Iowa has shown it can get hot as quickly as it turns cold, so now is not time to over-react
Back-to-back road losses by double digits has doubters and naysayers out in full force again
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The easy thing right now under the circumstances would be to assume the worst about the Iowa men’s basketball team.
Some of you probably are thinking this is the start of another February fade in the wake of double-digit losses on the road to Northwestern and Wisconsin by 20 and 12 points, respectively.
The same team that has led the Big Ten in scoring throughout the season, and that has multiple 3-point shooters, has combined to score just 112 points in the last two games and made just 6-of-52 shots from 3-point range.
The part of the game that usually comes the easiest for a Fran McCaffery coached team, which is scoring points and making 3-point shots, has suddenly and inexplicably become a weakness at the worst time of the season.

Iowa (17-10, 9-8 Big Ten) still is considered an NCAA Tournament team, but its stock is dropping to where it now is at risk of falling to an eighth or ninth seed if the bleeding doesn’t stop.
Iowa was poised to earn a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament just a few days ago, but now that is in serious jeopardy with Iowa having dropped from fourth to ninth in the current Big Ten standings.
The top four teams in the conference earn a double-bye and would only have to win three games to win the Big Tournament.
The remaining schedule also shows little mercy with Iowa facing Michigan State on Saturday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, followed by a road game at Indiana next Tuesday, and then a home game against vastly improved Nebraska in the regular-season finale on March 5th at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Nebraska already has defeated Iowa 66-50 back on Dec. 29th in Lincoln, Nebraska, and that was another road game in which Iowa was ice cold from 3-point range.
Iowa has been ice cold from three on the road throughout the season, shooting just 27.8 percent in 13 games away from Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
So, yes, there is reason to be concerned about this current two-game skid, but to just give up on this team, which based on my feedback is what some appear to be doing, isn’t fair to the players and coaches, and is an over-reaction.
It’s being a prisoner of the moment, which is easy to do when the going gets rough.

But it’s also worth noting that Iowa has won nine of its last 14 games overall and is 7-1 in Big Ten home games this season, and two of its of last three regular-season games will be played at home where the Hawkeyes shoot much better.
This is the worst time of the season to struggle, but should Iowa defeat the Spartans on Saturday, hope would be restored.
The Hawkeyes would also climb in the conference standings where nine teams have between seven and nine losses.
A naysayer might point out that Iowa was swept by Wisconsin this season.
But on the other hand, Iowa also swept a pretty good Rutgers team this season.
A while the 20-point loss at Northwestern was deflating, Iowa also beat the second-place Wildcats by 16 points in their meeting this season at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
There is too much pride and veteran leadership on this team to assume the worst just because of two disappointing losses.
With sixth-year senior guard Connor McCaffery, fifth-year senior forward Filip Rebraca and fourth-year junior forward Kris Murray, Iowa has a solid foundation to rely on for guidance, toughness and leadership.
They’re also good players that have shown they can compete at a high level.
They deserve some faith and trust now more than ever.
Saturday’s game against Michigan State is sold out, so the atmosphere should be just what this team needs, along with the familiar surroundings, and most notably the baskets.
The doubters and naysayers were out in full force when Iowa started 0-3 in Big Ten play without former All-America forward Keegan Murray on the roster.
But there was no panic from Fran McCaffery, or from the players, and Iowa would go on to win nine of its next 12 conference games with Keegan’s twin brother, Kris, leading the way.
The Big Ten season is a long and grueling grind that wears on the players mentally and physically.
Big Ten leader Purdue climbed to No. 1 in the polls and looked almost unbeatable until recently losing three of four games.
This isn’t to suggest that Iowa is at Purdue’s level, but even good teams have some rough stretches.
Perhaps the biggest concern with Iowa is that the offense tends to unravel when the 3-point shots aren’t falling. There doesn’t seem to be an answer for it right now, especially in games that are played at a slower pace.
But this Iowa team has shown that it can compete with just about anybody when it plays up to its potential.
Kris Murray has also shown that he can play at an exceptionally high level. He just needs to get his swagger back.
Should Iowa win two of its last three regular-season games, which seems possible since two of the games are at home, its record would be 11-6 record over its last 17 games.
That hardly would qualify as a fade.
Of course, Iowa still has to do it.
Iowa lost its final regular-season game last season at Illinois, but then would go on to win the Big Ten Tournament with a lot of the current players having played key roles.
Iowa has shown that it can get hot as quickly as it turns cold.
So, let this season play out and don’t base all your thoughts on what happened in just the last two games.