2 games into his Iowa basketball career, Brock Harding is assist machine

IOWA CITY — Brock Harding has played less than 26 minutes of college basketball and has 14 assists.

For those not overly familiar with the sport’s normality, that isn’t it.

The 6-foot, 162-pound freshman from Moline quickly is showing — or reshowing — why he was Illinois’ high school Mr. Basketball last season. Seven assists per game will put you among the national leaders every year, and that’s Harding’s early total.

He got his seven in 15 minutes Friday night in Iowa’s 98-67 win over Alabama State that elevated the Hawkeyes to 2-0. One in the second half was something he spent a few seconds eyeing before he looped the ball to fellow freshman and Moline teammate Owen Freeman.

The 6-10 Freeman had a rough go of it in the first half, but his one-hand jam off the Harding feed got the biggest roar of the night from the crowd of 8,814. How many times had the two worked together for that result?

“Too many to count,” Harding said after the game. “Practices, games, I know he’s going to go get it so I just put it wherever.”

As interesting as the passes Harding has made has been his patience waiting for what he wants and expects to open near the basket.

“Brock’s a very confident guy,” said Iowa senior forward Patrick McCaffery, who had a team-high 22 points. “That’s what I love about Brock is just confidence, his moxie.

“I think that’s what you need to play at this level, especially as a point guard and especially like a small guy like him. You need to be very confident in your ability and he is. That’s why I love Brock so much.

“That’s my guy. I’ve known Brock since he was even smaller than he is now. I’ve known him since he was 11, 12 years old. … I’m excited for his future here.”

Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery saw Harding back then. “He was terrific,” the coach said, “but you think about how small he was and you’re saying ‘if he grows.’

“He had that kind of feel as a youngster. He was quick, creative, confident. He could always score and make plays.”

Harding described himself Friday as “just kind of a hard-nosed point guard. A pure point guard, going to do whatever it takes to win, if I have to score, if I have to hit open guys.”

For the second-straight game, Harding went back on the court an hour afterward and worked on his shooting.

“I still had a little bit in the tank so I might as well put it to good use,” he said.

Notes: After six first-half turnovers, Iowa had none in the second half. … Junior forward Payton Sandfort scored 12 points in the span of 1:51 late in the first half, and finished with 17. He also had a career-high 12 rebounds. … Hawkeye power forward Ben Krikke drew eight fouls Friday. ... Iowa’s next game is Tuesday at No. 8 Creighton. “We respect everybody, but we fear no one,” Patrick McCaffery said.

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