3 Takeaways: Small problems mounting into larger issues for Iowa

IOWA CITY — A few leaks here and there have sprung into a trickle of issues for the Iowa men's basketball team.

The Hawkeyes (20-7, 11-4 Big Ten) struggled making shots, defending the perimeter and holding on to the ball in a 67-59 loss to Wisconsin on Wednesday. The loss was Iowa's third in four games, while the Badgers' victory was their ninth in 10 games.

Iowa's point total was its lowest this season. Its 32.7 shooting percentage also was a low. Wisconsin drilled 10 3-pointers, the second consecutive game Iowa allowed double figures from beyond the arc. Iowa had 14 turnovers — its most in Big Ten play — and connected on just eight of 30 shots in the second half.

Iowa ranks among the Big Ten's top three in three of those categories and sixth in field-goal percentage. What once were strengths for Iowa now are becoming weaknesses.

'I thought we got great shot opportunities,' Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery said after the Wisconsin game. 'I thought 14 turnovers contributed to that (offensive problems). I can't remember what the breakdown was in the first half versus second half. I know I think we had eight the first half, six in the second half, I think. But six turnovers is too many. Eight is way too many against a team that's playing half-court man. We've got to do better than that, but we got a little hesitant at times.'

Iowa, which now is one game behind Indiana (22-6, 12-3 Big Ten) in the Big Ten standings, led Wisconsin (18-10, 10-5) 51-45 with 10 minutes, 20 seconds remaining. From that point on, the Badgers clearly were more efficient.

Wisconsin knocked down seven of its final 14 shots, including five 3-pointers, and turned the ball over only twice. Iowa whiffed on 14 of its 16 field-goal attempts with only a deep jumper and a layup to show. The Hawkeyes had five turnovers and were 4-of-8 in free-throw shooting. Iowa missed its final eight field-goal attempts.

'We didn't get the stops we needed, and they hit some big shots at key moments,' Iowa point guard Mike Gesell said.

Shooting woes aside, Iowa players were able to get to the free-throw line. The Hawkeyes shot 25 free throws, compared to the Badgers' 12 attempts. Iowa made 18 to Wisconsin's seven, but Iowa was just 8 of 13 in the second half. Iowa guard Peter Jok sank all eight attempts, but the rest of the team was 10 of 17.

Over Iowa's last four games, the Hawkeyes have shot a dismal 68.1 percent (77 of 113) from the line. Iowa had made 72.8 percent before its four-game slide and now its season percentage sits at 71.9.

Before facing Wisconsin, McCaffery was asked if the team's recent free-throw woes were caused by lack of concentration.

'It's not for lack of practice,' McCaffery said. 'It was good shooters for the most part. It was frustrating that, in particular, I thought the Penn State game was like 1 for 2, 1 for 2, 1 for 2. You've got to take advantage when you're in the double bonus as much as you can, and they've shot a ton over the weekend.'

Statistically, Iowa remains one of the Big Ten's best perimeter defenses, ranking second in 3-point percentage (30.4 percent). But its last four opponents have hit 35.7 percent. Much of that has come against a zone defense, which often has left shooters wide open.

McCaffery said his team struggled in its defensive rotations at Penn State. That element continued against Wisconsin.

'It's definitely correctable,' Gesell said. 'Rotations aren't as good as they were earlier in the year and a few broken-play 3s, and Wisconsin is a very good shooting team.'

Iowa still leads the Big Ten in turnover margin at plus-3.0 but the Hawkeyes have had 27 the last two games. In the first half especially, Iowa had too many unforced errors. Iowa turned over the ball on three consecutive possessions early on, and there were two inexplicable passes out of bounds.

'We were a little casual with the ball,' McCaffery said.

While the problems are mounting, Iowa center Adam Woodbury said they're not too great to overcome.

'Take care of the ball and score more points. Play better defense. Pretty simple, honestly,' Woodbury said. 'Not many complicated things to our game, and we just made too many mistakes (Wednesday).'

2. Bench deflation. Iowa's bench barely has provided only a momentary breather in recent weeks, and that trend continued on Wednesday.

Wisconsin's reserves outscored Iowa 23-4 in the Badgers' 67-59 win. Over the last five games, Iowa's bench has totaled 28 points. Its opponents: 123. Hawkeye reserves scored 28 points against Penn State at home on Feb. 3.

Iowa's primary scoring tandem of Jarrod Uthoff and Peter Jok have totaled 207 of Iowa's 364 points (nearly 57 percent) over the last five games. Both players at times are forcing shots — Uthoff was 3 of 12 against Wisconsin — because their teammates lack consistent scoring.

'We need (Nicholas) Baer, Dom (Uhl), Brady (Ellingson) to step up and take some of the pressure off of Jarrod and Pete because Woody (center Adam Woodbury) will go back and get it for you,' McCaffery said. 'We've got to get some of those guys ... but again, they're playing Dom different. He's putting it on the deck and he's driving the ball and he's making plays. I was pleased with his activity level for the most part, especially on offense. Defensively he was decent. I think he could be even better.'

Uhl's drop-off has been crushing for Iowa, which relied on the sophomore forward's big shots early in league play. He totaled 79 points in Iowa's first 10 Big Ten games, but has scored just 13 in the last five. He turned heads with his 3-point shooting early, making 13 of 24 in the opening 10 games. In the last five, Uhl is 1 of 3.

'They're guarding me tighter,' Uhl said before the Wisconsin game.

3. Ride the Gesell wave. Point guard Mike Gesell ranks third in the Big Ten in assists per game (6.1). He has 19 dishes and only one turnover in Iowa's last three games. Those are dream numbers for most point guards, and Gesell is one of the best in the country at finding teammates and preventing turnovers. But those numbers are getting overshadowed in a season-long shooting slump.

When Gesell is good, he's very good. Four times in Big Ten play Gesell has reached double figures in points, and he was 24 of 36 from the field in those games. But in Iowa's other 11 league games, he's 17-of-73 shooting. Gesell has sank only five of his last 25 attempts. It's reminiscent of his season-ending slump two years ago when he missed his final 16 shots.

'I got great looks tonight,' Gesell said after the Wisconsin loss. 'I missed a couple layups, easy buckets I usually make. That's how it goes sometimes.'

'I thought Mike did a lot of good things, but he's not shooting as well,' McCaffery said.

Gesell has other responsibilities besides scoring. He's ranked fifth in Big Ten steals and second in assist-to-turnover ratio. But Iowa needs a few of his jumpers to hit nothing but net.

l Comments: (319) 339-3169; scott.dochterman@thegazette.com