USA Today via Reuters
Jan 2, 2021; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Jordan Bohannon (3) and guard Tony Perkins (11) react during a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the first half at Rutgers Athletic Center (RAC). Mandatory Credit: Catalina Fragoso-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Jan 2, 2021; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Jordan Bohannon (3) and guard Tony Perkins (11) react during a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the first half at Rutgers Athletic Center (RAC). Mandatory Credit: Catalina Fragoso-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Basketball action will see an enormous clash in the Big 10, where a fumbling powerhouse Michigan State Spartans will go into battle against the formidable Iowa Hawkeyes. While the Spartans had a strong start to the season, they have fallen off. The Hawkeyes are decided favorites heading into this matchup.
Even though the Hawkeyes lost to the Illinois Fighting Illini in their last game, they are expecting a win here. Their season record sits at a pretty 12-4. They can be beaten, but it is not easy to get that done.
Iowa's next game versus Michigan State will tipoff at 6 pm (CT) on Tuesday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
The contest will be televised nationally on FS1. #Hawkeyes
— Iowa Basketball (@IowaHoops) January 31, 2021
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The Michigan State Spartans were one of the top teams in the country at the start of the season. However, they have slumped to a disappointing 8-6. The highlight of their season has to be when they could only score 37 points against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
However, can Tom Izzo pull a rabbit out of the hat for this Big 10 clash?
NCAA Basketball: Can the Spartans find their momentum back?
While the Hawkeyes were major pre-season favorites, they have been proven to be fallible. Their best hope in the NCAA Tournament is to make a deep run at this point. However, the Spartans was a big game they probably circled off on the calendar. While Michigan State has played below expectation, Iowa has struggled to break Tom Izzo’s team down before.
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USA Today via Reuters
Dec 25, 2020; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo talks to his players during action Friday, Dec. 25, 2020, against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan. Mandatory Credit: Kirthmon F. Dozier-USA TODAY Sports
The Hawkeyes aren’t the most proficient defensive team, something that the Spartans will enjoy. It is a genuine clash of styles, with the Hawkeyes being one of the best offensive teams in the nation.
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The Hawkeyes will be taking the floor with Jordan Bohannon, Keegan Murray, Joe Wisekamp, Connor McCaffery, and Luka Garza. Meanwhile, the Spartans will line up with Rocket Watts, Joshua Langford, Joey Hauser, Thomas Kithier, and Aaron Henry.
For our prediction, we are going with the Hawkeyes. However, this isn’t a very confident pick. Iowa has shown weaknesses over its losses to the Indiana Hoosiers and the Illini. But they have enough firepower to deal with the equally momentum-bereft Michigan State Spartans.
