Premium ContentMouse over Home then click on Premium Content for information.IOWA CITY — Oh to be a fly on the wall in Nebraska coach Doc Sadler's office the next few days.
His phone likely will buzz nonstop from coaching buddies ready to razz Mr. Man-to-Man Defense or Death for utilizing a 2-3 zone most of the second half to rally for a 79-73 win over Iowa.
"I can't tell you the last time we worked on zone defense," Sadler said Thursday night. "I guess coaching is not overrated. Don't work on it. Just play it, and you might do OK.
"But the zone slowed them down because their dribble penetration was causing us so many problems."
By Nebraska's count, Iowa got into the lane in the first half 20 times. That's about double NU's defensive goal.
Senior guard Brandon Richardson said Sadler seared that number into their brains at halftime.
"He was pretty upset at allowing those 20 'paint touches' and 12 points in transition," Richardson said. "We talked before the game that we had to make a stand on those two keys if we were going to have a chance to win."
As for whether Nebraska's zone defense surprised Iowa, coach Fran McCaffery said yes and no.
"(Doc) has not done it (this season), so from that standpoint, a little bit surprised," he said. "But he has utilized it effectively at times."
With Nebraska basically using a seven-man rotation — walk-on Mike Fox got five minutes as an eighth man Thursday — the zone helped the Huskers fight fatigue.
Said McCaffery: "He was trying to get them to the wire where they had enough juice on offense. I think it might have helped them in terms of fatigue. But I tell you, we got great looks against it. Unfortunately, the shots didn't go in."
Another big night for Hawkeyes' McCabe
Iowa forward Zach McCabe, who scored a career-high 20 points in the last game against Purdue, scored another 20 against Nebraska. The sophomore from Sioux City, Iowa, was averaging 8.1 points a game.
"He's mixing it up," McCaffery said. "He shoots 3s, he drives the ball, he gets putbacks. He has versatility in his game."
McCabe scored 13 points in the first 13 minutes against Nebraska as Iowa built a 31-20 lead. He eventually fouled out, with all five coming in the second half.
Win is a milestone for Sadler at NU
The Iowa victory was Sadler's 100th win at Nebraska. He is 100-80 overall. The fact that it came in a game in which the Huskers hung on long enough to make a comeback didn't surprise McCaffery.
"I don't know why everybody is surprised," he said. "Nebraska came off their first three games without two of their best players. They are 3-3 since then.
"They haven't gone away against anybody. They are a good team. I'll give Doc credit. They play hard and they play well together."
Bits and pieces
Nebraska has rallied three times this season from a double-digit deficit to win (TCU, Indiana, Iowa). ... The Huskers are 2-9 all-time in Iowa City. ... Nebraska won't play again until next Thursday at Northwestern.
— Lee Barfknecht
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