I look for defense to be imperative once again. Can we get to the pinnacle of our dreams? A Sweet Sixteen? What do you think, Monk? We got a shot at sniffing a Sweet Sixteen?
Are we gonna suck this year?
- Thread starter EvilMonkeyInTheCloset
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Yes, rinse and repeat. 14 losses.Let me know so I can plan my winter accordingly.
Thanks in advance!
For me, I go back to the staples like limiting turnovers, playing well defensively, staying with the game plan, and playing the right way. If you can play well fundamentally, then there should be success. When shots aren't falling, then the defense can keep you in it.
This is by far the worst spelling of Mike Gesell's name I have ever seen, and there have been some odd ones.
I don't think I'm telling tales out of school to say this might be the best defensive team since the Woodbury/Gesell days. There are multiple rim defenders plus I think Freeman will have expanded his range both offensively and defensively. And this team will be without a doubt better offensively than those teams.
The more I think about what Fran has coming back plus the new additions they be will solid fundamentally.
I enjoyed the defense from Sapp.
Braden benefited from the gravitational pull of Edey and the double and triple teams. He is a high IQ, marginal athleticism, undersized Big 10 player. If Braden and Purdue run it back, hats off to them, but I don't see it. I see the Big 10 as all 5 - 10 seeds this year - nothing top heavy.
Losing Patrick and Krikke instantly makes our defense better. I’m looking forward to watching these guys play.
I’ll happily bet at least one team is a top 4 seed. Can’t remember the last time b10 didn’t have one.
This team has better athlete's, better shooters, better defenders (hopefully) and better rebounders. Limit TO's & offensive rebounds & this team will be very good.
I think this offensive team could average over 90 points per game. Should be fun to watch.
I think this offensive team could average over 90 points per game. Should be fun to watch.
While few will miss Krikke's defense, his shooting kept Iowa in some games last year.
Some, but overall it’s hard to argue he wasn’t a net negative, especially since he wasn’t especially assertive on the boards.
Certainly no argument. I was specifically responding to the comment above by another about better shooters on the team.
Krikke was a decent mid range shooter. But those mid range shots are not a high percentage point producer. I'd rather see three point shots or shoots in the paint, much more effective and efficient. He sucked on D & non factor on the boards.
The problem here is Fran can't seem to see the difference in his "positionless" scheme. Just as he thinks Dix can play point at this level. You get away with that on offense, but can't defend man to man to save your soul. So we get what we see every year.....
Come on Kceast. Fran said he could have scheduled “down” but wanted to play a team to start the exhibition that could challenge them defensively. If that ain’t a ringing endorsement of what we are going to see this year defensively, I don’t know what is. 😊 Our home schedule out of conference is absolutely atrocious.
Are the Hawkeyes still short on capable guards? It again sounds that way.
I have no idea how good/bad this team will be. Nobody does at this point.
At the exhibition last night. Left feeling depressed. Certainly not an expert but I did not get the impression that this team can match up against decent d-1 teams.Let me know so I can plan my winter accordingly.
Thanks in advance!
Absolutely.
Dix is going to have to play out of position at PG, which really isn't fair to him, but he's the best PG we have.
I don't think this team sniffs the NCAA Tourney (or the NIT for that matter).
Maybe we can finally move on from Fran?
So our 3 really good players all dropped 20. That’s good. The bad if I’m reading correctly is that our pt guard play still blows and Fran is determined to play lineups with 1-2 ball handlers and we still don’t care to guard anyone. Oh, and it did look like there were at least 100 people in the seats. I honestly feel sorry for our big 3. All really good players.
Iowa likely didn't game plan this team so they didn't really treat any of the opposing players in any special way.
That being said, the defense was pretty poor even though I do think the other team was very experienced and disciplined offensively. Their smaller front line was pretty mobile and did expose some of our bigs when they got them on the perimeter by driving past them. Other issues were just digging at drivers and not recovering to your guy type stuff.
Offensively this team is an NCAA team without a doubt. The Big 3 (Sandfort, Freeman, Dix) made it look really easy out there, and Dembele looked solid too. Traore, Thelwell and Koch should round into form over the next 8 weeks and be very good also.
I'm not nearly as worried about Harding as some. He'll have his defensive challenges, but he also makes some plays defensively. On offense he'll be fine, other than trying to find a consistent 3 point shot. I'm not worried about Harding, and I would not play Dix at PG.
I wouldn't look at the closeness of the score last night at times as a guage of this team, but just have to look at the individual players. On offense we look as good or better than last season. On defense there is a lot of work to do if we want to be in the Top 80 in defensive efficiency. At some point I'll break down the defensive film to highlight who is having the most problems. I reran a couple plays back and help defenders were just not getting back to their guy who drifted to an open 3 point spot. Other issues are getting in front of driving players and flattening them out so they can get to the rim. They will fix some of this, the question is how much.
That being said, the defense was pretty poor even though I do think the other team was very experienced and disciplined offensively. Their smaller front line was pretty mobile and did expose some of our bigs when they got them on the perimeter by driving past them. Other issues were just digging at drivers and not recovering to your guy type stuff.
Offensively this team is an NCAA team without a doubt. The Big 3 (Sandfort, Freeman, Dix) made it look really easy out there, and Dembele looked solid too. Traore, Thelwell and Koch should round into form over the next 8 weeks and be very good also.
I'm not nearly as worried about Harding as some. He'll have his defensive challenges, but he also makes some plays defensively. On offense he'll be fine, other than trying to find a consistent 3 point shot. I'm not worried about Harding, and I would not play Dix at PG.
I wouldn't look at the closeness of the score last night at times as a guage of this team, but just have to look at the individual players. On offense we look as good or better than last season. On defense there is a lot of work to do if we want to be in the Top 80 in defensive efficiency. At some point I'll break down the defensive film to highlight who is having the most problems. I reran a couple plays back and help defenders were just not getting back to their guy who drifted to an open 3 point spot. Other issues are getting in front of driving players and flattening them out so they can get to the rim. They will fix some of this, the question is how much.
So I have absolutely no question you know basketball. But honestly after all these years of watching Frans teams play defense what makes you think your last sentence is correctable? While Sandfort is an absolute scoring machine there’s very few D1 players he can stay in front of. His bro is worse. Dembele is slow footed on D as well. This is all going to lead to other teams attacking the rim and getting Freeman into foul trouble. We have zero capable perimeter defenders. We will have games (especially at home) where we score 90 and above. No doubt. But you can’t take this defense on the road in the Big Ten. You just can’t.
Our highest rated preseason team is 14? So a 3 seed ? Normally Sparty is at least preseason top 10 but the league is way down talent wise. Big 12 has 5 teams.
Somehow I think that the pre season poll won't be the way things end up in March. There's no way in hell that the winner of the B1G gets an at large 5 seed. That's absurd.
I mean I agree but it’s not looking like a particularly strong league this year. You have to admit that.
?? I assume your being sarcastic or just backing my point. Until Fran actually starts recruiting guards who are athletic enough to defend D1 level back court players this is always going to be a mid level team at best. Once again this season look around the B1G at back court players and tell me who is in worse shape then Iowa at these critical spots.
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