Iowa's Anthony Tucker gets past mental hurdle in 3-point barrage

IOWA CITY - Anthony Tucker is a shooter and, well, shooters make shots.

Only Tucker wasn't hitting them through Iowa's first six games. He was missing them at rates that confounded his teammates, coaches, media and fans. The Iowa sophomore guard hit seven 3-pointers at the Citadel last year and six in a loss to West Virginia. In practice if he's open from beyond the 3-point line, it's money in the bank.

Entering Tuesday's game against Virginia Tech, Tucker had hit only 3 of 19 3-pointers the last three games and 22.7 percent overall. He was starting to lose confidence in his shot. Against North Carolina Central, Tucker attempted just four 3-pointers and missed them all.

"To be honest, I was getting tired of it," Tucker said Tuesday night. "It's not very much fun to be considered a shooter and not make shots and stop shooting. It got to the point where the ball had to go in the basket.

"I made one against Texas that I was off-balance and it was a terrible shot, and it went in. That doesn't help boost your confidence."

Tucker's shooting prowess returned early against Virginia Tech. On Iowa's first possession, Tucker stood at the baseline, right of the basket. Iowa center Jarryd Cole passed from the inside out to Tucker, who drilled his first shot.

Two possessions later, Tucker again hit a 3-pointer to give Iowa an 8-1 lead. "I took a shot where I was in rhythm, it felt good and it went in and I followed it up with another one," Tucker said. "At that point the rest is history."

With those shots the Tucker all had seen early in his freshman year and in practice every day was back in form.

"It was a breakout game for him," Iowa guard Cully Payne said. "Everyone knows he can shoot and everyone knows he can play. He got it going (Tuesday night), which was great.

"I definitely saw the first two so I know that he was going."

Tucker hit six 3-pointers and scored 24 points, which tied a career best and tied Iowa's best scoring output the last two seasons. He sank 6 of 14 from beyond the 3-point arc and drew double coverage late in the game.

The game provided a much-needed confidence boost for Tucker personally, but the 70-64 loss soured his postgame mood.

"I'd like to get a career high and win a game, obviously," Tucker said. "It doesn't mean anything when you lose, especially in a game like that. It's actually kind of deflating. ... It's disheartening when you look up and there's four seconds left and you're down six points."

Tucker admitted his struggles affected him mentally and he had needed to refocus on his form. He also needed one good look with one good shot to fall.

"I just wanted to make sure I did everything I could to make sure that was happening, whether it was holding my follow-through longer or just making sure I was taking good shots to get in a rhythm," he said. "There's no secret or anything. The ball just needed to start going in."

And it did. Six times in fact.