Iowa-Nebraska breakdown

1. Backcourt.

Nebraska's approach is unconventional with guard/forwards Terran Petteway and Shavon Shields each handling the ball from their traditional wing positions. But make no mistake, both players are tremendous scorers and leaders from their positions.

Petteway, who stands 6-foot-7, led the Big Ten in scoring last year and he currently ranks second with 19.5 points a game. He's also an efficient rebounder (5.8) and unselfish with 2.7 assists. Shields, the son of likely Pro Football Hall of Fame guard Will Shields, stands 6-7 and is a big more physical. He's the team's leading rebounder at 6.9 a game but ranks third in the Big Ten in scoring at 17.4. Shields is third in the Big Ten in free-throw percentage (88.2). Petteway is ninth in 3-pointers per game (2.2).

'I think what makes (Shields) special, and really both he and Petteway, is that there doesn't appear to be any selfishness,” Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery said. 'They both do what they do and they share the ball. Sometimes one has it and the other one has it. They are coast-to-coast guys. They can play in the high post and use ball screens and they can play in transition. They are both committed to winning and to do what they need to do to help their team win.

'(Shields) is a very versatile player. He handles it well, like a point guard and can post up. He can work at the high post and he is a high-level rebounder. Those two guys are as good of a one-two punch as there is in the country.”

Benny Parker (5-9) runs the point for the Cornhuskers. He's got a good 3-point percentage (42.1) but has hit just eight in 13 games. He averages 2.0 steals a game and has 30 assists to 21 turnovers.

Iowa counters with Nebraska native Mike Gesell (6-2), who is one of the more efficient playmakers in the Big Ten. Gesell led the league in assist-to-turnover ratio last year and this year has 25 turnovers and 53 assists. He also has plucked 17 steals and averages 7.0 points a game. After struggling early, Gesell elevated his play over the last month.

'This is his junior year and he has essentially been a two-year starter, except when he was injured,” McCaffery said. 'He is someone that we count on, and I trust him. He knows I trust him. I have been very impressed with his growth. He scores it. He attacks the rim. He gets us into our offense and pushes it on the break. I also think he is a high level defender and an underrated one at that. He gives us a lot.”

Sophomore Peter Jok (6-6) will open again next to Gesell. He averages 5.9 points but has hit all 19 free-throw attempts. Senior Josh Oglesby (6-6) and junior Anthony Clemmons (6-2) come off the bench and have two different roles. Oglesby played 27 minutes and scored eight crucial points and was solid in all areas in Iowa's upset at Ohio State. Clemmons played 19 minutes against the Buckeyes while fighting two a pair of sprained ankles. He's Iowa's best perimeter defender.

ADVANTAGE: Nebraska

2. Frontcourt.

Iowa has a clear advantage in the frontcourt where it leads the Big Ten in overall rebounding and offensive rebounds. The Hawkeyes had eight more rebounds than Ohio State last week and scored 13 second-chance points. Nebraska ranks 13th in Big Ten rebounding and last in offensive rebounds.

The Cornhuskers lost center Moses Abraham (6-9, 252) to a broken hand a month ago, which has hurt their interior defense. Physical forward Leslee Smith (6-8, 255) suffered a knee injury over the summer and has yet to play this year.

'Moses broke his hand, we found out the day of the Incarnate Word game and our defense has not been quite as good since then,” Nebraska Coach Tim Miles said. 'That's too bad. Leslee Smith is a guy who just started practicing, too. We're missing some size and that hurt us (in the interior) especially on the boards. I would expect both of those guys out, probably through these next three games and then I'm hopefully shortly thereafter, we'll be able to insert them into the lineup and hopefully adjust quickly to our new rotations. That starts a new challenge. Unfortunately we're still probably looking at a week or so until we get anybody back.”

Iowa plays four primary players in the post and all are at least 6-9. Power forward Aaron White is 10th in Big Ten scoring (15.8 ppg) and third in rebounding (7.3). He's also efficient for his position with 24 steals and only 25 turnovers. White is one of the nation's best free-throw shooters at 87.3 percent, ranking fifth in the Big Ten. He also has the league's second-most made free throws with 89. In his career, White has sank 512 free throws, just four shy of Iowa's record held by Roy Marble. He's tied for 11th (with native Nebraskan Andre Woolridge) in all-time Iowa scoring with 1,525 points, passing Don Nelson and Greg Brunner last week.

Junior Jarrod Uthoff (6-9) produced one of his best games at Ohio State, scoring 18 points (including a career-high four 3-pointers), pulling down seven rebounds and dishing five assists. Iowa's center tandem of 7-1 Adam Woodbury and 6-10 Gabe Olaseni combine for 15.4 points and 11.4 rebounds a game. Olaseni ranks eighth in Big Ten free-throw percentage (82.1) and second in blocked shots (2.3). Woodbury averages career highs in points (7.0) and rebounds (5.9).

Nebraska's starters in the post include senior David Rivers (6-7) and junior Walter Pitchford (6-10). Pitchford is an inside-outside threat with 21 3-pointers to go along with 4.7 rebounds a game and 10 blocked shots. Rivers (5.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg) has yet to attempt a 3-pointer.

ADVANTAGE: Iowa

3. Intangibles/other.

Iowa has depth on the Cornhuskers, who remain depleted without Abraham and Leslee Smith. The Hawkeyes have eight players average at least 20 minutes a game while two others (freshman Dom Uhl, sophomore guard Trey Dickerson) average more than 10). The Huskers play only seven players available who put up more than 4.7 minutes a game. If Iowa is able to get Nebraska into foul trouble (especially Petteway, Shields or Pitchford), depth is a real concern for the Huskers.

Both schools are motivated for several reasons. The schedule is not Iowa's friend. The team's first 10 or 11 games are a grind. Iowa has an advantageous matchup against a depleted Nebraska tonight and is at home.

Nebraska needs a win after dropping its Big Ten opener last week at home to Indiana. After losses to Rhode Island, Incarnate Word and Hawaii, the Cornhuskers need a road win to get back some confidence, especially against a border foe.

Advantage: Even

KEY MATCHUP

Uthoff vs. Shields.

Both are athletic mismatches in different ways. Uthoff's length, rebounding and shooting ability are tough for any opponents. Shields isn't the 3-point threat that Uthoff is, but is strong and athletic. If this match-up is a draw, the advantage goes to Iowa.

'He has the ability to impact the game in a lot of different ways,” McCaffery said. 'He can do it on the glass. He has shown he can do it as a shot blocker. His defense and energy level is much improved. When all that comes together with his offense, and obviously he is a really good shooter, he can score the ball in a variety of ways. He is critical for us as we move forward in this league.”

KEY STATISTICS

SCORING/OPP:

Iowa 70.7/59.3; Neb 67.5/62.2

FG%/OPP FG%:

Iowa 41.0/37.3; Neb 42.8/38.7

3PT%/OPP 3PT%:

Iowa 31.3/29.8; Neb 31.4/29.1

FT%:

Iowa 77.2; Neb 73.4

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)

Nebraska:

G Benny Parker (5-9); G Terran Petteway (6-6); G/F Shavon Shields (6-7); F David Rivers (6-7); F Walter Pitchford (6-10)

KEY RESERVES

Iowa

: C Gabe Olaseni (6-10); G Anthony Clemmons (6-2); G Josh Oglesby (6-6); G Trey Dickerson (6-1); G Brady Ellingson (6-4); F Dominique Uhl (6-9)

Nebraska:

G Tai Webster (6-4); G Tarin Smith (6-2)

BOTTOM LINE

Iowa has too many weapons in the post, too much height and generally is too deep. Nebraska lacks a third scorer outside of Petteway and Shields, who will get their points. Iowa has a good defense and is one of league's top rebounding squads. If Iowa hits shots from the perimeter it could be decisive.

Prediction: Iowa 69-58

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