Hawkeyes’ road win helps prepare for Advocare tourney

IOWA CITY - Iowa's 89-61 thrashing of Marquette last week could have long-lasting, beneficial consequences for the men's basketball program.

Not only did the Hawkeyes (3-0) play at a high level at a major-conference opponent in front of a large crowd, they allowed their younger players to compete in a tough environment with little stress. That's crucial for the team as it moves forward.

'It kind of took some pressure off of them when they come in with a 25-point lead,” Iowa center Adam Woodbury said. 'They can kind of make some mistakes here and there, and they can learn from them without having to cost us the game. Those guys learn a lot from that trip, but the veterans did well. Every new year is a new experience for all of us.”

'We pretty much set the tone for ourselves,” Iowa guard Anthony Clemmons said. 'We know what we're capable of now, and the expectation is really high for us to come out every night like that.”

Junior forward Dale Jones hardly is a novice, but he spent the last three seasons in junior college. He saw how the game's preparation affected players differently.

'I took a lot from both sides,” Jones said. 'I see how the young guys were real anxious, a little nervous, and I just saw how the older guys were more poised and more collected. I looked at those guys and didn't worry about much. It was really just watching them guys and (Jarrod) Uthoff and Peter Jok and how those guys go about games and how they just take on each game.”

Iowa plays three games in the competitive Advocare Invitational in Orlando starting Thursday. Three of the teams are ranked in at least one of the polls, while teams like Iowa and its Thursday opponent Dayton (3-0) are receiving votes. Only three of the teams have a loss, and two came at the hands of another tournament team. Iowa plays either Notre Dame (3-0) or Monmouth (2-1) on Friday.

After the tournament, Iowa faces Florida State on Dec. 2 and on Dec. 10 Iowa travels to instate rival Iowa State. That's why learning on the road was so important for the inexperienced group of Hawkeyes last week.

'The other night was the first road test,” Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery said. 'Now this is a neutral site with great competition, differing styles, three games in four days, and you come right back with the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.”

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