Howe: Super Seniors Stand Out on Super Sunday

Connor McCaffery, Filip Rebraca Provide Toughness Needed in Minneapolis

Iowa’s Ahron Ulis (1) takes a handoff from teammate Filip Rebraca (0) during a game against Northwestern on Jan. 31, 2023 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City Iowa. (Rob Howe/HawkeyeNation.com)

BOX SCORE

Every college sports program features a history of fan favorites. They're often guys who represent traits of the base. 

For Iowa Basketball, that's a lunch-pail mindset, which is a variation of Kobe Bryant's Mamba Mentality. Of the current Hawkeyes, nobody mirrors that approach more than super seniors Connor McCaffery and Filip Rebaca. 

The Hawkeyes needed that toughness in a game at Minnesota Sunday. The heavy-underdog Golden Gophers forced the high-scoring visitors into a slow-paced contest. Even with only 10 fast-break points, UI ground out a 68-56 victory. 

McCaffery and Rebraca each grabbed a key offensive rebound before Connor buried a trey on the possession, pushing their team's lead to 61-51 with about five minutes remaining in regulation. Minnesota would get no closer than nine points the rest of the way. 

Kris Murray dominated with 28 points and 14 boards for Iowa. That said, the Hawkeyes don't leave Dinkytown victorious without its old dudes. 

Rebraca (6-9, 230) contributed 16 points, eight rebounds (four offensive) and two assists Sunday. The 25-year old Serbian provided an important post presence once again in the rough-and-tumble Big Ten. 

McCaffery (10 rebounds, four assists, three steals) banged bodies as well. As he usually does, the Iowa City West grad guarded multiple positions, ran the offense at times and brought invaluable steadiness for a team that dragged an 1-5 Big Ten road record into The Barn, last winning at Rutgers on Jan. 8. 

Rebraca arrived at Iowa from North Dakota before last season. A second-teamer in the Summit League, wondering how much he'd contribute in the Big Ten was fair. 

In 2021-22, his first in Iowa City, he played his role well. He ranked second on the team with 5.6 rebounds a contest and sixth in points (5.8) points. He lined up out of position most of the season, holding down the five spot against a gauntlet of taller players in the conference. 

Rebraca joked that he learned quickly a mouthpiece was needed. He held his own and improved as the year advanced. 

The Serbian son of former NBA player, Željko Rebrača, it looked like Filip Rebraca could slide to four this season. He needed one of Josh Ogundele and Riley Mulvey to grab the starting center job. That hasn't happened. 

Fortunately for the Hawkeyes, Rebraca developed his game during the offseason and learned from last year's lessons. It's helped them compete nightly even with the departure of Keegan Murray, the No. 4 pick in last year's NBA Draft, and all-time three-point leader Jordan Bohannan from last March's Big Ten tourney title squad. 

Rebraca helped get Minnesota freshman Pharrel Payne (6-9, 255) in foul trouble Sunday. The newcomer was hurting the Hawkeyes early. Iowa has been running offense through the veteran, who has risen up the pecking order a lot since last season. 

When Iowa kept a sliver distance between itself and the Gophers early in the second half Sunday, McCaffery, 24, delivered a pair of steals leading to run-outs. Counting the "little things' he's contributed each outing would take awhile. 

You may say that McCaffery doesn't qualify as a fan favorite. Fewer compliments come his way because he's the head coach's kid. When you consider how much criticism he faced early in his career, the quiet now is a major accomplishment. 

Connor and Rebraca lack style points, for the most part, but that's OK around here. Their substance allows Murray, Tony Perkins, Ahron Ulis, Payton Sandfort and the rest of the Hawkeyes do their thing under their guidance. 

Rebraca logged 34 minutes Sunday and Connor saw 32, both marks above their averages. Coach Fran McCaffery knew he needed them.

There's a season's worth of evidence that they can be counted on. And they'll continue to be vital if the Hawkeyes reach their goals.