Takeaways and postgame from Iowa’s 81-65 victory over Georgia Tech
By Dallas Jones
IOWA CITY, IA – The Big Ten/ACC challenge brought the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets to town Tuesday night.
Poor free throw shooting and a cold night from three kept the game close, but the Hawkeyes left with the win. Here are my five takeaways from the game:
Kris can dominate the game and he needs to:
Kris Murray set his career high for rebounds in the first half alone with 14 tonight halfway though the game, also adding 15 points. While there is a lot of pressure on Murray when it comes to offense, he is just as important on the glass.
He finished the game with a career high on both ends, finishing with 31 points (11-18 FG, 4-8 3p) and 20(!!) rebounds. A masterclass performance from one of the best in the country.
Dasonte Bowen and Connor are huge assets:
It has been apparent this season that Connor McCaffery has transformed his ability as a shooter and that continued tonight. Connor came in and make two threes after Iowa started the game 1-10 from three, just the spark needed.
Dasonte has shown to his crazy athleticism often in his freshman campaign, tonight one no different. Shortly after entering the game, Bowen has a sequence in which he spun to the basket and made a tough layup over a couple defenders, immediately following it with a block against the backboard on the other end.
Rare to find a two way talent this early into a guys career, but Bowen clearly has the talent and potential already.
In the second half, Connor hit the dagger from well beyond the three point line, giving the Hawks a 14 point
Make your free throws!
The Hawks were just 8-16 from the line in the first half against Georgia Tech. Free throws can make or break a team when it counts, you can’t afford nights off at the line down the stretch.
They finished the game 18-31 (58.1%) a number that just won’t cut it in the Big Ten.
A second scorer will need to consistently step up:
Hawkeyes in the starting lineup not named Murray and Rebraca went 2-10 with four points at the half. Georgia Tech ran a zone, giving the Hawkeyes perimeter players lots of open shots.
They were not falling tonight, but someone will need to consistently show up for the Hawks as the season progresses.
Tony Perkins is getting warmed back up after an injury and Patrick McCaffery just had a cold night. One of those two, if not both, will be leaned on in this offense.
Filip Rebraca continues to surge:
Filip Rebraca has started the season by playing some of his best basketball of his career.
Before tonight he was averaging 9.8 points and 8.2 rebounds, both tremendous improvements from last years numbers. He then put up alomst that in one half, with eight points and seven rebounds at the break.
He finished the game with 13 points and seven rebounds. His consistency will be huge for the Hawkeyes going forward.
Check out what both coaches and a couple Hawkeye players had to say postgame here: