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By Ben Schuff
benjamin-schuff@uiowa.edu
The Iowa men’s basketball team just couldn’t get over the hump.
The Hawkeyes trailed Purdue by no more than two possessions for most of the second half on Wednesday, but could never seem to pair a score with a stop at the defensive end when they was needed most. The result was a home loss to the Boilermakers in their Big Ten conference opener, 79-76.
Point guard Bryce Cartwright’s 3-point attempt with Iowa down five and less than five seconds to go bounced off the front of the rim, along with any hope of a Hawkeye victory.
But Iowa’s (8-6, 0-1) lack of last-second heroics was far from their only problem against Purdue (11-3, 1-0).
Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery said his team’s lack of defense was most bothersome.
“I think it was disappointing the way we defended in the second half,” McCaffery said, and paused. “I think it was disappointing the way we defended the entire game.”
Purdue shot 55 percent from the field in the first half, jumping out to a 45-39 halftime lead. The Boilermakers connected on 6-of-13 3-point attempts before halftime, several of which came uncontested. Purdue ended the game 33-for-66 from the field.
What complicated matters for Mcaffery’s sqaud was the team’s inability to stop penetration. Seemingly any Purdue player who drove to the hoop found success — whether that be with a bucket of his own or by finding an open teammate — throughout the game.
“No matter who they put in would drive and score,” Iowa’s second-year head coach said. “I think the concerning thing for us is its a pattern of behavior that we have consistently tried to change with a variety of things and its just not sinking in.”
The Hawkeyes seemed to turn the momentum in their favor almost immediately after halftime. Iowa went on a 13-4 run early in the second half that was capped with an Eric May 3-pointer to tie the game at 52.
But as was the theme for most of the night, the Boilermakers came right back with points of their own. Purdue scored on their next three possessions, taking a 58-55 lead — a lead they wouldn’t give up.
“Our on-the-ball defense, keeping our guy in front of us — that was the main thing that hurt us tonight,” said guard Matt Gatens, who scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds. “Guys would get in the lane and create shots for other guys or get shots on their own.”
A large free-throw disparity also helped Iowa stay within striking distance for nearly all 40 minutes. The Hawkeyes made 21-of-29 free throws, while Purdue converted on 7-of-11 attempts from the charity stripe.
Iowa guard Roy Devyn Marble drives into the paint against Purdue on Wednesday. (The Daily Iowan/Adam Wesley)
Point guard Devyn Marble was rewarded for his aggressive, attack-the-hoop style, as he made 5-of-8 free throws. The sophomore once again led Iowa offensively with 17 points and six assists.
Marble echoed McCaffery and his teammates’ statements of frustration about the team’s defense.
“It seemed like the shots they were making were just impossible shots,” he said. “When we were playing good defense, their shots were still going on.”
Melsahn Basabe made a big impact early, scoring eight of the Black and Gold’s first 10 points. The 6-8 forward finished with 14 points and a team-high 8 rebounds, but left Carver-Hawkeye Arena with a sense of failure.
“I look at myself as someone who failed to do what it takes to win,” Basabe said. “This wasn’t an invincible team. We were just as good as [Purdue] and we should have won that game.”
