JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
There was a ‘first game’ feel to Iowa’s 76-59 win against Gardner-Webb on Friday night.
Yes, it was their first game, but the Hawkeyes looked a bit sluggish and uncertain in the first half. Iowa was minus two on the glass, made just 2-9 from the free throw line and Fran McCaffery was working through several lineups, trying to find something that worked.
Jarrod Uthoff worked in the first half, scoring all of his game-high 21 points (in 19 first half minutes). Other than Uthoff’s scoring and Gesell’s six assists, it was anything but pretty as Iowa took a 41-36 lead into the locker room. Iowa shot just 12 of 27 in the first half and were it not for a 15- of 18 performance at the line, things could have been ugly.
Whatever message McCaffery delivered at the break was received as Iowa opened on an 8-0 run, powered by back to back Peter Jok three-point shots. The Hawkeyes had a double-digit lead and they would hold on to that for much of the rest of the game. Iowa was more crisp on the offensive side of the ball and more determined on the defensive side of the ball, the latter likely being McCaffery’s biggest cause for consternation in the first half.
As quickly as Jok heated up, he was forced to leave the game after turning his right ankle. He would return to the bench, but wearing a walking boot. McCaffey would say after the game that the injury was not severe and he did not expect Jok to be out for an extended period of time. Iowa has a quick turnaround and plays on Sunday night against Coppin Stat before traveling to Milwaukee to play Marquette next week.
Uthoff played just seven early minutes in the second half before retiring for the night and Iowa’s reserves were able to keep the game in check. Adam Woodbury scored 11 points to go along with six boards while Anthony Clemmons and Peter Jok scoring eight apiece. Amhad Wagner scored six to go along with eight boards in just nine minutes. Nicolas Baer and Dom Uhl added six while Mike Gesell tied a career high with nine assists in the game.
Iowa didn’t look crisp in either of their exhibition games and they will need some time to figure out their rotations. Things could be worse, as Iowa could have begun the season with an opening night loss the way Wisconsin did at home against Western Illinois along with Illinois giving up over 90-points in an opening loss to North Florida.
Yes, it was their first game, but the Hawkeyes looked a bit sluggish and uncertain in the first half. Iowa was minus two on the glass, made just 2-9 from the free throw line and Fran McCaffery was working through several lineups, trying to find something that worked.
Jarrod Uthoff worked in the first half, scoring all of his game-high 21 points (in 19 first half minutes). Other than Uthoff’s scoring and Gesell’s six assists, it was anything but pretty as Iowa took a 41-36 lead into the locker room. Iowa shot just 12 of 27 in the first half and were it not for a 15- of 18 performance at the line, things could have been ugly.
Whatever message McCaffery delivered at the break was received as Iowa opened on an 8-0 run, powered by back to back Peter Jok three-point shots. The Hawkeyes had a double-digit lead and they would hold on to that for much of the rest of the game. Iowa was more crisp on the offensive side of the ball and more determined on the defensive side of the ball, the latter likely being McCaffery’s biggest cause for consternation in the first half.
As quickly as Jok heated up, he was forced to leave the game after turning his right ankle. He would return to the bench, but wearing a walking boot. McCaffey would say after the game that the injury was not severe and he did not expect Jok to be out for an extended period of time. Iowa has a quick turnaround and plays on Sunday night against Coppin Stat before traveling to Milwaukee to play Marquette next week.
Uthoff played just seven early minutes in the second half before retiring for the night and Iowa’s reserves were able to keep the game in check. Adam Woodbury scored 11 points to go along with six boards while Anthony Clemmons and Peter Jok scoring eight apiece. Amhad Wagner scored six to go along with eight boards in just nine minutes. Nicolas Baer and Dom Uhl added six while Mike Gesell tied a career high with nine assists in the game.
Iowa didn’t look crisp in either of their exhibition games and they will need some time to figure out their rotations. Things could be worse, as Iowa could have begun the season with an opening night loss the way Wisconsin did at home against Western Illinois along with Illinois giving up over 90-points in an opening loss to North Florida.
