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Iowa Basketball: Takeaways, observations from win over Northwestern

By Joe Kipp

Dec 29, 2020; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes center Luka Garza (55) goes to the basket as Northwestern Wildcats forward Pete Nance (22) defends during the first half at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2020; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes center Luka Garza (55) goes to the basket as Northwestern Wildcats forward Pete Nance (22) defends during the first half at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /
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Iowa basketball defeated Northwestern, 87-72, on Tuesday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Here are the big takeaways from the Hawkeyes’ win.

The No. 10 Iowa Hawkeye basketball team (8-2) got back on track Tuesday night with a 15-point win over the No. 19 Northwestern Wildcats (6-2).

After a disappointing overtime loss to Minnesota on Christmas day, the Hawkeyes rebounded in a big way against a ranked opponent. Iowa moves to 2-1 in conference play and 8-2 overall.

Below are the biggest takeaways and observations from the Hawkeyes’ blowout win over Northwestern.

Iowa basketball takeaways:

  • We knew Iowa was elite offensively, but the performance we saw in the first half against Northwestern only strengthened that sentiment. Luka Garza scored just six points, but the Hawkeyes still managed to score 45 and led the No. 19 team in the nation by nine at halftime.
  • Call it an official breakout game for Keegan Murray. The true freshman is growing up right before our eyes. He played better than any player Iowa used at the ‘4’. Murray finished with nine points, two rebounds and two steals.
  • CJ Fredrick is arguably Iowa’s best shooter. He has such a beautiful shooting motion. Fredrick scored 17 points on just seven shot attempts in the first half and finished with 19.
  • Adding onto that, not sure why Fredrick wasn’t more involved more in the second half. He didn’t score his first bucket until around the 9-minute mark. Iowa led 65-60 at that point.
  • Much better from Jordan Bohannon tonight. He was the Hawkeyes’ best player. After a tough last few games, Bohannon came to play. He knocked down six 3-pointers. It was just the second time he finished with double-digit points this season.
  • Bohannon grabbed his 19th career game of 20 points or more and matched his season-high with 24. He was 5-for-5 shooting from three in the second half.
  • Pete Nance was a problem all night. He scored at will from all three levels and finished with a career-high 21 points. Iowa still with some problems defensively.
  • Garza’s streak of 20-point games in Big Ten play ended at 18 games after he scored just 18 points against the Wildcats.
  • The team’s energy goes up instantly whenever Joe Toussaint enters the game. With Toussaint running the point, the game just moves so much faster. His speed is unmatched by any other player on Iowa’s roster.
  • Apparently Toussaint suffered a leg injury in the first half. He played just 4 minutes tonight.
  • Quiet night from Joe Wieskamp, but he still scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds.

Up next: the Hawkeyes head east to face the 14th ranked Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Saturday, Jan. 2, at 1:00 pm CT on ESPN2.

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