Bench is still an issue.... only 5 points in W against Michigan
- Thread starter IAFootball3406
- Start date
Yeah the bench only scored 5 points, but they prevented Michigan from going on a run.
In all our losses (except IU @ home) Iowa's bench allowed teams to go on runs and didn't score any points. They came in and didn't defend and didn't score any points, those are a recipe for disaster. Case in point, they allowed the other teams to either catch-up or take the lead.
I am okay if they don't score many points, they just can't give up points. They have to play better defense and hustle for the ball. Iowa has proven scorers in their starting rotation, the bench just has to play solid defense and out hustle the other team. The shots will come and they will eventually fall.
In all our losses (except IU @ home) Iowa's bench allowed teams to go on runs and didn't score any points. They came in and didn't defend and didn't score any points, those are a recipe for disaster. Case in point, they allowed the other teams to either catch-up or take the lead.
I am okay if they don't score many points, they just can't give up points. They have to play better defense and hustle for the ball. Iowa has proven scorers in their starting rotation, the bench just has to play solid defense and out hustle the other team. The shots will come and they will eventually fall.
Maybe there is something to star ratings after all? =-0 Perhaps the bench is playing to their best capabilities and we simply need to recruit better players. Baer seems like a great kid, but if he's our 6th man and his only offers coming out of hs were schools like Loras, we can't expect the bench to light it up.
If you look at the minutes our bench guys didn't play much, 7 minutes each except for Wagner who played 11. Thought I heard that 2nd half hardly any bench minutes were actually played.
-Lebowski
-Lebowski
Extremely small sample size here, but I would like to see more of Williams. I don't know how much can be expected given how little he has played, but I like his pull up jumper, ability to drive off the bounce and confidence at the line. We need closer to 20 than 2 from the bench and I don't care which combination of guys chip in, but agree that we need more points. Baer got hot against IU, but I would like to see these guys do more than bomb 3's. Baer has hit a couple nice turnarounds this year and Uhl is a different player when he gets a shot to go down. With Uhl's hops, somebody needs to tell him to dunk those chippies he keeps missing.
I like Williams for the fact he has some skill and can do the little things but also the fact other teams dont have him scouted like they seem to have our starters scouted. Anything th through the other team out of rythym.
Given the losing streak, Fran chose to shorten bench. He put Uhl and Wagner in for first half and yanked both after two minutes because weren't playing defense. Wagner got opportunity later but Uhl not as much.
His starters were doing well, for most part, so Fran stayed with them in effort to end the losing streak. That is my perspective.
His starters were doing well, for most part, so Fran stayed with them in effort to end the losing streak. That is my perspective.
Of course stars matter, they just aren't the ONLY thing that matters.
I watched Indiana/Maryland yesterday. How many of our starters would get serious minutes for either one of those teams? And, I don't think our bench players would get any.
He's been most productive player off the bench, for the season. Might be the most
Fundamentally sound player on the entire roster.
#goHawks
I will say he has been for most of the season, but even in our slump he struggled as well. His defense/tenacity has left him for whatever reason. He was the guy at the top of the press tipping the ball and getting steals.
Personally his defense lead to great offense, but lately he hasn't been able to defend as well. I don't know if teams know to take him off the bounce or what, but he hasn't been as effective on defense and outside the (IU) game, he hasn't don't a lot offensively lately.
Now I think he is a good player, but he can't be relied on every night. Iowa's starters have to account for majority of the scoring. All the bench has to do is come in and play solid defense and don't allow the opposition to go on any big runs.
According to the persons selecting the all-conference teams Jarrod Uthoff and Peter Jok are two of the ten best players in the BIG. I think either coach would find some playing time for them.
Quite fun analyzing all that the Hawks need to do.........with that being said, bottom line is we didn't make shots during our slide. Make 2 more shots we win most the games we lost if not all of them. Case in point.....Lakers beat Warriors Sunday. Curry was 1 for 11 on 3's........Thompson was 0 for 8.......Barnes 0 for 4 on 3's. But if they would have played better Defense they may have won. Hmmm. We were never blown out of a game & all we ever hear is any win in the Big10 is a big win.
And if the Hawks could make their ft's at crunch time they would have won more games......the games were that close. Fewer to's at crunch time would have also produced more wins.
I'd add Woody & Gesell as well. Both would get a hearty share of minutes on any of the B10 squads. Clemmons when he's on his game is plenty fine as well, but his inconsistency of late is a bit troubling.
Have you looked at the all conference teams?
That will answer your not so smart question.
Thats a pretty significant percentage on two teams that are already pretty good.
Most teams would probably only have one player at best that would replace a starter for either of those teams.
Perhaps I didn't hot the point right on the head - my bad. Let's try again.
Would Uhl, Baer, Wagner or Ellingson play at all for Indiana or Maryland?
Late game mop up duty perhaps. None of them would see much action at all with IU for sure.
Our bench is among the weakest in the conference, if not the worst. You can't expect to consistently win against other top teams if the starters must win their minutes by double-digits. The two biggest differences from when Iowa was in the top 5 in the country and the last few weeks are: 1) Uthoff came back to reality. He is a very good player, but probably not a potential national POY. He just needs to be aggressive and play his game. 2) Uhl is doing very little offensively, and even less defensively. Dom either needs to play with mental and physical toughness, or he needs to get very limited minutes. I don't know if this will happen.
If Jarrod can regain his swagger, and we can get solid defense and double-digit scoring from the bench, Iowa can still make some noise in the post-season.
If Jarrod can regain his swagger, and we can get solid defense and double-digit scoring from the bench, Iowa can still make some noise in the post-season.
Williams stepping up his game is essential for tournament runs. We can't win without any back-up guards, or any bench players than can threaten the defense off the dribble.
Uhl has lost his jump shot, and his defense and mental focus seemed to leave with his jumper. Wagner is simply a defense and rebounding player at this point in his career. Baer is a spot-up shooter that tries hard.
The lack of play-making off the bench is a major problem, and Williams is the only potential solution. I'd like to see Fran encourage him to be aggressive attacking the rim.
Uhl has lost his jump shot, and his defense and mental focus seemed to leave with his jumper. Wagner is simply a defense and rebounding player at this point in his career. Baer is a spot-up shooter that tries hard.
The lack of play-making off the bench is a major problem, and Williams is the only potential solution. I'd like to see Fran encourage him to be aggressive attacking the rim.
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