Iowa basketball is off to a scorching 5-0 start, but tonight under the bright lights of the Acrisure Classic in Palm Desert, California, will be its first real yardstick. It should be an exciting early-season test for both teams as the unbeaten Hawkeyes take on an equally undefeated Ole Miss team.
The Hawkeyes have been absolutely dominant in their first five games. They have a scoring margin of 27.6 points per game, which puts them in 15th place nationally, and they have the highest field-goal percentage in the nation going into tonight’s game at 57.6%. Thus far, Iowa’s efforts have appeared to be controlled, effective, and seamless. However, Ole Miss offers a degree of physicality and scoring power that the Hawkeyes have not yet encountered.
The Rebels, who are also 5-0, defeated Memphis 83-77 on November 11 to earn their best victory of the year. Ole Miss has three players who average in double figures, and that victory demonstrated the strength of their offense. Ilias Kamardine, a senior guard who averages 15.8 points per game on an outstanding 56.6% from the field, has been the main attraction thus far. With 14.4 points apiece, senior guard AJ Storr and senior forward Malik Dia give the Rebels depth and an inside-out scoring balance that Iowa must respect.
Bennett Stirtz, a senior point guard for Iowa, has been the driving force behind the Hawkeyes’ early-season success. He is making 45% of his long-range shots and averaging 17.6 points on 57.4% shooting. Stirtz has one of the best all-around statistical profiles in the Big Ten when you include his 6.2 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.8 steals. His poise and effectiveness have been essential to Iowa’s strong start, and he will need to put on another strong showing against an experienced Ole Miss backcourt tonight.
Additionally, this game will be the first time the two programs have ever met. Ole Miss and Iowa don’t frequently share the court, though they might occasionally run into each other on the recruiting trail. Additionally, the Hawkeyes are playing their first SEC opponent since losing to Auburn in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
For a team keen to gauge its performance outside of the conference, that adds a bit more intrigue. Ed Cohen will provide play-by-play and Dan Dickau will provide color commentary when the game begins at 8:30 p.m. CT on CBS Sports Network. Fans who would rather stream can watch the action on Fubo, which is giving new users a free trial.
Oddsmakers anticipate a close race. As of Tuesday, Ole Miss is at +125 on the money line, while Iowa is favored by 2.5 points and is at -150. The over/under is set at 146.5, which represents the potent offensive performances of both teams. The neutral-site matchup tonight also marks the beginning of a hectic period for Iowa. The Hawkeyes will return to action on Wednesday night against either Utah or Grand Canyon, regardless of the result. From there, the schedule piles up, and Big Ten play is quickly approaching. After coming home, Iowa plays Maryland on December 6 before going into rivalry mode on December 11 and traveling to Iowa State.
So far this season, the Hawkeyes have had a combination of easy victories and consistently better play. They have already defeated Robert Morris 101–69, Western Illinois 77–58, Xavier 81–62, Southeast Missouri State 99–70, and Chicago State 93–54. Head coach Fran McCaffery has had the chance to learn more about his rotation and gauge the cohesiveness of this year’s squad with every game. The real test, however, will now take place in a neutral court against an eager SEC rival who thinks it can create some national buzz of its own. Ole Miss is the perfect opponent for Iowa as it looks to make another NCAA Tournament run because of its athleticism, physicality, and veteran scoring.
The Hawkeyes will have a real chance to stay undefeated if Iowa can keep shooting at or close to its nation-leading percentage, share the ball the way it has done early in the season, and have another excellent performance from Stirtz. However, Ole Miss has more than enough firepower to push Iowa for forty minutes if the Rebels’ three seasoned scorers get going. In any case, with the center of the schedule quickly approaching, tonight promises to give Iowa supporters an eye-opening look at just how good this team can be—and how far it still needs to go.
