No Time to Dwell on what was a horrible call
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – It doesn’t take a homer to realize that the Iowa men’s basketball team was on the wrong end of some questionable calls by the officials during Wednesday’s 101-89 double-overtime loss at Minnesota.
One call was beyond questionable.
It was inexcusable that none of the three officials saw that Iowa guard Brady Ellingson, and at least two of his teammates, were calling for a timeout after Ellingson had been trapped near his own baseline.
The officials also apparently didn’t notice the Minnesota forward Jordan Murphy was clearly standing out of bounds when he helped to trap Ellingson and made contact with the ball with 20.3 seconds remaining in regulation, and with Iowa leading 77-75.
Instead of granting Iowa a timeout, the officials called a jump ball, giving Minnesota possession.
The rest is history that could go a long way in determining Iowa’s post-season fate.
That’s what is so frustrating about the blown call near the end of regulation. Besides being a horrible call, it ultimately could prove costly to an Iowa team that is fighting for its postseason life.
Iowa coach Fran McCaffery deserves praise for staying relatively calm after the game, knowing that ripping the officials would only lead to a fine.
The best thing McCaffery can do is send the tape to the Big Ten Office and hope that somebody is held accountable. I’m not saying that any of the three officials should lose their job over what happened Wednesday, but somebody should be held accountable.
The best thing the Iowa players can do is use the pain and frustration from losing in double-overtime for the second time this season as inspiration.
There is no place or time for mercy in the Big Ten.
Waiting next for Iowa on Saturday in East Lansing, Mich., is a Michigan State team that is in danger of not making the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1997.
The Spartans (14-10, 6-5 Big Ten) are coming off an embarrassing 86-57 loss at Michigan on Tuesday. The 29-point margin of defeat equaled Tom Izzo’s worst loss to the Wolverines, matching his second meeting against them during his debut season as head coach on Feb. 27, 1996.
Michigan State had won the previous five games against its in-state rival.
“You look at (Michigan’s) seniors, and they’ve lost four or five times (to MSU),” Izzo said. “I thought they played with incredible passion. Our freshmen did not match that, and that was a big part of it.”
Iowa pounded Michigan State 76-59 last season in East Lansing, but that was an Iowa team that started four seniors, along with Peter Jok as a junior.
Iowa’s starting lineup now consists of at least three freshmen, sometimes four, and Jok.
It’s likely that at least one or two freshmen from either team will take center stage in Saturday’s game at the Breslin Center.
Michigan State freshman forward Miles Bridges is a dynamic performer, who can score in a variety of ways.
Iowa has won the last two games against the Spartans, but Michigan State dominated the series before that, winning 14 of 15 games from 2008 to 2015.
The current Iowa team with records of 14-11 overall and 6-6 in the Big Ten has been a resilient group. Just when you think the team is ready to unravel, the players and coaches find a way to prevail.
This season still could go in a number of directions with six games left in the regular season. Iowa could make the NCAA Tournament for a fourth consecutive season or finish with a losing record.
McCaffery has reason to be furious about the officiating in the Minnesota game, but he has more reason to move on.
Unfortunately, blown calls go with the territory because officials are human. We live in an age of instant replay, but the officials couldn't review whether the Minnesota player was standing out of bounds because that isn't reviewable.
Ellingson also didn't help his cause by getting trapped in the corner because then you have to rely on the officials to bail you out.
Iowa seems close to getting over the hump, but the narrative could change dramatically in just a week. Should Iowa lose at Michigan State on Saturday, a sense of desperation will resurface.
Jok appears to have recovered from the back injury that caused him to miss two games recently. He looked like the old Peter Jok in the second half against Minnesota when he scored 26 of his 28 points.
It would help if Jok and redshirt freshman guard Isaiah Moss both could be hot at the same time. Moss led the offense in the first half, but then mostly disappeared in the second half after Jok took over.
The worry is that Wednesday’s loss, and the horrible call that came with it, could fester and cause further damage.
That’s why the Iowa players have to move on and realize that sports, just like life, isn’t always fair.
Iowa vs. Michigan State
When: 5 p.m. Saturday
Where: East Lansing, Mich. (Breslin Center)
TV: Big Ten Network
Records: Iowa is 14-11 overall and 6-6 in the Big Ten; Michigan State is 14-10 and 6-5.