IOWA CITY | Stepping onto the court today at Ohio State, Iowa basketball coach Fran McCaffery hopes his team is reminded of the toughness and consistency it takes to win on the road in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes won an 84-74 game one year ago at Value City Arena, one of only three games the Buckeyes have lost at home in 31 outings since the start of the 2013-14 season. “We played with a great deal of poise in that game and having gone through that, you learn what you have to do to be successful in those situations,’’ McCaffery said. “We played with a great level of consistency and execution. That is what it takes.’’ In many respects as Iowa prepares to open the Big Ten season away from Carver-Hawkeye Arena for the first time since the 2008-09 season, the Hawkeyes are still looking to develop that consistency as they prepare for the noon game against Ohio State. “I feel like we’ve played pretty well, but we have to become more consistent with a lot of things if we hope to compete with the best in the Big Ten,’’ McCaffery said. The Iowa coach seeks more consistency with his team’s shooting, particularly from the perimeter, and said the Hawkeyes must work to improve perimeter defense and the team’s mental toughness if they hope to build on the 9-4 record they compiled during the nonconference portion of the season. McCaffery said he has talked with his team about the frank assessment of the Iowa team that North Florida coach Matthew Driscoll delivered during postgame remarks last week following a loss to the Hawkeyes. Driscoll suggested that a lack of confidence was holding the team back, and McCaffery said he agreed with much of what the opposing coach said, saying, “He was only trying to help our players.’’ Considering it as relevant as shoring up inconsistent shooting, McCaffery said developing more of a mentally-tough edge is important as the Hawkeyes begin their 18-game journey through the Big Ten schedule. “At times, we have been a mentally tough team, but when we talk about areas where we need to improve, that is one of them,’’ McCaffery said. “We haven’t shown the consistency it takes there because we know there are a lot of challenges ahead.’’ Those begin today with the test presented by an 11-2 Ohio State team that has lost only to Louisville and North Carolina. “This is a different Ohio State team, they play a different style, but they’re a very good team,’’ McCaffery said. Guard Anthony Clemmons, limited by ankle issues in Iowa’s win over North Florida last week, will play against Ohio State, but McCaffery said he sat out about half of the Hawkeyes’ practices in recent days…
Continue Reading: Hawkeyes hope to draw on history at Ohio State
