The madness of March
The season came to a merciful end for the Iowa men’s basketball team on Thursday in the opening round of the Big Ten tourney. Iowa 55-47 loss to Michigan was a struggle from the start and in some respects, the Big Ten Network did fans who can’t yet receive the fledging operation a favor by keeping this match-up off of mainstream TV.
The loss mirrored Iowa’s issues throughout the season in many respects. Long scoring droughts, untimely turnovers, missed chances at the free-throw line, this game had them all. The Wolverines proved equally inept at times, one reason the mood in the locker room ranged from frustration over another missed opportunity to relief that a new season will provide the Hawkeyes with a fresh start.
I’ll share comments from some of the returning players both in the QC Times and at hawkmania later this weekend. Talking with the freshmen, most found it surprising how quickly the season went and talked about how they now have a better understanding of what it takes to compete in the Big Ten.
Iowa coach Todd Lickliter shares that understanding as well. Although his Butler teams regularly played an occasional Big Ten team during the nonconference portion of the season, the week-to-week grind that is an 18-game Big Ten schedule is a beast of its own.
Lickliter said he believes his team made progress, but conceded it wasn’t enough to help Iowa compete during the second half of the Big Ten schedule. The Hawkeyes won just two of their final nine games and both of those wins came against cellar-dwelling Northwestern.
An influx of at least six recruits should change the face of Iowa’s team next season. Iowa’s Mr. Basketball, Matt Gatens of Iowa City High, is among the players who will suit up for the Hawkeyes next season.
When asked earlier this week if Gatens could help the Hawkeyes, Lickliter deadpanned, “Can he go with us to Indianapolis?”
Gatens will be a good fit for what Iowa likes to do and Lickliter and his staff continue to court additional talent on the recruiting trail.
