Midweek Madness: Hoops Edition

Welp, That's all folks. 

We are exactly 2 weeks from selection Sunday, which means this is the last edition of Midweek Madness lets make it a good one.

Nebraska v #22 Iowa

Iowa averages 80 PPG compared to the Husker's 71. Iowa is a better shooting team from the floor, averaging 46%. Joe Wieskamp (50%), Luka Garza (51%), and Tyler Cook (55%) bring a decent interior presence for the Hawkeyes. Since loosing Issac Copeland, the Huskers haven't really have a huge presence in the paint, Tanner Borchardt (59%) has stepped up nicely to fill that role. Nebraska struggle from deep averaging 33% with their deep threats being Thomas Allen (36%), and Glynn Watson Jr. (37%). Iowa shoots 37% from deep with the help of Isaiah Moss and Joe Wieskamp both at 43%, and Jordan Bohannon who averages 39% is the got-to guy for 3's in the clutch. Nebraska handles the ball very well by committing 10 turnovers a game, and they also force 13. Iowa struggles here by forcing 13 turnovers, but coughing up 12 a game.

Iowa has been on a skid recently, losing badly to OSU on the road and at home against Rutgers. I would not be surprised if Iowa comes out hungry for a win, and with a team like Nebraska who is really good on a defensive level, Iowa should have no problem, and like I say every time, no road game in the B1G is ever easy, but with Iowa making the right plays in critical moments and the production that they produce on offense. The Hawkeyes will end the regular season on a high note.
Iowa

#2 Virginia v Louisville 

The Cavaliers are averaging 72 PPG compared to Louisville's 75 PPG. Virginia is a better shooting team than Louisville averaging 47%. The Cavaliers have Jack Salt (59%), De'Andre Hunter and Mamadi Diakite both at 55%. The Cardinals don't boast much in the way of interior presence, but its there, with guys like Steven Enoch (53%), and Christen Cunningham (47%). Virginia is the third best 3-pt shooting team in the country, making 41% of their shots. And everybody on their roster can be a threat from deep. De'Andre Hunter (49%), Kyle Guy (46%), Ty Jerome (43%), and Mamadi Diakite (42%). Louiville compared to Virginia is on the opposite side of the spectrum, averaging a decent 34% clip from deep. Their deep threats are Steven Enoch (38%), as well as Dwayne Sutton and Jordan Nwora at 37%. Virginia is an excellent ball handling team, forcing 11 turnovers while committing just 9. Louisville is forcing 12 turnovers while committing 13.

This game may be a blowout, with Louisville coming to town on senior night against one of the best teams in the country. It wont be close, the Cavaliers are an absolute unit on offense. With guys who can shoot virtually everywhere on the court. and with them not turning the ball over, Chris Mack has an uphill climb if they want to win. Virginia 

#7 Tennessee v Mississippi St. 

The Vols have a huge advantage over the Bulldogs in the way of points, as the Vols average 83 to MSU's 78. Both teams look to be pretty even shooting wise, with Tennessee edging Mississippi St. with 50%. The Vols have interior help from Grant Williams (57%), and Kyle Alexander (63%). MSU averages 47% with an interior presence that is led by Abdul Ado (60%, Reggie Perry (52%), and Quinndary Weatherspoon (51%). Both teams have the ability to light it up from deep. With Mississipi St. averaging 37% compared to the Vol's 36%. Mississippi St. threats from deep are Quinndary Weatherspoon (42%), Lamar Peters (38%), and Tyson Carter (36%). The Vols have Admiral Schofield (38%), and Jordan Bone (36%), Williams can shoot from three, but he has taken less than 40 shots all year and has only converted on 13 of them. Both teams handle the ball well with Tennessee being the better of the two teams by forcing 13 turnovers a game while committing just 11 a game, while Mississippi St. forces 14 turnovers a game while committing 13.

We saw what happened to Kentucky when they came down to Knoxville last week, they got hammered, this will probably be no different if not worse for MSU. The Bulldogs have the ability to get more second chance points, but I think that would even out the turnovers they commit. And while Tennessee doesn't shoot a lot of threes, they can bully their way into the basket and score. This should be an easy game for the Vols. Tennessee