Baer and the bench

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

That loss was pure agony...again. The last two crowds at Carver were awesome, but they couldn't save the Hawkeyes. But in the midst of all that, let's tip our caps to Bettendorf frreshman walk-on Nicholas Baer and his buddies on the bench, Wagner, Williams, and Uhl. They were terrific last night.

When IU took that 6-point lead late, Baer came down and, without hesitation, hit a HUGE three to cut that lead in half. And after a defensive stop, the kid came down and did it again to tie the game. Carver went crazy. Two of the most clutch shots anyone will ever have, and the freshman walk-on hit nothing but net both times.

And Williams. Wow. After collecting splinters all season, he comes in and shows skills at both ends of the court. Terrific performance. Then Wagner shows some guts and talent with his rebounding and strong moves to the hoop. And Uhl, while still showing rough edges, helped out, too.

The performance of those kids last night should not be overlooked despite the kick-in-the teeth loss. Those kids played like winners, and I hope they all get plenty of minutes in Ann Arbor and the rest of the season. They've earned it.

 

[0418hawkguy1001]

Agree, and then Fran had the audacity to take them out at that moment and we proceed to go 1-13 the rest of the way from the field and 1-4 from free throw line.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

Fran seems to have a fatal attraction to great practice shooters who can't make shots in games. A 5 minute sampling is not much, but man, for Williams to get thrown out there in that game and not have a deer in the headlight's look.....very impressive. The moment was not too big and he felt like he belonged.

 

[bouma1415]

Williams will be an exciting player if he can put on 10-15 lbs of muscle. Right now, he reminds me of Devyn Marble. Needs some work on his handles and shooting, but the potential looks to be there.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

That loss was pure agony...again. The last two crowds at Carver were awesome, but they couldn't save the Hawkeyes. But in the midst of all that, let's tip our caps to Bettendorf frreshman walk-on Nicholas Baer and his buddies on the bench, Wagner, Williams, and Uhl. They were terrific last night.

When IU took that 6-point lead late, Baer came down and, without hesitation, hit a HUGE three to cut that lead in half. And after a defensive stop, the kid came down and did it again to tie the game. Carver went crazy. Two of the most clutch shots anyone will ever have, and the freshman walk-on hit nothing but net both times.

And Williams. Wow. After collecting splinters all season, he comes in and shows skills at both ends of the court. Terrific performance. Then Wagner shows some guts and talent with his rebounding and strong moves to the hoop. And Uhl, while still showing rough edges, helped out, too.

The performance of those kids last night should not be overlooked despite the kick-in-the teeth loss. Those kids played like winners, and I hope they all get plenty of minutes in Ann Arbor and the rest of the season. They've earned it.

This is an upbeat positive message and has no place on HR today.

 

[Buffalo43]

That loss was pure agony...again. The last two crowds at Carver were awesome, but they couldn't save the Hawkeyes. But in the midst of all that, let's tip our caps to Bettendorf frreshman walk-on Nicholas Baer and his buddies on the bench, Wagner, Williams, and Uhl. They were terrific last night.

When IU took that 6-point lead late, Baer came down and, without hesitation, hit a HUGE three to cut that lead in half. And after a defensive stop, the kid came down and did it again to tie the game. Carver went crazy. Two of the most clutch shots anyone will ever have, and the freshman walk-on hit nothing but net both times.

And Williams. Wow. After collecting splinters all season, he comes in and shows skills at both ends of the court. Terrific performance. Then Wagner shows some guts and talent with his rebounding and strong moves to the hoop. And Uhl, while still showing rough edges, helped out, too.

The performance of those kids last night should not be overlooked despite the kick-in-the teeth loss. Those kids played like winners, and I hope they all get plenty of minutes in Ann Arbor and the rest of the season. They've earned it.

And then what does Fran do? Pull them out and kill our momentum

 

[Kurt Warner]

Baer wanted the ball on that three, he clapped his hands together at mg to get him the ball. You never see some of the seniors doing that, they usually are to afraid to shoot it.

 

[DanL53]

That Williams kid looked pretty good. But I disagree (just my opinion) on trying to put weight on him. He is just fast enough now to be a very effective 6'7" point guard. We don't want to mess with that.

 

[ABYPFCS]

And then what does Fran do? Pull them out and kill our momentum

"And if he leaves the second string in, and they lose, all the criticism would shift as to why he left the starters on the bench during crunch time. A no win situation for Fran with the loss.

I sure don't know the answer, but agree it is frustrating to not be able to win the close game.

 

[Kurt Warner]

I freaked when he took baer out right after that three

 

[Chicityhawkfan]

"And if he leaves the second string in, and they lose, all the criticism would shift as to why he left the starters on the bench during crunch time. A no win situation for Fran with the loss.

I sure don't know the answer, but agree it is frustrating to not be able to win the close game.

I'm not sure there is a right answer, but basketball is a game of runs. I don't think you mess with the lineup while you're on one. Especially given the performance of the starters up to that point. If it was Jok that had nailed back to back threes you know for a fact something would have been drawn up for him to get a look at a third.

While the loss is disappointing, I thought the team actually looked A LOT better than the last few games. As long as these guys play with some intensity, good things could still happen.

This team is kind of like my golf game. Sometimes I can hit every fairway and not be able to make a single putt outside of 2 feet. Other times I can't put it within a fairway of the one I'm playing but 1 putt everything. Either way I end up with a mediocre round. These guys had it all going in January, but lately Jok and Uthoff will score but the bench goes O fer. Last night we got good bench play but the starters struggled shooting the ball. The pieces are there. Hopefully they build on the positives from last night and get it together for tournament time.

Unlike most on this board I do not feel like all is lost. Hopefully these guys prove me right.

 

[Ronman]

Fran seems to have a fatal attraction to great practice shooters who can't make shots in games. A 5 minute sampling is not much, but man, for Williams to get thrown out there in that game and not have a deer in the headlight's look.....very impressive. The moment was not too big and he felt like he belonged.

I find this truly stupid. Are you still bitching about Oglesby? What did you want him to do? Take out Uthoff and Jok, his two best shooters? He didn't even play Ellingson. Uhl hasn't been hitting the outside shot. Not sure if Wagner has one. Baer was good last night, but he has been struggling. I thought McCaffery set up two good plays to close out the game. Clemmons missed the first, and Jok missed the second. But this fan base seems to blame McCaffery for everything now. I guess he was an OK coach when the guys were hitting their shots and we were winning, but now that they aren't, it is somehow his fault.

 

[TheHawkeyeDudeAbides]

Williams will be an exciting player if he can put on 10-15 lbs of muscle. Right now, he reminds me of Devyn Marble. Needs some work on his handles and shooting, but the potential looks to be there.

Another 10 lbs of muscling, especially for a guy with a 6'10 wingspan could help Williams body up better. I think Williams is only 6'5" maybe 6'6" (DanL53's 6'7" seems too big).

Remember Christian played in the lower IL HS level as a point forward/shooting guard. He was the main scorer on his HS team and his AAU team. Little PG experience.

 

[hooper56]

Agree that Williams needs to add strength. He can get the ball to the rim alright but has trouble finishing. If he is a little stronger then that won't be an issue. Plus being stronger = quicker.

 

[ZumaHawk]

I'm really enjoying the positivity of this thread...........Reading some of the other threads about how worthless the Hawks are whether it's coaches or players is a real downer. I'm thinking there should be 2 forums, one for being positive and one for being negative. Thanks AristotleIowa!!!!! Let's Go Hawks!!!

 

[ABYPFCS]

I'm really enjoying the positivity of this thread...........Reading some of the other threads about how worthless the Hawks are whether it's coaches or players is a real downer. I'm thinking there should be 2 forums, one for being positive and one for being negative. Thanks AristotleIowa!!!!! Let's Go Hawks!!!

I seldom post negative things about individual players or coaching decisions, but see nothing wrong with constructive negative comments. Of course without unreasonable trashing of players or coaches.

For example, the fact that AW seems reluctant to take shots from under the basket and looks usually to pass, is a correct criticism, however, we don't know if he has been instructed to do so.

 

[DanL53]

Agree that Williams needs to add strength. He can get the ball to the rim alright but has trouble finishing. If he is a little stronger then that won't be an issue. Plus being stronger = quicker.

Please, please, please I hope the coaches disagree with you. Fortunately it looks like they do as they've had Christian in the laboratory for a whole season and he still looks more cat quick than guard dog. I have no problem if you want him hitting weights a bit, swimming a lot, and being in great shape. I just don't want to see him force fed to gain twenty pounds as I want a quarter horse, not a plow horse.

 

[hoythawk]

Baer wanted the ball on that three, he clapped his hands together at mg to get him the ball. You never see some of the seniors doing that, they usually are to afraid to shoot it.

JU has clapped his hands a lot only to see MG and AC look away or get it to him too late. AC is the worst post feeding guard we have had in a long time. So many times Woody and JU have had position down low and our guards don't get it to them. The offense needs to go inside out.

 

[Chewback]

That Williams kid looked pretty good. But I disagree (just my opinion) on trying to put weight on him. He is just fast enough now to be a very effective 6'7" point guard. We don't want to mess with that.

Dan, you know the rules. Iowa basketball players ALWAYS need to bulk up 15 or 20 lbs. Remember how well that worked for Basabe?

 

[Chewback]

I freaked when he took baer out right after that three

Baer was on fire. I'd have kept him in til he went face down from exhaustion.

 

[Hawkeyestate81]

Baer was on fire. I'd have kept him in til he went face down from exhaustion.

We got Woody back in tho

 

[hooper56]

Please, please, please I hope the coaches disagree with you. Fortunately it looks like they do as they've had Christian in the laboratory for a whole season and he still looks more cat quick than guard dog. I have no problem if you want him hitting weights a bit, swimming a lot, and being in great shape. I just don't want to see him force fed to gain twenty pounds as I want a quarter horse, not a plow horse.

You are confusing adding strength with adding weight. You would be hard pressed to win an argument that a weaker player is a better player. Getting stronger will only make him quicker.

 

[Ronman]

We got Woody back in tho

Of course your realize that we wouldn't have even gotten that last shot if Woodbury hadn't been there to grab the rebound and call a TO. He got 11 boards, Baer zero. So Woody was to blame for the loss?

 

[Hawkeyestate81]

Of course your realize that we wouldn't have even gotten that last shot if Woodbury hadn't been there to grab the rebound and call a TO. He got 11 boards, Baer zero. So Woody was to blame for the loss?

Yes, that is PRECISELY WHAT I WAS SAYING.................

 

[DanL53]

You are confusing adding strength with adding weight. You would be hard pressed to win an argument that a weaker player is a better player. Getting stronger will only make him quicker.

There was a post about putting 10-15 pounds on Christian and I suppose that lead me to think when you said agree that you meant with the weight part.

 

[hooper56]

There was a post about putting 10-15 pounds on Christian and I suppose that lead me to think when you said agree that you meant with the weight part.

But I understand your point, we want Christian as quick and fast as he can be. He sure looked good getting to the rim last Tuesday. He has a quick first step and a long stride.

 

[DanL53]

But I understand your point, we want Christian as quick and fast as he can be. He sure looked good getting to the rim last Tuesday. He has a quick first step and a long stride.

I wish I could find those high school games I watched. Full games. He was scoring well into the 20's as unselfish as a guy can get doing it. People won't like this but it was almost like he was deferring (Oh no, another one!) until he had to take over. But, there was a play that still stands out to me where he was just over the center line and two defenders tried to trap him. He kept his dribble alive, looked at them coming at him, and then took off between them and in only a few steps was up and dunking the ball.

We just need him to get comfortable playing the game and we'll have a 6'7" snake like point that can pass, penetrate, shoot (he can) and defend.

Thing is, remember we're moving towards positionless basketball so the key will be nobody shoulders the entire duties of point guard anymore. Actually, we're not moving to it, we've been doing it.

 

[hooper56]

I wish I could find those high school games I watched. Full games. He was scoring well into the 20's as unselfish as a guy can get doing it. People won't like this but it was almost like he was deferring (Oh no, another one!) until he had to take over. But, there was a play that still stands out to me where he was just over the center line and two defenders tried to trap him. He kept his dribble alive, looked at them coming at him, and then took off between them and in only a few steps was up and dunking the ball.

We just need him to get comfortable playing the game and we'll have a 6'7" snake like point that can pass, penetrate, shoot (he can) and defend.

Thing is, remember we're moving towards positionless basketball so the key will be nobody shoulders the entire duties of point guard anymore. Actually, we're not moving to it, we've been doing it.

I am hoping against hope that Christian Williams will be our Evan Turner.

 

[EduNeerHawk]

I wish I could find those high school games I watched. Full games. He was scoring well into the 20's as unselfish as a guy can get doing it. People won't like this but it was almost like he was deferring (Oh no, another one!) until he had to take over. But, there was a play that still stands out to me where he was just over the center line and two defenders tried to trap him. He kept his dribble alive, looked at them coming at him, and then took off between them and in only a few steps was up and dunking the ball.

We just need him to get comfortable playing the game and we'll have a 6'7" snake like point that can pass, penetrate, shoot (he can) and defend.

Thing is, remember we're moving towards positionless basketball so the key will be nobody shoulders the entire duties of point guard anymore. Actually, we're not moving to it, we've been doing it.

Don't you just love talking about CWilliams Dan? I sure do.. Kinda've been excited about this kid for a loooong time....

Here ya go...my fav vid on C. You will see every play he made against the Big Ten Conference Champs Hoosiers on Tuesday night in this vid, except C makes that corner 3 shot and makes the lean in 10 footer...a couple of times actually which means he can do it and do it well. Great for the Hawks moving forward.

He's a special talent...been saying this for awhile now. Enjoy!

 

[EduNeerHawk]

I am hoping against hope that Christian Williams will be our Evan Turner.

And for all the idiots saying Fran can't coach let me say what you saw the other night from Williams and as Dan is saying above, it's a brilliant move for Fran to mold C into playing that PG position with his size, skills and game. C will take his lumps as most PGs do early on but he brings so much talent on both ends of the floor, plays above the rim too...it's brilliant by Fran to give this a shot. I am all in.

I watched the IU game again.....great to watch again even with the loss, what a crowd btw but just noticing C standing next to Peter and he's taller than Peter. He's a big kid and very smooth, glides up and down the floor and you can see this in the vid I linked.

 

[Bulldogs1974]

That Williams kid looked pretty good. But I disagree (just my opinion) on trying to put weight on him. He is just fast enough now to be a very effective 6'7" point guard. We don't want to mess with that.

he can use 10 lbs of muscle that you would never see that would help in jumping and speed.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

I find this truly stupid. Are you still bitching about Oglesby? What did you want him to do? Take out Uthoff and Jok, his two best shooters? He didn't even play Ellingson. Uhl hasn't been hitting the outside shot. Not sure if Wagner has one. Baer was good last night, but he has been struggling. I thought McCaffery set up two good plays to close out the game. Clemmons missed the first, and Jok missed the second. But this fan base seems to blame McCaffery for everything now. I guess he was an OK coach when the guys were hitting their shots and we were winning, but now that they aren't, it is somehow his fault.

Do you read anything or just react? I have said too many times to count, I think Fran is a solid coach who has overachieved with marginal talent. Where in this statement am I blaming him for guys not being capable of making shots? Secondly. the reason guys can't make shots is because we do not have match up advantages at any position on the court unless we are playing the bottom feeders in the conference. This is why we lose in late games....other teams have better players who can get their own shot off by being quicker, bigger, more explosive, etc. At some point Iowa fans need to recognize it is not by accident we haven't won a big ten title since The Doobie Brothers were # 1 in album sales.