National reporters think Bennett Stirtz's presence on the floor will be the difference for the Hawkeyes.
While some national reporters aren't interested in watching Iowa basketball's first round matchup against Clemson on Friday, the general consensus surrounding the matchup is a positive one.
The expected rock fight between the Hawkeyes and Tigers could make it an unpleasant watch for casual viewers, but fans are excited to see two well-coached teams battle for a likely chance to take on top-seeded Florida on Sunday.
But what are the national analysts saying about the matchup? Keep reading to see their picks.
Isaac Trotter, CBS Sports: Iowa
Trotter is the first of many reporters to acknowledge Bennett Stirtz here. The senior has had an incredible one-year stint in Iowa City, and Trotter isn't sure how Clemson will contain him. The Tigers will be without starting big man Carter Welling due to an ACL injury, which also gives Trotter questions about the Tigers. He ultimately rolls with Iowa.
Trotter's explanation: "McCollum-coached teams move without the ball exceptionally well, which is something that you have to do to beat Clemson. The schematic edges are pointing toward Iowa in this one, plus Clemson will not have big man Carter Welling (torn ACL), who transformed into the Tigers' best per-minute rebounder. Clemson has the depth to mask Welling's absence, but these guards don't have enough juice."
Jay Bilas, ESPN: Iowa
Like Trotter, ESPN's longtime lead college basketball analyst agrees that Stirtz will be the difference-maker for the Hawkeyes.
Bilas' explanation: "The Tigers are big and well-coached, but the Hawkeyes have Bennett Stirtz, one of the best shotmakers in college basketball, who is averaging 20.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists. Take Iowa. Neither beats Florida, anyway."
Daniel Chavkin, The Sporting News: Iowa
These predictions sound like a broken record, but reporters are really confident in Stirtz's ability to lead the Hawkeyes to victory. Chavkin's concern with Clemson's lack of a go-to scorer also confirmed his selection.
Chavkin's explanation: "Ultimately, this game will come down to how much Clemson can contain Stirtz's offense. The Hawkeyes, therefore, should be able to take this one on the back of Stirtz and a defense that can handle Clemson's underwhelming offense."
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