Sharing, protecting ball have been Hawkeyes’ strong suits the last few years

Iowa led nation in assist-to-turnover ration the last two men’s basketball seasons, and is doing so again

Nov. 25, 2022 9:37 am, Updated: Nov. 25, 2022 10:03 am

Iowa’s Josh Ogundele (23) looks to pass during the Hawkeyes’ 100-64 win over Omaha Monday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Ogundele was one of 12 Iowa players who recorded an assist in the game. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Iowa is going for a men’s basketball three-peat this season, and is off to a great start.

The No. 25 Hawkeyes (4-0) go into their Friday night game against Clemson (4-1) leading the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio. Their 2.62 (84 assists, 32 turnovers) easily tops everyone else, and is considerably more than the next-best Power Five team, Virginia Tech (1.82).

“We aim to lead the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio,” Iowa junior forward Patrick McCaffery said Monday.

If so, that would make three seasons in a row.

“That’s a stat we really pay a lot of attention to, strive for,” said McCaffery. “Doing stuff like that is really important.”

Twelve different Hawkeyes had assists in their 100-64 win over Omaha Monday. Five of them had at least three assists. Riley Mulvey, Dante Eldridge and Carter Kingsbury played just five, three and two minutes, respectively. They all had an assist.

Iowa had nine turnovers to 24 assists, and wasn’t happy about the first part of that equation though nine is a small turnover number.

The Hawkeyes are third in the nation in turnover ratio with +9.0 and fewest turnovers per game, with 8.0.

It’s early in the season, and three of Iowa’s first four opponents weren’t Power Five programs. But this is who the Hawkeyes have been for a while, and it’s who plays Clemson Friday at 6 p.m. (CT) in the Emerald Coast Classic in Niceville, Fla.

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Even with a pace of play that allowed it to be fifth nationally in scoring last year (83.0 points per game), Iowa was fourth in fewest turnovers per contest with just 9.2.

“I’ll shoot if I’m open, and if I’m not I’m going to pass it, try to play within the flow of our game,” McCaffery said. “I’m going to pass the ball to my teammates and I trust they’re going to pass it back if I’m open and they’re not. If they’re open, I’m going to pass it.

“That’s just how we play. We all trust each other. We’ve got a lot of really talented guys along with a lot of really good guys. We’re going to play well together, we play as a unit, and we’re going to share the ball.”

Comments: (319) 398-8440; mike.hlas@thegazette.com