Emory (a junior) and Tyrone Nared (a senior) transferred from junior colleges to Oregon in the last two seasons. The transfers average about 46 points a game for Oregon.

Underdogs

Iowa (18-16) ranges from a 7.5 to an 8-point underdog against Oregon (23-9). The Ducks are 16-3 at home this season; Iowa is 4-10 on the road.