Iowa seems to get these guys quite a bit and they seem to be the new breed that "let's them play". In their favor they will make unpopular calls but don't seem to be able to control the physical play. They make a lot of non-calls, like Moss's lay-up or Cook being bodied. But then they make an unpopular goaltend call and no call on some of Rutgers drives late to the basket that always seem to be called. Kind of a mixed bag, but I'll take them any day over Valentine and the old guard that always seemed to make the wrong call.
I've noticed Iowa players purposely not reacting to calls, think they've been reading our boards. Cook in particular used to plead and become agitated, now he just pulls the guys together and plays on.
It's a veteran bunch. And it showed last night a hostile environment. We adjusted to the long layoff after a rusty start and started become more agressive taking it to the hoop, Bohannon too. We didn't panic and start quick shooting when Harper came out hot. Once we went on that 9-0 run midway the second half we made enough plays and got enough stops, until a couple late breakdowns. Their three point shot, while not as lucky as ours, wasn't routine by any means either. We had shut off every other option and left them with a contested three, which Baker was equal enough to the task to make.
I think their coach is good. Their best players are young. But youth is not a team’s friend in Big 10 road games. We should win by 15 plus.