"Three's" Company

Devan Bawinkel can't find his way inside the arc.

Courtesy University of Iowa

Devan Bawinkel, seen here boxing out against Wayne State, has only attempted three pointers so far this season.

Iowa guard Devan Bawinkel isn't running a campaign against two-point baskets, nor is he in need of a psychiatrist due to a fear of what's inside the three-point line. What he is doing is creating the easiest system for adding up a scoring total in history. Take shots made, multiply by three.

"My job is to shoot open shots, and I do it," he says.

Fifty-seven times this season he has taken what he's considered an open shot, and 57 times this season that shot has come from 20 feet, nine inches and beyond. Bawinkel hasn't attempted anything other than a three-pointer all year even though the line has been moved a foot further back.

"It's just happened," said Bawinkel, who has made 23 threes.

Has Iowa coach Todd Lickliter put an embargo on twos?

"I'm definitely allowed to shoots twos," said Bawinkel, who also hasn't attempted even a single free throw this season. "If I get a two, I'm going to take it. They just tell me to keep shooting."

Bawinkel has put up a jumper inside the three-point line before. He had a number of those as a freshman at West Virginia and while a sophomore at Highland Community College in Illinois, but since arriving at Iowa this year it's been only the trey.

In his Hawkeyes' debut, he hit 1-of-3 of them. Four games later, he got comfortable enough to shoot five against Southeast Missouri State. Against Boston College, he was 4-of-7. Lately, he's been letting them go at an even greater rate. He shot eight in games against Drake and Ohio State in the past few weeks. Against the Buckeyes, he had a career day from deep going 5-for-8 and scored 15 points to nearly help the Hawkeyes to the Big Ten upset.

"Ohio State went to a zone," Bawinkel said. "I was open quite a bit and got some good shoots. I get open when they play zone."

When Drake visited, it gave Bawinkel plenty more opportunities to capitalize. That night, though, was one of those that shooters have nightmares about. Bawinkel shot 1-for-8. Especially when they're all three's.

"It's tough when you go 0-for-5 in the first half," Bawinkel said. "You got to stay positive. Every shot you take you got to think to it's going in."

Fifteen games and nary a one or two. Can the streak continue?

"I don't know how long it'll last," says Bawinkel.

"Maybe I'll get a layup sooner or later."

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