NIT Final Four 2013: Iowa Hawkeyes to take on the Maryland Terrapins in MSG. Game Time, Television, Betting Odds.

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Game Time: 8:30 p.m. CST

Television: ESPN2 (Watch ESPN where available)

Betting Odds: Iowa (24-12) is a two or three point favorite over Maryland (25-12).

Previews and Writeups

NIT Final Four 2013: Game preview for Iowa vs. Maryland

Future Big Ten opponents will meet in Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night, as the No. 2 Maryland Terrapins will face the No. 3 Iowa Hawkeyes in the semifinals of the National Invitation Tournament.

Both teams knocked off No. 1 seeds on the road in the quarterfinals of the tournament. The Terrapins led by as many as 10 in the second half, but barely escaped Tuscaloosa with a 58-57 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide. Alex Len had a huge game, leading his team with 15 points and 13 rebounds as well as blocking a potential game-winning shot with three seconds left.

The Hawkeyes ended the Virginia Cavaliers 19-game home winning streak with their 75-64 victory in the quarterfinals. Iowa played tough defense against Virginia, holding the Cavaliers to 38-percent shooting from the field.Roy Devyn Marble led the team with 24 points and five assists, while Adam Woodbury and Zach McCabe each chipped in 10.

Iowa Maryland are Similar in Personnel, Goals (The Gazette w/photos)

The schools will have much more in common in 2014 when Maryland joins the Big Ten. But tonight (8 p.m. ESPN2) is about championships. The Hawkeyes (24-12) and Terrapins (25-12) are playing for a spot in Thursday’s NIT finals.

The teams hold their opponents to about 38 percent shooting and score between 70.6 and 71.0 points per game. Both had a substantial rebounding margin over their opponents. And they both like to run on offense.

“Offensively, they’ve got some athletes that really like to push in transition,” Iowa sophomore Aaron White said. “They’re just like us. They attack the glass, they’ve got the big guy in the middle. They’re a good defensively team while they’re doing that. A great match-up.”

NIT Chair: No Conspiracy on Iowa's Seeding (The Gazette)

Dispatches from Blogfrica: Testudo Times Talks Iowa-Maryland Hoops (Black Heart Gold Pants)

Previewing Maryland-Iowa: New York State of Mind, Pt. II - Testudo Times

Is Iowa’s season now a success? Players undecided

Like McCaffery, junior Devyn Marble’s idea of success is less tangible and more intangible.

I think it (a title) would (validate the season) in a way,” he said. “Even without one, we’ve still accomplished a lot this year. But I think us as a team we want it really bad and we’ve shown that in the past three games that relentless push toward getting what we want.”

As for junior Melsahn Basabe, success needs validation, like winning an NIT title.

“I think a championship is just the need,” Iowa junior Melsahn Basabe said. “My group and I haven’t been able to achieve anything, so that’s what I think the next step is: we need a championship this year.”