JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
The transition from being the underdog without expectations into a basketball program where people expect good things isn't an overnight process and isn't without pain. Fran McCaffery's Hawkeyes learned that lesson on Saturday as they were blown out of a packed Carver Hawkeye Arena 76-47.
15,400 people showed up to cheer on the Hawkeyes following Iowa's back to back road wins. It's likely the most Iowa fans inside of Carver Hawkeye for an Iowa game since the 2005-2006 season. The fans did their best to help will their team to a better finish, but the Ohio State Buckeyes were too much for the fans and the Hawkeyes to overcome.
The Buckeyes perimeter defense was suffocating and the rate at which they whipped the ball around the perimeter on the offense end was dizzying. When you move the ball that quickly, it will create multiple post-feeding opportunities, which is game over when the post is Jared Sullinger, the best there is in the college game.
He had 15 points at the half and 28 for the game in just 31 minutes. He was literally a man among boys out there, although Devon Archie and Andrew Brommer did a decent job of trying to deny him the ball in the first half.
The Hawkeyes barely got an open look on offense as the Buckeyes are a long and quick team. Iowa had maybe three or four open looks from three-point range during the first 35 minutes (the game was over by that point) and could not get much of anything to fall.
Iowa shot just 32% from the floor for the game including a dreary 5-23 shooting performance in the first half.
McCaffery said after the game that his team looked tight, and I agree with that. This looked like a team that wanted to play well for the large crowd that showed up, but mentally wasn't able to focus on the task at hand. Dealing with success can be just as challenging as dealing with adversity from a mental maturity standpoint, and this team is full of young players who have never won back to back road wins before...players who haven't played in front of this kind of home crowd before..players that are not used to this much positive buzz.
That's a part of the next step, learning how to play well on the heels of playing well. Learning how to use the energy from a home crowd to help you and not overload your system.
So the Hawks played tight and Ohio State made them pay, dearly.
I just hope that the fans who showed up at the game or tuned in to watch don't write this team off this season because of one poor performance. They'll need you again next week when Iowa hosts a ranked Michigan team that isn't nearly as good as this Ohio State team.
I had 'hoped' Iowa would play well against Ohio State, but I told my father before the game that Iowa could play its best game of the year on Saturday and it still may not be good enough to beat Ohio State.
In my opinion, the Buckeyes are a Final Four caliber team with perhaps the best big man in college game which is void of many elite caliber big men. When you have a good one, it's a huge advantage and places so much pressure on your perimeter defenders. If the guys on the outside cannot stop penetration, your bigs have a choice to stop ball and leave Sullinger or stay on Sullinger and let the slashers get to the rim. Simply put, if you can't keep the Ohio State guards in front of you, you're toast. Iowa couldn't, so they were.
Iowa played nowhere near good today and while a lot of the credit should go to Ohio State, these Hawkeyes just weren't ready for the big moment at home. I think they'll learn from this and be prepared the next time it happens.
Until then, the schedule refuses to let up. On Tuesday night, it's off to East Lansing and the Breslin Center, a place Iowa has not won in nearly 19 years as well as a place where Iowa team have typically had a tough time keeping the margin of defeat under 20. Next Saturday, ranked Michigan comes to town and then Iowa plays the return game at Purdue.
If there is a silver lining right now, it's that the schedule will ease up a bit after the Purdue game. Iowa plays Ohio State, Michigan State and Michigan just once this year, which also means Iowa will never have to face Sullinger again unless Iowa meets the Buckeyes in the Big Ten tournament.
After the Purdue game, Iowa will still have seven games against Nebraska, Northwestern, Penn State and Minnesota.
Let's hope these Hawkeyes use this game as a learning experience so the next time Carver Hawkeye is rocking like its the 1980's, they'll be better prepared.
15,400 people showed up to cheer on the Hawkeyes following Iowa's back to back road wins. It's likely the most Iowa fans inside of Carver Hawkeye for an Iowa game since the 2005-2006 season. The fans did their best to help will their team to a better finish, but the Ohio State Buckeyes were too much for the fans and the Hawkeyes to overcome.
The Buckeyes perimeter defense was suffocating and the rate at which they whipped the ball around the perimeter on the offense end was dizzying. When you move the ball that quickly, it will create multiple post-feeding opportunities, which is game over when the post is Jared Sullinger, the best there is in the college game.
He had 15 points at the half and 28 for the game in just 31 minutes. He was literally a man among boys out there, although Devon Archie and Andrew Brommer did a decent job of trying to deny him the ball in the first half.
The Hawkeyes barely got an open look on offense as the Buckeyes are a long and quick team. Iowa had maybe three or four open looks from three-point range during the first 35 minutes (the game was over by that point) and could not get much of anything to fall.
Iowa shot just 32% from the floor for the game including a dreary 5-23 shooting performance in the first half.
McCaffery said after the game that his team looked tight, and I agree with that. This looked like a team that wanted to play well for the large crowd that showed up, but mentally wasn't able to focus on the task at hand. Dealing with success can be just as challenging as dealing with adversity from a mental maturity standpoint, and this team is full of young players who have never won back to back road wins before...players who haven't played in front of this kind of home crowd before..players that are not used to this much positive buzz.
That's a part of the next step, learning how to play well on the heels of playing well. Learning how to use the energy from a home crowd to help you and not overload your system.
So the Hawks played tight and Ohio State made them pay, dearly.
I just hope that the fans who showed up at the game or tuned in to watch don't write this team off this season because of one poor performance. They'll need you again next week when Iowa hosts a ranked Michigan team that isn't nearly as good as this Ohio State team.
I had 'hoped' Iowa would play well against Ohio State, but I told my father before the game that Iowa could play its best game of the year on Saturday and it still may not be good enough to beat Ohio State.
In my opinion, the Buckeyes are a Final Four caliber team with perhaps the best big man in college game which is void of many elite caliber big men. When you have a good one, it's a huge advantage and places so much pressure on your perimeter defenders. If the guys on the outside cannot stop penetration, your bigs have a choice to stop ball and leave Sullinger or stay on Sullinger and let the slashers get to the rim. Simply put, if you can't keep the Ohio State guards in front of you, you're toast. Iowa couldn't, so they were.
Iowa played nowhere near good today and while a lot of the credit should go to Ohio State, these Hawkeyes just weren't ready for the big moment at home. I think they'll learn from this and be prepared the next time it happens.
Until then, the schedule refuses to let up. On Tuesday night, it's off to East Lansing and the Breslin Center, a place Iowa has not won in nearly 19 years as well as a place where Iowa team have typically had a tough time keeping the margin of defeat under 20. Next Saturday, ranked Michigan comes to town and then Iowa plays the return game at Purdue.
If there is a silver lining right now, it's that the schedule will ease up a bit after the Purdue game. Iowa plays Ohio State, Michigan State and Michigan just once this year, which also means Iowa will never have to face Sullinger again unless Iowa meets the Buckeyes in the Big Ten tournament.
After the Purdue game, Iowa will still have seven games against Nebraska, Northwestern, Penn State and Minnesota.
Let's hope these Hawkeyes use this game as a learning experience so the next time Carver Hawkeye is rocking like its the 1980's, they'll be better prepared.
