Defense!

[RomanHawk]

What an improvement. Not exactly up to the level of "stifling", but we plugged the biggest leak last night.
In several of our games, we have given up 14-18 points in uncontested layups and dunks. That's hard to overcome
or to keep games from going to the wire.

Additional improvement can be made with better situational substitutions. But generally, hopefully,
we've turned the corner. We've all known that defensive improvement holds the key to the season
and it appears that as we near the end and the post season, that the team has seen that reality.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

I finally went back and looked up the last time Iowa had given up less than 70 pts in 4 straight Big Ten games.

The answer is the 2014-2015 season, which may have been one of, if not, the best defensive teams Fran has had here.

Iowa held 7 straight conference opponents under 70 that year (with a 5-2 record and close BAU losses to Minnesota and Northwestern, of course).

In fact, we held opponents to under 70 pts in 14 of 19 conference games (including a stupid B10 tournament loss to stupid Penn State)............

 

[BlackNGoldBleeder]

When you bring the defensive energy early, you get teams out of rhythm. As a result, guys will miss a lot of wide open shots as the game wears on. When you start a game lax on defense and allow guys to get in rhythm, they tend to make a lot of difficult shots down the stretch.

I'm very pleased with how Iowa has gotten after guys right out of the gate these past couple games.

 

[HawkeyeInCentralIowa]

I finally went back and looked up the last time Iowa had given up less than 70 pts in 4 straight Big Ten games.

The answer is the 2014-2015 season, which may have been one of, if not, the best defensive teams Fran has had here.

Iowa held 7 straight conference opponents under 70 that year (with a 5-2 record and close BAU losses to Minnesota and Northwestern, of course).

In fact, we held opponents to under 70 pts in 14 of 19 conference games (including a stupid B10 tournament loss to stupid Penn State)............

That’s team had Aaron White, Olaseni, Jok, Uthoff, Clemmons, Gesell, and Woodbury. That team also finished the season the best of any Fran coached team, winning 6 in a row to end the season.

 

[KcTo]

Last 2 games IOWA employs M2M and

#1. MSU worst home loss in 25 years 58 points- FG% 35%
#2. Wiskys worst home loss margin of season 62 points- FGA% 30%

IOWA can play M2M defense

 

[Jumpshot00]

Got to give them credit. It looks like improved effort and focus. Contesting 3's is huge. Having guys contest layups and blocking shots, things Murray and Nunge are decent at, is important. Even if some of those contests draw fouls or they hit shots. Making the opposition a little uncomfortable sure beats letting them get whatever they want.

 

[KcTo]

Got to give them credit. It looks like improved effort and focus. Contesting 3's is huge. Having guys contest layups and blocking shots, things Murray and Nunge are decent at, is important. Even if some of those contests draw fouls or they hit shots. Making the opposition a little uncomfortable sure beats letting them get whatever they want.

Theres a big difference in catch and shooting wide open 3 point shots and having to create own shot off dribble, or off screens, or pick and rolls. with exceptions being the Wieskamps of the world that creates many of his 3’s.

 

[Eternal Return]

It's a m2m switching defense, isn't it? Whatever it is, it's helping. Even JBo and CMac are getting burned less than they were before. The zone might be useful now and then in the NCAAs again, but the B10 teams have seen Fran's zone for years and have it mostly figured out (with this group of players)

 

[KcTo]

It's a m2m switching defense, isn't it? Whatever it is, it's helping. Even JBo and CMac are getting burned less than they were before. The zone might be useful now and then in the NCAAs again, but the B10 teams have seen Fran's zone for years and have it mostly figured out (with this group of players)

I believe They were only switching in late shot clock scenarios, but I did see a few double teams when the ball went low, maybe too protect Garza from foul exposure (particularly when Nunge was on bench in deep foul trouble )

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

I believe They were only switching in late shot clock scenarios, but I did see a few double teams when the ball went low, maybe too protect Garza from foul exposure (particularly when Nunge was on bench in deep foul trouble )

Which is fine because they should be doubling anyways, since that's what everyone does to us. Give them a taste of their own medicine, I say.....

Because f*** Wisconsin, that's why.

 

[Hawksfor3]

Because f*** Wisconsin, that's why.

THIS.

 

[Eternal Return]

I believe They were only switching in late shot clock scenarios, but I did see a few double teams when the ball went low, maybe too protect Garza from foul exposure (particularly when Nunge was on bench in deep foul trouble )

That makes sense. I saw JBo and Garza switch one time in the 2nd half and it was the only time I was cringing because Bohannon was trying to body Potter in the paint. Luckily, UW took a perimeter shot and missed. But that was the only time I saw a switch that I thought might cost them.

 

[Herky T Hawk]

I don’t know if I’m ready to say we’re playing better defense on the whole. Both MSU and Wisconsin missed a collection of wide open jumpers and close in shots that teams normally don’t miss as much as they did. Some of that is perhaps better D. But a lot of it is from going against bad shooting teams. MSU is an average team at best this year and Wisconsin has known shooting issues this season.

 

[iowa surfer]

What an improvement. Not exactly up to the level of "stifling", but we plugged the biggest leak last night.
In several of our games, we have given up 14-18 points in uncontested layups and dunks. That's hard to overcome
or to keep games from going to the wire.

Additional improvement can be made with better situational substitutions. But generally, hopefully,
we've turned the corner. We've all known that defensive improvement holds the key to the season
and it appears that as we near the end and the post season, that the team has seen that reality.

Defense? Attitude huh? Go Hawks...

 

[Franisdaman]

defense wins national championships

 

[HawkeyeInCentralIowa]

Iowa wins national championships

Fify

 

[BBHawk]

Adjusted D now 92, adjusted O is 1.

 

[desihawk]

Would it be fair to think that Fran needs to keep some defensive adjustments in the back pocket saved up for march if we are to make a deep run? Also is the recent effectiveness of m2m somewhat due to lack of scouting or is it likely to stand the test of time?

 

[BBHawk]

Would it be fair to think that Fran needs to keep some defensive adjustments in the back pocket saved up for march if we are to make a deep run? Also is the recent effectiveness of m2m somewhat due to lack of scouting or is it likely to stand the test of time?

4 games in a row with a lot of m2m. Surely one of those teams would have caught on and planned for it, right? Especially WI?

 

[cleotishaywood]

4 games in a row with a lot of m2m. Surely one of those teams would have caught on and planned for it, right? Especially WI?

Wisconsin is not overly athletic.

 

[BBHawk]

Wisconsin is not overly athletic.

That's one. I wouldn’t say that about IN, MI State or Rutgers.

 

[Eternal Return]

Would it be fair to think that Fran needs to keep some defensive adjustments in the back pocket saved up for march if we are to make a deep run? Also is the recent effectiveness of m2m somewhat due to lack of scouting or is it likely to stand the test of time?

I don't think anything needs to be saved for March. Those teams will have too.little time to watch as much film as B10 teams that face Fran once or twice every year. In fact, I'm always hoping for coaching turnover at other B10 schools because a new staff will have to learn what Iowa does from scratch. It's also the reason my bitching about Fran's substitutions is not a call to fire him. No, I think he's "found himself" in terms of now knowing the type of players that best fit into his system. I'd hate to start from scratch again because it's really rare to get a coach who teaches players to run such a beautiful offense.

 

[HawkRugged17]

 

[unoHawkeye]

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[MWardT]

 

[HawkRugged17]

 

[HawkRugged17]

 

[TheTruthTheWholeTruth]

Since Feb 10, per barttorvik.com, Iowa is the #1 team in CBB, 4th on O and 6th on D.