Big Man Owen Freeman Puts Together a Bigger Offseason

[Eliot Clough]

We've heard bits and pieces about how Owen Freeman has put work in this offseason.

On Tuesday, we got much more detail -- from Freeman, and Fran McCaffery. Weight room, diet, shooting, working with former Hawkeyes and more for the reigning Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year.

STORY:

Big Man Owen Freeman Puts Together a Bigger Offseason

One of the top freshman in the country, Iowa center Owen Freeman is poised for a big jump in year two.

iowa.rivals.com

 

[LukaDuka]

Is that a tattoo of Willie Nelson on his shoulder? cool...

 

[lucas80]

More bulk might help with fouls, but Freeman’s biggest problem was silly reaching fouls.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

More bulk might help with fouls, but Freeman’s biggest problem was silly reaching fouls.

Yep. Having a PF who can play defense should also help.

 

[LukaDuka]

Yep. Having a PF who can play defense should also help.

and a point guard who keeps in front of his man....

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

and a point guard who keeps in front of his man....

Perkins didn't always stay in front of his man, but his physicality made him a decent defender. He also helped on the boards.

 

[Mohawkeye]

More bulk might help with fouls, but Freeman’s biggest problem was silly reaching fouls.

I think a lot of that was from having to do too much help defending along side Krikke and McCaffery and Sandfort. Just brutal trying to defend with those guys. I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t cut the fouling down substantially.

 

[LukaDuka]

I think a lot of that was from having to do too much help defending along side Krikke and McCaffery and Sandfort. Just brutal trying to defend with those guys. I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t cut the fouling down substantially.

You know where I stand on this. It wasn't Krikke's or PMac's man he was constantly covering for. It was our pg's who couldn't/wouldn't stay in front of their man, creating 2 on 1 situations at the rim. Team defense starts with on ball defense. Fundamentally, staying in front of your guy. Krikke would get blown by from PF's & Pmac from SF's, both one on one. but our pg's would let opponents pass them by and Owen would need to go for blocks & get called for reaching or body fouls.

Others disagree, but Iowa needs to emphasize stopping the ball at point of attack. BH needs to take this to heart & be a defensive asset instead of a liability.

In basketball, the fundamental of keeping the ball in front of you while playing defense is to stay in front of the dribbler and prevent them from penetrating. Here are some tips for doing this:

• Maintain a proper stance: Bend your knees, be balanced, and be ready to slide or run.
  
  
  
• Assess your opponent's speed: If you think your opponent is quicker, back up a step to avoid being beaten off the dribble.
  
  
• Don't gamble: Avoid reaching for the ball, as this puts your teammates at a disadvantage.
  
• Keep the ball out of the middle: Force the dribbler to go baseline, where the out of bounds line makes it harder to shoot.
  
• Develop strong core muscles: Strong hips, abs, and buttocks help you be balanced and move quickly.
  
  
  
• Practice drills: Drills can improve your ability to stay in front of the ball, your shuffle speed, and your quick turns.

 

[lucas80]

You know where I stand on this. It wasn't Krikke's or PMac's man he was constantly covering for. It was our pg's who couldn't/wouldn't stay in front of their man, creating 2 on 1 situations at the rim. Team defense starts with on ball defense. Fundamentally, staying in front of your guy. Krikke would get blown by from PF's & Pmac from SF's, both one on one. but our pg's would let opponents pass them by and Owen would need to go for blocks & get called for reaching or body fouls.

Others disagree, but Iowa needs to emphasize stopping the ball at point of attack. BH needs to take this to heart & be a defensive asset instead of a liability.

In basketball, the fundamental of keeping the ball in front of you while playing defense is to stay in front of the dribbler and prevent them from penetrating. Here are some tips for doing this:

• Maintain a proper stance: Bend your knees, be balanced, and be ready to slide or run.
  
  
  
• Assess your opponent's speed: If you think your opponent is quicker, back up a step to avoid being beaten off the dribble.
  
  
• Don't gamble: Avoid reaching for the ball, as this puts your teammates at a disadvantage.
• Keep the ball out of the middle: Force the dribbler to go baseline, where the out of bounds line makes it harder to shoot.
• Develop strong core muscles: Strong hips, abs, and buttocks help you be balanced and move quickly.
  
  
  
• Practice drills: Drills can improve your ability to stay in front of the ball, your shuffle speed, and your quick turns.

Please forward this to FranMc@UIowa.edu
Thanks.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

You know where I stand on this. It wasn't Krikke's or PMac's man he was constantly covering for. It was our pg's who couldn't/wouldn't stay in front of their man, creating 2 on 1 situations at the rim. Team defense starts with on ball defense. Fundamentally, staying in front of your guy. Krikke would get blown by from PF's & Pmac from SF's, both one on one. but our pg's would let opponents pass them by and Owen would need to go for blocks & get called for reaching or body fouls.

Others disagree, but Iowa needs to emphasize stopping the ball at point of attack. BH needs to take this to heart & be a defensive asset instead of a liability.

In basketball, the fundamental of keeping the ball in front of you while playing defense is to stay in front of the dribbler and prevent them from penetrating. Here are some tips for doing this:

• Maintain a proper stance: Bend your knees, be balanced, and be ready to slide or run.
  
  
  
• Assess your opponent's speed: If you think your opponent is quicker, back up a step to avoid being beaten off the dribble.
  
  
• Don't gamble: Avoid reaching for the ball, as this puts your teammates at a disadvantage.
  
• Keep the ball out of the middle: Force the dribbler to go baseline, where the out of bounds line makes it harder to shoot.
  
• Develop strong core muscles: Strong hips, abs, and buttocks help you be balanced and move quickly.
  
  
  
• Practice drills: Drills can improve your ability to stay in front of the ball, your shuffle speed, and your quick turns.

Harding was not the main reason why Owen got fouls. He reached, instead of walling up without using his hands, That should be very correctable.

Harding does need to do a better job of staying in front of his man. He wasn't as bad as you keep saying, or as good as Ill thinks. I expect him to play a more important role this year, and do it better.

 

[LukaDuka]

Harding was not the main reason why Owen got fouls. He reached, instead of walling up without using his hands, That should be very correctable.

Harding does need to do a better job of staying in front of his man. He wasn't as bad as you keep saying, or as good as Ill thinks. I expect him to play a more important role this year, and do it better.

Hope so

 

[Mohawkeye]

You know where I stand on this. It wasn't Krikke's or PMac's man he was constantly covering for. It was our pg's who couldn't/wouldn't stay in front of their man, creating 2 on 1 situations at the rim. Team defense starts with on ball defense. Fundamentally, staying in front of your guy. Krikke would get blown by from PF's & Pmac from SF's, both one on one. but our pg's would let opponents pass them by and Owen would need to go for blocks & get called for reaching or body fouls.

Others disagree, but Iowa needs to emphasize stopping the ball at point of attack. BH needs to take this to heart & be a defensive asset instead of a liability.

In basketball, the fundamental of keeping the ball in front of you while playing defense is to stay in front of the dribbler and prevent them from penetrating. Here are some tips for doing this:

• Maintain a proper stance: Bend your knees, be balanced, and be ready to slide or run.
  
  
  
• Assess your opponent's speed: If you think your opponent is quicker, back up a step to avoid being beaten off the dribble.
  
  
• Don't gamble: Avoid reaching for the ball, as this puts your teammates at a disadvantage.
• Keep the ball out of the middle: Force the dribbler to go baseline, where the out of bounds line makes it harder to shoot.
• Develop strong core muscles: Strong hips, abs, and buttocks help you be balanced and move quickly.
  
  
  
• Practice drills: Drills can improve your ability to stay in front of the ball, your shuffle speed, and your quick turns.

I don’t disagree in principle. But it’s s about team defense and when you’re center is helping everyone else out they are going to pick up fouls.

 

[RocknRollface]

You know where I stand on this. It wasn't Krikke's or PMac's man he was constantly covering for. It was our pg's who couldn't/wouldn't stay in front of their man, creating 2 on 1 situations at the rim. Team defense starts with on ball defense. Fundamentally, staying in front of your guy. Krikke would get blown by from PF's & Pmac from SF's, both one on one. but our pg's would let opponents pass them by and Owen would need to go for blocks & get called for reaching or body fouls.

Others disagree, but Iowa needs to emphasize stopping the ball at point of attack. BH needs to take this to heart & be a defensive asset instead of a liability.

In basketball, the fundamental of keeping the ball in front of you while playing defense is to stay in front of the dribbler and prevent them from penetrating. Here are some tips for doing this:

• Maintain a proper stance: Bend your knees, be balanced, and be ready to slide or run.
  
  
  
• Assess your opponent's speed: If you think your opponent is quicker, back up a step to avoid being beaten off the dribble.
  
  
• Don't gamble: Avoid reaching for the ball, as this puts your teammates at a disadvantage.
• Keep the ball out of the middle: Force the dribbler to go baseline, where the out of bounds line makes it harder to shoot.
• Develop strong core muscles: Strong hips, abs, and buttocks help you be balanced and move quickly.
  
  
  
• Practice drills: Drills can improve your ability to stay in front of the ball, your shuffle speed, and your quick turns.

I think you've got a case of Harding derangement syndrome.

 

[LukaDuka]

I think you've got a case of Harding derangement syndrome.

LOL, maybe so. But I'm the counter balance to IllHawk who is so far off the spectrum it's ridiculous. Just trying to bring him back to center. I really hope BH greatly improves as I think he can be a spark off the bench. But not at the expense of good team defense (which seems to be an oxymoron for Fran's teams).

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

LOL, maybe so. But I'm the counter balance to IllHawk who is so far off the spectrum it's ridiculous. Just trying to bring him back to center. I really hope BH greatly improves as I think he can be a spark off the bench. But not at the expense of good team defense (which seems to be an oxymoron for Fran's teams).

We need both PGs. It will be interesting to see both of your takes when Fran announces the starting PG. I just hope it isn't Josh Dix, who needs be used at PG only in emergencies or certain unusual match ups.

 

[LukaDuka]

We need both PGs. It will be interesting to see both of your takes when Fran announces the starting PG. I just hope it isn't Josh Dix, who needs be used at PG only in emergencies or certain unusual match ups.

I agree.

The ongoing feud has been fun.... I just keep poking the bear. lol