Cincinnati @ Iowa preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 22, 2019 ) Iowa 79, Cincinnati 72

A pair of teams coming off big wins will try to keep the momentum going when Iowa plays Cincinnati in the Chicago Legends at the United Center on Saturday. The Hawkeyes won in Ames for the first time in 16 years against arch-rival Iowa State on Thursday, while the Bearcats knocked off No. 21 Tennessee on Wednesday.

Iowa led the Cyclones by as many as 21 in the first half and cruised to an 84-68 victory Dec. 12 as Luka Garza posted his sixth double-double with 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting and 11 rebounds. Cincinnati bounced back from a 67-66 home loss to Colgate by knocking off the Volunteers 78-66 behind 15 points and seven rebounds from Tre Scott. This will be the Hawkeyes' seventh straight game against a major-conference team or ranked opponent (San Diego State), and they are 4-2 with wins over NCAA Tournament runner-up Texas Tech, Syracuse, Minnesota and the Cyclones and losses to San Diego State and Michigan. "Our guys handled (the stretch) with maturity and were professional in their approach," coach Fran McCaffery said on Thursday. "They're a group that takes a business-like approach in practice and meetings, on the road - we performed well on the road - that's the business-like approach I am talking about. We'll need more of that this weekend."

TV: 9 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

ABOUT CINCINNATI (7-4): Reigning Big East Player of the Year Jarron Cumberland is averaging 12.8 points but is shooting just 34.7 percent after averaging 18.8 points last season. His cousin, Jaevin Cumberland, a grad transfer who averaged 17.2 points and 3.5 assists while shooting 39.9 percent from 3-point range at Oakland last season, chips in 11.5 points and shoots 39 percent from the arc. Junior guard Keith Williams leads the team in scoring at 13 points per game, Chris Vogt chips in 12.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks and Scott adds a team-best 9.1 rebounds.

ABOUT IOWA (8-3): Iowa senior guard Jordan Bohannon (8.8 points) underwent season-ending hip surgery and will take this season as a redshirt year. McCaffery said he could go small with 6-foot freshman Joe Toussaint (6.7 points, 2.3 assists, 15 minutes per game) or go big with 6-10 senior Ryan Kriener (6.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 14) on a game basis. Garza (22.4 points, 9.9 rebounds) will undoubtedly remain the focal point with sophomore guard Joe Wieskamp (12 points, 5.6 rebounds) getting more shot attempts.

TIP INS

1. Cincinnati leads the all-time series 6-3, but the Hawkeyes won the last meeting 79-72 last March in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Garza had 20 points and Wieskamp added 19 for the Hawkeyes, while Jarron Cumberland had 18 for the Bearcats.

2. Iowa features the No.1 ranked team in the nation in offensive efficiency (115.3 points per 100 possessions).

3. Cincinnati first-year coach John Brannen has maintained the Bearcats' identity as a defense-first team, posting a defensive efficiency rating of 93.2 - 53rd in the nation - although the previous eight teams each finished in the top 30 with two top-10 finishes.

PREDICTION: Cincinnati 76, Iowa 74