The Iowa Hawkeyes managed to crack the 50 point barrier but it was not near enough to keep it close against Purdue. The Boilermakers roared away from a seven point halftime lead to pound the Hawkeyes 75-53 on Sunday. Iowa shot just 36 percent and also turned the ball over 19 times. Purdue shot 49 percent for the game and made 10-of-15 from three point range.
Iowa coach Todd Lickliter says Purdue can really shoot the ball and can pass the ball well, so if you underhelp they shoot it, if you overhelp they “pop and shoot.” Lickliter says the Boilermakers were as efficient as any team he’s coaches against and he says it would have been tough for anyone to beat them.
Iowa fans must be wondering where David Palmer has been? With Cyrus Tate still sidelined by an ankle injury the seldom-used 6-9 forward got a chance to play and responded by scoring 19 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Lickliter says Palmer played because he has steadily been getting better and with Tate out, Palmer was getting more done in practice. He says the guys who get the most done in practice and contribute the most, get the most playing time.
Palmer had averaged less than four minutes of action per game prior to Sunday and knew a couple of days before the game that he was going to be in the lineup. Palmer says it’s all about perseverance, as he says he’s been sitting out a long time, and the coaches have been working with him to prepare him to play.
Palmer hopes he can still contribute when Tate returns to the lineup. Iowa is 1-4 in the Big Ten and 11-7 overall.