Iowa basketball coach Todd Lickliter wants the Hawkeyes to take better care of the ball when they host Northern Colorado, tonight. Iowa opened the season with a 58-43 win over Idaho State last Friday night but in that game committed 16 turnovers.
Lickliter says they have stressed handling the basketball since the first time they began working with the team last spring. He says he wanted them to understand that valuing the basketball was not only important, but an expectation. Lickliter says it will pay dividends.
With Tony Freeman out with a broken foot freshman Jeff Peterson moved into the point guard spot and responded with 12 points and nine assists in the opener. Lickliter says Peterson has the poise normally reserved for a more veteran player. Lickliter says when someone who has the ball has poise, that is contagious for the team.
He says Peterson derives his satisfaction from the team’s success, and that’s another good thing to have in a point guard. Northern Colorado is 1-1 after splitting two games at the Air Force Classic.