Peter Jok's 'decent' game guides Hawkeyes to win in opener

IOWA CITY — Peter Jok is going to put up a lot of shots this season for Iowa's men's basketball team. Peter Jok also is probably going to make a lot, too, if we're being honest with ourselves.

The senior has the 'ultimate green light' as he described it before the season, and why not?

He spent time this offseason working on his defense, sure, but he also was shooting for NBA scouts, too. His shooting well is vital for a Hawkeyes team that, while talented offensively, doesn't have many game reps yet.

Jok delivered in Game 1, pouring in 27 points on 11 of 19 shooting, including 3 of 8 from 3-point range in Iowa's 91-74 win over Kennesaw State. He scored from every part of the floor, off the dribble, off a screen and in transition. It was the versatile offensive performance Iowa both expects and hopes from him.

But Jok? Jok thought his game Friday night was 'decent.'

If 27 points is decent, what's good?

'For me, I'm trying to get 35-plus,' Jok said through a smile. 'That would be good for me. That and get a good W.'

Jok was smiling, but he wasn't joking.

The West Des Moines Valley grad has a higher bar set for himself than even the loftiest of lofty bars set by Iowa fans. That should be encouraging given the fact he could be getting paid to shoot those shots right now, but instead chose to return for his final season.

His teammates have as much fun watching Jok shoot and hit those shots as anyone in the stands, and push him to reach for more — even when it's going well already. Point guard Christian Williams joked after the game Jok had a 'quiet 27.' Hearing that elicited a laugh from Jok, but also agreement. That 35-point line was serious.

Jok doesn't have a minimum for a number of shots, or even types of shots, rather taking what he can in the flow of the game.

'I didn't really try to force anything. I was going with the flow of the offense. It was quiet because I didn't really go off — like get hot and stay hot,' Jok said. 'I don't have any number (of shots). I just shoot. If I'm on fire I'm going to keep shooting, and I'm also going to find my guys.'

In many cases, if one player is putting up 19 shots in a game, his teammates aren't exactly thrilled. Everyone wants a chance with the ball and to make their contributions, right?

Well, when it comes to Jok, the other Hawkeyes know the deal.

Maybe it adds a little pressure to teammates, knowing they have to make the most of their chances with the ball, but it doesn't seem to bother any of them that Jok shoots as much as he does. He's a 40.3-percent shooter as a Hawkeye, and if he continues making more than he misses, like he did against the Owls, there's no reason for his teammates to complain.

McCaffery doesn't have a minimum or maximum for Jok, either, saying 'he's good for at least four bad shots a game, but (typically) they're good shots if he's taking them.'

Sophomore forward Ahmad Wagner, who had 12 points on a perfect 4 of 4 shooting night, laughed when asked if all those shots were even sort of bothersome. Wagner said 'we know as well as everyone else knows, Pete's our guy,' and that when Jok got to 25 points, he told Jok to 'Get to 30. Get your shots up.'

There's no jealousy there from Jok's teammates because when Jok's hitting shots, the team tends to do well. It's not complicated.

'None of us are upset he's shooting the ball 19 times,' said freshman forward Cordell Pemsl, who had 10 points and six rebounds. 'He knows and we know he has something to prove, but also as a team that we have something to prove. If he's going to knock them down or he's going to work even harder to get better looks, we're all fine with that.'

Jok didn't just shoot in the big win against Kennesaw State, though.

He had a pair of alley-oops that resulted in dunks. The first came in what Wagner described preseason as the 'showtime Hawkeyes.' Wagner blocked a shot against the backboard, made an outlet pass to Jok, who took a few dribbles and lobbed it to Williams for the dunk. The other was an oop to freshman Tyler Cook for what ended up being his only bucket of the game.

Jok also showed he loves watching his teammates hit shots in the same way they love watching him. Nicholas Baer, who had 10 points of his own, hit a 3 from the corner in the first half, but before he even released the shot, Jok was flexing his muscles at the top of the key, certain it was going in.

The Hawkeyes weren't perfect by any means in their season-opening win. They had snippets of the lapses in defensive execution McCaffery was so frustrated with after the exhibition. McCaffery said Friday night the way Iowa came out for the second half was 'unacceptable. And I pointed that out.'

But beyond that, with Jok getting the season started with a 'decent' bang and a glimpse of 'showtime,' there's plenty of reason to be encouraged.

'We saw a little glimpse of that (showtime),' Wagner said. '(Tonight) just shows we've got a lot of guys — we're throwing lobs to our point guard. This team can do a lot. I think we're special.'

Iowa is back in action Sunday against Savannah State. Tipoff at Carver-Hawkeye Arena is set for 2:30 p.m., following the women's game against Hampton.

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