IU men's basketball plays Iowa tonight

The IU men’s basketball team (15-12, 5-9) will face the No. 20 Iowa Hawkeyes (19-8, 8-6) at 9 p.m. in Assembly Hall, the second of three games this week for the Hoosiers.

This game was originally scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 18, but was postponed due to a piece of fascia falling from the rafters of Assembly Hall.

The arena has been cleared structurally, and the IU women’s basketball team has played two games since the beam fell nine days ago.

Because of the postponed game and the Big Ten Tournament in two weeks, both IU and Iowa will play three games this week.

For the Hoosiers, it is their first home game in over two weeks. IU began this week in Wisconsin, falling to the Badgers 69-58 after leading by 10 at halftime.

The Hawkeyes also played Tuesday, falling to the Minnesota Golden Gophers 95-89. Tuesday’s result was preluded by a loss at home to Wisconsin on Saturday, and it was the first time all season the Hawkeyes have lost consecutive games.

Iowa leads the Big Ten in points per game this season with 83.5. For the most part, Iowa spreads its scoring around, as only two players average double-figures.

Senior Roy Devyn Marble and junior Aaron White average 16.9 and 13.2 points per game, respectively.

Marble is shooting 41.9 percent from the field and 38 percent from 3-point range. He leads the Hawkeyes in steals, averaging 1.8 per game.

Iowa plays an up-tempo style, getting up and down the court while playing multiple players. Eleven  Hawkeyes average 10 or more minutes per game, yet no player averages more than 30.

IU Coach Tom Crean said Iowa’s adaptability makes them difficult to challenge this season.

The Hawkeyes rank first in the Big Ten in rebounding offense, averaging 42 rebounds per game. The Hawkeyes rank second in the Big Ten in rebounding margin, falling 0.4 behind the Hoosiers for first.

Iowa averages 1.6 fewer turnovers per game this season than its opponents. Iowa forces its opponents into 13.2 turnovers per game, and the Hoosiers have averaged 15 turnovers per game on the season, last in the Big Ten.

Crean said IU has to adjust and adapt to the pace of the game Iowa will undoubtedly bring.

“We have to take the speed of the game and make it work for us,” Crean said. “They can do numerous things, whether it is pressure or man or zone or switching because of the versatility.”

Crean mentioned Iowa’s ability to get out in transition and said IU needs to be aware of that, among other things.

“They are as good as anyone in this league at getting out (on the fast break) after makes or misses,” Crean said.