EVANSTON, Illinois -- The University of Iowa men's basketball team suffered another disappointing defeat on March 1, losing 68-57 to the Northwestern Wildcats at Welsh Ryan Arena.
This loss not only marks the fourth defeat for Iowa out of their last five games, but it also puts their chances of making the Big Ten Tournament at serious risk. The Hawkeyes now hold a record of 15-14 overall and 6-12 within the Big Ten, sitting 16th overall due to tiebreakers with teams like USC and Minnesota.
Iowa started off the game sluggishly, struggling to find its rhythm early. The Hawkeyes managed to hit only two of their first seven shots, and by the halfway mark of the first half, they found themselves trailing 10 points behind the Wildcats.
Despite the shaky start, fifth-year point guard Drew Thelwell ignited some energy back to the Iowa lineup, hitting two three-pointers and almost single-handedly keeping the team afloat. Thelwell, who previously missed the game against Illinois due to injury, posted a strong performance with 14 points and three assists throughout the night.
The momentum appeared to shift slightly as Iowa ended the first half with solid contributions from Thelwell and sophomore Brock Harding, who orchestrated some good offensive plays, pulling the game closer to 30-26 at halftime.
Entering the second half, both teams exchanged blows as Northwestern initially held the control continuing to extend their lead, often aided by wide-open shots and poor defense from the Hawkeyes. It wasn't until Even Brauns provided a spark with a standout dunk, coupled with solid plays, bringing Iowa back within five points.
The game remained competitive, but Iowa struggled to close the gap. A key play from Northwestern's K.J. Windham, who scored 20 total points during the contest, allowed the Wildcats to push their lead back to nine points with four minutes left. Iowa never recovered from this point onward.
Northwestern coach Chris Collins drew up strategic plays, and their collective effort was evident, particularly when Nick Martinelli, the Big Ten’s leading scorer, joined the scoring round with 16 points, making sure Iowa stayed at bay.
Statistically, Iowa finished the night with subpar shooting numbers, recording 36.2 percent from the field and only 32.0 percent from three-point range. With Dylan Strayhorst sidelined due to injury, the remaining players had difficulty stepping up. Junior Josh Dix and senior Payton Sandfort combined only for 19 points, echoing their struggles seen throughout previous games.
Thelwell recognized the uphill battle his teammates faced: "We're not putting enough consistent scoring together. We need to find ways to adapt and perform with our injuries," he commented.
The game also exposed significant issues with Iowa's offensive play through the last two matchups, failing to capitalize on scoring opportunities and transitioning effectively. Coach Fran McCaffery would surely acknowledge the difficulty of overcoming slow starts, as was evident again on Friday night.
Looking forward, Iowa has nearly a week off before their next important game against No. 8 Michigan State. This matchup will be pivotal as they aim to keep their tournament hopes alive. Michigan State currently holds the top spot with 14-3 record, making them tough competition heading to the March 6 encounter, to be broadcast at 7:00 p.m. on Fox Sports 1.
Overall, the loss against Northwestern is troubling for the Hawkeyes, with their postseason aspirations now dangling precariously as they sit just outside the Big Ten Tournament cutoff. The urgency to win their remaining games has never been clearer, with every possession counting as they approach the end of the regular season.