Hawks are kings of the boards — except against Badgers

IOWA CITY - Iowa's prowess along the offensive boards is one of the team's best assets this season - except against Wisconsin.

The Hawkeyes (13-8, 4-4 Big Ten) lead the Big Ten in offensive rebounding at 13.0 per game. But in its two games against the Badgers, Iowa combined for 13 offensive boards. Conversely, No. 5 Wisconsin (19-2, 7-1 Big Ten) battered Iowa for 30 which led to 25 second-chance points in its second straight sweep of the Hawkeyes.

'We just gave up too many offensive rebounds,” Iowa guard Mike Gesell said. 'We'd have a great defensive possession where we'd get a stop, and they'd throw up something at the end of the clock and then have to guard them for another 35 seconds because they'd get the board. They're one of the best teams with scoring second-chance points in the country. That's something we didn't do well enough (Saturday) to beat them.”

Wisconsin outscored Iowa 16-7 in second-chance points on Saturday, and 10 were scored before halftime. That negated the Hawkeyes' best shooting half of the season at 64.0 percent and gave the Badgers a six-point halftime lead.

Wisconsin junior forward Sam Dekker has hurt the Hawkeyes in both games with his offensive rebounding prowess. He posted a combined eight offensive boards, including five on Saturday. Those rebounds led to 10 Wisconsin points, five in each games.

'Dekker is really good, particularly in that area,” Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery said. 'I think he's a guy that's hurt us in both of those games. They really focus on that. I think it's one of the best things that they do that a lot of people don't talk about because when they get them, they score. A lot of people get them and have another opportunity. But their scoring percentage is really good.”

Wisconsin ranks a pedestrian 11th in offensive rebounding at 9.5 per game. Badgers Coach Bo Ryan said Monday it wasn't anything Dekker noticed in advanced scouting that enabled him to make those plays. He simply fought for good position and had strong anticipation.

'Those were opportunistic plays that he made by being in the right place, by getting to the glass,” Ryan said. 'He had to be in position to get those. So, that was him just being a player and working at getting to the glass. Some teams keep him off the glass to where he might not get an offensive rebound and some nights he might get several. He was opportunistic.”

In its six other Big Ten games, Iowa has out-rebounded opponents 82-63 on the offensive glass. When Iowa wins that battle, it is 3-1. The only loss came at Purdue, where Iowa crushed the Boilermakers 24-9 in offensive boards but shot just 32.8 percent.

Saturday, Wisconsin had seven offensive rebounds in the first half and 15 in the game.

'We obviously did a much better job in the second half on Saturday but not a very good job in the first half,” McCaffery said. 'It's something we usually do a pretty job of.”

Iowa's next opponent, Michigan (13-9, 6-4 Big Ten), ranks 13th in Big Ten offensive rebounding at 8.8 per game.

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