If Iowa basketball could just start games at halftime ...

Even if your team is 12-17 overall and 3-13 in the Big Ten, its statistics don't all have to be dull.

For the Iowa men's basketball team, which happens to be 12-17 and 3-13 entering its game at Minnesota on Wednesday, here's a stat that seems a little surprising: In the second halves of Big Ten games, the Hawkeyes have outscored their opponents, 660-642. For the season, Iowa has outscored foes in second halves, 1,214-1,154.

'I think that says a couple things,' Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery said. 'It says we're going to keep coming, we're going to keep grinding. Maybe we were able as coaches and players to make some adjustments that worked.

'It tells me we have an unselfish team, that we don't have guys going for themselves.'

Obviously, the first halves been a decidedly different tale. In those, Iowa has been outscored 690-536 in Big Ten games. That's a difference of 9.6 points per game. Or to use basketball terminology, a big hole.

Iowa has outscored opponents in nine second halves of its 16 conference contests, and had the same number of points as its opponent in another.

'At the end of the day, we want to outscore teams in both halves,' McCaffery said.

But the second-half numbers, McCaffery said, are 'indicative that despite our record, we're closer than what you might think.'

Is this anything? Maybe, maybe not. (By the way, isn't 'maybe not' the same thing as 'maybe?)

But it's kind of weird.

You may now resume going about your business.