Iowa Men's Basketball vs. No. 7 Purdue – Game Preview:
Game Details:
- Who: #7 Purdue Boilermakers (17-5, 9-2 Big Ten) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes
- When: 6:00 PM CT | Tuesday, February 4, 2025
- Where: Carver-Hawkeye Arena | Iowa City, IA
- TV: Peacock (Paul Burmeister & Stephen Bardo)
- Radio: Hawkeye Radio Network (Gary Dolphin & Bobby Hansen)
- Streaming: PeacockTV.com
- Follow: @HawkeyeBeacon | @IowaHoops | @CBBonFOX | @IowaonBTN
- Betting Line: Purdue -7.5 (Total: 155.5)
- KenPom Prediction: Purdue -6 | 71% chance of winning
Iowa Faces a Tough Test Against No. 7 Purdue:
The Iowa Hawkeyes are set to face a major challenge as they take on the No. 7-ranked Purdue Boilermakers. The matchup looked difficult even a week ago, but with Iowa’s leading scorer and rebounder, Owen Freeman, out for the season due to injury, the task now seems even more daunting.
Purdue, coming off a dominant 27-point win over Michigan and a victory against Indiana, has been in top form, while Iowa is reeling from a 17-point loss to Ohio State.
Projected Starting Lineups:
Iowa Hawkeyes :
| Position | Player | Height | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | 3FG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | Brock Harding | 6'0" | 9.0 | 2.0 | 6.0 | 44.7% | 38.5% |
| G | Josh Dix | 6'6" | 13.3 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 52.4% | 45.2% |
| G | Drew Thelwell | 6'3" | 10.7 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 55.5% | 43.1% |
| F | Payton Sandfort | 6'8" | 16.0 | 5.7 | 2.9 | 40.3% | 34.2% |
| C | Ladji Dembele | 6'8" | 3.5 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 44.1% | 39.1% |
Purdue Boilermakers :
| Position | Player | Height | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | 3FG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | Braden Smith | 6'0" | 15.8 | 4.6 | 8.8 | 44.0% | 38.2% |
| G | Fletcher Loyer | 6'5" | 14.0 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 47.1% | 46.3% |
| G | CJ Cox | 6'3" | 6.1 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 50.0% | 41.7% |
| F | Trey Kaufman-Renn | 6'9" | 18.4 | 6.2 | 2.4 | 60.4% | 42.9% |
| C | Caleb Furst | 6'10" | 4.7 | 3.9 | 0.4 | 57.1% | 0.0% |
Purdue's Strengths and Challenges :
🔥 Offensive Firepower
- Purdue ranks 10th nationally in offensive efficiency and leads the Big Ten in conference play.
- The Boilermakers excel in effective field goal percentage (56.5%), ranking 20th in the nation.
- They shoot 56.4% inside the arc (28th nationally) and 37.7% from three (31st nationally).
⚔️ Defensive Dominance
- Purdue forces turnovers at an elite rate:
- 23.4% opponent turnover rate (1st in Big Ten)
- 12.6% steal rate (1st in Big Ten)
- They also limit opponents’ free throw attempts, ranking 4th in the conference.
🛑 Defensive Weaknesses
- Purdue allows teams to shoot efficiently, ranking 145th nationally in effective field goal percentage defense (50.1%).
- In conference play, however, they have improved to 7th in the Big Ten in defensive efficiency.
Key Players to Watch
🌟 Trey Kaufman-Renn (Purdue, F, 6'9")
- 18.4 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 60.4 FG%
- The new leader for Purdue in the absence of Zach Edey, dominating in the paint.
🎯 Braden Smith (Purdue, G, 6'0")
- 15.8 PPG, 8.8 APG, 38.2 3FG%
- Leads the nation in assist rate, showcasing elite playmaking ability.
🔥 Fletcher Loyer (Purdue, G, 6'5")
- 14.0 PPG, 46.3 3FG%
- Purdue’s most dangerous three-point shooter with a 46.3% conversion rate.
💪 Payton Sandfort (Iowa, F, 6'8")
- 16.0 PPG, 5.7 RPG
- Iowa’s top offensive option with 34.2% three-point shooting.
Final Thoughts & Game Prediction
Iowa faces a huge challenge tonight against a balanced, high-powered Purdue team. Without Owen Freeman, the Hawkeyes lack their top scorer and rebounder, making an upset even more difficult.
Purdue’s elite offense and turnover-forcing defense could create problems for Iowa, especially given the Hawkeyes’ struggles on defense.
🔮 Prediction: Purdue 83, Iowa 72
(Purdue covers the -7.5 spread, total points around 155.5.)
Can Iowa pull off an upset at home, or will Purdue continue its Big Ten dominance? Tune in at 6:00 PM CT to find out!
