Iowa Basketball: Offense Disappears Late in Loss to Buckeyes

Sunday was a must win for the Iowa Hawkeyes. They were on the road, their Big Ten title chances were fading fast, and they’ve been so bad lately they needed something to go their way. The Hawkeyes came out flat and were sloppy in a 68-64 loss to Ohio State.

The late game execution continues to be iffy for the Iowa basketball team. Fran McCaffery is constantly bashed for not using timeouts in late game spots, which he did not do again tonight. Mike Gesell (16 points) is consistently bashed for his inability to execute late in games. He got the potential game tying shot blocked tonight, although many fans thought he was fouled. I did not.

I did, however, think Jarrod Uthoff (16 points) was fouled on the screen he set prior. He was pretty much ran over on that last play and the officials did not call it. But that was consistent with how the game was being called. The Buckeyes could’ve committed murder on that last play and nothing would’ve been called.

As bad as the officiating was, that was not the reason Iowa lost the game. The Hawkeyes shot 40% from the field ad 25% from three point range. That is why Iowa lost the game. Oh, and they turned the ball over 15 times.

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As bad as they had played, they still found themselves in a position to win the game. They held a 62-56 lead heading into the last four minutes of the game. However, the Hawkeyes shot 1-of-5 in the last four minutes of the game and Ohio State went on a 10-0 run over the course of three minutes to take a 66-62 lead. Adam Woodbury (4 points, 9 rebounds) added a layup for Iowa at the other end to cut the lead to just two.

After the Buckeyes missed a three, the Hawkeyes were given a chance to tie or win the game with 7 seconds left. McCaffery again elected to play it out and not use one of his two remaining timeouts, although he did get a makeshift timeout after the clock malfunctioned. Gesell got all the way to the rim, but was blocked from behind. The ball found its way into the lap of Marc Loving (25 points) who added two free throws with a second left on the clock to seal the game for the Buckeyes.

Iowa’s offense disappeared late against Wisconsin and it did again today. If this continues to be a problem, Iowa’s season will come to a quick close in mid-march.

Next: Iowa vs OSU: Rapid Reaction

Fran McCaffery, who is obviously frustrated, was criticized after the game for cutting his press conference short. The early narrative was he stormed out and that he just “cam newtoned” the press. However, when you watch the video, none of that is true.

"Fran McCaffery’s postgame press conference lasted a whopping 82 seconds. https://t.co/yDcxAktVxT— Brent Yarina (@BTNBrentYarina) February 28, 2016"

Look at it any way you’d like, but this isn’t storming out. He answered the questions that were offered to him, and when they stopped coming he got up and left. Sure, there was a question being asked right as he left, but that was well after he started the process of leaving.

To be honest with you guys, I’m confused. I don’t know what the issue is anymore. Whatever it is, Iowa needs to get it figured out and do it fast. They welcome in the Big Ten leaders, the Indiana Hoosiers, on Tuesday night for Senior Night. This group of seniors should be jacked up for their final game inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa is giving us nothing to make us believe that they’ll beat Indiana on Tuesday, but college sports are crazy.

That game between the Hoosiers and Hawkeyes tips off at 8 p.m. CT in Iowa City, IA.

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