JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
Let's start this off by saying two basketball games do not make a trend nor are they a harbinger of what is to come the next 16 games. However, Iowa fans have to be encouraged by what their Hawkeyes have done to start the Big Ten regular season.
Iowa lost a close one at home to Purdue (79-76) on Wednesday before pulling off one of their biggest upsets in years on Saturday, knocking off then #11 Wisconsin 72-65 at the Kohl Center. It was Iowa's first road win against a ranked opponent since 2006, it was just the 2nd home loss against an unranked for Wisconsin in games played in the Kohl Center (59-2) and it was Iowa's first win at Wisconsin since 2000.
The 72 points were the most allowed by Wisconsin all season, as they entered the game with the #1 ranked scoring defense in the nation. They held North Carolina to 60 points earlier in the year.
These are the type of games Fran McCaffery expects to see on a regular basis; going toe to toe with the best in the league and getting to a point where winning these games is not cause for pause or celebration.
Take a look at Iowa's statistics through two conference games:
Iowa is shooting nearly 49% from the floor against two of the best defensive minded programs in the league. The Hawks are also playing to their strengths, which is to say they are staying away from their weakness which is three-point shooting; Iowa has only attempted 8.5 three's per game compared to 24 per game for their two opponents.
Iowa has attempted 18 more free throws than Purdue and Wisconsin did combined, which is staggering. Again, Iowa plays to it strengths in attacking the rim with Devyn Marble and Bryce Cartwright while getting the ball on the block to Mel Basabe and Aaron White. The Hawkeyes have made more free throws in their first two games (33) than their two opponents have attempted (28), something that was a hallmark of Tom Davis era teams.
While Iowa is only +1 on the boards in their first two games, this is an improvement from what we have seen from Iowa during the non-conference portion of their schedule. I don't expect Iowa to outrebound Ohio State, but this is a good start for them in an area that has been a weakness thus far on the year.
Iowa turned the ball over 10 times against Purdue and 10 times against Wisconsin, which is a solid number for a team that looks to push the tempo. The Hawks are also averaging four blocks per game over this two game stretch.
Four Hawkeyes are averaging in double figures with a fifth at 8.5 points per game. That player is Matt Gatens, who is playing very well from the floor averaging nine rebounds per game which leads the team. Melsahn Basabe is next in line at 8.5.
Iowa's three primary ball handlers, Marble, Gatens and Cartwright, have a combined 25 assists to just five turnovers. Simply put, that's excellent basketball and gives you a chance to win.
There are aspects that don't show up in a box score or stat sheet and that includes the heart this team is playing with.
They withstood an early second half run against Wisconsin but never blinked, came back to take the lead and fought off some late game adversity to hold on for the win. Marble hit two of the more pressure packed shots we've seen in recent memory from an Iowa player late in the game against the Badgers.
This team has the look of a program that not longer is just happy to get a win, but one that expects to win.
They will still have their struggles this season as the lack of a consistent three-point game will put too much pressure on the other shots the team will take. I don't believe their rebounding concerns have disappeared, either.
But Purdue is a borderline Top 25 team and Wisconsin will still be in the Top 25 when the new rankings come out this week.
This is a very good start for the Iowa basketball team, who has a shot at winning two in a row on the road Wednesday night at Minnesota. Iowa started last year's Big Ten slate 0-6 and then 1-8.
One thing I know this team could use on Saturday is a packed Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Iowa lost a close one at home to Purdue (79-76) on Wednesday before pulling off one of their biggest upsets in years on Saturday, knocking off then #11 Wisconsin 72-65 at the Kohl Center. It was Iowa's first road win against a ranked opponent since 2006, it was just the 2nd home loss against an unranked for Wisconsin in games played in the Kohl Center (59-2) and it was Iowa's first win at Wisconsin since 2000.
The 72 points were the most allowed by Wisconsin all season, as they entered the game with the #1 ranked scoring defense in the nation. They held North Carolina to 60 points earlier in the year.
These are the type of games Fran McCaffery expects to see on a regular basis; going toe to toe with the best in the league and getting to a point where winning these games is not cause for pause or celebration.
Take a look at Iowa's statistics through two conference games:
Iowa is shooting nearly 49% from the floor against two of the best defensive minded programs in the league. The Hawks are also playing to their strengths, which is to say they are staying away from their weakness which is three-point shooting; Iowa has only attempted 8.5 three's per game compared to 24 per game for their two opponents.
Iowa has attempted 18 more free throws than Purdue and Wisconsin did combined, which is staggering. Again, Iowa plays to it strengths in attacking the rim with Devyn Marble and Bryce Cartwright while getting the ball on the block to Mel Basabe and Aaron White. The Hawkeyes have made more free throws in their first two games (33) than their two opponents have attempted (28), something that was a hallmark of Tom Davis era teams.
While Iowa is only +1 on the boards in their first two games, this is an improvement from what we have seen from Iowa during the non-conference portion of their schedule. I don't expect Iowa to outrebound Ohio State, but this is a good start for them in an area that has been a weakness thus far on the year.
Iowa turned the ball over 10 times against Purdue and 10 times against Wisconsin, which is a solid number for a team that looks to push the tempo. The Hawks are also averaging four blocks per game over this two game stretch.
Four Hawkeyes are averaging in double figures with a fifth at 8.5 points per game. That player is Matt Gatens, who is playing very well from the floor averaging nine rebounds per game which leads the team. Melsahn Basabe is next in line at 8.5.
Iowa's three primary ball handlers, Marble, Gatens and Cartwright, have a combined 25 assists to just five turnovers. Simply put, that's excellent basketball and gives you a chance to win.
There are aspects that don't show up in a box score or stat sheet and that includes the heart this team is playing with.
They withstood an early second half run against Wisconsin but never blinked, came back to take the lead and fought off some late game adversity to hold on for the win. Marble hit two of the more pressure packed shots we've seen in recent memory from an Iowa player late in the game against the Badgers.
This team has the look of a program that not longer is just happy to get a win, but one that expects to win.
They will still have their struggles this season as the lack of a consistent three-point game will put too much pressure on the other shots the team will take. I don't believe their rebounding concerns have disappeared, either.
But Purdue is a borderline Top 25 team and Wisconsin will still be in the Top 25 when the new rankings come out this week.
This is a very good start for the Iowa basketball team, who has a shot at winning two in a row on the road Wednesday night at Minnesota. Iowa started last year's Big Ten slate 0-6 and then 1-8.
One thing I know this team could use on Saturday is a packed Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
