Video: Fran McCaffery reacts to Iowa’s loss to Utah State
Fran McCaffery discusses Iowa’s loss to Utah State in Kansas City on Friday.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A four-point halftime lead turned into a 77-69 loss to Utah State for Iowa men’s basketball on Friday.
After holding Utah State to 36% from the field in the first half, Utah State found its groove after halftime, shooting 56% from the field in the second.
Friday was a clash between two undefeated teams. Iowa entered 5-0 overall, while Utah State came in at 4-0. But the Hawkeyes crumbled in the second half and were outscored by 12 after the break on the way to a disappointing first loss of the season.
Iowa dropped to 5-1 this season.
“We really respected them,” Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said. “I think they were a really good team, really good coach. I just think we have to be tougher-minded and not turn it over and understand when the flow is changing. That’s what you have to learn. How do you extend the lead? How do you erase the lead? When you get it even, how do you go back in front? You can’t be trading baskets. Eventually, it’s going to catch up with you.”
A horrific shooting performance
Iowa did a respectable job on the defensive end. The Aggies have a high-octane offense and entered Friday’s matchup having scored at least 95 points in each of their first four games this season. On Friday, Utah State scored 77 and shot 46% from the field, 33% from deep and committed 18 turnovers.
But Iowa’s shooting was ice cold. The Hawkeyes shot 19% from 3-point range (5-of-26). Payton Sandfort was 1-for-13 from deep. Josh Dix and Pryce Sandfort combined for 0-of-6.
“I don’t think we took many bad ones,” McCaffery said. “I think Payton might’ve forced one. But other than that, everybody was open. I would tell them to shoot it again.”
Iowa was also just 50% from the free throw line (8-of-16).
“That was a problem,” McCaffery said. “The first half we got to the free throw line a few times with a chance to either cut it or extend it a number of times … So I feel bad because the guys were working hard to get to the free throw line and we just didn’t make them.”
On top of that, the Hawkeyes turned the ball over 16 times and were hammered on the boards. Utah State outrebounded Iowa 47-31.
“It’s gonna be hard to win with that number,” McCaffery said. “We did go small a couple of times. It was a decision we made to get more shooters out there and get the ball moving a little bit. But we just have to do a better job there.”
What’s going on with Payton Sandfort?
Iowa’s poor shooting performance was headlined by Iowa’s senior leader, Payton Sandfort. He scored 14 points but shot just 4-of-18 from the field, including 1-of-13 from deep.
“Honestly, I was wide open,” Sandfort said. “They were a really good team, they’re physical. They did a lot of good things. But I got a lot of really, really good looks and they got to go in. Got to go in.”
During his postgame meeting with the media, Sandfort had his right wrist/hand area wrapped up. He revealed he has been dealing with an issue physically.
“It’s not an excuse,” Sandfort said. “I got to get healthy and get that figured out.”
He added: “Just can’t really do much in life or in basketball right now.”
Payton Sandfort: ‘If I’m myself tonight, we win. I take 100% responsibility for that’
Payton Sandfort discusses Iowa’s loss to Utah State in Kansas City on Friday.
Sandfort went through the 2024 pre-NBA Draft process before deciding to return to Iowa for his senior season. He is considered among the best players of the Big Ten, and the Hawkeyes need him to play as such if they want to achieve their goals this season. Sandfort took responsibility for how Friday unfolded.
“If I’m myself tonight, we win,” Sandfort said. “I take 100% responsibility for that.”
Sandfort said of the rebound discrepancy: “We just got to be more physical with our box-outs. It starts with me. I thought Owen (Freeman) did a good job rebounding. I got to get him some help and be flying in there.”
Why not much Seydou Traore in the second half?
The Manhattan transfer provided a spark in the first half and is one of Iowa’s best defenders,but his time on the court fell off after halftime.
Traore played almost 13 minutes in the first half. Then less than five in the second half.
McCaffery was asked about it after the game.
“I thought he was good in the first half,” McCaffery said. “In the second half, didn’t quite get it going. I’ll take a look at it.”
Josh Dix returned to the court after missing Iowa’s previous game against Rider. Dix injured his wrist during the Hawkeyes’ matchup with Washington State last week and tried to play through it but was largely ineffective. He then sat out the following game but came back against Utah State.
On Friday, Dix had six points on 2-of-7 shooting.
“I was proud of him,” McCaffery said. “He gave us 20 minutes. I thought he played really hard defensively. He’s a really good defender. He was obviously not himself. I feel bad for him. But he’s a tough kid.”
The few bright spots
A pair of sophomores had standout performances.
Brock Harding had his best performance of the season, tallying 19 points, five assists and four steals. Harding also had three of Iowa’s five 3-pointers.
Video: Brock Harding was one of few bright spots in loss to Utah State
Brock Harding discusses Iowa’s loss to Utah State in Kansas City on Friday.
Owen Freeman has been on a roll since missing a game due to illness earlier in November. He scored 21 against Washington State, 19 against Rider and 18 against Utah State. On Friday, he also grabbed 11 rebounds and had three blocks.
But Iowa didn’t have nearly enough help around those two.
