Heck of a game for Big Ben! 24 points on 11-18 shooting. Beautiful mid range jumpers!
I did not see that coming.
I did not see that coming.
Ben Krikke
- Thread starter Hawk_4shur
- Start date
After watching him it's clear we need to play through Ben at the high post. Excellent midrange and he's an excellent passer.
dude was really balling last night, certainly brings a lot more offense to the team than Rebraca did
What will happen after this game: he'll get pressured more at the high post and he'll be forced to drive or pass back out. Watching him dribble last night was not encouraging.
How often will a big hit midrange jumpers at that %?
Not trying to rain on everyone's parade, I hope he can do this every night but I think that's a hard thing to do over the course of a big ten season.
He definitely showed he’s our best offensive player. Going against their 7’1” big guy love how he relied on mid range jumper and didn’t try and force much at the basket unlike first 2 games able to score more around the basket. I’d like to see how things go and if Fran plays him and freeman together more like at the end. Let’s him slide to the 4 and as a subpar defender beneficial because freeman better defender and rim protector and less chances to get fouls guarding other teams C.
Adjustments will happen but hopefully that opens some other opportunities up for other players. Iowa will also have to work harder to set those shots up.
Which will force teams to stop playing drop coverage against us, which has killed our driving lanes the last 2 years with Filip there. I want teams to bring their bigs out and guard 15 feet--that's a good thing.
He's a proven scorer and a scorer will adjust.
He was very impressive last night. As has been mentioned, Fran just needs to remind him that more than one or two dribbles is too much. His defense will be his biggest liability but against other teams, I expect us to play more zone. We simply couldn't play zone against Creighton because they're assassins from 3 range.
He was a good get from the portal for sure.
He was a good get from the portal for sure.
our opponents are up a shit Krikke without a paddle when he's making those mid range jumpers.
Nice to see him making both FTs, too.
Here's an interesting stat: 4 offensive rebounds, 1 defensive rebound.
He played 31 minutes; kinda wished he had played more. He only had 2 fouls
He lead the Valley in scoring. Not sure why you think that. He’s a scorer, that’s what he is. It’s what he’s done his whole career.
Obviously his mid-range shooting was impressive to say the least last night. As teams tighten up on that, he will need to put the ball on the floor a little bit to make them not just fly at him on the close-outs. He was called for a travel once when he tried to do that but I think it will need to be part of his game. Loved his use of the glass on the bank shot, which seems almost like a lost art since the days of Dr. J. I was actually surprised how many offensive rebounds he had with as much time as he spends away from the bucket.
He should be really effective in the high pick and roll offense, but Iowa will have to have a guard that is a consistent threat to curl to the bucket for that to be as dangerous as possible. However, he screened well last night, but likely got away with a couple of moving picks. Staying out of foul trouble will be a key to his minutes on the floor as the Hawks need his offense.
It will be interesting to see how the coaches adjust his usage on defense. Iowa likes to hedge the big man on the pick and role, but Ben struggled to get back defensively quickly enough after doing so and was burned a couple of times, as well as getting back on D on the break with a big man who can run the floor on the other team.
He should be really effective in the high pick and roll offense, but Iowa will have to have a guard that is a consistent threat to curl to the bucket for that to be as dangerous as possible. However, he screened well last night, but likely got away with a couple of moving picks. Staying out of foul trouble will be a key to his minutes on the floor as the Hawks need his offense.
It will be interesting to see how the coaches adjust his usage on defense. Iowa likes to hedge the big man on the pick and role, but Ben struggled to get back defensively quickly enough after doing so and was burned a couple of times, as well as getting back on D on the break with a big man who can run the floor on the other team.
My concern comes from a couple things:
1. The shots he took last night were some of the worst you can take in basketball. Jordan Bohannon said it on his podcast today and statistically he is correct. There isn't much good that comes from shooting shots 17-20 feet from the basket. Where would we have been if those shots had fallen at a normal rate? There's a reason he got those shots. He's a scorer based on quality of shot not quantity. Some guys are chuckers to get their points, that's not Ben. So can he score without volume shooting against better competition. I don't know.
2. He did not play big ten competition for 33 games last year at valpo. Can he keep that level of shooting up for the season? Can Freeman give him enough minutes away from the other teams bigs. I think we saw the same thing with Rebraca the last two seasons. It took a year of adjustment before rebraca was what I would call a good big in his last season. Filip when from 16.8 as a junior at North Dakota to 5.8 at Iowa his first season. He shot 36% from three as a junior at North Dakota to 16% at iowa then 33% in his last year. Point being, it's a physical grind while also having to learn and play in new arena's.
So yeah I hope he can keep it up but in no way expect it will.
He’s 2 inches taller than Rebraca and so far ahead of him on the offensive end. Rebraca was more physical and better defensively but skill wise it’s not close. That was obvious last night. That’s why Fran wanted him. He can score.
Your point reminds me of a statistic I saw the other day on how poorly teams perform the following game after playing Ohio State in football. The grind of big conference schedule is different than one game.
Obviously I've never stood next to the guy, lol, but they had him listed at 6'9" I believe..
How long did it take you to come with this?
Krikke can absolutely put the ball on the floor. No issues there at all.
If opponents seriously want to try to take away the lowest percentage shot in basketball, the mid range jumper, that's awesome.
That will do nothing but open up driving and passing lanes.
He can handle the ball. Go watch his highlight video again.
He can't defend a pick and roll.
Dude is legit but has to play better D, BOTH he and Patrick.
Who can on this team? We don’t teach it. He’s here to score points.
We haven't been able to do that since Woodbury.
Freeman is a good start.
He gets how to play and Harding had a great play on Scheireman? He faked a shot and Brock got in his body quickly, threw that kid off.
I thought the second unit looked more athletic and were actually trying to play some D.
Freeman has already surpassed Woodnuts offensively and will be just fine on the other end of the court.
I'll take the few lapses on D with the addition his mid-range jumper he gives IOWA. A long lost weapon is finally available again. It has to open up the middle just a little bit if he can continue to knock them down.
Dix and the 4 freshmen on the court together are fun to watch, that's for sure
I thought that it was Dix on Schiermann who did a good job defensively...but maybe Brock did also.
As for midrange being a bad shot...only if you miss them, right?
If Ben knocks them down like vs CU...good shot.
He's better offensively today than Woodnuts has been, ever, and he'll be fine defensively.
