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Iowa Basketball: Takeaways Against Michigan Wolverines

By Dylan Burn

Mar 5, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Fran McCaffery talks to his player during a time out in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Center. Iowa won 71-61. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Fran McCaffery talks to his player during a time out in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Center. Iowa won 71-61. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Iowa Basketball team got a key victory on Saturday night in Ann Arbor.  They were previously riding a four game losing streak and needed a win to regain some confidence heading into postseason play.

The Hawkeyes used 45 percent shooting from the field, eight made three pointers, and just eight turnovers to halt their losing streak at four games last night against Michigan.  Over the past two weeks or so, Iowa had been shooting poorly, turning the ball over, and not connecting on their free throws.

Iowa looked much better on the offensive end last night.  We did still see some of the standing around and watching that we’d seen in the past four or five games, as well as the scoring drought in the second half, but it was different.  Iowa was able to weather the storm and hang in there to secure a victory.

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Jarrod Uthoff‘s Jump Shot is Back

Prior to last night’s 11-for-19, 4-for-10, and 3-for-3, Uthoff was shooting 34 percent from the field in the last five games.  He looked different last night and it started from the opening tap.  He scored 12 of Iowa’s first 22 points and Michigan fans had to be thinking, oh crap, and if they weren’t, they should’ve been.  Seeing shots fall early was the last thing they wanted to see from Uthoff.

Watching him shoot, you wouldn’t have guessed that he was pretty bad over the course of the last five games.  He was still chucking it up from anywhere.  At one point, he made about a 27 footer.  A couple possessions after that, he chucked up what seemed like a 30 footer.  It didn’t go in and it was a stupid shot, but it’s nice to see him have confidence in himself.  He was making that fade away jumper that he’s mastered and then setting up teammates when an extra defender flocked his way to prevent a basket.

When Uthoff is clicking like this, it makes the entire team better.

Free Throw’s Getting Better

The Hawkeyes were 7-for-10 from the free throw stripe last night.  While that isn’t a very large sample size, it’s a good percentage.  Set aside Anthony Clemmons‘ two misses when Iowa held a 13 point lead, and Iowa was exceptional from the line.  Uthoff was 3-for-3, and freshman Christian Williams made his only attempt.

With the game getting close late, I knew Iowa was going to have to make free throws and they did.  Uthoff stepped up and made his two, and Clemmons made two big ones as well.  Granted, Iowa did have a nine point lead when he was shooting them, but it was still helpful to see them go in for Clemmons.

Seniors Stepping Up

Iowa went on a six minute long scoring drought from about the 10 minute mark in the second half to the four minute mark.  They saw Michigan go on a 10-0 run during that time and shrink their 15 point lead down to five.  The Hawkeyes only broke out of the slump thanks to a Mike Gesell steal and layup.  It was a big time play from a senior.  However, it wasn’t the only big time play from a senior over the course of a minute.

Michigan’s Derrick Walton hit a jump shot after Gesell extended the lead seven points to shrink it back down to five and keep the crowd into it.  Nine seconds later, Clemmons buried a three in the corner to completely silence the crowd and push Iowa’s lead to eight.  It may have been the biggest shot of Clemmons’ career.

Combine those two shots, and Uthoff’s ability to step up for his team and hit shots, and the seniors really did their part in this one.  Of course, we can’t forget about Adam Woodbury‘s 11 rebounds and nine points.

Next: Iowa Defeats Michigan Behind Uthoff

This was exactly what the doctor ordered for a struggling Iowa team.  They’ve now lost a couple of games in a row and were able to weather that and bust out of a slump.  Of course, there is no slumping now.  You lose in mid-March and you’re done.  They’ll need efforts like the one on Saturday night to advance late into March.

Iowa is either going to be the four or the five seed in the Big Ten tournament.  They can capture the four seed and earn a double bye if Maryland beats Indiana today and Purdue beats Wisconsin right after.  You can catch MD at Indiana at 3:30 p.m. CT on CBS and Wisconsin at Purdue at 6:30 p.m. CT on BTN.

We’ll provide coverage for you immediately following the Purdue/Wisconsin game.

Stay locked into Dear Old Gold for constant coverage of the Iowa Hawkeyes.

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