Iowa Basketball: Hawkeyes Cruise Past Chicago State
Iowa opened the 2017-18 season with a bang Friday night, obliterating Chicago State 95-62.
The Cougars looked completely outmatched from the opening tip, falling behind by double digits 10 minutes in and finding themselves down 25 points at the half.
Iowa’s size and physicality were too much against their smaller, less athletic opponent. Iowa’s starting big men Tyler Cook and Luka Garza combined for a 10-10 shooting night, although they were barely over 50% from the line, shooting 8-15. It didn’t matter tonight, but free throw shooting has been a big problem in the Fran McCaffery era and could bite the Hawkeyes later in the season if they continue to shoot 60% from the charity stripe.
Four out of Iowa’s five starters finished with double figures on the night, led by freshman center Luka Garza, who scored 16 points in his Hawkeye debut. Guards Isaiah Moss and Jordan Bohannon each hit four 3’s, which accounted for 24 of the duo’s 26 points. Power forward Tyler Cook added 12 points as well.
Off the bench, freshman Jack Nunge had the biggest impact for the Hawkeyes. The 6’11 big man played all of his minutes at the 3 in the absence of Nick Baer, recording a 10 point- 4 rebound- 4 steal stat line. Nunge looks the part, and that’s very encouraging.
Freshman point guard Connor McCaffery missed the game with an ankle injury, which opened the door for junior Brady Ellingson to play some point guard and gave sophomore Maishe Dailey a chance to play big minutes. Ellingson had 9 points on three 3’s, and Dailey scored 10 points in his first career double digit scoring game. McCaffery’s injury does not appear to be serious according to his dad.
Iowa plays their second game of their season Sunday at home against Alabama State.