COLUMBUS, Ohio — There will be plenty at stake when No. 2 seed Tennessee faces 10th-seeded Iowa on Sunday in a second-round game Sunday at Nationwide Arena. The winner advances to a South Region semifinal in Louisville. There is also conference bragging rights at stake.
After putting just four teams in the NCAA Tournament last year, the Big Ten had a conference-leading eight teams in this year’s 68-team field and finished 7-1 in the tourney’s first round, including Iowa’s 79-72 win over Cincinnati on Friday. Tennessee, a 77-70 victor over Colgate, on Friday also has been hardened by its regular season in the SEC.
“I don’t think we’ve played an SEC team since I’ve been here,” said Iowa’s junior guard Jordan Bohannon. “It’s a tough conference to play in just as well as the Big Ten [is]. They’ve been battling all year round like we have. We know it’s going to be a physical game.”
You would expect a football game between the Big Ten and the SEC to be physical. It figures to be the same in basketball as Iowa and Tennessee both like to play inside-out and aggressively defend the post. Still, they are strangers, having not played each other since the Vols edged the Hawkeyes 78-65 in overtime in a First Four game in 2014.
“It’s nice to play teams from other conferences because at this point the Big Ten knows each other so well,” said Iowa’s sophomore center Luka Garza. “They know what your tendencies are even more so than a new team could pick up so quickly.”
Iowa (23-11) isn’t surprised by the Big Ten’s success.
“We weren’t surprised at all,” Bohannon said. “I think looking forward, I see more teams advancing in this tournament. I wouldn’t be surprised if we get the same amount in the Sweet 16.”
Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said he is worried about Tennessee’s speed.
“They’re quick but they also can throw the ball inside,” he said. “They also have 3-point shooting. That’s why they have the record that they have.”
Tennessee (30-5) has given up 15 3s over the last two games, which is a growing concern.
“When you can win a game in the NCAA Tournament when a team makes 15 3s like that and the crowd is pulling for them, I thought we showed the maturity we needed to show,” said Vols coach Rick Barnes, referring to Tennessee’s win over Colgate. “You have to give them credit. They’re making the shots.”
Barnes said he thought his team was tight during its opening-round game and hopes the Vols will be more relaxed against the Hawkeyes.
“The hard thing in this tournament is just getting started,” Barnes said. “I expect us to come out and realize this is like playing a conference game against anybody in your league where you know you have to be ready to play and hope that we can play well.”