The difference between a Pitt/WV game and and Iowa game is that, yes, it was a game in the 60's because they had similar athletes for one. Their teams will also adapt to different styles. Their teams will run when given a chance, will press when needed, will switch up offenses and defenses as games progress. But you are correct the game was a half-court game like Iowa played.
The difference was that Iowa intentionally plays keepaway bb to keep the ball away from a more talented team because Lickliter KNOWS he does not have the athetes to compete man on man, just like when he was at Butler. THAT was the only way Butler can compete with more athletic teams.
When a team like Butler gets to the tournament they can do well because it is keepaway bb, slowdown bb, whatever you want to call it. Other teams are not familar with the style and Butler can sneak up of a team or two. When Butler plays a lot of top teams out of conference, yes, they will win a game or two but most often they finish .500 or below. They then go into their conference and beat up on nobody teams.
In the Big 10, coaches will quickly figure out lickliter's system. Without star players, Lickliter is not going to sneak up on anyone and the result will be quite similar to Butler playing out of conference teams. Even with veteran players, Lickliter will beat a few upper division teams but without the star players, when it comes to crunch time he will get beat at least 50 percent of the time or more because the talent is not as good.
So UNLESS he can recruit star players, average role players playing keepaway bb, slowdown, basterdized bb is not going to win Big 10 championships or even get Iowa near the top three in the conference. It will however get Iowa near 6th-7th, maybe 5th and potentially a bubble bid to the NCAA and that is WITH veteran players.
But compared to where Iowa presently is, Barta would pound his chest and howl like a werewolf at night in triumpth and would probably give Lickliter another 4 year extension. He would be so happy he would pee his pants at press conferences. Of course most of the fan base won't be very happy considering this is the BEST that lickliter can ever hope for but many Iowa fans don't have many expectations these days.