Tough calls tough to take for Iowa

CHICAGO — Nobody offered up word of blame in the aftermath, but sometimes silence provides the best answer.

Iowa guard Devyn Marble (4) walks off the court following their loss to the Michigan State Spartans in the quarterfinal round of the Big Ten Conference basketball tournament Friday, March 15, 2013 at the United Center in Chicago. (Brian Ray/The Gazette-KCRG)

Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery had difficulty keeping his emotions in check in his postgame news conference Friday, about 20 minutes after the Hawkeyes lost 59-56 to Michigan State. His opening statement was measured but easy to read between the words.

“I’ve been doing this a long time,” McCaffery said. “I’ve coached in a lot of games. I’ve coached in a lot of tournaments. I’ve coached favorites; I’ve coached underdogs. This team deserved a better fate tonight.”

Later McCaffery was asked to clarify his thoughts regarding “better fate,” specifically about a foul call that sent Michigan State’s Gary Harris to the free-throw line with 29 seconds left. McCaffery sat silent, almost stone faced for about 10 seconds, then responded.

“Yeah, that’s part of it,” McCaffery said.

Iowa trailed 57-56 and defended the Spartans down the final seconds of the shot clock before Harris pulled up over Aaron White. The ball deflected off White’s hand, but White was called for the foul. Harris then shot two free throws to give the Spartans the final lead.

The Hawkeyes (21-12) were on the other side of several tough calls in the second half, especially during a 22-2 run that flipped a 12-point Iowa lead into an eight-point deficit. Iowa guard Devyn Marble was dinged for a offensive foul early in the run. An alley-oop dunk attempt by Adreian Payne led to a foul on Melsahn Basabe.

“I thought the ball was already out of bounds and (the official) called it,” Basabe said. “I don’t know what I could have done there. I didn’t touch him.

“I have no comment towards officiating. At the end of the day you give credit to Michigan State for getting the win.”

McCaffery vehemently argued for traveling on Michigan State’s Derrick Nix, but instead a foul was called on Zach McCabe. Nix made a basket on the play and hit an ensuing free throw to give Michigan State a six-point lead.

Neither team was called for many fouls in the second half, and Iowa totaled seven. Michigan State was whistled for five and didn’t get hit with its fourth until there was just 1:47 left in the game.

Tough calls tough to take for Iowa

lonhawk said: On March 16, 2013
I have seen this for years from the “seasoned” BigTen refs (Valentine Hightower) just want to live long enough to see those guys retire. I call it the swallowing of the whistle. Almost all the fouls called on Iowa were questionable while nothing was called on M-State. This happened on a 5 minute stretch which saw the Spartans take the lead. Some of the calls had to have been intentionally called no ref could be that bad at this level.
Cal said: On March 16, 2013
This game was ultimately decided by the worst officiated game I have watched while watching Iowa for over 20 years.
I would hope the press, The Gazette or a Big Ten Official would step in an ultimately call this out. Please stop sugar coating this. This literally has to stop because although MSU had a good run, Iowa lost this game due to terrible calls that ultimately decided their fate. The last call against White would be the cherry on top.
Shame on the Big Ten. Shame on Fran for not expressing the way he really felt. Iowa was robbed and their is zero repercussions for the officials. If Fran really wants this to stop he needs to come out and say it plain and simple. Izzo was on the officials all night in their ear even when they were getting the calls. Fran needs to step up and stop being so politically correct. He needs to address this issue now…this isn’t the first nor will this be the last if he continues the refs to do this. Man up.
Darren Schrobilgen said: On March 16, 2013
The officiating was terrible. Give credit to the Iowa players and coaches for maintaining their composure over the last 10 minutes of the game. It would have been easy to lose it get a couple T’s. Now the B1G needs to man up and fire some of these awful officials.
John Amrhein said: On March 16, 2013
The first half had a bevy of atrocious calls on msu. All in all a terribly called game that left both teams pretty banged up. Kudos to Iowa, but go green.
- Jack Fletcher said: On March 16, 2013
  Name a specific atrocious call against msu John? Two horrendous and in excusable calls or rather no calls were the 300 lb nix landing on marble after a shot fake and the second was missing the shot clock violation which wasn’t even close.
  Can any one answer why it’s okay to review a shot clock release when it’s not originally in the offensive teams favor but can’t when it is? Either use replay or don’t.
terry elam said: On March 16, 2013
When you saw Marble get bowled over on the 3 point effort, you had to know something magical was going to happen. The whole NCAA program is a sham, it is being run by money and greed by the tv contracts/universities. They wanted MSU against OSU on Saturday and they got it. The only question now, is who do they want for a Sunday matchup?