JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
When you haven't won back to back Big Ten conference games in nearly four years, it's a step in the right direction when you do it.
That's one of many positives from Saturday's 64-63 win at Indiana for the Iowa men's basketball program, and there were several, or at least there is an opportunity for there to be several.
This could in fact wind up being a turning point week for the program, but you never really know those things as they happen and can only make such a determination years down the road. However, you might just want to add Saturday's win to your collection of Iowa basketball DVD's, a collection that has probably not grown much since at least 2006.
This Iowa team was able to exorcise a few demons on Saturday, things that have gotten the best of them for the past four years.
They were able to bounce back from an early emotional and scoring barrage and they came back in the second half after getting down double digits. To come back on the road, you need scores and stops. Iowa did that late, reeling off a 10-0 run of their own after getting down 10.
They led with defense, making adjustments when things got tough on offense, and they didn't let offensive struggles affect that defense.
They showed poise, despite committing 17 turnovers. I know that seems like a contradiction, but it was a feel for the game point. Many of those turnovers were just effort turnovers, aggressive and attacking turnovers. I can live with those, and I think Fran McCaffery can too. They were not necessarily low IQ turnovers.
Iowa dominated in the paint against Indiana much the same way they did in their first meeting, 34-18. Iowa has scored more than 80 points in the paint against Indiana in their two meetings this year.
Most of all, this team showed maturity on the road for the first time in a long, long time. I think this team also came together this week in a big, big way.
Again, statements like that are a bit risky because you never know for sure. They have a pair of home games against Wisconsin and Minnesota this week and if they get their doors blown off, these two wins won't seem as significant.
However, we are talking about a team that came into the contest at 9-13, 2-7. They play like their record is better than that, or rather, they play as if they have more to play for than just laying a foundation for the program. This was one of the most entertaining Iowa basketball games in years.
As much as I loved the 20-point win against Michigan State on Saturday, the Spartans looked like a team that has lost its love for the game. That, and Iowa made 10 consecutive field goals at one point. That's fluky, although I am not saying the win was fluky.
On Saturday in Assembly Hall, you had two teams that had won five combined Big Ten games. You had the 11th place team and the team that was next to last. The effort that was put forth by both teams was exceptional and it made for entertaining basketball.
Throw in the energy that was coming from the stands and the win is even more impressive. This is an Indiana fan base that wants to believe in its basketball program again. It's their identity and things have been rough for the past few years. Attendance has been down, but on this day, a 4pm Eastern tip on a Saturday, that led to a sellout.
Plus, the Hoosiers had just beaten ranked teams in back to back games, the first of those wins being their first win against a ranked opponent in the Tom Crean era.
These fans were willing the Hoosiers to victory. The sounds coming through the television were reminiscent of days gone by, when Assembly Hall was a veritable snake pit; few who entered left with a win.
Somehow, this Iowa team was able to pull through. This Iowa team was able to come out the other side and celebrate in a visitors locker room in a Big Ten gym for the first time in a year and just the second time in the last three years (both at Indiana). Sorry, but celebrating a win at the Knapp Center is nothing like doing the hokey pokey in Assembly Hall.
This was a big win for the Iowa basketball program. How big? We can talk about that in March.
STATS: Melsahn Basabe led Iowa with 20 points and 13 boards, his fifth Big Ten game over 20 points in 11 outings. Bryce Cartwright had 15 points and eight assists. Eric May scored 11, including two half court pass alley-oop dunks....Iowa was 20-25 from the line, well above their season average.
NOTE: Indiana Coach Tom Crean said on Hoosier radio after the game "One person not getting enough credit for what Iowa is doing is Todd Lickliter." I heard it with my own ears. I respect people looking out for their friends. If you are any kind of friend, you have done that before.
However, it doesn't mean that you don't sound stupid sometimes when you do it.
That's one of many positives from Saturday's 64-63 win at Indiana for the Iowa men's basketball program, and there were several, or at least there is an opportunity for there to be several.
This could in fact wind up being a turning point week for the program, but you never really know those things as they happen and can only make such a determination years down the road. However, you might just want to add Saturday's win to your collection of Iowa basketball DVD's, a collection that has probably not grown much since at least 2006.
This Iowa team was able to exorcise a few demons on Saturday, things that have gotten the best of them for the past four years.
They were able to bounce back from an early emotional and scoring barrage and they came back in the second half after getting down double digits. To come back on the road, you need scores and stops. Iowa did that late, reeling off a 10-0 run of their own after getting down 10.
They led with defense, making adjustments when things got tough on offense, and they didn't let offensive struggles affect that defense.
They showed poise, despite committing 17 turnovers. I know that seems like a contradiction, but it was a feel for the game point. Many of those turnovers were just effort turnovers, aggressive and attacking turnovers. I can live with those, and I think Fran McCaffery can too. They were not necessarily low IQ turnovers.
Iowa dominated in the paint against Indiana much the same way they did in their first meeting, 34-18. Iowa has scored more than 80 points in the paint against Indiana in their two meetings this year.
Most of all, this team showed maturity on the road for the first time in a long, long time. I think this team also came together this week in a big, big way.
Again, statements like that are a bit risky because you never know for sure. They have a pair of home games against Wisconsin and Minnesota this week and if they get their doors blown off, these two wins won't seem as significant.
However, we are talking about a team that came into the contest at 9-13, 2-7. They play like their record is better than that, or rather, they play as if they have more to play for than just laying a foundation for the program. This was one of the most entertaining Iowa basketball games in years.
As much as I loved the 20-point win against Michigan State on Saturday, the Spartans looked like a team that has lost its love for the game. That, and Iowa made 10 consecutive field goals at one point. That's fluky, although I am not saying the win was fluky.
On Saturday in Assembly Hall, you had two teams that had won five combined Big Ten games. You had the 11th place team and the team that was next to last. The effort that was put forth by both teams was exceptional and it made for entertaining basketball.
Throw in the energy that was coming from the stands and the win is even more impressive. This is an Indiana fan base that wants to believe in its basketball program again. It's their identity and things have been rough for the past few years. Attendance has been down, but on this day, a 4pm Eastern tip on a Saturday, that led to a sellout.
Plus, the Hoosiers had just beaten ranked teams in back to back games, the first of those wins being their first win against a ranked opponent in the Tom Crean era.
These fans were willing the Hoosiers to victory. The sounds coming through the television were reminiscent of days gone by, when Assembly Hall was a veritable snake pit; few who entered left with a win.
Somehow, this Iowa team was able to pull through. This Iowa team was able to come out the other side and celebrate in a visitors locker room in a Big Ten gym for the first time in a year and just the second time in the last three years (both at Indiana). Sorry, but celebrating a win at the Knapp Center is nothing like doing the hokey pokey in Assembly Hall.
This was a big win for the Iowa basketball program. How big? We can talk about that in March.
STATS: Melsahn Basabe led Iowa with 20 points and 13 boards, his fifth Big Ten game over 20 points in 11 outings. Bryce Cartwright had 15 points and eight assists. Eric May scored 11, including two half court pass alley-oop dunks....Iowa was 20-25 from the line, well above their season average.
NOTE: Indiana Coach Tom Crean said on Hoosier radio after the game "One person not getting enough credit for what Iowa is doing is Todd Lickliter." I heard it with my own ears. I respect people looking out for their friends. If you are any kind of friend, you have done that before.
However, it doesn't mean that you don't sound stupid sometimes when you do it.
