Current Team Optimism + Concerns

[BirdistheWord]

Reasons for optimism:

Overall Defensive Effort
Defending the 3 point shot has been strong
Our Ability to Get to the FT line and make FT's
Kriener Playing with More Confidence
Our ability to aggressively play low post game
Assist to Turnover Ratio is respectable
Ability to win at home

Concerns:

Overall Three Point Shooting
Depth is very thin
Connor seems to have lost his mojo
JoBo's long range shooting
Cook's "Work in Progress" jump shot training
Cook's turnovers
Bench Scoring

Implications:

Shift more of Jordan's minutes to play with 2nd unit
Must get Jordan an increased volume of open 3 point shots, w/o his outside shooting, we are toast
Moss needs 1-2 more shots per game
Moss needs to be more aggressive, especially off inbounds plays where he seems robotic
Must get Connor more into flow of game (would we consider an experimental start? Other ideas?)
Cook needs to abandon any shots outside of 6 feet
Joe W needs even more involvement in offense, love his ability to get to the rack
Cook should focus on an additional 2-3 offensive rebounds per game, easy garbage buckets
Not sure on Cook's turnovers - he seems to force entry passes, other thoughts??

 

[TheTruthTheWholeTruth]

Cook’s injury is my biggest concern which circles back to the lack of depth concern. Iowa simply won’t be able to weather the upcoming B1G storm without Tyler playing a huge role.

 

[Legend12]

Cook’s injury is my biggest concern which circles back to the lack of depth concern. Iowa simply won’t be able to weather the upcoming B1G storm without Tyler playing a huge role.

I'd be surprised if he plays again this year.

 

[goodbyebobby]

I'd be surprised if he plays again this year.

Seriously? Wow.

 

[TheTruthTheWholeTruth]

I'd be surprised if he plays again this year.

There seems to be some smoke that idicates a prolonged absence is a possibility. Let’s hope it not a season ending injury and he has the opportunity to rehab and get back towards the tail end of the schedule. However, it may be too late by then to salvage a tournament bid.

 

[slugar]

There seems to be some smoke that idicates a prolonged absence is a possibility. Let’s hope it not a season ending injury and he has the opportunity to rehab and get back towards the tail end of the schedule. However, it may be too late by then to salvage a tournament bid.

The only thing I've read is it's a sprain! What am I missing?

 

[hawkeyeguy69]

The only thing I've read is it's a sprain! What am I missing?

I missed seeing the injury, but heard something on the radio.. If it is a high ankle sprain it would not be good. That could linger into February and even March depending on how bad.

At what time in the game did it happen? Hope it isn't severe! We need our big dawg in the middle!

 

[hawk-i bob]

have not heard anything about not playing the rest of the year. players in the locker room were saying he was fine ..more so he was walking under his own strength but limping. this was 30 min after the game so maybe something has changed or they know more today.

and it is only a little over 2 months before NCAA tourney.

 

[Zildjian6868]

I'd be surprised if he plays again this year.

 

[hawkeyeguy69]

Just watched the replay. It happened at 4:08 with the Hawks in control. But still plenty of game left.. There wasn't a great view of the ankle, but it looked like the ankle twisted outward. So not a high ankle sprain. Which is obviously a good thing!

Tyler was also putting at least some pressure on it as he was helped off the court. Which they said he wasn't at all on the radio, that had me worried. So that is a good thing as well... I I'll guess/hope he is not out too long.

 

[hawk-i bob]

have not heard anything about not playing the rest of the year. players in the locker room were saying he was fine ..more so he was walking under his own strength but limping. this was 30 min after the game so maybe something has changed or they know more today.

and it is only a little over 2 months before NCAA tourney.

and this came from someone who was a visitor in the locker room after the game.

 

[BeepBeepInMyJeep]

Connor will get the minutes when Moss isn't playing well but he's been more Good Moss than bad of late and had more minutes since the ISU game. Connor has tailed off as teams have realized he's only going to drive, he's not going to shoot over the top at all. OSU played WAY off him and he had at least 4-5 opportunities for open jumpers and never even thought about taking a single one. Once teams know they don't have to respect that, it makes it harder for him to do what he does best. He's taken one 3 since the game @MSU on December 3. I assume that's by design, but I think it's made him less effective overall. We'll see if Fran adjusts to the adjustments...I think many coaches can make subtle tweaks for different opponents and situations, but Fran is more of a "why mess with what works" guy and so I think it's unlikely to change during the current winning streak.

 

[DodgerHawki]

The only thing I've read is it's a sprain! What am I missing?

Nothing was going to se said after the game, as no one knew at that time. I have no idea how severe the injury is/was, but Legend doesn't usually just throw stuff out there. But right after the game nothing was going to be revealed one way of the other. Cook was in a lot of pain when it happened, then semi-walked to the locker room.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

Does anyone know if this is the same leg with the knee problem?

 

[Hawksfor3]

Just watched the replay. It happened at 4:08 with the Hawks in control. But still plenty of game left.. There wasn't a great view of the ankle, but it looked like the ankle twisted outward. So not a high ankle sprain. Which is obviously a good thing!

Tyler was also putting at least some pressure on it as he was helped off the court. Which they said he wasn't at all on the radio, that had me worried. So that is a good thing as well... I I'll guess/hope he is not out too long.

Just watched the replay in slo-mo and it was hard to see with Garza and that guy from OSU in front. I'm glad you could see it. My old eyes aren't so good.

 

[Suterman]

Does anyone know if this is the same leg with the knee problem?

I believe it was right knee, left ankle.

 

[hawk-i bob]

Fran McCaffery said on HawkTalk that Tyler Cook didn't practice today. They'll see how things go tomorrow.

doesnt sound like a season ending injury.

Fran McCaffery is scheduled to have a teleconference tomorrow morning.

 

[Hawksfor3]

Thanks for the update.

 

[The Deplorable Sleeping Dog]

The season began overstocked at 4 and now maybe down to Ryan K for a few games.

The only thing that matters in the long term is Iowa's curse. We all know it but won't admit it. If something can go wrong it will.

 

[Legend12]

Fran McCaffery said on HawkTalk that Tyler Cook didn't practice today. They'll see how things go tomorrow.

doesnt sound like a season ending injury.

Fran McCaffery is scheduled to have a teleconference tomorrow morning.

Yep, sounds like he might possibly try to play through it instead of having surgery, which was suggested. Going to find out his pain threshold pretty soon, I imagine. (Which people have been questioning for no reason.)

 

[goodbyebobby]

Yep, sounds like he might possibly try to play through it instead of having surgery, which was suggested. Going to find out his pain threshold pretty soon, I imagine. (Which people have been questioning for no reason.)

Not an MD, nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, but surgery versus pain threshold? How is a sprain so bad it requires surgery?

 

[dawgs_04]

Yep, sounds like he might possibly try to play through it instead of having surgery, which was suggested. Going to find out his pain threshold pretty soon, I imagine. (Which people have been questioning for no reason.)

Surgery? For what?

 

[Legend12]

Not an MD, nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, but surgery versus pain threshold? How is a sprain so bad it requires surgery?

It may be something that will need surgery at some point but if he can handle the pain he can play on it and then have surgery later.

 

[hawk-i bob]

Yep, sounds like he might possibly try to play through it instead of having surgery, which was suggested. Going to find out his pain threshold pretty soon, I imagine. (Which people have been questioning for no reason.)

so he has a fracture?

 

[hawk-i bob]

Not an MD, nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, but surgery versus pain threshold? How is a sprain so bad it requires surgery?

very very uncommon surgery helps a sprain or strain...Ice, Elevation, Meds, Rest.

 

[goodbyebobby]

very very uncommon surgery helps a sprain or strain...Ice, Elevation, Meds, Rest.

Yes, that's why I inquired.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

It may be something that will need surgery at some point but if he can handle the pain he can play on it and then have surgery later.

Need to clean something out?

 

[Ronman]

They may do surgery to try and stabilize the ankle by tightening the ligaments. I don't know if Tyler has had a history of sprains with this ankle, but if it is his first, I doubt they will do surgery.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

They may do surgery to try and stabilize the ankle by tightening the ligaments. I don't know if Tyler has had a history of sprains with this ankle, but if it is his first, I doubt they will do surgery.

Tight ligaments may help prevent ankle rolls and sprains but if it’s a bad enough roll the ligament will just snap.

Contrast that to people with loose ankles who may have more frequent, but far less severe, rolls.

 

[hawk-i bob]

Hawkeye coach Fran McCaffery shared encouraging news about star forward Tyler Cook's ankle injury during Tuesday mornings' teleconference. Don't be surprised to see the St. Louis product on the court when Iowa plays at Penn State on Wednesday.

Fran McCaffery: Tyler's ankle injury is not as bad as Luka Garza's (who missed three games). It's not good but not as bad as Luka's. You knew Luka was going to be out for a while.

Fran McCaffery: Tyler Cook did not practice Monday. He's going to try to do some things today. We'll see how it goes

 

[hawk-i bob]

sounds like Cook is a game-time-decision tonite. Was able to practice yesterday with limitation. I would guess he won't start (and not play if we dont need him) or start and see how it goes. If he doesnt play hopefully the rest will help him get closer to 100%.

 

[hawk-i bob]

McCaffery said he feels good about Tyler Cook playing Sunday but he still has to show he’s ready in practice. Cook worked out on his own Thursday and told McCaffery he felt good.