Freshman wall

[Herky T Hawk]

So far we're through 19 regular season games with the first one over two months ago back on 11/11. High schools typically play about 23-25 regular season games over a 2.5 month period, plus districts and state if they advance.

For all of the people standing on the ledge after last night, you better be prepared for a nose dive in a few weeks when our Freshmen hit the wall of a season length that they aren't used to. We have too many of them playing too many minutes for us not to start noticing it happen. Hopefully I'm wrong but I don't plan on being surprised if it happens.

Yes I know that these kids play nearly all year round with AAU ball. But that isn't the same as being forced to play Big Ten style defense for a minimum of 19 games in a row which doesn't count playing against some tough teams in non-con. We've never really been good at defense at any point this season. We've had a few stretches of above average, but easily regress into bad defense like last night. I'm guessing that if the wall hits for a few of our freshmen we'll see a few more games like last night.

 

[Tim Dodge Rules]

Paired with the typical Fran nose dive, I won't be surprised either.

 

[EastIowaHawk]

This year, most Iowa high schools play 20 games (the rest 21), plus the tourney (for those few teams that are fortunate enough to progress deeply through it). So, yes, the grind starts for our freshmen in the next week or so. Our only freshman (or soph, junior or senior) to play 27 games three years in a row in high school is Pemsl. An indication of how valuable he was-- his old team is currently 1-9 in the MVC conference without him (and redshirt walk-on Till).

 

[MagicCoach]

Pemsl's high school team graduated a lot more than just him. That's a broad stroke.

 

[mtdew_fever]

Even team with high level freshman (Kentucky) arent always consistent. Iowa is just going to hit a game or two when they play like that and especially on the road.

Then again, Iowa will probably win a few games they probably shouldnt too.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Even team with high level freshman (Kentucky) arent always consistent. Iowa is just going to hit a game or two when they play like that and especially on the road.

Then again, Iowa will probably win a few games they probably shouldnt too.

This the big ten is up in the air. I wouldn't be shocked to see Iowa knock off an MSU or Minnesota on the road and then lose to OSU or PSU at home. Its just the way the league is. There is no dominate teams and anyone can beat anyone on any given night.

If Iowas goal is postseason play, then they have to protect home court. If they can get to 17-18wins, they will be in the NIT (good for this group). It will give those freshman extra games and experience.

Last night wasn't just the freshman, you saw our upper class guys struggle. The key going on the road and winning is experience and having your veteran players step up and lead the way. Iowa has only 1 veteran player who produces anything. When he is off, this team will really struggle. Hopefully Uhl can get healthy and come back to help on the rest of the road games.

 

[MepoDawg#]

Getting the excuses lined up?

 

[L. Wade Childress]

Considering we had four guys get dinged up against Purdue I don't think this is a fair assessment. Bohannon stepping on someone's foot isn't "the freshman wall".

 

[Herky T Hawk]

Considering we had four guys get dinged up against Purdue I don't think this is a fair assessment. Bohannon stepping on someone's foot isn't "the freshman wall".

My point isn't to make an excuse for last night.. There are other reasons that the game turned out the way that it did.

I'm just warning the complainers that it might be coming soon. As mentioned hopefully Uhl gets healthy and finds his game again. Plus Jones would be very helpful to get back any time now.

Other posters are right though. There will be an unexpected win or two where the guys just put everything together in the same game. Hopefully we minimize the unexpected losses.

 

[hawk_it]

With so many young guys if someone does hit the wall, it looks like there is someone else ready to be the next man in. Example Kriener. Still would like to see Dailey get more minutes.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

Getting the excuses lined up?

More like reasons, I think. We only have two choices - give up or keeping cheering.

 

[K OKeefe]

So far we're through 19 regular season games with the first one over two months ago back on 11/11. High schools typically play about 23-25 regular season games over a 2.5 month period, plus districts and state if they advance.

For all of the people standing on the ledge after last night, you better be prepared for a nose dive in a few weeks when our Freshmen hit the wall of a season length that they aren't used to. We have too many of them playing too many minutes for us not to start noticing it happen. Hopefully I'm wrong but I don't plan on being surprised if it happens.

Yes I know that these kids play nearly all year round with AAU ball. But that isn't the same as being forced to play Big Ten style defense for a minimum of 19 games in a row which doesn't count playing against some tough teams in non-con. We've never really been good at defense at any point this season. We've had a few stretches of above average, but easily regress into bad defense like last night. I'm guessing that if the wall hits for a few of our freshmen we'll see a few more games like last night.

To early for the freshman wall, I believe that usually rears its head the last week of January and February.

 

[markfromj]

Getting the excuses lined up?

Explanations are different than excuses.

 

[ROCKY MOUNTAIN HAWK]

Is the freshman wall just like the senior wall our team hit last year?

 

[HawkLogic]

Even team with high level freshman (Kentucky) arent always consistent. Iowa is just going to hit a game or two when they play like that and especially on the road.

Then again, Iowa will probably win a few games they probably shouldnt too.

I agree Freshman might be more prone to go into a slump if they have weaknesses in there game. Teams learn how to defend them and that causes drop off. If the Freshman slump were a general problem then you would not see the Kentucky's and Duke's winning National titles with multiple Freshmen starters.

 

[MepoDawg#]

Explanations are different than excuses.

As are opinions different than facts.

 

[markfromj]

As are opinions different than facts.

True.

 

[papabeef]

So far we're through 19 regular season games with the first one over two months ago back on 11/11. High schools typically play about 23-25 regular season games over a 2.5 month period, plus districts and state if they advance.

For all of the people standing on the ledge after last night, you better be prepared for a nose dive in a few weeks when our Freshmen hit the wall of a season length that they aren't used to. We have too many of them playing too many minutes for us not to start noticing it happen. Hopefully I'm wrong but I don't plan on being surprised if it happens.

Yes I know that these kids play nearly all year round with AAU ball. But that isn't the same as being forced to play Big Ten style defense for a minimum of 19 games in a row which doesn't count playing against some tough teams in non-con. We've never really been good at defense at any point this season. We've had a few stretches of above average, but easily regress into bad defense like last night. I'm guessing that if the wall hits for a few of our freshmen we'll see a few more games like last night.

it was one bad game relax people.