First-half thread for Iowa vs. NU

[lou v]

Unfortunately, I am home sick with the flu tonight and not at Welsh-Ryan. Avery had a prior commitment and couldn't make it either. But while the flu kept me home, it can't keep me from watching.

I find myself saying the same thing tonight: this is a must-win -- or as close as you can come to one in January, immediately following a must-win. But NU has yet to get a signature, resume-building win. Tonight, they have a ranked Iowa team at home. They can't let this one go by. They have to get it before heading to Ann Arbor to face No. 2 Michigan. If must-win is the wrong term -- especially since Illinois was a must-win -- I don't know what else to call it. How about a you'd-better-win?

Tyler Cook of Iowa is doubtful with a knee injury. That's a break for NU.

 

[Chuckster1973]

Another slow start

 

[TheC]

Well this sucks. Putrid shooting and this new D is confusing us as much as its confusing them.

 

[freewillie07]

What a joke of a start. Down 9-2. NU had a ton of open looks and just couldn't buy a bucket. And the zone defense was pretty good on the first few possessions. Get it together, guys.

 

[scru]

This team really struggles in the confidence department. Start with high energy on D and let the rest come. Let's go!!

 

[freewillie07]

Thank goodness for Gaines.

 

[lou v]

Love the aggressiveness out of Anthony Gaines early. He is 2-2 from the floor and 3-3 from the line, and he has seven of NU's 13 points.

 

[TheC]

Gaines getting it done!

 

[lou v]

Attaboy, Pete Nance. If they wanna sag off of you, knock down a 3 like that and make them guard you.

 

[Chuckster1973]

Sure would be nice to have a team that can shoot threes. O for seven so far seems to be a Common Thread for this team

 

[freewillie07]

It is so frustrating to see game after game, opposing players with a head of steam just go from coast to coast and beat our guys before they can get set on defense. Cut off the ball! It's a fairly basic concept!

 

[TheC]

I wish Pardon would quit hedging so much on that high screen. He gets beat so many times being so far out of position.

 

[TheC]

Man, Iowa doesn't even have their best player out there.

 

[freewillie07]

I am starting to wonder if we'd be better off with Taylor functioning in a Tre Demps role as a sixth man who enters the game and immediately looks for his shot. Kopp and Gaines at this point seem like better two-way players.

The question, though, is whether Collins can do that without rattling his confidence.

 

[Mr Wickerpark]

our wings are 0-7 sucking

 

[TheC]

Lazy defense by Turner leads to free throws. Come on guys!!

 

[bringbacktherantboard]

Getting some nice transition points to keep us in the game.

 

[Chuckster1973]

Bench out scoring starters that's a rarity

 

[TheC]

Horrible shooting, but we're tied at the half. That's a good sign. Doing a good job getting to the basket as well as converting a few fast break chances. Like the energy from Gaines and Nance. If Moss stops hitting those eyes-closed fall aways at the buzzer, we might pull this one out.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Thought we were down by a dozen after reading this. Going to tune in for the second half.

 

[catcrazy]

It’s frustrating because we have missed a lot of open shots. I hope we dominate in the second half. Want a performance like 2 years ago against Iowa at home

 

[TheC]

Thought we were down by a dozen after reading this. Going to tune in for the second half.

It was a game of runs. Iowa would start to pull away, then we'd claw back. Then Iowa would pull away again, and then we'd claw back. We clawed all the way back to end the half, but we've never led.