Undefeated in the post-Jok era. He is good dont get me wrong, but does he really make the team that much better? Looks like other guys can do well too.
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- Thread starter mtdew_fever
- Start date
We can beat Ohio State and Rutgers without Jok, but what of the top tier in the Big10?
I think we need to pump the brakes here a bit.
I don't think Iowa is better off without a completely healthy Jok. It may very well be the case that Jok has been playing hurt for a lot longer than we believe to be.
What we can and probably should contemplate about this year is it appears Iowa can actually allow Jok to completely heal up. If that can occur, and Iowa continues with the improved play while winning games, THEN bring Jok back by easing him into the mix and spreading his minutes out as if he's not the focal point (just another piece of the puzzle) - then let's see where we're at.
Every time we think this team has "turned a corner" this year...it falls back. Does this kinda seem different? Sure - but "it's only OSU at home and Rutgers on the road".
I just want what appears to be an increase in focus combined with better defense and a "confident aggressiveness" - to continue before I pass ultimate judgment.
But yes...it does indeed look promising.
I don't think Iowa is better off without a completely healthy Jok. It may very well be the case that Jok has been playing hurt for a lot longer than we believe to be.
What we can and probably should contemplate about this year is it appears Iowa can actually allow Jok to completely heal up. If that can occur, and Iowa continues with the improved play while winning games, THEN bring Jok back by easing him into the mix and spreading his minutes out as if he's not the focal point (just another piece of the puzzle) - then let's see where we're at.
Every time we think this team has "turned a corner" this year...it falls back. Does this kinda seem different? Sure - but "it's only OSU at home and Rutgers on the road".
I just want what appears to be an increase in focus combined with better defense and a "confident aggressiveness" - to continue before I pass ultimate judgment.
But yes...it does indeed look promising.
I'll play old guy and take you back to the 1980 final four season. (Standard disclaimer, try to follow the point, please don't mistake this post as saying we are that good.)
Ronnie went down and our other guys battled their tails off. By the time he came back we were the better team for it.
Ronnie went down and our other guys battled their tails off. By the time he came back we were the better team for it.
Not in quality of player so much as how the injury appears to be having on the team.
I don't truly believe we can say even that yet.
I think I remember the SI follow-up to that year's final 4 was something like "Iowa was 15-1 with Lester, 9-9 without"...it wasn't like Iowa was chopped liver with Lester before he went down.
Big Ten. Tougher games while Ronnie was out. We got better because we had to. Finished 4th, just good enough to get an invite.
This is a great situation. If Jok can't go full bore, the team has shown it can compete/play without him if needed. The activity and effort on defense has been so good the last 2 games. More of that please.
Not sure since the competition hasn't been great. But 24 assists on 30 baskets is fantastic.
I think it shows that maybe we were trying to run to many plays for Jok. When he comes back I hope Jok will get his shots in the flow of the offense and trust his teammates. Otherwise I'm afraid we will start standing around again and the offense goes stagnant.
The best thing to come out of these two games imo is the rest of the guys proved to themselves they could win without Peter.
Hopefully they don't forget that and play with that attitude. Sitting on the bench Peter saw that the defense took a big leap forward while he was out. Hopefully he realized he needs to step up his D effort.
The thing that concerns me most is Baer doesn't start and we don't come out of the gate with his intensity.
Hopefully they don't forget that and play with that attitude. Sitting on the bench Peter saw that the defense took a big leap forward while he was out. Hopefully he realized he needs to step up his D effort.
The thing that concerns me most is Baer doesn't start and we don't come out of the gate with his intensity.
I agree the team is better with him on it and I think the Jok break will be good for them as well.
What I have seen is a group that without him couldn't just stand around watching him play. The other players had to keep moving the ball and moving themselves.
Now if they do that w him back the team becomes much much better. If the they go back to watching what Pete does and not moving w/o the ball then the team will regress and count on Pete for monster games to win.
Another change that I think has had a big impact is splitting up Cook and Pemsl from the starting line-up. They may be our best two bigs but their games are similar (in where they play on the court) and until one can develop a game out to 12 feet I think limited time together on the floor is a good thing. Wagner and/or Baer make us a better team defensively and provide a bigger threat to drive (Wagner) or shoot/drive (Baer). It will be interesting to see who doesn't start on Sunday (Wagner, Baer, Moss). Personally I would bring Bear off the bench just bc I think he fills that instant spark so well.
As long as the team continues to follow Nick Baers lead it will be ok.
This team can score without Jok so I really hope he realizes this and doesn't force bad shots.
This team can score without Jok so I really hope he realizes this and doesn't force bad shots.
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