Western Illinois at Iowa 12/3/20 - College Basketball Picks & Predictions

In Thursday night college basketball action, the Western Illinois Leathernecks will travel to Carver-Hawkeye Arena to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Former Minnesota assistant Rob Jeter was tabbed to turn around a Western Illinois program that lost 21 of their 26 games a season ago. The Leathernecks won just two of their 14 Summit Conference games and finished in last place.

The first item of business for head coach Rob Jeter will be to reconstruct a Western Illinois defense that allowed 81.8 points on average in 2019. 

The Iowa Hawkeyes enter this contest ranked number three in the country and are a legitimate threat to reach the Final Four. Last time out, Iowa exploded for 58 points during the first 20 minutes of a 103-76 home victory versus Southern. The Hawkeyes (2-0) knocked down 12-for-24 from long distance and shot a sizzling 55 percent overall.

Preseason All-American Luka Garza made 14 of his 15 field goal attempts and finished with a game high 41 points and nine rebounds. Joe Wieskamp contributed 16 points and seven rebounds for the Hawkeyes.