Iowa basketball suffers beautiful dwelling loss to woeful Jap Illinois
IOWA CITY − Iowa’s last non-conference recreation of the 2022-23 season in opposition to Jap Illinois was imagined to be a breeze. Or a minimum of a stable win. Or only a win. The Hawkeyes had been projected to dispatch their guests by 32 factors in keeping with KenPom.com. However with 8½ minutes to go, the 3-9 Panthers had stormed to a nine-point lead at a surprised Carver-Hawkeye Enviornment. Instantly, the prospect of a jarring pre-Christmas loss appeared actual.
This was an opponent that had misplaced to Illinois by 30 factors, Ohio State by 22, Northern Illinois by 20 and Ball State by 17.
With two key veterans on the sidelines in Kris Murray (left foot) and Connor McCaffery (left hand), the confirmed choices for Iowa to revive order had dwindled. And the plucky guests simply stored making key photographs.
Ultimately, Jap Illinois took down its Large Ten Convention host, 92-83. Arduous to imagine.
“It ought to linger, so it by no means occurs once more,” stated Iowa fifth-year senior Filip Rebraca, who completed with 24 factors and eight rebounds. He chided himself for pouting throughout a first-half timeout and stated he wanted to indicate higher management. “We should always at all times use it as motivation. We perceive what occurred tonight. So after we come again from break, we’ve received to grasp this will by no means occur once more.”
What transpired Wednesday might go down because the worst lack of the Fran McCaffery period. The Hawkeyes had been favored by 31½ factors in opposition to one of many worst groups within the nation. A 77-61 dwelling loss to Campbell in McCaffery’s second season, 2011-12, is perhaps the one factor comparable. However Campbell was No. 233 within the KenPom rankings; Jap Illinois was No. 356 out of 363 Division I groups.
What’s wild is Iowa stormed to an 18-4 lead on this rescheduled afternoon recreation to beat the anticipated winter storm. And it nonetheless led at halftime, 45-37.
“We chipped away,” Jap Illinois coach Marty Simmons stated. “I feel going into halftime down eight was an actual blessing for us. I feel our guys felt like they’d a possibility in the event that they performed nicely within the second half.”
The second half unraveled shortly for Iowa. That is what can occur when protection is missing. One fan got here down from Part NN to courtside to get inside earshot of the Iowa huddle and chew out its protection within the second half. That is how ugly it received. Jap Illinois made 20 of its last 26 photographs (76.9%), turning a 47-42 deficit into a surprising street win. The Jap Illinois lead was 82-68 with 2:50 to go.
An Iowa staff that 4 days earlier had thrashed Southeast Missouri State, 106-75, mistakenly thought it may coast to a victory earlier than a sparse vacation crowd.
“That they had a superb day. They did loads of good issues. And I feel we took them evenly,” Rebraca stated. “We had been somewhat too boastful after our win in opposition to SEMO. We had been feeling good. We had been up 18-4. We thought every little thing was good and simple, I assume. However they’ve hoopers. They’ve Division I gamers. They’ve actually good athletes.”
He continued.
“We didn’t respect them. Each opponent that is available in right here, it doesn’t matter what division … you respect them,” Rebraca stated. “Each time you respect a participant meaning giving your all to play in opposition to them. And I simply don’t assume we did that.”
Good for Rebraca for being candid; this was an embarrassing loss. The Panthers had been 11-for-11 on dunks and 12-for-18 on layups. One of many worst rebounding groups within the nation outrebounded Iowa, 42-38. A staff that was capturing 25.8% from 3-point vary this season went 6-for-15 (40%).
Meantime, Iowa shot 7-for-33 (21.2%) from 3. Patrick McCaffery (12 factors, 13 rebounds) was 0-for-7 from deep; Ahron Ulis (4 factors) additionally was 0-for-7. After a scorching begin from 3, Payton Sandfort (18 factors) completed 3-for-10.
“These video games at all times have a unique really feel to them, the one proper earlier than Christmas,” Fran McCaffery stated. “You hope your guys are actually locked in. It appeared like we had been at first. We hit some photographs early then went chilly.”
The Hawkeyes (8-4) had no excuse to lose this recreation, however the absences of Murray (who was enjoying like an all-American earlier than his left-foot damage that has compelled him to overlook Iowa’s final 4 video games) and Connor McCaffery can’t be ignored. Connor’s repute as a glue man actually gained much more clout Wednesday, as Iowa desperately wanted his calm-it-down management on the ground.
Iowa shot 32 free throws however solely made 20. It was 38.9% from the ground; Jap Illinois shot 60%. Fran McCaffery thought his staff went an excessive amount of one-on-one within the second half, when it solely had two assists.
“We didn’t have loads of subs. You attempt to press and up-tempo the protection,” Fran McCaffery stated. “I assumed we had been somewhat drained. We may have used Connor’s toughness, his veteran management and naturally one other skilled physique.”
This one will damage Iowa’s NCAA Event resume come March. Iowa fell from No. 21 to No. 38 within the KenPom rankings. Possibly Murray can come again in Iowa’s Large Ten opener Dec. 29 at Nebraska. Fran McCaffery hinted at that prospect. He thought Connor McCaffery had an opportunity to return then, too.
However this was a darkish day for Iowa basketball. Simply someday. However a darkish one.
“We had sufficient wholesome individuals,” Fran McCaffery stated. “I’d’ve thought we might’ve performed higher in the present day.”
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