Hawkeyes better in some statistics, behind in others

IOWA CITY - Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter leaves no statistic unturned when looking for positives in a difficult season.

He began Friday's news conference talking about the areas where Iowa had improved from last year and did the same thing Saturday after losing to Michigan State. That happens when you coach one of the nation's youngest teams, play one of the nation's toughest schedules and are off to the school's worst Big Ten start since 1994.

“The competition level is really high, but our productivity level is actually higher this year than it was a year ago,” Lickliter said Friday. “We have more possessions per game, scoring a little bit more, we're getting it inside a little more, we're scoring more two-point goals. In almost every category, our productivity is up against a higher level of competition with a younger team. So there's some encouragement there.”

On Saturday, after an 18-point loss to Michigan State, which put the Hawkeyes at 5-11 overall and 0-4 in Big Ten play, Lickliter again brought up the point the team is improving.

“Our team is actually in almost every category improved over last year, except for obviously wins and losses,” he said.

Iowa owns the nation's 13th youngest team with starters averaging .97 years of experience, according to extensive statistics provided by www.kenpom.com. Iowa's strength-of-schedule ranks 33rd nationally, according to www.realripi.com. Iowa's 11 losses have come against teams with a combined 137-32 record, including No. 1 Texas, No. 6 Purdue and No. 7 Michigan State.

But the statistics actually tell another story. Iowa was 11-4 last year en route to a 15-17 finish. Through 15 games this year, Iowa has improved statistically over last year's version in two categories: rebounds and assists. Iowa averages 32.7 rebounds a game, up by nearly four per game from a year ago. Iowa averages 13.8 assists a game, up from 13.1 last year.

Iowa is comparable in a few other categories, such as scoring (64.7 last year, 63.2 this year), forcing opponents' turnovers (11.7 last year, 11.3 this year), opponents' rebounding (31.2 this year, 28.3 last year) and opponents' 3-point percentage (37.4 percent this year to 34.9 percent last year). But in nearly every other category Iowa is way, way down from last year.

Here's a sample of statistics through 15 games as compared with last season:

Opponents score 66.6 points a game, up by 10.7 points from a year ago

Opponents' field-goal percentage: 46.5 percent; last year 41.3

Last year Iowa hit 47.6 percent of its shots; this year, 42.6

Last year Iowa hit 40.9 percent of 3-point shots; this year, 33.9

Opponents average 14 assists a game this year, compared to 9.3 last year

Iowa averages 14.7 turnovers a game, compared to 11.6 last year

Iowa's offense relies on perimeter play, of which 40.8 percent of the team's points have come via 3-pointer, the nation's second-highest percentage. But that has sacrificed Iowa's inside offense. Its four Big Ten opponents have outscored the Hawkeyes by 58 points in the paint.

Fast breaks and turnovers have crushed Iowa as well. Iowa's four Big Ten opponents have scored 98 points off Iowa turnovers and outscored Iowa 41-6 on fast breaks.

In the second half against Michigan State, Iowa worked the ball for much of the 35-second clock before Matt Gatens hit a jumper right before the buzzer. Eight seconds later, Michigan State's Raymar Morgan scored on a layup, which negated Iowa's basket.

“It is so difficult when you work so hard on offense and then give up an easy one on defense,” Gatens said. “That can be frustrating at times, but you've just got to keep fighting on both ends of the floor.”

Although the improvement is difficult to notice statistically or in the win column, Lickliter hopes his team can churn through the challenges and become a better team.

“I think our guys have fought hard,” Lickliter said. “It's been grueling for them, and it's early in the conference. But maybe our hope is that through the adversity and through the strength of schedule and the difficulties, we'll continue to grow.”