Iowa's Trey Dickerson brings energy in first Big Ten action

MADISON, Wis. – When Trey Dickerson signed with Iowa as one of the nation's top junior-college point guards, fans wondered how immediate and big his impact would be.

Instead, they've seen the 6-foot sophomore from Queens, N.Y., mostly in a warm-up suit on the Hawkeye bench.

Dickerson dusted off the cobwebs Tuesday night during Iowa's 82-50 loss at Wisconsin. Dickerson got the call for his first Big Ten Conference action with 2 minutes to go in the first half.

He responded well – scoring eight points with two assists in 10 minutes of action, a small silver lining on a gloomy night for the Hawkeyes.

"I wanted to go out there and play hard and bring some energy," Dickerson said. "They played with a lot more energy than us."

Dickerson's first shot attempt was a wild, driving layup that missed badly. But he made three of his final four shot attempts – including two 3-pointers – in front of a raucous Kohl Center crowd.

Dickerson, who transferred to Iowa from Williston (N.D.) State College started the day having played just 123 minutes, and none in Iowa's first five Big Ten games, and shooting 29.3 percent.

"I thought he was really good," Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said. "I don't think it's easy to sit for five games and then come off the bench in this environment and play well.

"I think he sat on the bench and looked and said, 'OK, how can I impact this game?' And he came in and he tried to do that. That's pretty much all you can ask from him at that point. I was proud of him."

Dickerson has found himself buried on the point-guard depth chart, especially since Anthony Clemmons was removed from the starting lineup in favor of Peter Jok seven games ago.

With Jok thriving at the "2" guard and Josh Oglesby backing him up, Clemmons is now gobbling up all the backup point guard minutes behind Mike Gesell. That essentially makes Dickerson third string, and waiting his turn.

Dickerson, who was celebrating his 21st birthday Tuesday, said he did not get down while waiting to play.

"I never doubted myself. I'm a confident player," Dickerson said. "I just tried to stay ready for when my number was called."