Here's what Luka Garza, Fran McCaffery said after Iowa's dominant victory
Iowa defeated Southern 103-76 thanks to a historic performance from center Luka Garza on Friday afternoon.
Garza poured in 41 points on 15 shots, including a 36-point first-half performance that saw him outscore Southern all by himself. Garza also added nine rebounds and three blocks.
“I haven’t seen too many guys get 36 in a half,” Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said after the game. “That’s a big number. I told our guys to recognize he had it going and to load him up.”
That’s exactly what the Hawkeyes did. No other Iowa player scored more than six points in the first half as Garza made all 12 of his attempts from the field and 10-of-12 free throws.
“Every shot I took I should have made,” Garza said. “I have that confidence every time I step on the floor. When you work hard, you’re able to make shots. I can be this efficient. And at the end of the day, I’m going to play as hard as I can.
“I’ve put in enough practice that each shot I put up, I think it’s going in.”
🗣 Coach Fran McCaffery: "I haven’t seen too many guys get 36 in a half. That’s a big number. I told our guys to recognize he had it going and to load him up.” #Hawkeyes https://t.co/Zsmeh2CjI1
— Iowa Basketball (@IowaHoops) November 28, 2020
However it wasn’t all positive from Iowa’s perspective. The Hawkeyes let their foot off the gas in the second half and only outscored Southern 45-41.
Luka Garza says that he felt the team got too comfortable in the second half. Says he needs to do a bit better job as a leader and ensuring that nobody is ever comfortable no matter how big a lead is.
"There's nothing to be comfortable about, we are two games in."
— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) November 28, 2020
Southern also out-rebounded Iowa for the game, 42-37 — including 19 offensive rebounds.
"The one thing that upset me was the way they were attacking the offensive glass and how we weren't."- Fran McCaffery
— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) November 28, 2020
Iowa plays Western (Ill.) on Dec. 3 and North Carolina on Dec. 8.