Iowa Basketball: Hawkeyes on the verge of a big season in the Big 10

The Iowa basketball team is following in the footsteps of the surprising football team and putting together quite a season.

With quiet persistence and consistency, the Iowa Hawkeyes have been lurking behind the scenes waiting for their opportunity. After putting together a complete performance in downing Purdue Sunday, it’s seems the days of waiting are over.

Instead, the Hawkeyes are shouting their legitimacy as Big 10 contenders from the rooftops.

Iowa shot 50 percent from the field overall, connected on 11-of-20 from three point range and forced 17 Boilermakers turnovers in an 83-71 come-from-behind victory that upped their unblemished league record to 7-0. With nearly half the Big 10 conference slate completed, only Indiana has equaled the Hawkeyes’ undefeated start to league play.

At this point, it wouldn’t be a stretch to consider Iowa the favorite to claim their first Big 10 regular season crown since 1979.

Granted, there’s a lot of hoops left to be played in a conference renowned for its topsy-turvy nature. Indiana can still light it up despite the loss of James Blackmon Jr. to a season-ending knee injury while Maryland, Purdue and Michigan State all could make second-half surges in the league race.

Nevertheless, Iowa has put itself in prime position. The Hawkeyes appear to be a complete outfit and have the necessary pieces to make 2015-16 their best season yet under the fiery McCaffery.

In Jarrod Uthoff, Iowa has a big-man capable of carrying a team on the offensive end.

After starting his career in non-descript fashion with the Wisconsin Badgers, the 6-foot-9 Cedar Rapids native transferred home and has established himself as arguably the Big 10’s best player. He’s averaging 18.9 points per game on 48.7 percent shooting and is connecting on 48.3 percent of his attempts from three-point range. Uthoff was particularly on-target against Purdue, hitting 4-of-5 from beyond the arch while scoring a game-high 22 points.

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The Hawkeyes are hardly a one-man show however.

Junior Peter Jok has emerged as the perfect running mate for Uthoff. The 6-foot-6 swingman is averaging 14.7 points and shooting nearly 40 percent from three-point range to give Iowa two reliable double-figure scorers.

Along with Uthoff and Jok, 7-foot-1 Adam Woodbury seems to have finally found the consistency Hawkeye fans have been clamoring for since his ballyhooed arrival on campus four years ago.

Never one to shy away from controversy in previous years, Woodbury is putting together a strong senior campaign of 8.9 points, 6.7 rebounds on shooting 55.4 percent from the floor.

Then there’s the reliable hand of Mike Gesell directing it all.

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The 6-foot-2 Nebraska native has been a steadying force throughout his career in Iowa City. Now a senior, Gesell has taken his game to another level. Forget his 8.8 points per game and 42.3 percent three-point shooting; Gesell’s biggest contribution has been his gaudy average of 6.9 assists per outing.

Add it all up and Iowa is scoring 81.7 points, shooting 47 percent from the field and knocking down 41 percent of their attempts from three-point range.

The Hawkeyes can also play a bit of defense.

Iowa is giving up just 67.9 points and 40.9 shooting on a per game basis. Yet the Hawkeyes’ greatest strength lies in their turnover-margin, which ranks No. 1 in the Big 10 at plus-3.9. Overall, Iowa has forced 74 more turnovers than they have committed, a number that could come in handy with a Thursday showdown against Maryland looming.

Regardless of the outcome in College Park, the Hawkeyes appear to have their best outfit under McCaffery. Iowa scores points at a high clip, shoots the ball well as a team and causes headaches on the defensive end. They’re also big, deep, experienced and versatile.

Best of all is their highly consistent level performance.

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With their win over Purdue, Iowa has now won nine straight to sit at 16-3 overall. Their last loss was on Dec. 10 at Iowa State and seven of their nine wins have been by double-figures. Included in that run are sweeps of both the Boilermakers and Michigan State

In other words, the Hawkeyes give every impression of being all-in for the long haul.

The question now is how far that haul can go.

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