IOWA CITY, Iowa – All 5 starters scored in double figures as Iowa opened the lads’s basketball season with an 89-58 win over Bethune-Cookman on Monday evening at Carver-Hawkeye Enviornment.
That, the Hawkeyes mentioned, goes to be an ordinary for this season.
“We’re an unselfish basketball staff,” mentioned ahead Filip Rebraca, who had 11 factors and 10 rebounds. “I really feel like all of us can contribute.”
“We take a whole lot of pleasure in sharing the ball,” guard Payton Sandfort mentioned.
The Hawkeyes had 25 assists on 34 discipline targets. Ten gamers scored not less than two factors.
Iowa led 54-35 at halftime and led by as a lot as 38 factors within the second half.
Tony Perkins led Iowa with 16 factors. Kris Murray had 14. Sandfort had 13. Patrick McCaffery had 12.
It was the twelfth consecutive season-opening win for the Hawkeyes.
Different takeaways from the victory:
GETTING DEFENSIVE
Iowa held Bethune-Cookman to 34.8 p.c taking pictures for the sport, 27 p.c within the second half.
The Hawkeyes have been criticized for a few of their defensive performances in current seasons, however that, Sandfort mentioned, goes to vary.
“It’s form of appeared down on by individuals across the nation,” Sandfort mentioned of the Hawkeyes’ protection. “We’re making an attempt to vary the narrative.”
The main target of Iowa’s protection was Bethune-Cookman guards Kevin Davis and Joe French. Mixed, they had been 2-of-14 from the sphere.
“We locked on them,” Iowa coach Fran McCaffery mentioned.
The Hawkeyes’ size and flexibility goes to trigger opponents’ issues this season.
“With that versatility, there aren’t going to be a whole lot of mismatches,” Sandfort mentioned. “There’s just about no mismatches as a result of we’re all massive guards.”
REBRACA’S OFFENSE
Rebraca’s exercise on offense continued from final Monday’s exhibition win over Truman State, and it precipitated Bethune-Cookman’s protection to concentrate to him extra within the second half.
“They had been doubling me and I used to be like, ‘I’ve received 11 (factors),’” Rebraca mentioned, smiling.
That exercise is useful in a whole lot of methods.
“I do know it doesn’t solely assist me, it helps my teammates out,” Rebraca mentioned, stating the defensive focus he’ll obtain.
“He’s been like that since day one this summer season,” McCaffery mentioned. “Now he’s taken cost, and that’s what I would like him to do.”
His numbers from this sport are one thing he needs to duplicate.
“I hope so,” Rebraca mentioned. “I really feel like I can produce on a nightly foundation.”
PERKINS RUNS THE SHOW
Perkins was 7-of-9 from the sphere, but in addition had 5 assists in opposition to one turnover.
The help quantity was one thing McCaffery appreciated.
“If we’re going to place him on the level, he’s received to provide it up,” McCaffery mentioned. “And he does.”
Sandfort known as Perkins an emotional chief.
“Yeah, that’s fantastic,” Perkins mentioned when advised what his teammate mentioned. “I’ll take it.”
OGUNDELE’S MINUTES
There was a stretch within the second half when middle Josh Ogundele made everybody discover him.
He walled up on protection, stopping a Bethune-Cookman try at a post-up, then on the quick break after the missed shot did a crossover drive to the basket. He had a steal on the subsequent possession, adopted by an help — the primary of his profession — on the different finish.
Ogundele had two factors and three rebounds in 11 ½ minutes.
“He gave us 11 actually good minutes,” McCaffery mentioned.
McCaffery famous how Ogundele didn’t play for lengthy stretches, however that was due to how he was enjoying.
“His exercise degree is the explanation he’s drained,” McCaffery mentioned. “I’m OK with that.”
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