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Jan 2nd Injury Updates: Owen is Ok. Traore is 100% (he had a bad ankle sprain on Nov 26 & was SUPPOSED to be back by Dec 10). Koch was hospitalized?

No problem.

Fran doesn't value athleticism, defense and rebounding nearly as much as shooting.
Shooting and ball handling seem to be the focus of McC's coaching theory so spot on. He also likes to tinker so the guys never really learn even basic defensive principles because they have to learn so many defenses. Plays too many guys in the big games as well.
 
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Sean is hoops writer for the Field of 68 Daily. He is also an MLB/CBB writer for Action Network HQ. He hosts The Field of 68 Mid Major Show.

Full text of his tweet:

I’m still buying a ton of stock in Iowa. Still not at 100% without Seydou Traore.

That starting lineup is lethal. Two ball-handlers in Thelwell/Harding that can initiate offense for Payton Sandfort/Owen Freeman/Josh Dix. That’s an outstanding trio.

Freeman doesn’t get enough love. Scored 16 on 7-11 in 19 mins against Utah today.



 
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Pure speculation, but going from Manhattan to Iowa City has to be a big adjustment. Compounded with maybe not getting as many minutes as he had hoped maybe he is discontent. Here’s to hoping it truly is an injury and we will be seeing him soon. He’s a great addition to our team and brings some much needed energy on the defensive end.
 
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I see a lot of people speculating on Traore.

I posted what follows yesterday. As you can see, Traore was walking with a significant limp yesterday at the game.


cc: @the notorious r.d.m. . @LaQuintaHawkeye @BirdistheWord @kzoohawk80 @Underscore2 @skydog0784 @Mohawkeye
Based on what you're saying there, that does sound like he had a setback - maybe one of those goofy things we see sometimes where players coming back from a leg injury overcompensate when trying to come back from.

It honestly wouldn't surprise me if it was more severe than initially thought too - that was a truly NASTY looking injury at the time.
 
I’ll be happy if he’s good to go for Wisconsin tho next Monday would be nice.

It will be interesting to see what Fran says at his next pregame presser.

I wish ONE reporter would simply ask "Is he cleared to play?" and then, if he is, "Does he plan on playing?" And if Fran says "I don't know," ask, "why is that and can you expand on what is going on with him?"
 
People have tried to read into Fran's facial expression, hand gestures and silence when asked about Traore on Thurs Dec 19 but bottom line is, no one knows exactly what is going on.
Yes, Fran's answer there was certainly interesting.

My guess is it was frustration with the reporter rather than Seydou.

This isn't the first time Fran has been short with reporters when asked about injuries. I get the sense that he has told them no sense in asking, because he isn't going to elaborate on injuries anyway. And they keep asking.

To me, that makes much more sense than Fran expressing attitude towards a player in public. That would be disrespectful, immature, short-sighted, and self-sabotaging
 
Yes, Fran's answer there was certainly interesting.

My guess is it was frustration with the reporter rather than Seydou.

This isn't the first time Fran has been short with reporters when asked about injuries. I get the sense that he has told them no sense in asking, because he isn't going to elaborate on injuries anyway. And they keep asking.

To me, that makes much more sense than Fran expressing attitude towards a player in public. That would be disrespectful, immature, short-sighted, and self-sabotaging
This seems more probable , maybe he was letting some of his disappointment at being down 2 more frontcourt players and he probably knows Cooper can’t yet absorb too many reliable minutes.
 
Yes, Fran's answer there was certainly interesting.

My guess is it was frustration with the reporter rather than Seydou.

This isn't the first time Fran has been short with reporters when asked about injuries. I get the sense that he has told them no sense in asking, because he isn't going to elaborate on injuries anyway. And they keep asking.

To me, that makes much more sense than Fran expressing attitude towards a player in public. That would be disrespectful, immature, short-sighted, and self-sabotaging

Fran often cuts off the reporter's question, too, and starts answering.

If Traore is still not available to play on Monday Dec 30th then I think we should be concerned.

He's played in 6 of Iowa's 12 games so far.
 
somebody needs to ask Mulvey what the hell is going on; after all, he spilled the beans that Cooper was hospitalized ;)
So Mulvey is a bad confidant? The Michael Scott of the Iowa basketball team?

Season 3 Nbc GIF by The Office
 
Pure speculation, but going from Manhattan to Iowa City has to be a big adjustment. Compounded with maybe not getting as many minutes as he had hoped maybe he is discontent. Here’s to hoping it truly is an injury and we will be seeing him soon. He’s a great addition to our team and brings some much needed energy on the defensive end.

I was hoping that having 2 other West African players on the squad would help in the transition
 
Funny how even an injury triggers the "it's Fran's fault" posts. I like that Fran has finally bought in some more athletic players the last couple of years, and not just the "skinny white shooters". Traore can help us, especially our interior defense and on the boards, which is where we really need the help. Wisky game will be a good time for the Hawks to be fully ready to go.
 
I hope we continue use a 3-guard lineup most of the time, with Pryce sliding into 3 and Josh to 2 to give everyone some time off. I also hope that we go to more of a full-court pressure defense after most makes with Traore in the lineup. I don't know whose minutes he will take, but I have always believed that even the best players (Payton and Dix) should get a few minutes off each half. Our press is very effective with Traore at the point and Dix/Thelwell on the wings. Harding or a Sandfort brother can play the rover and Freeman/Dembele protect the basket. I would stick with Freeman/Dembele as the primary rotation at 5. Freeman needs a couple of blows each half and picks up fouls, so maybe 25/15 min. Koch may be the odd man out when everyone is healthy, although I would still try to give him a few meaningful minutes.
 
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I hope we continue use a 3-guard lineup most of the time, with Pryce sliding into 3 and Josh to 2 to give everyone some time off. I also hope that we go to more of a full-court pressure defense after most makes with Traore in the lineup. I don't know whose minutes he will take, but I have always believed that even the best players (Payton and Dix) should get a few minutes off each half. Our press is very effective with Traore at the point and Dix/Thelwell on the wings. Harding or a Sandfort brother can play the rover and Freeman/Dembele protect the basket. I would stick with Freeman/Dembele as the primary rotation at 5. Freeman needs a couple of blows each half and picks up fouls, so maybe 25/15 min. Koch may be the odd man out when everyone is healthy, although I would still try to give him a few meaningful minutes.

Will the 3 guard lineup work come B1G play?

Koch has a sweet looking stroke; he hustles, too, which is fun to watch. I hope he gets meaningful minutes in B1G play. He picked Iowa over Wisconsin & Purdue; would love to see him hit some big shots against them.
 
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