The Utah men’s basketball team gets set to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Saturday, December 21, 2024.
Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. central on the Big Ten Network. The Utes (8-2) and the Hawkeyes (8-3) are unranked.
This is the last big test for the Utes before they get a 10-day break to prepare for their Big 12 opener in Waco, Texas, against Baylor on Dec. 31. The Utes enter the game with just one game against a high-major team, which turned into a loss to Mississippi State.
The Hawkeyes are already in Big Ten action, and they split their games with Northwestern (win) and Michigan (loss). They’re also .500 in their last six games and they have lost to their only meeting with a Big 12 team this season, which was an 89-80 defeat against Iowa State.
The game is at the Sanford Pentagon, which is becoming one of the favorite neutral site arenas in college basketball.
Here is a preview of Saturday’s game.
How to Watch Utah vs. Iowa
Date: Saturday, December 21, 2024
Time: 5 p.m. CT
TV Channel: Big Ten Network
Site: Sanford Pentagon, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Utah vs. Iowa Betting Odds, Lines
Opening Line: Pick ‘Em
Current Line: Iowa -1
Over/Under: 164
Utah vs. Iowa Predictions
Look, the Utes can shoot the ball, at times lights out. As a team they’re close to 40% from the 3-point line. Guard Gabe Madsen is one of the conference’s top scorers, averaging nearly 20 points per game. He’s also shooting 40% from the 3-point line.
His brother, Mason Madsen, joined him this season as a transfer and he’s averaging 11.1 points. Forward Ezra Ausar is averaging 11.1 points in just 20 minutes per game.
Keep an eye on senior center Lawson Lovering, who is playing his way into shape after missing the first five games of the season due to an injury. He’s rounding into form, averaging 11.1 points and 6.4 rebounds.
Utah needs a game like this, given its dearth of high-major opponents in non-conference.
For the Hawkeyes, it’s the trio of forward Owen Freeman (17.2 ppg), forward Payton Sandfort (16.0 ppg) and guard Josh Dix (13.4 ppg). The trio also combine for more than 15 rebounds. Like Utah, Iowa can shoot the ball efficiently and can hit 40% from the 3-point line.
The injury status of Hawkeyes guard Seydou Traore (ankle) bears monitoring. Coach Fran McCaffrey said earlier this week he wasn’t optimistic that Traore would play. He did play against Iowa State.
Utah 79, Iowa 77
ESPN Matchup Predictor: Utah (53.3% Chance of Winning)
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
