Northwestern routs Iowa 90-71
IOWA CITY — Six days after being on the painful end of a historic shooting display, Northwestern decided it should be Iowa's turn to pay.
The Wildcats drilled eight 3-pointers in the first 10 minutes Wednesday night to build a massive lead that evolved into a 90-71 Big Ten romp at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Sophomore wing Drew Crawford swished four 3-pointers in the opening 10 minutes en route to a team-high 19 points as Northwestern (11-4, 2-3) nearly doubled its previous widest win on Iowa's home floor.
Not only did these Wildcats outdo the 1913-14 team's 34-23 victory in Iowa City — and earn the program's third win here since 1964 — they became the first NU team in 41 years to reach the 90-point barrier in back-to-back Big Ten games.
The Wildcats finished 14 of 28 from 3-point range as they led by at least 13 points for the final 32 minutes and 27 seconds.
“A week ago, we went down to Champaign and they made every shot,” said Northwestern coach Bill Carmody. “They wanted my head because our defense was so bad. Maybe they could have it sometimes.
“Tonight was one of those nights where it was our turn to make shots. That was it.”
Iowa (7-9, 0-4) tried multiple defenses in an effort to slow the Wildcats, but they'd simply move the ball quickly and find open shooters.
Juice Thompson (17 points, 5 assists, 3 steals) and John Shurna (16 points, 5 assists, 3 steals) were in the middle of most of the fun.
“We just came out focused,” said Thompson, who became NU's all-time leader in minutes. “I think this is the best job we've done of playing on the road. We just moved the ball well.
“We're an unselfish team. Everyone enjoys playing with each other and the person who was open, we just tried to get it to them as fast as we could.”
While most Big Ten foes crowd the Wildcats on the perimeter and get physical when they cut through the lane, Iowa didn't seem to have the heft or awareness to do the same.
It's the same team that allowed Illinois to shoot 13 of 18 (72 percent) on 3-pointers here just two weeks before.
“At some point, after Crawford has made 1 or made 2 (3-pointers), then can we get a little closer to him?” said Iowa coach Fran McCaffery. “Those are the things that seem to be simple, but for whatever reason we are having a hard time with it.”
As you might expect after a hot-shooting night, Crawford needed ice after the game.
Instead of his shooting hand, though, the Naperville Central product had ice strapped to his right shoulder. He took a painful spill after committing a charge early in the second half.
“I tried to brace myself with my right hand,” Crawford said. “I hit that first and my shoulder kind of popped out a little bit, but it went back in.
“It'll be sore, but I think I'm all right.”