The Iowa Men’s basketball team was +9 on the offensive glass against Illinois and they turned the ball over just nine times to Illinois’ 11.  Iowa also made just two fewer free throws than did Illinois, they had seven more shot attempts and the game was played at home.

In looking at those raw numbers, I would have predicted an Iowa win by more than six points.  However, the Hawks were just 16 of 54 from the floor, which included 28 three point attempts, and they lost 57-49.

It’s just that kind of year for Iowa, a team that really never looked in synch offensively much of the night.

Matt Gatens led Iowa with 12 points while Jarryd Cole had 10.  Aaron Fuller six and grabbed a team high nine rebounds.  Gatens also had six assists.

John Lickliter played six minutes, the other 34 belonging to Cully Payne, although Payne struggled mightily with his offense, badly missing two separate three point attempts that failed to draw iron.  What those shots did draw was a chorous of ‘AIR-BALL!’ chants from the close to 200 Illinois students that made the trip to Champaign and sat in unison behind the Iowa basket in the second half.

I asked some media members who were at the game if there were more Iowa or Illinois students in attendance.  Their answer: ‘Too close to call’

Another question that probably deserves an answer is why would the Iowa ticket office sell a block of tickets that large to an out of state group?  The easy and snarky answer is that they were probably elated to have that much interest from any zip code.

Next up for Iowa is a game at Columbus, Ohio on Saturday to take on the ranked Buckeyes.  Tip off is at 11:00am.

Tags: Hawkeye Basketball