AH TV: McCaffery, Iowa players talk about Saturday’s 70-66 loss to Illinois
IOWA CITY, Iowa – What started as a White Out to support former Hawkeye guard Kenny Arnold ended with Iowa suffering one of its most disappointing losses of the season.
Illinois shot 55.2 percent from the field in the second half and escaped from Carver-Hawkeye Arena with a 70-66 victory before a near-sellout crowd on Saturday.
The arena was a sea of white when the game started as Iowa fans responded to the request to purchase and wear the Kenny Arnold No. 30 T-shirt. The money raised from selling the shirts will be used to help pay for some of Arnold's daily living expenses.
The 57-year old Arnold has struggled with multiple health issues since having surgery in 1985 to remove a brain tumor. He currently lives in a nursing home in his hometown of Chicago.
"The crowd was great," said Iowa coach Fran McCaffery. "We really appreciate that. The players appreciate it. I looked up and saw so many Kenny Arnold shirts. It means so much to the team and to Kenny.
"He's very aware of what this day was for him."
McCaffery wasn't sure when asked if his players might have pressed too hard in Saturday's game because of all the emotion.
"I don't know," McCaffery said. "I thought we did make some uncharacteristic mistakes at time. Yet, we made some relaly good plays at times. So I don;t know."
Iowa fell to 14-13 overall and 6-8 in the Big Ten, while Illinois improved to 15-12 and 5-9 in the conference. Illinois swept the season series, winning the first game 76-64 on Jan. 25 in Champaign, ill.
The Iowa players now have only two days to prepare for Tuesday's game against Indiana at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
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