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Crazy how teams just go off offensively against Iowa

Crazy 3pt shooting percentages by Wisconsin and USC.


I always look for the 1st play that Iowa doesn't cover a 3pt shooter and gives up a wide open shot. If the shot goes in, it is usually a bad day for Iowa defense. 3pt shooting is a streaky thing and letting guys get hot and in a rhythm is what Fran defenses do. Even the full court presses they do backfire---if no steal, it is usually a layup or a wide open 3pt shots for opponent. Bo Ryan would get this Iowa team into Sweet16--we wouldn't be scoring 80+ points but defense would be much, much better.
 
Can’t quite figure out why or how this keeps happening year in and year out.

Oh and always being out rebounded. Crazy how it just happens.

Just a lot of untimely bad luck I suppose.
It's not crazy at all, Fran teaches his players to play help defense in guarding the lane as Fran doesn't recruits players tall enough to guard the lane one on one and in doing so they separate from their assigned area or player who drift to the wings or out front and allow uncontested shots of which most go in. This has been a staple of Frans coaching since his first year at Iowa, IT'S NOTHING NEW.....
 
It's not crazy at all, Fran teaches his players to play help defense in guarding the lane as Fran doesn't recruits players tall enough to guard the lane one on one and in doing so they separate from their assigned area or player who drift to the wings or out front and allow uncontested shots of which most go in. This has been a staple of Frans coaching since his first year at Iowa, IT'S NOTHING NEW.....
huh?
 
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Crazy 3pt shooting percentages by Wisconsin and USC.


I always look for the 1st play that Iowa doesn't cover a 3pt shooter and gives up a wide open shot. If the shot goes in, it is usually a bad day for Iowa defense. 3pt shooting is a streaky thing and letting guys get hot and in a rhythm is what Fran defenses do. Even the full court presses they do backfire---if no steal, it is usually a layup or a wide open 3pt shots for opponent. Bo Ryan would get this Iowa team into Sweet16--we wouldn't be scoring 80+ points but defense would be much, much better.
I don’t want Bo.
 
Crazy 3pt shooting percentages by Wisconsin and USC.


I always look for the 1st play that Iowa doesn't cover a 3pt shooter and gives up a wide open shot. If the shot goes in, it is usually a bad day for Iowa defense. 3pt shooting is a streaky thing and letting guys get hot and in a rhythm is what Fran defenses do. Even the full court presses they do backfire---if no steal, it is usually a layup or a wide open 3pt shots for opponent. Bo Ryan would get this Iowa team into Sweet16--we wouldn't be scoring 80+ points but defense would be much, much better.
It looked like Frans game plan was to let them shoot because they aren't good shooters. Iowa was going under all the screens daring them to shoot.

Problem is they could still bully ball their way to the hoop whenever they wanted against Harding and the Sandforts.

Iowa just ended up giving them everything on offense.
 
It's what happens when you put together a team of shooters. Hawks shoot 53%, including 46% from 3, and lose by 10. No defense, no rebounding. This is a badly assembled team.
I have always said (in jest), that Fran’s game plan is relying on making a high percentage of 3’s on offense and hoping the other team has a poor shooting night.
 
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It's what happens when you put together a team of shooters. Hawks shoot 53%, including 46% from 3, and lose by 10. No defense, no rebounding. This is a badly assembled team.
In addition to the above, Fran reinforces the poor defense by penalizing any Iowa player that gets 2 fouls, encouraging soft defesne and poor rebounding,
Additionally, he starts 4 guards and 1 rebounder, who most hold his own against the entire opposing team

We’ve all been to this 🎥 before, grab some 🍿 and 🍻 and enjoy the outcome, as it’s not going to change
 
I've seen it since I was a young lad and random guys vs. Tom Davis' team averaging 2.2 ppg suddenly hits 7 3's in the first half of a game...EVERY TIME!
I believe it is University of Iowa policy not to guard the 3 point shot. ;)
 
Fran's defense by far, because it's an effort issue.

Effort is part of it, but far from the main issue. I could tell early in Fran’s career, his players were not disciplined at all on the defensive end of the floor. Hands were down, players not in a stance, going under screens, not closing out under control, not seeing the ball, and the list goes on……..These players perform on gameday how they practice. The bad habits defensively are a staple of Fran’s career at Iowa.
 
Iowa. Goes up with. Shooters getting. Them in. Perfect form but don’t close out taking away the feet. It’s fundamental

The emphasis is one being a bit Grinnell. Get down. The court which doesn’t close out and leaves a shooter open on the extra pass.

Fran does not emphasize proper D mechanics including hands and feet.
 
Iowa can do much better than Fran, Be a good Day when He decides to step down because Beth will not fire Him with what He is owed, Berta really screwed Iowa on His way out. Kirks Teams at least play hard even if outmatched, Frans throw up 3's play no defense or rebound , I cannot even stomach watching a full game anymore at this point. , Last Night was Fran ball summed up, Making a run and it gets killed by fouling late in the shot clock and giving up nothing but layups and free throws the last 5 minutes. That Team has no heart if they do not have the ball in Their hands .
 
Iowa can do much better than Fran, Be a good Day when He decides to step down because Beth will not fire Him with what He is owed, Berta really screwed Iowa on His way out. Kirks Teams at least play hard even if outmatched, Frans throw up 3's play no defense or rebound , I cannot even stomach watching a full game anymore at this point. , Last Night was Fran ball summed up, Making a run and it gets killed by fouling late in the shot clock and giving up nothing but layups and free throws the last 5 minutes. That Team has no heart if they do not have the ball in Their hands .
I didn’t catch the entire game, but it was clearly men against boys. It was a reality check with how far this program must improve to be competitive with athletic programs. It reminded of when Oregon throttled us a few years back….😬
 
Vintage Iowa: just when people start believing, pound them back to reality!

You cant get yourself to the point of believing with Fran on the sideline. Sure you'll get hot at home and win a few games that way, but it's not sustainable. It will always fall back on defense/rebounding when things get tough and Iowa does neither.
 
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Because on a familiar court, most of the shooters can unguarded make 75% plus. In an unfamiliar court, its just different. A shooter uses their senses like radar unconsciously. Depth is different and so on.
Opposing teams have no fear against our defense
 
Effort is part of it, but far from the main issue. I could tell early in Fran’s career, his players were not disciplined at all on the defensive end of the floor. Hands were down, players not in a stance, going under screens, not closing out under control, not seeing the ball, and the list goes on……..These players perform on gameday how they practice. The bad habits defensively are a staple of Fran’s career at Iowa.
Go back and watch his son Patrick play defense, those observations are on full display
 
Why is our defense so noticeably horrible on the road?

Home crowd is more likely to reinforce the momentum/confidence players get after making a wide open 3-ball shot. PLus they opposing teams get to the basket at will. Add in familiarity with the home arena. It isn't a coincidence that the two teams that have shot 60%+ from 3pt line as a team have both been road games.

The UCLA game will be interesting. I don't know if they will move it to new facility--that would be good for Iowa's chances. It would not be surprising if Iowa wins vs UCLA if UCLA has a cold shooting night. Iowa's offense has been top notch. It's just they can't get any stops.
 
It looked like Frans game plan was to let them shoot because they aren't good shooters. Iowa was going under all the screens daring them to shoot.

Problem is they could still bully ball their way to the hoop whenever they wanted against Harding and the Sandforts.

Iowa just ended up giving them everything on offense.
It wasn’t just them Thelwell and Dix got bullied too.

I’m going to be a bit contrarian and say our defense is actually improved this year, but our rebounding is killing us. You can’t give up a 15 rebound margin and expect to win. They can’t shoot if they don’t have the ball. I don’t recall rebounding ever being this big of a problem, but it’s fixable and has to be done.
 
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Because on a familiar court, most of the shooters can unguarded make 75% plus. In an unfamiliar court, its just different. A shooter uses their senses like radar unconsciously. Depth is different and so on.

I don't really buy this. It's the same sized court! To me, it's not even about perception or spacing, or whatever. We're just absolutely lost on rotations. How can we be so much more confused on the road?
 
Go back and watch his son Patrick play defense, those observations are on full display
and Patrick played 4 years for a great defensive coach in high school. He was obviously taught good technique and didn't work at it or wasn't pushed at Iowa to do it.
 
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