Dezmon Briscoe commits

[kceasthawk]

No, the original complaint was that Fran never brings in good guards, especially transfers. He’s clearly done that this year in Thelwell. People expect an 1st team all big guard to transfer in have unreal expectations.

As far as “only” having 3 good guards, most teams are lucky to have 2. I like our guys. Again, guard play is NOT our problem this year.

If you really think, "most teams are lucky to have 2 good guards" i don't know what to tell you. Wait until March and see who advances in the NCAA tournament beyond the first weekend. As I also stated the biggest issue is the overall makeup of the roster. Too many projects on scholarship who provide almost nothing on a game to game basis, makes the "guard thing" secondary, (its still a big issue having no depth), but beyond that we have no quality backup for Freeman and a hole at the 4 spot on both ends of the floor. Now if Dembele plays like he did against ISU every game, that would be nice, but I'm not holding my breath. Still having a 4 who basically wants to shoot three's and has no post up game, really contributes to our rebounding issues.

 

[LukaDuka]

Chad Calabria was the PG and in the backcourt with Brown, Johnson was a 6-7 small forward (maybe could be considered the third guard if a 3 guard lineup was a thing then) on that team. Calabria was really good too. They’re in the discussion for sure.

Ronnie Lester himself practically puts that backcourt a level above everyone else.

Bobby Hansen would be considered the same position as Johnson, small forward/guard.

 

[Mohawkeye]

If you really think, "most teams are lucky to have 2 good guards" i don't know what to tell you. Wait until March and see who advances in the NCAA tournament beyond the first weekend. As I also stated the biggest issue is the overall makeup of the roster. Too many projects on scholarship who provide almost nothing on a game to game basis, makes the "guard thing" secondary, (its still a big issue having no depth), but beyond that we have no quality backup for Freeman and a hole at the 4 spot on both ends of the floor. Now if Dembele plays like he did against ISU every game, that would be nice, but I'm not holding my breath. Still having a 4 who basically wants to shoot three's and has no post up game, really contributes to our rebounding issues.

The fact that you have to tell me to “wait until March and see who advances” to see teams with more than two good guards completely validates my point. Ty.

 

[LukaDuka]

JJ wasn’t a guard. Bobby Hansen certainly was a guard. 100% !

 

[LukaDuka]

Bobby Hanson played small forward when Ronnie Lester was healthy. It was Ronnie & Kenny Arnold in the backcourt.

 

[RocknRollface]

If you really think, "most teams are lucky to have 2 good guards" i don't know what to tell you. Wait until March and see who advances in the NCAA tournament beyond the first weekend. As I also stated the biggest issue is the overall makeup of the roster. Too many projects on scholarship who provide almost nothing on a game to game basis, makes the "guard thing" secondary, (its still a big issue having no depth), but beyond that we have no quality backup for Freeman and a hole at the 4 spot on both ends of the floor. Now if Dembele plays like he did against ISU every game, that would be nice, but I'm not holding my breath. Still having a 4 who basically wants to shoot three's and has no post up game, really contributes to our rebounding issues.

Sandfort has been taking most of the minutes at the 4.

Traore and Koch have both been injured but both of them are much better suited to rebound and defend around the basket.

Dembele has shifted to all of his minutes coming at the backup 5.

Sandfort needs to be rotating at the 3 not playing most of his minutes at the 4.

Fran has to get Traore and Koch on the floor for rebounding or kiss a shot at a good season goodbye.

 

[MikeyHawk]

I think this is the best group of guards that Fran has ever had. Losing Thelwell is going to hurt, but if Fran can pick up a decent guard off the portal I like what they have with Dix and Harding returning.
The problem Iowa is having this year is that they're being overwhelmed inside on the defensive end of the court. Maybe replacing Sandfort with Traore will be the solution to that. They need someone alongside Freeman because he hasn't shown this year that he can be the inside defensive force and rebounder that Iowa needs.

Traore is not in good standing

 

[jonesy5960]

Sandfort has been taking most of the minutes at the 4.

Traore and Koch have both been injured but both of them are much better suited to rebound and defend around the basket.

Dembele has shifted to all of his minutes coming at the backup 5.

Sandfort needs to be rotating at the 3 not playing most of his minutes at the 4.

Fran has to get Traore and Koch on the floor for rebounding or kiss a shot at a good season goodbye.

That only takes minutes from Dix and hurts the defense.

 

[jonesy5960]

Traore is not in good standing

What do you mean?

 

[Fran-Con-2]

What do you mean?

Fran was SUPER cryptic when asked about Seydou's availability against Utah.

The official report says he is out due to an ankle. But people are taking Fran's reaction to mean that he isn't playing for other reasons. I'm not sure what to make of it myself.

 

[HawkBall23]

Does he play defense?

Doesn't matter when playing for Fran.

Good defense means extremely little when there's pretty much no emphasis on rebounding effort and/or basics.

 

[kceasthawk]

The fact that you have to tell me to “wait until March and see who advances” to see teams with more than two good guards completely validates my point. Ty.

How? I'm saying the teams with top tier guard play generally advance in March, which is not Iowa under Fran. Iowa's last final 4 what was our back court?

 

[RocknRollface]

That only takes minutes from Dix and hurts the defense.

Maybe a little but Sandfort started the year playing the 3 and it didn’t affect Dix playing time.

It would mostly take minutes from the other 2 guards putting Dix back at the 2.

There's some opponents it will work against but on the whole, continuing with Payton playing 35mpg at the 4 is a dead end strategy.

 

[LUC8]

not really IMO. still too many 6-7/6-8 tweeners. not enough guards.

Have you watched the NBA lately? Full of 6-7/6-8 forwards, tweeners, whatever you want to call them. All guys need to be skilled. That's why they go to college to work on their game. They can't all be LeBron coming out of HS.

 

[RocknRollface]

Have you watched the NBA lately? Full of 6-7/6-8 forwards, tweeners, whatever you want to call them. All guys need to be skilled. That's why they go to college to work on their game. They can't all be LeBron coming out of HS.

Height is not what makes a tweener.

 

[LUC8]

Not here to argue the definition of a tweener, point being lots of talented players have been called that. It's a cliche to make that assessment and dismiss recruits based on height or whatever the reason. Same could be said for football.

 

[RocknRollface]

Not here to argue the definition of a tweener, point being lots of talented players have been called that. It's a cliche to make that assessment and dismiss recruits based on height or whatever the reason. Same could be said for football.

Ok fair but Fran does have a long history of recruiting tweeners who can shoot.

Not athletic enough to defend on the perimeter, not big enough to play inside.

 

[LUC8]

Ok fair but Fran does have a long history of recruiting tweeners who can shoot.

Not athletic enough to defend on the perimeter, not big enough to play inside.

I suppose there is something to be said about the fact that Fran has had to take what he can get so to speak and that has involved some recruits that probably would have garnered greater attention if not for the fact they are labeled as such.

I think the bigger problem has been lack of defensive abilities in order to get the high volume scorers. One would think the defense could be learned/taught but I don't think he's that type of coach or the system they run just doesn't focus on it.

I do see some minimal strides towards getting some more athletic and defensive upside players. Owen for example is a great shot blocker. New center recruit coming in, another great shot blocker.

 

[Mitch122]

Can he rebound?

 

[Ladell-hawk]

Bobby Hanson played small forward when Ronnie Lester was healthy. It was Ronnie & Kenny Arnold in the backcourt.

Hansen only started that freshman season when Ronnie was injured and he played guard.

 

[Ladell-hawk]

Hansen only started that freshman season when Ronnie was injured and he played guard.

When Ronnie was playing Hansen came off the bench.

 

[Ladell-hawk]

I suppose there is something to be said about the fact that Fran has had to take what he can get so to speak and that has involved some recruits that probably would have garnered greater attention if not for the fact they are labeled as such.

I think the bigger problem has been lack of defensive abilities in order to get the high volume scorers. One would think the defense could be learned/taught but I don't think he's that type of coach or the system they run just doesn't focus on it.

I do see some minimal strides towards getting some more athletic and defensive upside players. Owen for example is a great shot blocker. New center recruit coming in, another great shot blocker.

I wouldn’t call Owen a great shot blocker at all.

 

[LUC8]

I wouldn’t call Owen a great shot blocker at all.

He's averaging nearly 2 blocks a game. Maybe not "great" as in elite, but not sure what metrics you're using for your definition of a good shot blocker.

Just had to check the conference leaderboard he's tied for 2nd in blocks per game. The other 3 in top 4 are all true centers.

 

[Fran-Con-2]

He's averaging nearly 2 blocks a game. Maybe not "great" as in elite, but not sure what metrics you're using for your definition of a good shot blocker.

Just had to check the conference leaderboard he's tied for 2nd in blocks per game. The other 3 in top 4 are all true centers.

I think statistically Owen is one of the best shot blockers in the Fran era. As a freshman he averaged 1.8 bpg.

Here are some of the other bigs by their best year in terms of bpg:

Basabe : 1.3
Olaseni: 1.6
Woodbury: .8
Uthoff: 2.6
Nunge: .9
Garza: 1.8

Uthoff was the only guy with better numbers. Maybe speaks more to how poor Fran’s teams have been at blocking shots, but it certainly isn’t a weakness in Owens game

 

[IllQChawk]

Despite the really good win tonight, if Fran is teaching ball watching to his players, it's maybe the only thing that they really do well on defense in games. It seems that every opponent they play, makes a goodly amount of backdoor layups every game. Tonight was no different, except Iowa over come the many backdoor fg's Utah made and pulled out the win. Will if ever stop!

 

[kceasthawk]

Have you watched the NBA lately? Full of 6-7/6-8 forwards, tweeners, whatever you want to call them. All guys need to be skilled. That's why they go to college to work on their game. They can't all be LeBron coming out of HS.

Lolol.. And how many of those guys can't defend a guard or a wing on defense, or slide down and guard a 4.

 

[kceasthawk]

I suppose there is something to be said about the fact that Fran has had to take what he can get so to speak and that has involved some recruits that probably would have garnered greater attention if not for the fact they are labeled as such.

I think the bigger problem has been lack of defensive abilities in order to get the high volume scorers. One would think the defense could be learned/taught but I don't think he's that type of coach or the system they run just doesn't focus on it.

I do see some minimal strides towards getting some more athletic and defensive upside players. Owen for example is a great shot blocker. New center recruit coming in, another great shot blocker.

Owen may block a few shots, but he's not really a good defender either. Guys who know how to play good defense, and move their feet don't get in foul trouble in the first half of EVERY game. And maybe his coach could stop letting him switch on screens 30ft from the basket and leaving his man alone in the lane for Christ's sake.....

 

[kceasthawk]

Despite the really good win tonight, if Fran is teaching ball watching to his players, it's maybe the only thing that they really do well on defense in games. It seems that every opponent they play, makes a goodly amount of backdoor layups every game. Tonight was no different, except Iowa over come the many backdoor fg's Utah made and pulled out the win. Will if ever stop!

Probably the same time he stops having his post player hedge on those screens and leaving their man standing alone in the lane...

 

[kceasthawk]

He's averaging nearly 2 blocks a game. Maybe not "great" as in elite, but not sure what metrics you're using for your definition of a good shot blocker.

Just had to check the conference leaderboard he's tied for 2nd in blocks per game. The other 3 in top 4 are all true centers.

And how many fouls does he pick up in the process? It's just like that old saying, "the most important ability is availability". Not much good sitting in a chair in foul trouble half the time....

 

[LUC8]

And how many fouls does he pick up in the process? It's just like that old saying, "the most important ability is availability". Not much good sitting in a chair in foul trouble half the time....

And who the hell does he have to help him out in the post. He's still learning, yes he can be a liability at time and is being forced to bang down low with bigger post players.

I'm not mad about a guy averaging 17 points and 2 blocks his Soph season. He needs to improve on rebounding and playing in position especially but he's young and still learning which is pretty common for the position he plays. He's really a PF playing center and has little help.

 

[Andrew Houk]

And how many fouls does he pick up in the process? It's just like that old saying, "the most important ability is availability". Not much good sitting in a chair in foul trouble half the time....

Yeah, one of the main things I advocated in my article was to have Freeman play drop coverage. I think that would help a lot with both two point defense, fewer fouls and better defensive rebounding.

 

[kceasthawk]

And who the hell does he have to help him out in the post. He's still learning, yes he can be a liability at time and is being forced to bang down low with bigger post players.

I'm not mad about a guy averaging 17 points and 2 blocks his Soph season. He needs to improve on rebounding and playing in position especially but he's young and still learning which is pretty common for the position he plays. He's really a PF playing center and has little help.

He's plenty big enough to play center, at 6'10" and 235 or whatever he is. His fouls come because he swats down and reaches too much. Thats on him. As for the little help, I agree, which of course goes right back to the construction of the roster. We have a 7'0" who's been here 2 years longer the Owen who plays every other game maybe 2 minutes, and redshirted in his THIRD year because he wasn't ready to play. You can't get past that.

 

[RocknRollface]

Yeah, one of the main things I advocated in my article was to have Freeman play drop coverage. I think that would help a lot with both two point defense, fewer fouls and better defensive rebounding.

I don't think that would have worked out well tonight with the way Utah was shooting 3s off the ball screen.

The first 5 minutes of the game Freeman was really executing the screen defense well. After that it was not great.

 

[Ladell-hawk]

And who the hell does he have to help him out in the post. He's still learning, yes he can be a liability at time and is being forced to bang down low with bigger post players.

I'm not mad about a guy averaging 17 points and 2 blocks his Soph season. He needs to improve on rebounding and playing in position especially but he's young and still learning which is pretty common for the position he plays. He's really a PF playing center and has little help.

He needs to get 8-10 rebounds every game. He rarely reaches that level.

 

[Ladell-hawk]

He needs to get 8-10 rebounds every game. He rarely reaches that level.