Iowa Hawkeyes vs Michigan Wolverines Match Preview – Players To Watch, Head to Head, and Prediction

An enticing clash awaits the Big 10 Conference as Iowa plays host to the Michigan Wolverines on an exciting Thursday night. After their heartbreaking 82-79 loss to the Cornhuskers, the Hawkeyes will be looking to turn the tables in their favor against the Wolverines.

As all the eyes will be on Caitlin Clark who will have a go at Kelsey Plum’s record, Michigan will look to spoil the party for Caitlin Clark and Co. to better their standings on the table.

Players to watch out for

It’s to no one’s surprise that Iowa will rely heavily on their star No.22 Caitlin Clark. The explosive point guard has been the offensive spearhead averaging an astonishing 32.1 points per game along with distributing 8.3 assists per game. In addition to this, sophomore forward Hannah Stuelke delivered a breakthrough 47-point performance against the Lady Lions to assert her dominance in the locker room. Additionally, Michigan’s defense will also have to deal with the tenacity of Kate Martin who maintains an average of 13 points to go with 6.6 rebounds per game.

Meanwhile, the visitors also possess their fair share of firepower within the team. Their attack is led by the vibrant Laila Phelia who is their top performer with an average of 16.1 points per game. Moreover, 6′ 3″ forward Cameron Williams holds their defensive end by grabbing 4.9 rebounds per game while scoring 6.8 points. Also, Lauren Hansen can also trouble Iowa’s backcourt with her 36 percent shooting percentage.

Read More- Teammate Hannah Stuelke’s Masterclass Overshadows Caitlin Clark’s Double-Double as Iowa Celebrate Centurian Display

Both these teams have had a long-standing history and are entering the contest and have impressive records in the competition so far.

Head to Head and current numbers

The No.4 Iowa holds the upper hand over its opponents in their one-on-one battle. In the 43 previous matchups between the two, the Hawkeyes have come out victorious on 26 occasions. Another stat in favor of the Hawkeyes is their formidable scoring average of 92.1 points per game which is 22.1 points more than Michigan’s. While the Wolverines are neck-to-neck with their 35.7% accuracy to Iowas’s 36.9% from the 3-point range, the Hawkeyes control the field game with a 7.6% advantage.

On paper Iowa certainly looks the better side, there is no denying that Michigan has what it takes to create an upset. As Caitlin Clark finds herself on the brink of making history, the Wolverines won’t be mere spectators for the occasion. We will have to wait and see how this thrilling game turns out to be.