The writing was on the wall early. After rattling off nine straight victories over Northwestern and 16 of the last 19 in the series, Iowa wasn’t winning this game in Evanston.
The Hawkeyes got off to a frosty start, shooting just 31% in the first half. That number is actually deceivingly good compared to Iowa’s 2-of-17 3-point shooting in the first half. Keep in mind, Hawkeye guard Ahron Ulis banked a 3-pointer in just before the first half came to a close to double that made 3-pointers figure.
Iowa (17-10, 9-7 Big Ten) also turned the basketball over eight times in the first half as Northwestern built a 37-26 halftime lead.
The Hawkeyes made five consecutive field goals to start the second half and pulled back within seven after Kris Murray completed an and-1 with 13:47 remaining. The Wildcats’ Brooks Barnhizer responded with an immediate made 3-pointer on the opposite end and that’s when the wheels began to fall completely off.
If it wasn’t that moment, it was when Iowa head men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery was ejected with 7:26 to play. The Hawkeyes’ head coach—seemingly with good reason—was arguing that a 10-second violation had been committed by Northwestern.
Instead, the officials didn’t whistle it and Northwestern’s Tydus Verhoeven wound up with a wide-open dunk. Fran McCaffery flew off the handle and received back-to-back technical fouls from official Courtney Green to merit the heave-ho.
Northwestern’s Boo Buie made all four free throws to put the ‘Cats up 65-46. For all intents and purposes, the game ended right there.
Ultimately, it was just a brutal shooting night from deep for the Hawkeyes. When the night ended, Iowa finished 3-of-24 from 3-point range. Kris Murray led all Iowa scorers with 14, but, similar to his teammates, he missed all six of his 3-point tries.
Tony Perkins scored all 11 of his points after halftime and Filip Rebraca finished with 10 in the contest, too.
Conversely, Northwestern made 10 3-pointers and shot 50% from behind the arc. Overall, the Wildcats ended by shooting 49.1%. Buie had a game-high 23 points and he was joined in double figures by Ty Berry’s 16 and Brooks Barnhizer’s 12.
On a frustrating night where the head coach was ejected and Northwestern ended its drought against the Hawkeyes, Iowa fans had plenty of reactions to the night that was.
As you might suspect, official Courtney Green was a target of Hawkeye fans’ ire. Here’s the best social media reactions.
I’ve been to a lot of Iowa-Northwestern basketball games here. This is the loudest, bar none.
— Mike Hlas (@Hlas) February 19, 2023
If Ulis hadn’t banked in that buzzer beater at half, Iowa would be shooting 5% from 3
— Heavens! (@HeavensFX) February 20, 2023
Fran McCaffery might want to let the boys come out of halftime a few minutes earlier than normal.
Get some extra shots up from three. Northwestern is giving Iowa looks from three.
— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) February 20, 2023
We’ve MISSED 16 three pointers tonight. 16.
— Barstool Iowa (@BarstoolUIowa) February 20, 2023
Courtney Green & Paul Szelc continuing to get assigned to Iowa games shows how incompetent big ten officiating office is. Pathetic.
— Jordan Bohannon (@JordanBo_3) February 20, 2023
Courtney Green chucking Fran for being right is Peak Big Ten Basketball.
— Ivan Bologna (@PV_GIA) February 20, 2023
And now Courtney Green has T’d up Jack McCaffery, Marit, and all of Fran’s neighbors.
— Hawkeye Elvis (@HawkeyeElvis) February 20, 2023
Courtney Green gets to go home and act like nothing happened.
Frans gonna have to sit there and answer questions about it.
— austin (@AustinJRoberts) February 20, 2023
Iowa’s losing this game because of inefficient three-point shooting. There’s zero question about that. It’s not having a direct impact on this game.
Courtney Green should not be a Big Ten Official.
— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) February 20, 2023
HOW in the world is Courtney Green still allowed to officiate Iowa games?
It’s clear as day that he has feelings towards Fran.
What a joke.
— Chris Douglas (@ChrisDouglas515) February 20, 2023
Crooked Courtney Green at it again …
— Rico Bo$co (@Return_Of_RB) February 20, 2023
Here’s the end of the day problem for the B1G with Courtney Green:
It doesn’t matter if he gets a call right or wrong. He’s killed his credibility with every coach, and every player. Everything he does will be fought against even when he’s right – and that’s 100% his own doing.
— Isaiah Walker (@walkeri141) February 20, 2023
The least likable football-men’s basketball coach combo in America:
Kirk Ferentz and Fran McCaffery
— Connor O’Gara (@cjogara) February 20, 2023
Northwestern runs Iowa out of the gym for an 80-60 win.
It’s time for people to stop being surprised at what this team can do.
— Louie Vaccher (@WildcatReport) February 20, 2023
We’ve gone from “Where’s your Daddy” chants at the McCaffery brothers to “Just like Daddy” when Patrick McCaffery got his tech, good work Northwestern student section
— Kevin Sweeney (@CBB_Central) February 20, 2023
Make that 11 conference wins and five in a row for the WWWWWildcats 😼 pic.twitter.com/AIZAliZ6gL
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) February 20, 2023
Meanwhile, Northwestern men’s basketball is 11-5 in the Big Ten. That’s hard to fathom. First time with 11 conference wins since 1931! Hell, I covered an 0-16 season my junior year.
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) February 20, 2023
Iowa is 2-6 in Big Ten play when they don’t reach 80 pts and they aren’t getting there tonight.
— Chris Hassel (@Hassel_Chris) February 20, 2023
Rough night for Iowa. Did not expect a win and don’t understand why they were 3 point favorites.
Just 1 loss but a sobering reminder of what happens when the Hawks are off on offensive end.
— Chris Hassel (@Hassel_Chris) February 20, 2023
This is one to forget.
Lock ourselves in the gym and relearn how to shoot. Find a way to play with some energy.
(Side note: Courtney Green should not have a job.)
— Barstool Iowa (@BarstoolUIowa) February 20, 2023
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