Hawkeyes notes: Indiana Coach Tom Crean talks Iowa recruiting

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Iowa freshman Melsahn Basabe was “posterized” early in the second half on a dunk by Indiana freshman forward Will Sheehey.

Sheehey took the ball near the free-throw line and went down the lane right at Basabe, who couldn't get into position to block the shot. Sheehey blasted the ball through the hoop over Basabe, which sent the packed house into a frenzy with 15:12 left in the game.

“My ears were ringing on the court after that. I'm pretty sure y'all's were, too,” Iowa guard Bryce Cartwright said.

“He's a pretty athletic guy as you can tell,” Basabe said. “He dunked on me. I knew he wasn't just a stiff, but I still felt like I had an advantage on him because of my height and he's in an area where he's not used to guarding in the post.”

Basabe recovered after that play. He finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds, his fifth double-double of the season. He scored eight points after Sheehey's dunk. Sheehey finished with 12 points and one rebound.

“(Basabe) dominated us,” Indiana Coach Tom Crean said. “Whatever we did defense today, we didn't win it (that battle).”

Say what?

Crean paid homage to former Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter's recruiting ability in his postgame remarks.

“I always read about Iowa but I never see Todd Lickliter's name anywhere,” Crean said. “Fran's (McCaffery) an excellent coach - they've taken on his personality. Todd Lickliter brought players there. He really did.”

Of Iowa's five starters, four were recruited by coaches other than Lickliter. McCaffery recruited Basabe to Siena and brought him to Iowa. McCaffery also recruited Cartwright, who was a junior-college guard in Paris, Texas, Senior Jarryd Cole and junior Matt Gatens committed to play for Iowa under Lickliter's predecessor.

Up next: Wisconsin

Iowa hosts Wisconsin on Wednesday in the teams' only meeting this year. Iowa leads the all-time series 77-75 and won the teams' last meeting in Iowa City two seasons ago in overtime.

The schools squared off last spring over recruit Ben Brust, who signed a letter of intent to play at Iowa. When Lickliter was fired, Brust asked for his release but per Big Ten rules, he was not allowed to earn a scholarship from another league school. Brust eventually was granted a waiver and earned a basketball scholarship at Wisconsin.

Brust has scored 10 points in 13 games - a 0.7 point-per-game average - this season for the Badgers.