Iowa's Zach McCabe combines football toughness with basketball precision

EUGENE, Ore. - Zach McCabe embodies toughness with the way he battles in the post.

At 6-foot-7, the Iowa sophomore is undersized to play center. He often gives up several inches in height, yet he doesn't recoil from anyone.

"I'm a little bit more stronger than those taller guys," McCabe said. "I think toughness is something that I bring that sometimes big guys lack a little bit. It gives me more confidence that I can stay there even though they have a height advantage on me.

"Playing the five (center) is not an easy thing. I'm down for the challenge anytime."

McCabe's toughness vibe comes from a football background, where he was one of Iowa's most successful prep quarterbacks. He threw for 5,266 yards in three years as a starter at Sioux City Heelan. He once threw for 465 yards in a game, which ranks 14th best in state history. He led the Crusaders' football team to second place in 2007 (losing in the finals to current Iowa quarterback James Vandenberg) and the Class 3A state title in 2008.

McCabe is used to getting hit. But at 230 pounds, he's also capable of delivering a blow.

"I just bring that toughness mentality," said McCabe, whose Hawkeyes (18-16) will play Oregon (23-9) in the NIT's second round Sunday. "Yeah, it's a little bit of football mixed into it. I don't want people to push me around and think that they're going to get easy baskets. That's my mentality and that's served me well all year - even though I sometimes get into foul trouble."

That's where McCabe needs to improve, both his teammates and Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery acknowledge. McCabe has fouled out of six games and had four fouls in 12 others this year.

"He's a brute," Iowa sophomore Devyn Marble said. "We know that from being with him in practice, but that's his role. He loves doing that. Now the next step in is being a brute without fouling all the time. Sometimes Zach has the tendency to get into foul trouble, and it's nothing that he can't change and he will."

McCabe often gets dinged for charges, many times when he ducks his shoulder into the defender. McCaffery said McCabe is trying to alter his post moves while maintaining his natural aggressiveness near the basket.

"That just comes with experience, and he's getting better," McCaffery said. "He's got to cut down on those cheap fouls and stay on the floor. And what that does is it helps our team and his confidence level."

When McCabe does stay in the game, he's vital for Iowa. The Hawkeyes are 10-5 this year when McCabe plays at least 23 minutes. Against Dayton in the NIT opener Tuesday, McCabe played 32 minutes in an 84-75 victory. McCabe's production approached sublime.

McCabe scored 20 points and hit all nine shots from the field. He's one of only two Big Ten players to make all nine shots in a game this season. He showed diversity with his shot selection, hitting both a 3-pointer and delivering multiple shots off the backboard.

"He puts the ball up on the glass really fast," Marble said. "That's something I noticed from him when I first got here. Why am I not blocking his shot? It's hard to block his shot when he gets it up so fast."

There's a difference to McCabe's game and his guise this year. He's always carried a natural intensity, but his year he's playing with confidence. McCaffery and four different Iowa teammates all said McCabe tended to get down on himself last year after missing a shot or committing a turnover. This year, he's not only shaking off miscues; he's atoning for them.

"Last year when he made a mistake, he put his head down," Iowa senior Matt Gatens said. "This year he's able to move past it for the most part and go make a play on the other end of the floor."

"He's almost a completely different player from when I watched him last year," Iowa freshman Aaron White said. "I watched all their games last year. He plays a lot more confident than he did last year. He's got a lot more moves down around the basket."

"He might be a little undersized for what he plays, but he definitely plays fearless. He plays with toughness and a tenacity that really helps our team in multiple areas."

Although toughness provides the foundation for McCabe's demeanor, his skill set is unusual for a post player.  At Sioux City Heelan he delivered a pair of Class 3A state basketball titles and remains the school's career leader in assists and steals. He's also Heelan's leader in single-season 3-point percentage at 43.6 percent.

This year, McCabe's 3-point percentage is 43.8 percent. He also has 36 assists to go along with his 7.8 points and 4.7 rebounds a game.

"I was more of a pass-first person - not a shoot first - in high school, and I still am," McCabe said. "That's how I am. I'm team first all the time."