Go Iowa Awesome – Iowa 90, No. 15 Indiana 68: Flame On

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On paper, Iowa’s recreation on Tuesday night time seemed like one of many hardest exams of the season for the Hawkeyes: a street recreation in opposition to an Indiana crew that was 14-1 at residence, ranked fifteenth within the nation, and coming off probably the most spectacular street wins of the season over Massive Ten-leading Purdue.

Suffice to say, Iowa aced that check.

The Hawkeyes maintained the identical red-hot offense that fueled their inconceivable comeback win over Michigan State on Saturday, constructed an enormous early lead on the Hoosiers and by no means seemed again, coasting to a 90-68 victory. Iowa improves to 19-11 general and into fifth place within the Massive Ten at 11-8.

How dominant was this victory for Iowa?

* The Hawkeyes led for 39:21 and by no means trailed within the recreation.

* The Iowa lead dipped underneath 10 factors as soon as within the last 28 minutes — for all of 25 seconds (then Kris Murray hit a 3-pointer to place Iowa up 12).

* Iowa scored 47 factors within the first half (most by any crew within the Massive Ten this season).

* Iowa scored 90 factors on the street; solely three different IU opponents had cracked 70 factors at Meeting Corridor this season.

* Indiana was 14-1 at Meeting Corridor this season previous to this recreation and the one loss got here by only one level; Iowa received by 22.

The tone of the sport was set from the very starting: Indiana missed its first 4 pictures, whereas Iowa made its first three to leap out to an 8-0 lead. Even higher than the lead was the truth that two of Iowa’s first three made buckets have been three-pointers (each by Kris Murray). Iowa’s three-point taking pictures woes on the street have been mentioned advert nauseum for the previous month, however for good cause: the Hawkeyes have been apocalyptically horrible from 3 of their first 4 February street video games (16/83, or 19.2%). On Tuesday: 13/23 (56.5%) from 3-point vary.

Indiana known as timeout after that 8-0 Iowa lead, nevertheless it had little affect. Iowa’s lead ballooned to 16-7 by the primary media timeout. The Hoosiers made a couple of mini-runs and obtained as shut as 21-18 — which prompted a 13-3 Iowa run over the following 4:30 of recreation time.

After chopping the Iowa result in 11 at half (47-36), the Hoosiers’ greatest likelihood to get again within the recreation was a quick begin out of halftime. Indiana began the second half with a full-court press look that flustered Iowa into a couple of early turnovers and led to an Indiana basket that dropped Iowa’s lead again to single digits because the 9:06 mark within the first half, sending Meeting Corridor again to full quantity.

As an alternative of caving to the sudden street stress, Iowa responded with a 12-2 run that appeared to interrupt Indiana’s spirit within the recreation. Whereas there have been nonetheless virtually 16 minutes to play, the Hoosiers’ physique language wore the 61-40 deficit like a lead coat, and the sport was successfully over. Certainly, Indiana by no means obtained nearer than 19 factors within the last 17 minutes of the sport, and Iowa rolled to one in every of its best wins of the season.

Each Iowa-Indiana video games this season have produced spectacular outcomes from Kris Murray and Trayce Jackson-Davis, however we are able to focus on them in a minute. Now we have to start out this part with an appreciation for Tony Perkins, who was completely good on this recreation. Perkins, a child from Indianapolis, Indiana, who wasn’t recruited by the Hoosiers, was enjoying his second recreation in Meeting Corridor with Iowa and he performed it like a person with some extent to show and a chip on his shoulder.

Perkins spent a good period of time jawing with the Indiana crowd on this recreation, however he did not simply discuss the discuss — he completely walked the stroll as effectively. He completed with 23 factors, 10 rebounds, and a career-high 8 assists. He shot 7/12 from the ground (1/2 from 3-point vary) and eight/10 from the free throw line. Perkins completely tore Indiana to items on protection, in each method potential.

With the ball in his palms, he was elite as each a distributor (setting teammates up with beauty and simple buckets for these 8 assists) and an attacker (ending a number of drives on the rim with a basket or drawing a foul — and draining the following free throws).

Perkins was simply as harmful with out the ball in his palms; his off-ball motion and again cuts to the basket have been deadly in opposition to an IU protection that appeared flummoxed by all the pieces Iowa did. Perkins has had some excellent video games for Iowa up to now, nevertheless it’s onerous to consider a extra full efficiency than this one.

Kris Murray was additionally excellent — he and Jackson-Davis completed with 30 factors apiece of their first assembly this season, they usually completed with 26 factors apiece on this recreation. Murray went 9/16 from the ground and 5/8 from 3-point vary, to associate with 7 rebounds and three assists. Fifteen of Murray’s 26 factors got here within the first half, and his scorching taking pictures early completely set the tone for Iowa’s total offense. Murray had endured some tough taking pictures nights in current video games, particularly on the street (he was 5/20 from 3-point vary in his final 4 street video games), however he broke out of that hunch in an enormous method tonight.

Filip Rebraca was a standout because the Robin to Murray’s Batman tonight as effectively — Rebraca completed with 16 factors on 6/8 taking pictures (4/5 on the free throw line), together with 8 rebounds and a pair of assists. That was actually the primary distinction between Murray and Jackson-Davis on this recreation — Murray was nice and obtained a number of assist from his teammates; Jackson-Davis was nice and obtained no assist. He completed with 26 factors, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists on 10/16 taking pictures, however just one different Hoosier had not less than 10 factors within the recreation (Malik Reneau).

Credit score can also be as a result of Iowa’s protection, which obtained a much-needed regression to the norm in opposition to the Hoosiers. Iowa solely pressured 9 turnovers on the day, together with only one steal, however the zone protection goaded Indiana into unhealthy pictures and left the Hoosiers taking pictures simply 2/11 from deep and 43% as a complete. Trayce Jackson-Davis encountered little problem within the publish, as standard for him; he completed 10/16, however that meant that everybody else round him shot 36% for the day.

Iowa additionally took care of the glass on protection to a greater diploma than standard. Iowa collected 28 of 34 possibilities on defensive rebounds, limiting second-chance alternatives and resulting in extra stops and transition alternatives. The Hawkeyes spent almost the entire recreation answerable for the tempo of play, and that each one begins with controlling possession.

The warmth of the Iowa-Indiana basketball rivalry has waxed and waned through the years, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly been getting rekindled in current seasons — and Tuesday night time’s recreation doubtless added loads of gas to that fireplace.

Mike Woodson has had a lot to say this season about Fran’s on-court habits, particularly in Iowa and Indiana’s first assembly, which definitely hasn’t sat effectively in Iowa Metropolis. Woodson’s personal technical late within the recreation will not convey the edges any nearer.

Tony Perkins seemed like a person on a mission to demoralize each Indiana participant and fan within the constructing, making play after play — and speaking relentlessly via the second half because the Hoosiers’ spirits faltered. Perkins wears his confidence as loudly as anybody within the Massive Ten, and he made positive everybody knew it tonight.

After which Payton Sandfort went and earned a everlasting spot on Indiana followers’ hate listing.

Sandfort added much more firepower to Iowa’s locked-in offense, taking pictures 5/9 from 3 (5/12 general) to complete with 16 factors. It wasn’t simply the factors and the pictures that IU followers will keep in mind with vitriol — it was the additional prospers he placed on the sport. Sandfort celebrated one play emphatically late in Iowa’s win:

A couple of minutes later, Sandfort made his fifth 3-pointer of the sport, held a pose — and blew a kiss to the group.

That earned him a technical foul (and a direct spot on the bench), however truthfully? Value it. Moments like which can be the spice that rivalries thrive on. It is also an indication of Sandfort’s burgeoning confidence — he is already proven no concern in taking large pictures this season (he took and made the most important shot of Iowa’s season three days in the past) and he is displaying no concern in turning into the article of ire for a complete fanbase.

Iowa’s skill to complete within the top-four within the Massive Ten standings and earn a double-bye within the Massive Ten Event have been fading quick after back-to-back street losses to Ohio State and Wisconsin every week in the past. After scoring a mixed 201 factors in wins over Michigan State and Indiana for back-to-back wins, the Hawkeyes have supercharged their hopes of a top-four end.

This win improved Iowa to 11-8 in Massive Ten video games and tied them with Indiana for fifth place within the standings. Besides Iowa is 2-0 in opposition to the Hoosiers this 12 months, which supplies them the head-to-head tiebreaker. Iowa additionally has head-to-head tiebreakers with two groups proper under them within the standings (Rutgers and Illinois) and two groups above them within the standings (Maryland and Michigan). The Hawkeyes are additionally 1-1 in opposition to one other crew forward of them within the standings (Northwestern).

If Iowa beats Nebraska in its common season finale on Sunday, the Hawkeyes will end the common season at 12-8. As a way to maintain Iowa out of a top-four end, Maryland, Michigan, and Northwestern would all must win out, given Iowa’s tiebreaker power.

Maryland: at Ohio State (3/1), at Penn State (3/5)
Michigan: at Illinois (3/2), at Indiana (3/5)
Northwestern: Penn State (3/1), at at Rutgers (3/5)

All three groups have some troublesome opponents remaining (particularly Michigan) — and 5 of these six video games are on the street. The chances of all three groups working the desk appears… slim.

Iowa wraps up the common season at residence in opposition to Nebraska on Sunday, March 5 at 1 PM CT. BTN will televise the sport. Nebraska is 15-14 general and 8-10 within the Massive Ten as of this writing.

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