NCAA Men’s Basketball: Iowa Hawkeyes vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights: Possible Lineups and Predictions

NCAA Men’s Basketball is back in action as the Iowa Hawkeyes take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. This is arguably going to be the biggest clash in the Big Ten Conference in 2021.

The Hawkeyes had an amazing start to the season. Following their 6-0 run, they were ranked as the third-best team in the country. But then two losses in three games against Gonzaga and Minnesota saw them drop all the way to #10. They carved out a win against Northwestern in their last game and will be eager to build a winning streak now.

After losing their first game of the season against the Buckeyes, the Scarlet Knights bounced back with a win in their last game. They beat the Boilermakers 81-76, to improve to 7-1 for the season.

NCAA Men’s Basketball: Can the Hawkeyes prove they are still contenders?

This is the third away game for the Hawkeyes. Both of their previous losses came away from home, making them 0-2 for games not played in Iowa. So the Hawkeyes need to figure it out because they have some big away games coming up soon.

Their lineup will consist of CJ Fredrick, Joe Wieskamp, and Jordan Bohannon as the guards, alongside Luka Garza and Patrick McCaffery as the forwards.

The Hawkeyes rank third in the country when it comes to points scored per game. But their defense has been shaky and they rank 255th in points allowed per game. They will have to be wary of the Scarlet Knights, who have a good offensive unit.

They will likely have the same lineup as the previous game. Geo Baker, Jacob Young, and Montez Mathis will start as their guards while Myles Johnson and Paul Mulcahy will play as the forwards. Rutgers will have their work cut out with the absence of Ron Harper Jr. He was their leading scorer so far, averaging 23.4 points per game. If he is able to return in time, Rutgers will be able to keep the game close.

Iowa will be expected to win this game. They have a better team and a much better offense. The Hawkeyes should be able to pull through, and Garza looks to the catalyst for this win.