The Spartans are 2-4 on the road. Norfolk State is sixth in the MEAC scoring 31.5 points per game in the paint led by Jack Doumbia averaging 10.0.

Tennessee makes 43.3% of its shots from the field this season, which is 2.1 percentage points higher than Norfolk State has allowed to its opponents (41.2%). Norfolk State averages 10.2 more points per game (75.7) than Tennessee allows to opponents (65.5).

TOP PERFORMERS: Dalton Knecht is averaging 15.7 points for the Volunteers. Jordan Gainey is averaging 1.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Tennessee.

Jamarii Thomas is shooting 43.2% and averaging 18.0 points for the Spartans. Daryl Anderson is averaging 1.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Norfolk State.

Like a bad habit, the Iowa Hawkeyes just won’t go away. For one last time this season, they’re set to take the field this afternoon and we’ll all be watching eagerly to see if they were able to use the last four weeks to improve on the offensive side of the ball.

When we last saw Iowa on the field, they failed to score even a single point against Michigan in the Big Ten Championship Game. It was another in a growing string of offensive blunders with QB Deacon Hill fumbling twice, taking his season total to 13 turnovers in 8.5 games as Iowa’s starter. For Iowa to be competitive today, Hill and the rest of the Hawkeyes will need to take care of the football and avoid setting up Tennessee with easy scoring opportunities.

The Volunteers enter the day at 8-4 overall and averaging more than 30 points per game on the season. Their offense has been potent most of the season with both a strong running game and a high-powered passing game. But it’s also been nearly shut down in the handful of games Tennessee has faced off with high end defenses.

Despite topping 30 points in seven games this season, the Volunteers were held to 20 or fewer points in their five other matchups this season, including 16, 20, 7 and 10 points in losses to Florida, Alabama, Missouri and Georgia respectively. Iowa will mark the best scoring and total defense Tennessee has faced this season.

Not only that, but that high-powered Volunteer offense heads to Orlando with some newfound question marks. Starting QB Joe Milton and starting RB Jaylen Wright have both opted out to prepare for the NFL Draft, as has #2 RB Jabari Small. Tennessee is thus left leaning on true freshman QB Nico Iamaleava. While he entered the SEC as a top-5 prospect nationally, he’s still a true freshman making his first career start against Phil Parker’s defense.

Will that be enough for the Hawkeyes, who seemingly find new ways to avoid scoring from week to week? Or will the Iowa offense be forced to find some points of their own?

That wasn’t the case a year ago when the Hawks held Kentucky scoreless with the defense coming away with points of their own. If Iowa does need to find some points with the offense, however, the pressure will be on Hill

The Volunteers enter the day ranked 21st nationally in rushing defense, giving up just under 114 yards per game on the ground and 3.2 yards per carry. The pass defense, however, ranks 81st nationally giving up nearly 235 yards per game through the air. And that was at full strength. Tennessee will be playing today without six of their top seven defensive backs, including starting safety Wesley Walker, starting nickel Tamarion McDonald and starting corner Doneiko Slaughter. Add in the transfer of starting defensive end Tyler Baron and if Iowa could muster a pulse in the passing game they should find success.