Purdue Upset By Iowa. 67-65 (via ESPNInternational)
Alright, wrong sport but still a victory over OMHR. If only Jarryd Cole could play tight end today. Perhaps, if anything, to bring some of that fire he played with in this win against Purdue.
About today's football game. Before the links there is this little bit of news via Marc Morehouse's Twitter feed:
Canzeri didn't make the trip. Coker is banged up. I think those calling for McCall will be pleased.
Now, the best place to start is with Marc Morehouse's "The Big Analysis." Marc predicts a 31-27 Hawkeye win even though he gives Purdue the advantage at special teams and on offense. Despite the advantages Morehouse believes Iowa may lean on McNutt as they have the last five weeks.
Rob Howe's Iowa at Purdue preview is full of interesting oddsmaker trends. A couple of note, Iowa is 0-6 against the spread (ATS) in their last six road games. As a road favorite, Iowa is 0-5 ATS in their last five.
Iowa has rebounded to win the week following each of their four losses this season. A win at Purdue would be the first win on the road this year and stop a potential tailspin that we fans remember of the 2010 team. The seniors are saying the right things. Shaun Prater tells Steve Batterson, "there won't be a letdown this year," also from Marvin McNutt, "we're going to go as hard as we can and see where that takes us." The Hawkeyes haven't failed to win a game on the road in a season since 1999. These seniors have two games to put their money where their mouth is.
The Hawkeyes hauled in two football recruits this week. Tom Kakert, of Rivals.com, has a breakdown for the Cedar Rapids Gazette of Iowa's verbal two commits and what's on the horizon for football recruiting. Kakert's article mentions running back David Smith, of Midlothian, Illinois, as a candidate for filling a running back slot. Thursday Hawk Central reported that Iowa is no longer recruiting Smith. Iowa verbal Maurice Flemming and Smith are best of buds and Fleming told Hawkeye Insider's Rob Howe that even though Smith and Iowa parted ways he is still committed to Iowa.
Sticking with football recruiting, FightforIowa has this week's roundup. The high school season is winding down but FFI has the stats for those verbal commits that are still fighting for state championships.
Men's hoops cruised to another easy victory against Northern Illinois. In three blowouts the Hawkeyes have had three different leading scorers. This time it was freshman Josh Oglesby's 16 points that led the way. In his post game press conference, coach Fran McCaffery talked about Oglesby and why he has the green light.
The 3-0 Hawkeyes face their first real test Sunday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines when they take on the Creighton Blue Jays. Iowa's starting lineup for Creighton is the same as the three previous games. No word yet on Andrew Brommer's status and the Hawkeyes will need help in the middle. Creighton's Doug McDermott is coming off a career high 27 points.
Looking even further ahead, Iowa's opponent November 23rd, Campbell, is off to a 3-0 start. Campbell defeated North Carolina A&T 94-66 and will take on Chicago State Monday before stopping in Iowa City.
Other links of interest:
- Wonder why some of the Hawkeyes choose their football number?
- The fans will vote on the next Cy-Hawk trophy next Spring
- Scott Dochterman has a roundup of former Hawkeye basketball players and recruits
- Couple of Podcasts to take you up to gametime: OnIowa, HawkeyeDrive
- Hawkeye kid captain Indya Sorrell
- BTN2Go is now available for your iphone/ipad
- Norm Parker is driving again and although he is assigned a student assistant, probably doesn't need it