The competition has been lackluster, sure. But a lot of high-major schools are playing low-major faculties right now. And but no person is destroying the opposition the best way Iowa’s Luka Garza is destroying the opposition via the first 9 days of this uncommon season.
“You possibly can watch the film all you need on Garza — till you get on the market, you do not know what it is like,” stated Western Illinois coach Rob Jeter. “Proper now, it is too straightforward for him.”
It certainly seems that way.
Garza completed with 35 factors and 10 rebounds (in just 26 minutes) in Thursday evening’s 99-58 victory over Jeter’s Leathernecks. The CBS Sports Preseason National Player of the Year was 13-of-21 from the sphere, together with 2-of-Four from 3-point vary. He outscored Western Illinois — like, the entire team — 30-26 within the first half of the eventual 41-point win.
The Hawkeyes’ perfect record now features victories over Southern, North Carolina Central, and Western Illinois — otherwise often known as the teams currently ranked 266th, 291st, and 346th at KenPom. So, once more, the competition hasn’t been nice and even good. No affordable particular person would suggest in any other case. However, that said, Garza is still averaging a national-best 34.Zero factors and 9.7 rebounds in simply 26.Zero minutes per recreation. He is shooting 76.0% from the sphere, 62.5% from 3-point vary, and 80.8% from the free-throw line heading into Tuesday’s showdown with North Carolina within the ACC/Large Ten Challenge.
Iowa is No. Three in Friday morning’s updated CBS Sports Prime 25 And 1 daily faculty basketball rankings. North Carolina is No. 19. And Gonzaga remains No. 1 for the 10th consecutive day. Mark Few’s Zags will play No. 2 Baylor inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Saturday. That game is scheduled to tip at 1 p.m. ET on CBS.
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