A change I think would make a big difference

[Nagarunja]

I love what Brock Harding brings and think he'll continue to get better and better BUT, in games against teams with big point guards like USC and Wisconsin, why doesn't Fran just start Thelwell and play Brock in a more limited role off the bench? Point guards getting to the free thrown line and deeper is so debilitating for defenses. A wide open three will be shot within 2 passes. Thelwell and Dix is a plus defensive backcourt in my mind.

Brock brings so much to the offense (and defense in many games), so Fran probably thinks starting him is essential for the offense to get into a good rhythm right off the bat. While that may be true I think Fran needs to accept that some games have to be more defensive-oriented games.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

I love what Brock Harding brings and think he'll continue to get better and better BUT, in games against teams with big point guards like USC and Wisconsin, why doesn't Fran just start Thelwell and play Brock in a more limited role off the bench? Point guards getting to the free thrown line and deeper is so debilitating for defenses. A wide open three will be shot within 2 passes. Thelwell and Dix is a plus defensive backcourt in my mind.

Brock brings so much to the offense (and defense in many games), so Fran probably thinks starting him is essential for the offense to get into a good rhythm right off the bat. While that may be true I think Fran needs to accept that some games have to be more defensive-oriented games.

I would agree if we had a better option on the perimeter, but Pryce might be an even worse defender, and not nearly the ballhandler.

 

[Nagarunja]

I would agree if we had a better option on the perimeter, but Pryce might be an even worse defender, and not nearly the ballhandler.

Pryce can physically matchup at SF or SG better than Brock can at PG more often than not IMO.

 

[HawkLogic]

I would agree if we had a better option on the perimeter, but Pryce might be an even worse defender, and not nearly the ballhandler.

Thelwell starts at PG, then Dix moves over to more natural 2G position. Sandfort Bro's man the 3. Dembele/Traore play the 4. Get a lot bigger at four postions. Defense/rebounding improves but you give up 1 shooter.

I don't think this small ball lineup is working. They should just do zone when they do small ball as long as teams aren't torching us from 3pt line.

Fran's lineup to start the year was Freeman, Dembele, Payton, Dix, Harding. Dembele is shooting the 3pt ball pretty well this year. He can hang out at the 3pt line on offense as he's lost in the paint. He does rebound pretty well.


Yes, the offense has been Fantastic recently with the small ball, but rebounding/defense have really gotten bad.

 

[BrewHawk]

What is this defense you speak of?

 

[ObeseMuffins]

would love to see thewell, dix, Payton, traore, and Owen for an extended period.

 

[hawkjt]

I love what Brock Harding brings and think he'll continue to get better and better BUT, in games against teams with big point guards like USC and Wisconsin, why doesn't Fran just start Thelwell and play Brock in a more limited role off the bench? Point guards getting to the free thrown line and deeper is so debilitating for defenses. A wide open three will be shot within 2 passes. Thelwell and Dix is a plus defensive backcourt in my mind.

Brock brings so much to the offense (and defense in many games), so Fran probably thinks starting him is essential for the offense to get into a good rhythm right off the bat. While that may be true I think Fran needs to accept that some games have to be more defensive-oriented games.

Agree. USC was a terrible matchup for Brock.
I fear that the blueprint is now set for attacking Iowa.
BIG foes will target Brock and Payton on defensive end.
Not all teams have the guys to take advantage of Brocks stature but most will.
I truly believe that it would be better for Brock and the team to use him off the bench vs backup guys on opposing teams.

He can play with drew at times depending on gameflow.

I would wish that Fran would put traore into starting lineup.
I know he has struggled but our defense has to improve and he has tools.
That would limit the starting lineup defensive holes to just Payton.

A 2nd group of Brock Pryce Ladji Koch and Tadjo might hold the fort for a few minutes.

 

[bansheexyz]

Plenty of blame to go around, but I agree with OP. I've said as much in other threads. If I'm coach, I'm playing Thelwell all 40 minutes and having Brock practice 3s until he sends me a video tape of himself making 90/100 threes running around at gamespeed with only himself as a rebounder.

But also, effort in the film room needs to be made on defense. It's hard for a player to tell other players what they're doing wrong in this regard. Need a smart assistant coach who can actually diagnose what's wrong and explain to his players how to fix it. Fran has failed to do that his entire tenure. I don't think we have anyone on the staff that really knows how to do that.

 

[Nagarunja]

would love to see thewell, dix, Payton, traore, and Owen for an extended period.

This!

 

[Fran-Con-2]

I love what Brock Harding brings and think he'll continue to get better and better BUT, in games against teams with big point guards like USC and Wisconsin, why doesn't Fran just start Thelwell and play Brock in a more limited role off the bench? Point guards getting to the free thrown line and deeper is so debilitating for defenses. A wide open three will be shot within 2 passes. Thelwell and Dix is a plus defensive backcourt in my mind.

Brock brings so much to the offense (and defense in many games), so Fran probably thinks starting him is essential for the offense to get into a good rhythm right off the bat. While that may be true I think Fran needs to accept that some games have to be more defensive-oriented games.

I actually thought neither guard played great defense against USC. Desmond Claude was eating Thelwell’s lunch at times.

Even the best defenders get beat off the dribble or get mismatched. That’s why some of the best defensive teams play that team oriented “pack line” defense.

I know this kind of a “no duh” statement, but even if Brock sits the defensive wont be that much improved because the team as a whole doesn’t play sound help defense.

 

[RocknRollface]

I would agree if we had a better option on the perimeter, but Pryce might be an even worse defender, and not nearly the ballhandler.

Traore is a much better option to defend the 3 than Brock is at the 1 but he seems to be completely out of sync now with the rest of the team.

He was good on defense against isu and has since basically disappeared.

None of this matters because defense plays no part in the decision making process anyway.

 

[AmericaNeedsMe]

Not all teams have the guys to take advantage of Brocks stature but most will.

lol

Every Big Ten team that we need to beat to be tourney eligible has the guys to take advantage of Harding's size.

Every

Single.

One.

And most of the bottom feeders do as well.

 

[RocknRollface]

lol

Every Big Ten team that we need to beat to be tourney eligible has the guys to take advantage of Harding's size.

Every

Single.

One.

And most of the bottom feeders do as well.

Yep, and it's not just that, he's also been unable to take advantage of bigger players on offense for the most part.

I was watching Braden Smith last night and Brocks not even close to what that small white guy can do offensively.

 

[TRHawkeye145]

You know what would really help? Having a coach that actually cares about defense and rebounding....and then most of these other problems go away

 

[hawkjt]

lol

Every Big Ten team that we need to beat to be tourney eligible has the guys to take advantage of Harding's size.

Every

Single.

One.

And most of the bottom feeders do as well.

I was trying to give him benefit of doubt.
Seriously, is Brock the smallest starter in BIG?
Is he the smallest rotational player in BIG?
Sam Hoiberg is small.
Braden Smith is only maybe 2 inches taller?
Probably someone smaller out there but cannot think of them.

 

[elemke]

Agree. USC was a terrible matchup for Brock.
I fear that the blueprint is now set for attacking Iowa.
BIG foes will target Brock and Payton on defensive end.
Not all teams have the guys to take advantage of Brocks stature but most will.
I truly believe that it would be better for Brock and the team to use him off the bench vs backup guys on opposing teams.

He can play with drew at times depending on gameflow.

I would wish that Fran would put traore into starting lineup.
I know he has struggled but our defense has to improve and he has tools.
That would limit the starting lineup defensive holes to just Payton.

A 2nd group of Brock Pryce Ladji Koch and Tadjo might hold the fort for a few minutes.

Owen is not good on defense either.

 

[Nagarunja]

Owen is not good on defense either.

Not great, but leading the league in blocks per game I think makes him at least average.

 

[hawkjt]

Owen is not good on defense either.

How many times this season has Owen lost his matchups?

Maybe Crowl, winters, Gilmore of Wis.

Michigan twin towers?
ISU tag team?

It seems to be Owen vs the world in paint often.
I do not see him being targeted before Payton and Brock.
Maybe to try to get him in foul trouble.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

Pryce can physically matchup at SF or SG better than Brock can at PG more often than not IMO.

Probably depends on the match up.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

I would agree if we had a better option on the perimeter, but Pryce might be an even worse defender, and not nearly the ballhandler.

Good thing we recruited him.

 

[jonesy5960]

I was trying to give him benefit of doubt.
Seriously, is Brock the smallest starter in BIG?
Is he the smallest rotational player in BIG?
Sam Hoiberg is small.
Braden Smith is only maybe 2 inches taller?
Probably someone smaller out there but cannot think of them.

Braden Smith is listed at 6'0. Somehow he has averaged 5 rebounds per game over his career. That would make him close to the 2nd best rebounder on this year's Iowa team. Think about that.