Iowa 69, UNI 46: 3 takeaways from the Hy-Vee Classic

DES MOINES -- Three takeaways from Iowa's 69-46 victory over Northern Iowa at Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday.

1. 

State sweep

Iowa hadn't put 40 minutes together on both ends before the Iowa State game. Against the Cyclones, it happened, and everyone wondered if the Hawkeyes could pick up where they left off after 10 days' worth of a break. 

Well, asked and answered. 

Iowa held Northern Iowa to 0.705 points per possession, forced 11 turnovers and held the Panthers to 26.8 percent shooting.

Defensive rotations, ball pressure and closeouts were by far the best they've been all year.

2. 

Baer necessities 

Insert your white guy clichés here. Nicholas Baer continues to be a player who is easy to appreciate for what he brings to every possession when he's on the floor. 

Coming off the bench makes him an invaluable insert to a team that needs a boost every now and then. 

His teammates have said repeatedly – and again after the UNI win – that his play makes them want to play harder. He had 11 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

3. 

Peter Jok is good 

Anyone who watches Peter Jok has to work hard to find what he's not good at offensively. 

Jeremy Morgan is as good of a defender individually as Jok has seen this year – and will for a while – and Jok still was able to make shots average players couldn't hope to make. The space he needed was centimeters. 

What's more, though, is how he's been able to be more efficient on both ends. At certain times earlier in the year, he was wearing himself out getting open on offense and didn't have much left for defense. 

That's changed dramatically, and elevates everything.