Hlas: Sheepishly, I’ll say Hawkeyes playing like lions

We've become conditioned not to make positive declarations about the Iowa men's basketball team.

From last season and segments of this one, it seems like salutes have always been followed by stumbles.

I'd say the current 3-game win streak feels different, feels like the Hawkeyes have found their footing in late February and are playing with as much confidence and purpose as they have this entire Big Ten season. But someone would immediately (and correctly) remind me the same was said after Iowa notched convincing wins over Michigan and Maryland earlier this month that were followed by flops against Minnesota and Northwestern.

But the fact is Iowa has risen to 9-6 in the conference, and is just one win in its last three games from its first winning Big Ten record since 2007. In fact, the Hawkeyes have a mere three winning conference seasons in their last 15, so getting over that hurdle wouldn't be a small thing around here.

Now, Rutgers, Nebraska and Illinois aren't the best the conference has to offer for competition. But it's the way Iowa played those games that's more encouraging more than the fact they won the first two convincingly and took control of the third down the stretch.

Simply put, senior forward Aaron White had to give this team more were it to be anything other than a face in the college basketball crowd. He has done just that.

Maybe he has sensed his legacy is on the line. After his 1-for-12 shooting game at Northwestern in Iowa's Feb. 15 defeat in Evanston, he called a team meeting the following day. Whether what he said stuck with his teammates, who can tell? But real leadership is in the doing, and White has averaged 20 points and 9.3 rebounds over the three games since.

After going 4-of-19 from 3-point range over the Hawkeyes' first 13 conference games, he is 5-of-6 over the last two contests. It's as if he's said to himself those shots must be taken and made.

A veteran starter's attitude does rub off on an entire team. One of my biggest questions about Hawkeye basketball the last couple years is if it had enough of either. By 'attitude,” I don't mean acting like a punk. Rather, confidence mixed with aggressiveness.

Guard Peter Jok has had his shortcomings, as any sophomore will. But he has never lacked for confidence as an offensive player, and that's become a big asset as he has improved his overall game.

Guards Mike Gesell, Anthony Clemmons and Josh Oglesby, players who have been up and down, all seemed to be sharing White's mind-set in Iowa's 68-60 win over Illinois Thursday.

It's hard to tell which play gave the team and its fans the biggest lift, Oglesby's deep corner 3-pointer with 9:03 left, or Mike Gesell's drive for a dunk with 4:37 remaining.

OK, it was Gesell's, but only because of it's shock value.

Don't overlook Clemmons. The junior has 14 assists and only two turnovers in this 3-game run.

On to Penn State, a team that is reeling at 3-12 in the league. As long as the Hawkeyes don't assume they'll get a victory Saturday in State College, they should do just that.

A '10” in their Big Ten win column would certainly be a fresh thing for them. They would be entering March like, well, lions.

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