Game Awards: Iowa Basketball Wins Third Straight Conference Game

Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

A look at who played well in Iowa basketball’s 81-70 win over Nebraska.

Maybe not the most impressive game of the season for Iowa basketball, but they still managed to beat Nebraska 81-70 at home for their third straight conference win. The Hawkeyes improved to 14-10 on the year and above .500 in conference play for the first time since early January.

Team efforts are cliché but have become the easiest way to describe Iowa’s wins recently. Even with the return of Peter Jok, the Hawkeyes’ offense had great ball movement and six players attempted at least six shots. In fact, Jok’s seven shot attempts tied for third on the team against Nebraska.

Despite the lack of energy in the first half, their offense looked like they have found an identity, even with scoring leader Jok returning. 11 players played for Iowa and all but Ryan Kriener scored. Kriener missed both of his shots in six minutes of action.

As a team, Iowa shot 46.6 percent from the field and an even better 47.4 percent from three. They also held Nebraska to just 42.2 percent from the field and a dreadful 15 percent from deep.

Here’s a look at who played well and who did not in Iowa’s 81-70 win over Nebraska.

Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY

Starter of the Game: Tyler Cook

Jordan Bohannon played great and set the Iowa record for most threes in a season by a freshman, but Tyler Cook dominated from the start on offense and single-handedly got Nebraska into foul trouble.

With starting big man Ed Morrow out, the Hawkeyes knew they had a chance to exploit Nebraska’s post defense. Jordy Tshimanga and Michael Jacobson are decent players, but they’re young and combine to average 1.5 blocks per game compared to Morrow averaging 1.5 blocks per game by himself.

Cook had his way in the paint and could have finished with more than 13 points if he didn’t pick up a questionable fourth foul with over five minutes to play. Still, Cook shot 6-of-10 from the field and had a monstrous dunk to cap off a solid offensive outing.

He did struggle defensively, though. Nebraska attacked the Hawkeyes’ big men to start the game. Tshimanga and Jacobson combined for 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting as Cook had a hard time offering much resistance in the paint without fouling.

It’s evidently a part of his game that he needs to work on, but the Hawkeyes need his offense to be successful and he scored double-digit points for a third straight game in just 17 minutes. Iowa is now 5-3 in conference play when he scores in double-figures.

Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Bench Player of the Game: Nicholas Baer

For most of the first half, Iowa leaned on Nicholas Baer to create plays on both ends of the floor to try to give them any energy. In his return to the bench, Baer did his best by recording seven points and five rebounds in 12 minutes in the first half.

Iowa should never have to rely on Nicholas Baer to create offense for them, but he did just that by scoring five points in a row at one point in the first half and looked like their most aggressive shooter.

He finished with seven points, six rebounds, three blocks and a steal in 24 minutes, and he kept Nebraska from pulling away in the first half. Bohannon, Brady Ellingson and Dom Uhl emerged as scorers in the second half, so Baer didn’t need to be as aggressive on offense.

Iowa found a rhythm on offense and let Baer focus on making hustle and defensive plays in the second half. His best defensive play came at the start of the second half when he swatted Isaiah Roby‘s shot into the stands.

It helped bring energy to the crowd, as well as help Iowa’s defensive play for a little after. Nebraska missed three of their next four shots following Baer’s block.

Baer kept the Hawkeyes in the game early and continued to provide solid defense in the second half. This is the fifth straight game Baer has at least five rebounds and two blocks.

Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

Please Be Better: Peter Jok

Understandably, Peter Jok had some rust. He only shot 2-of-7 from the field and 0-of-4 from three in his first game back. Jok finished with 12 points, five rebounds and five assists in 30 minutes.

Whether it’s rust, still not being 100 percent healthy or Fran McCaffery not wanting to incorporate Jok as much into the offense as before, Jok wasn’t as aggressive on offense and the Hawkeyes didn’t make a conscious effort to get him going.

Jok only attempted three shots in the first half and his seven in the game is his fewest since February 11, 2016 against Indiana last season. Other than the start of the second half when the offense centered around Jok for three possessions, Jok was more of a distributor than anything.

He recorded an assist on Bohannon’s record-setting three and recorded five assists for just the third time this season.

Jok simply didn’t look like himself. While it’s good that he didn’t force shots and didn’t have to call isolations every time on offense, it will be interesting to see how the Hawkeyes incorporate him into their offensive game plan moving forward. He’s obviously their best player, but this is the best the offense has looked this season.

Maybe the Hawkeyes don’t need his 21 points per game anymore with their ball movement and bench stepping up, but Jok has to be more involved in the offense. His role will likely get bigger as he gets healthier and when he finds his outside shot, though.

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