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Iowa hosts ISU in Big 4 play
DES MOINES (AP) - Iowa responded to adversity Tuesday night with a decisive home win over Northern Iowa.
Just about two hours later, Iowa State walked off its own floor knowing it had wilted to Drake when it mattered most.
But the beauty of the Big Four - the annual matchups between Iowa's four Division I programs - is that the next chance to test your mettle against an instate rival is right around the corner.
The Hawkeyes (8-2), winners of two straight, host the Cyclones (6-2) in Iowa City on tonight.
“There's a lot emotion in the games, and that's a good thing,” Iowa coach Todd Lickliter said. “It's conference-level competition, it's conference-level emotion.”
Iowa State (6-2) is coming off a disheartening loss to Drake, in which it blew a late 10-point lead and fell to the Bulldogs for the third straight season.
The Cyclones had just three points in the final 7:58 leading 60-50, and Drake outscored them 16-2 on second-chance points. Those numbers epitomize the struggles of an inexperienced team still learning how to put teams away.
“We had an opportunity to win with our defense, even though our offense went south the last 10 possessions. We have to learn and understand that when you have a team in that position, defensive rebounding is important. Up to that point, our defense was easily good enough to win this game,” McDermott said.
The boards have been a touchy subject for Iowa State all season. The Cyclones have been outrebounded 285-284 this season, which might not seem like much until you consider that they've played just one team from a major conference - woeful Oregon State - and much more physical teams from the Big 12 are on the horizon.
Iowa isn't necessarily physical either, but it has proven it can win in other ways.
The Hawkeyes are shooting 49 percent from the field and 42 percent from 3-point range - and it isn't just suspended guard Anthony Tucker who's filling it up.
Guards Jake Kelly, Jeff Peterson and Matt Gatens tore apart the Panthers for 51 points in a 65-46 win on Tuesday, Iowa's first without Tucker.
He likely won't play against the Cyclones- though Lickliter wouldn't definitely rule it out Thursday - but Lickliter was pleased with the way the Hawkeyes responded in their first game minus Tucker, their leading scorer.
“The poise was a real positive on Tuesday night,” Lickliter said. “I think the challenge of Northern Iowa was obviously a good thing for us, if the lessons we learned we'll continue to use those.”
One surprising issue for tonight's rivalry game might be the crowd. Iowa had its worst attendance numbers ever at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in 2007-08, and the crowds have been as thin as ever this season. Iowa is averaging just 8,588 fans through six home dates.
Officials said Thursday that about 4,000 tickets remain for the game. Such a scenario would have been unheard of as recently a few years ago, when attendance averaged over 12,000 per night and marquee matchups against teams like Iowa State would be sellouts.
“I understand it's been done before. It hurts me because if I know if it's done before, I know I'm responsible for (it), at least partially responsible. I think our guys are trying to play the right way, they're trying to play good basketball, they're trying to represent the University of Iowa,” Lickliter said. “We'd just like to see it that way again.”
Just about two hours later, Iowa State walked off its own floor knowing it had wilted to Drake when it mattered most.
But the beauty of the Big Four - the annual matchups between Iowa's four Division I programs - is that the next chance to test your mettle against an instate rival is right around the corner.
The Hawkeyes (8-2), winners of two straight, host the Cyclones (6-2) in Iowa City on tonight.
“There's a lot emotion in the games, and that's a good thing,” Iowa coach Todd Lickliter said. “It's conference-level competition, it's conference-level emotion.”
Iowa State (6-2) is coming off a disheartening loss to Drake, in which it blew a late 10-point lead and fell to the Bulldogs for the third straight season.
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“We had an opportunity to win with our defense, even though our offense went south the last 10 possessions. We have to learn and understand that when you have a team in that position, defensive rebounding is important. Up to that point, our defense was easily good enough to win this game,” McDermott said.
The boards have been a touchy subject for Iowa State all season. The Cyclones have been outrebounded 285-284 this season, which might not seem like much until you consider that they've played just one team from a major conference - woeful Oregon State - and much more physical teams from the Big 12 are on the horizon.
Iowa isn't necessarily physical either, but it has proven it can win in other ways.
The Hawkeyes are shooting 49 percent from the field and 42 percent from 3-point range - and it isn't just suspended guard Anthony Tucker who's filling it up.
Guards Jake Kelly, Jeff Peterson and Matt Gatens tore apart the Panthers for 51 points in a 65-46 win on Tuesday, Iowa's first without Tucker.
He likely won't play against the Cyclones- though Lickliter wouldn't definitely rule it out Thursday - but Lickliter was pleased with the way the Hawkeyes responded in their first game minus Tucker, their leading scorer.
“The poise was a real positive on Tuesday night,” Lickliter said. “I think the challenge of Northern Iowa was obviously a good thing for us, if the lessons we learned we'll continue to use those.”
One surprising issue for tonight's rivalry game might be the crowd. Iowa had its worst attendance numbers ever at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in 2007-08, and the crowds have been as thin as ever this season. Iowa is averaging just 8,588 fans through six home dates.
Officials said Thursday that about 4,000 tickets remain for the game. Such a scenario would have been unheard of as recently a few years ago, when attendance averaged over 12,000 per night and marquee matchups against teams like Iowa State would be sellouts.
“I understand it's been done before. It hurts me because if I know if it's done before, I know I'm responsible for (it), at least partially responsible. I think our guys are trying to play the right way, they're trying to play good basketball, they're trying to represent the University of Iowa,” Lickliter said. “We'd just like to see it that way again.”
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