Amazing how effective defense can be....
- Thread starter RocknRollface
- Start date
Mooney in his own words said he was just ok at D. Then he grad transferred to Tech this season and had no choice but to learn how to play elite D if he wanted to play. He is now considered one of the best perimeter defenders in college basketball. Some schools just know how to teach D because they know its importance.
Also bad reffing and playing in a football stadium help
Beard went out and got Moretti kid from Italy and Owens and Mooney in transfer market. Then he coached them up to all play defense. Bennett also a stud on defense. Iowa played MSU twice and couldn't stop them and TexasTech holds them to 51 pts. Great coaching in defense and roster management will get you pretty far.
Both MSU and MI couldn't throw the ball in the ocean in their games. Missed shots they made all year. Defense had something to do with it, but missing open shots they normally make is just bad timing.
Quite the coincidence that it happened to both while playing the number 1 defense in the country.
Kyle Guy and Ty Jerome aren't exactly what I think of there.
Athleticism helps but it's not at the top of the list by any means.
Iowa finished over 200 again. Tony Bennett would have had the same team less than 50 guaranteed.
I didn't watch tonight, but Tech had Michigan on lockdown that entire game. Michigan had to work hard for just decent looks. Great defense makes you work and then the shooters get tired/rushed. That was all Tech's D, not just a poor night shooting.
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anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba
Guest
News flash: Defense, in any sport, wins championships. 
It was pretty obvious what the difference was. I think some just hate seeing the Big 12 over the Big 10 and have to rationalize it somehow.
Normally I do too but I'm just sick of Izzos schtick.
TT won me over because I love defense.
The constant there is Texas Tech. They are phenomenal on defense. They only lost one game all year at home and that was to a team that spread them out and hit shots.
I was thinking the same thing during both games. Tough defense keeps you in games on off nights and creates a team toughness offensive minded teams do not have on the floor (always exceptions). IMO if Iowa ever wants to compete in the big games defense has to be #1 priority at Iowa.
IMO the tough defense caused MSU to miss open shots because they were up rushed/tight because of the defense. It was an off night because of TT in your face defense.
So am I the only one who thought that set of Final Four games were the ugliest I've ever experienced? If the NCAA and the refs they employ are going to allow that type of "defense" from now on, it will ruin the game of college basketball.
I did not watch all of every TT game but in the 2 I watched at least part of (MI & MSU), both missed several wide open shots, especially from the 3.
I definitely thought there was a lot of uncalled hacking and grabbing and pushing, shoving, etc. They let them play I guess, but that was ugly, and I am a proponent of playing good defense, but man.
Fran and Staff have many things to do in off season.Several bucket lists. One can only Hope.And need a grad transfer or 2.? Hawk Players Tough as always.
You are not alone. I thought the games were ugly, but at least pretty exciting.
And, it's not just "physical" defense. They play the FF games in a football stadium - is more difficult for players to shoot well in that type of environment. Some have even suggested that there is a noticeable breeze" that can affect ball flight on the longer shots.
Shooting is about timing and confidence. If you let guys get in a rhythm without harassing them, Lafester Rhodes happens. Iowa hasn't had a guy that can stick to an opposing player since Fran has been here.
