Fran McCaffery raves about Iowa offense in win over Northwestern

The Iowa men’s basketball team won a big game for its NCAA Tournament hopes on Saturday, heading to Welsh-Ryan Arena and besting Northwestern on the road. And the Hawkeyes prevailed behind a strong offensive showing.

The improved offense has been a theme of late, and something head coach Fran McCaffery wants to see carried on for the rest of the postseason, however long that might be for Iowa. And the 87-80 win on Saturday should help keep the ball rolling.

“Well it was huge,” McCaffery said. Like you said, we have some momentum. We’ve been winning some games. In this league, you’ve gotta win close games. Every game is close. So what do you do down the stretch to get home? And our guys did a great job of that today.”

For it all to keep rolling, though, McCaffery knows it’s going to take a collective effort from his squad.

On Saturday, four of Iowa’s five starters scored in double figures and the fifth scored nine points. They were led by guard Josh Dix, who scored 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the floor. Point guard Tony Perkins finished with a double-double: 10 points and 14 assists.

“You gotta be a connected group in a lot of different ways,” McCaffery said. “They hit some shots early and they got a lead. We got a lead, gave it up. You stay together, our defense was better in the second half. I thought our ball movement and our cutting has been really good. Not just today but in the recent games that you’re referencing. If we do that, we have a lot of different guys who can score. Our bench is giving us great play and that’s what you want this time of year.”

And following a game where Iowa shot 55% from the field, 50% from three and 84.6% from the free throw line with 25 assists on 33 made baskets, McCaffery called it the “epitome” of motion and effectiveness on offense.

“Well it’s the epitome of motion,” McCaffery said. “We talked about it today, you and I. Move, bring the ball to the action, screen with intelligence, screen with a purpose, cut with a purpose, and then be ready to give the ball up when a guy’s open and be ready to go yourself if you get a matchup you like versus a switching man. So, great recognition by our guys today.”