yeah, I do not get that mentality at all.
I don't think anyone should be happy or content that we lost - but being optimistic that they are playing better than many thought they would and that their defensive seems to be much improved is certainly OK.
The "young team" argument does not fly in the NIL & portal era. Lots of teams that are not familiar with each other that are getting it done.
you have to have the funds, same with football. I think the Iowa coaches are behind the 8 ball, and I'd say Thewell is a solid get, would you argue that?
They need to open the books and show us how far behind we are.
I would be all for this tbh, however the counter argument would be then players know how much they can go after, there wouldn’t be negotiations.
and this is the major problem, I would agree with 100%. Fran fatigue is real. Not making it past the 2nd round is real. However, this team can actually play a bit of defense when necessary (unlike most of his squads), but they do lack a rebounder.
They both need to start. Bench Sandfort.
If Iowa had a Sweet 16 (or better run) during the Luka & Murray years. There would be a lot more grace for this year & last.
Fran had a 2 seed and a 5 seed out of those guys. Really should've been able to break through and make a bit of a run at least once with that group.
Currently we're 90th DER in Kenpom. That makes us the 17th best defense in the B1G, ahead of only Rutgers (104).
Well that ain't happening. I will give Fran credit for inserting Thelwell into the starting lineup though. I'd been dreaming of that for awhile but never thought he'd pull the trigger. Now, if I could only get him to spell Freeman with Mulvey to improve the rebounding numbers.🤔
I haven’t been following close the last two weeks. Is Traore injured? If not he should start. Mulvey is not a major player, appreciate his tenacity.
So, here's the way that shitty defensive rebounding kills your defensive efficiency. Kenpom uses points per possession as the single biggest component to determine your defensive rating. Every time you give up an offensive rebound, you allow for another scoring opportunity in the same possession, and it's often right at the rim. Second chance points absolutely kills defensive efficiency even if you played very good defense leading up to that missed shot.
Compared to Brauns, Mulvey is Bill Russell. He's the best rebounder on a team that sucks at rebounding the basketball. Traore got his first action back from injury against ISU. Didn't play yesterday though.
It's easily, far and away the biggest problem today. Collect defensive rebounds and this team is undefeated.
It's a fact. They were outrebounded by 16 vs ISU, 15 vs UM, and 6 to Utah State. They gave up 16 offensive rebounds to an absolutely deadful New Orleans team last night. They were outrebounded by Ryder. This might be the worst rebounding Iowa team in the last 50 years. That's how much this Iowa team sucks at rebounding. 326th in the country bad.
I don't believe this is true, but it is absolutely true that physical development is lacking in Fran's program. Mulvey's defense is at least as good as Dembele and Freeman and his rebounding is much better.
Please? Freeman is averaging 4 rebounds per game over the last 5 contests. That's your center we're talking about. He's getting overwhelmed by bigger bodies. Mulvey had 4 boards in 8 minutes yesterday.
Didn’t know he had dropped to that level in recent games. He’ll come back (dare I say rebound). Freeman is a power forward, not a center. But we can all agree he’s all Big Ten caliber, Mulvey is a bench player. I’m happy he’s supplying a few minutes.
If Hayden Fry would hear someone celebrating a close loss he would smack them in the mouth.
