Fran says Iowa needs better defense

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

That's a good observation. Now what will he do to address a problem that has existed, to varying degrees, throughout his tenure in Iowa City? Fran also said Iowa needs to play better early in games.

So I'm will to help Fran out with a few suggestions. First, as others have said for awhile now, Joe T should start in place of JBo. I love Bohannon, but he's not himself, and so Fran needs to shake things up. Let the veteran come in off the bench and see if that won't help both the team and the player. As we have said so many times on the football board, it makes no sense to keep doing the same thing and expect a different result.

Also, Keegan Murray has to get more minutes than PMac, who is doing OK, but Murray is just better right now. I think Murray also should get more minutes than Nunge.

In addition, at least for a few minutes here and there, Ulis and/or Perkins should be used to amp up the defense, especially against teams with quick, small guards.

And the defensive schemes need to be revisited and adjusted to better fit personnel.

Fran has options, but will he use them?

Complaining about problems won't fix them. So start Joe T., give Keegan Murray more minutes, and use Ulis and Perkins strategically.

Iowa can play better defense, and Iowa can sustain 40 minutes of good basketball, but the coach has to help make that happen. No better time to make some adjustments than against NW on Tuesday night.

 

[SotaHawk87]

I might have missed it but what has Perkins done to earn time on the floor besides a few buckets in mop up minutes? I also just don’t see where Ulis would get the minutes.. I think they both have a ton of potential and will be great but I don’t see it this year.

I do think Murray should get more minutes than PMAC but Nunge has also been good when not shooting the three..

Overall though, defense for sure needs to improve.

 

[HawkRose]

I don't see perkins or Ulis getting minutes. Increased minutes for Joe T and Keegan, don't put Jbo and Cmac on floor at same time.

 

[CO_hawk]

Doesn't he say this multiple times every year? Bench the mother fvckers that don't get it.

 

[blhawk]

Dude needs to look in the mirror. The shitty defense is 100% on him. It's nothing new. Hire someone who knows defense or STFU and reap what you've sown, Francis

 

[Raptorpeeps]

That's a good observation. Now what will he do to address a problem that has existed, to varying degrees, throughout his tenure in Iowa City? Fran also said Iowa needs to play better early in games.

So I'm will to help Fran out with a few suggestions. First, as others have said for awhile now, Joe T should start in place of JBo. I love Bohannon, but he's not himself, and so Fran needs to shake things up. Let the veteran come in off the bench and see if that won't help both the team and the player. As we have said so many times on the football board, it makes no sense to keep doing the same thing and expect a different result.

Also, Keegan Murray has to get more minutes than PMac, who is doing OK, but Murray is just better right now. I think Murray also should get more minutes than Nunge.

In addition, at least for a few minutes here and there, Ulis and/or Perkins should be used to amp up the defense, especially against teams with quick, small guards.

And the defensive schemes need to be revisited and adjusted to better fit personnel.

Fran has options, but will he use them?

Complaining about problems won't fix them. So start Joe T., give Keegan Murray more minutes, and use Ulis and Perkins strategically.

Iowa can play better defense, and Iowa can sustain 40 minutes of good basketball, but the coach has to help make that happen. No better time to make some adjustments than against NW on Tuesday night.

I wonder if Fran will just screen shot this post or if he will have his assistant also type it up on acid free paper so he can carry it around in his pocket for quick reference.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

Let's face it - compared to many teams out there this one is pretty slow. Defensive coaching and strategy will only carry you so far if the guys are just not fast or quick enough to cover the floor.

I agree with most that Joe T is better right now than Jbo, but I would not start him - unless you plan on taking Jbo out of the rotation completely. I would rather have him in there with Garza, Weezy and CJ than with Jack, KM and PMac. I do think Joe's minutes should go up.

I'm not down on PMac like most here. He's 6-9, uber talented. He'll get better.

I'm not sure how many minutes they've been on the floor together, but Garza and Nunge playing together is intriguing to me - maybe for a handful of minutes each game. Put Garza on the perimeter and Jack down low - opponents can't really double Garza then.

 

[HawkLogic]

I might have missed it but what has Perkins done to earn time on the floor besides a few buckets in mop up minutes? I also just don’t see where Ulis would get the minutes.. I think they both have a ton of potential and will be great but I don’t see it this year.

I do think Murray should get more minutes than PMAC but Nunge has also been good when not shooting the three..

Overall though, defense for sure needs to improve.

Perkins has the requisite athleticism/size to be able to guard someone say 6'2 to 6'5 with elite athleticism. Ulis has better size than JoeT and also can be a good defender

Jalen Suggs, Marcus Car...notice a pattern with guards going off? I like JoeT, but he is on the small side in guarding 3pt line. JBo can't guard. Connor is on slow side. Fredrick is decent athlete, not elite and not all that big.

Of course to make use of better athletes you would need to play man defense. Maybe Perkins is going to make a bunch of mistakes, but getting him and Ullis some minutes earlier in season could pay off. Iowa is one guard injury away from needing Ulis or Perkins anyway.

Fran will do Fran things. He will complain and make some minor rotation change...hawks will win 12 B1G games but not compete for B1G title because they can't stop opponent hot hands. Iowa has the best player in nation, most consistent scorer in nation, and the 4 other guys don't play much defense or score on consistent basis---Connor and JBo are clearly the weak links in the starting lineup in terms of what they bring to defense/offense. Starting both of them is major mistake and will be proven so as season unfolds until Fran makes some changes in PT/substitution pattern.

 

[boxahawks]

JBo has always been like Kent MacCausland, a great shooter, and maybe a little better in other facets of the game.....until now. If he doesn't start, I don't know where he gets minutes at any point. He's out there for the experience he brings, but we have plenty of others with experience. Let the new guys play, especially Keegan and Joe T.

 

[RomanHawk]

Let's face it - compared to many teams out there this one is pretty slow. Defensive coaching and strategy will only carry you so far if the guys are just not fast or quick enough to cover the floor.

I agree with most that Joe T is better right now than Jbo, but I would not start him - unless you plan on taking Jbo out of the rotation completely. I would rather have him in there with Garza, Weezy and CJ than with Jack, KM and PMac. I do think Joe's minutes should go up.

I'm not down on PMac like most here. He's 6-9, uber talented. He'll get better.

I'm not sure how many minutes they've been on the floor together, but Garza and Nunge playing together is intriguing to me - maybe for a handful of minutes each game. Put Garza on the perimeter and Jack down low - opponents can't really double Garza then.

This should have been the plan against MN. They admitted coming into the game that post defense was their biggest weakness. Therefore they knew they would have to "gang up" on Garza try to limit him. So
we should have fed Gazra on one side with Nunge coming from the other side or the middle for an easy lay-in.