Iowa's Lickliter says team was flat, in part because of scheduling

In hindsight, Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter looks at the Michigan loss as the result of playing three games in one week. He said the team was flat and the team's third game - including two road trips -  in seven days took its toll on the team.

"I think last week was very demanding," Lickliter said this morning. "I'm not taking anything away from John (Beilein) and Michigan but there was a freshness. They played at home on Tuesday and at home on Saturday. We played three games in a week and when you play three games in a week, you don't get a day off. I think everybody, especially this time in the season, a day off is a good thing."

Michigan scored the game's first 13 points and blew past Iowa 60-46. Neither team was efficient, but Michigan led by as many as 23 points before Iowa cut its deficit to the final 14 points.

"I thought we were very flat," Lickliter said. "We'd been playing well so, it's disappointing. But at the same time you have to acknowledge there are factors that weigh into it. It wasn't just a lack of urgency on our part. The scheduling factor and the Michigan factor, which was probably important than anything. The Michigan factor, they were really good that day, and it's happened to us more than once."

Iowa plays host to Illinois on Wednesday before going through another week similar to last one. Iowa plays at Ohio State on Sunday, hosts Northwestern on Feb. 10 before playing at Purdue on Feb. 13.

"It's what we've been dealt," Lickliter said. "We've got to be able to adjust."

Here's some postgame video following the Michigan game: