Game thoughts

[DodgerHawki]

Calling that second half solid is pretty far fetched.

Id be more inclined to say pathetic.

I wouldn't say pathetic. It was what I expected with the way the first half ended. Iowa didn't just start turning the ball over a bunch. Virginia actually started getting after it and making things difficult for Iowa. Then Virginia started making 3's at a high clip and we had a game. The contested shots that Iowa made at a high % in the first half didn't go in (surprise) in the second half. Iowa's defense in the second half was not very good. We've heard a lot about how they are going to be better on defense this year. So far, they really aren't. But there is time.

Virginia is a competent team. Holding on and finding a way to win on the road is a positive. Playing at Purdue was always a very low-percentage game, but now with a win in the pocket this week if Iowa loses to the Boilers not a huge deal.

 

[DodgerHawki]

Keegan also disappeared after his ankle injury in the second half. We should be able to count on him to step up more than tonight in other games imo. Fortunately, those other guys picked up the slack

Sandfort is another guy who can come in and fill it up in a hurry. No, we’re not better than many top Big Ten teams, but this team will win a lot of games

I'm not sure what more we can ask him to do. He had 18 points, 9 board and 3 assists. Virginia can actually play defense and they did a good job of not allowing him points at the rim in the second half. Things are going to get much harder for Keegan scoring as we go forward until he starts hitting jumpers at a high rate. He's not going to put up 25 automatically like Garza against good competition.

I thought Iowa's offense down the stretch was pretty good, actually. Didn't turn it over. Rebraca scored in the post and got fouled, just needs to make 3's. Bohannon was clutch and Toussaint made a great individual play at the end.

 

[amahawk]

Yes, over the back no question.

Yes

 

[BBHawk]

I'm not sure what more we can ask him to do. He had 18 points, 9 board and 3 assists. Virginia can actually play defense and they did a good job of not allowing him points at the rim in the second half. Things are going to get much harder for Keegan scoring as we go forward until he starts hitting jumpers at a high rate. He's not going to put up 25 automatically like Garza against good competition.

I thought Iowa's offense down the stretch was pretty good, actually. Didn't turn it over. Rebraca scored in the post and got fouled, just needs to make 3's. Bohannon was clutch and Toussaint made a great individual play at the end.

Keegan/Iowa will not face many defenses that good the rest of the year. Maybe 2 or 3.

 

[ssckelley]

One thing that really stood out is how weak the post play is. I’m glad Iowa got Rebraca but he’s going to get eaten alive in Big Ten play. Losing Nunge really hurt us.

This team is going to sink or swim with Keegan and the occasional hot game by JBo. The Purdue game will be interesting, I won’t be shocked if Iowa loses by 20. Probably the toughest game of the season.

 

[BBHawk]

One thing that really stood out is how weak the post play is. I’m glad Iowa got Rebraca but he’s going to get eaten alive in Big Ten play. Losing Nunge really hurt us.

This team is going to sink or swim with Keegan and the occasional hot game by JBo. The Purdue game will be interesting, I won’t be shocked if Iowa loses by 20. Probably the toughest game of the season.

I agree about losing Nunge. Definitely defending Purdue will be a challenge for Iowa. Help defense will be the key, especially in the paint and getting back out on shooters. I think Iowa will be fine offensively.

 

[farina1]

The most Iowa thing ever, that Murray for Va…1 made fg all season…goes off for 14 tonight with idk how many 3’s. So typical

Courtesy of Iowa’s horrendous zone defense. Agree with posters on Perkins and Sandfort being on the floor more in the second half.

 

[Bulldogs1974]

Joe T got absolutely pancaked (not actually of course) on a screen.
JBo got trucked right before Joe T’s game winner.

A jump stop in the first half is legal, but a travel in the 2nd half when Kr Murray does it?

This game tonight reminded me why I have a love/hate relationship with college basketball. I’m just glad that everyone who played for the Hawks tonight contributed in some way to a great win..

that jump stop was bad. It was even super slow, so it wasn't a hard call. #21 was as physical as I've seen in awhile. He set a ton of illegal screens that weren't called. If your feet are a foot wider (some worse) than your shoulders and you lean into the defender it's illegal

 

[anon_qczsdwtnv6esw]

Fran seemed quite mellow during the entire game. Even when Iowa started to slowly implode. I never saw him get the angry face! He was jacked after that last second block though!!

 

[sober_teacher]

He was standing out at the arc doing nothing and getting wide open shots. It's Fran's defense that allows this over and over again to mediocre players. We don't have to be a great defensive team but some adjustments here or there would really help this team.

I guess I thought the majority of their 3s were contested most of the night. And most teams will layoff a poor shooter until he proves he can make those consistently. Others will do the same with Connor for example. I expected them to make a few, but 7/9 is unexpected by any but the best teams.

 

[littlez]

I wouldn't say pathetic. It was what I expected with the way the first half ended. Iowa didn't just start turning the ball over a bunch. Virginia actually started getting after it and making things difficult for Iowa. Then Virginia started making 3's at a high clip and we had a game. The contested shots that Iowa made at a high % in the first half didn't go in (surprise) in the second half. Iowa's defense in the second half was not very good. We've heard a lot about how they are going to be better on defense this year. So far, they really aren't. But there is time.

Virginia is a competent team. Holding on and finding a way to win on the road is a positive. Playing at Purdue was always a very low-percentage game, but now with a win in the pocket this week if Iowa loses to the Boilers not a huge deal.

Agree 100%. We couldn't miss in the 1st half and Uva couldn't make a shot which let us get out and run in transition and get open shots. We rushed some shots at the end of the 1st half and they ended on a 6-0 run. They have not been a good 3 point shooting team and they couldn't miss the 2nd half, 7-9 from 3. Bad defense? Possibly. I think when a team gets hot it's contagious. That allowed them to get set up in defense and they are hard to score on in the half court game. Rabraca actually made some big shots down the stretch. Unfortunately he missed the free throws down the stretch. I thought it was a very well played game by both teams, big shots by both teams in the last few minutes and we hit the biggest one!

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Told my buddy at halftime, first team to 65 wins. Hawks got to 65 first and won. Didn’t know it would take our last shot and to stop them.

Our defense was missing in stretches of the second half and some poor shot selection hurt us, further. Big buckets by Jordan, Philip, Joe, Kris, and Keegan. Hope he’s okay.

First half flow was gone after half. I sensed Virginia’s defense would make a comeback. Lots of desperation shots at the end of the shot clock. Good offense by them ,also.

Rebraca could’ve saved me a heart attack by making FTs. Just made the ending that much sweeter.

You build big leads for a reason. It certainly helped us tonight.

I was doing the math in my head. I thought 60, which would mean we'd need to score 16 before they scored 30 in the 2nd half.

Unfortunately, our offense was bogged way down in the 2nd half and Virginia couldn't miss (once they started moving the ball like all the other teams do that make Iowa chase on defense thus ending in wide open shots that they always make.......)






But at least we won!

 

[hexumhawk]

My thoughts-

Classic Fran game minus us taking the L
Outstanding offense to start
Lack of defensive IQ and priority
Questionable subbing or lack thereof

 

[eyesofhawk]

As Fran would say, "that's why you build a 21 point lead."

 

[24 so far]

Fran seemed quite mellow during the entire game. Even when Iowa started to slowly implode. I never saw him get the angry face! He was jacked after that last second block though!!

He got pissed right at the end of the first half when UVA got a layup with 1 second left. Rebraca contested and had his hands straight up, but Fran wasn't happy with somebody there, and Keegan and Rebraca were the only guys in the picture at that time I believe. Only time I saw fired up anyway.

 

[HungryHawk]

Keegan/Iowa will not face many defenses that good the rest of the year. Maybe 2 or 3.

Sounds like Iowa State is a lot closer to that level of defense than they were a year ago.

 

[SI_NYC]

The most Iowa thing ever, that Murray for Va…1 made fg all season…goes off for 14 tonight with idk how many 3’s. So typical

Gardener has shot 2x 3's this year. Both against Iowa. Both makes.

 

[RocknRollface]

I wouldn't say pathetic. It was what I expected with the way the first half ended. Iowa didn't just start turning the ball over a bunch. Virginia actually started getting after it and making things difficult for Iowa. Then Virginia started making 3's at a high clip and we had a game. The contested shots that Iowa made at a high % in the first half didn't go in (surprise) in the second half. Iowa's defense in the second half was not very good. We've heard a lot about how they are going to be better on defense this year. So far, they really aren't. But there is time.

Virginia is a competent team. Holding on and finding a way to win on the road is a positive. Playing at Purdue was always a very low-percentage game, but now with a win in the pocket this week if Iowa loses to the Boilers not a huge deal.

Im talking about defense.

Blowing a 20 pt lead against one of the slowest teams in the country is flat out ridiculous.

All they had to do was not give up wide open 3s every time down court but they found a way.

After rewatched the game Im more convinced than ever they spend essentially no time practicing defense. The communication was non existent. The front line guys don't have a clue how to switch off the ball in man or a clue where to rotate in zone.

Its all coaching.

Fran going to zone is a joke. Its the equivalent of throwing shit against the wall to see if it sticks.

 

[RocknRollface]

Courtesy of Iowa’s horrendous zone defense. Agree with posters on Perkins and Sandfort being on the floor more in the second half.

Absolutely maddening.

The only guy who looks like he knew what he was doing in Frans stupid zone was Perkins.

He actually close out effectively on their Murray multiple times in the corner and prevented shots from happening.

 

[Rifler]

These guys can play man,.. we need more man.

 

[RocknRollface]

I guess I thought the majority of their 3s were contested most of the night. And most teams will layoff a poor shooter until he proves he can make those consistently. Others will do the same with Connor for example. I expected them to make a few, but 7/9 is unexpected by any but the best teams.

They were mostly wide open.

 

[littlez]

I mean we can play man, but we aren't great in either. I actually think we should be better on defense this year w/out Garza. We all know how hard he worked but he was unbelievably bad in the pick and roll. Throw Jbo in last year and that's an all time bad defensive team. Rebraca better on D than Garza. Obviously nowhere near the offensive game. Murray super versatile on both ends. Touissant a very solid man defender. Jbo still terrible. However when he's knocking down shots like last night he has to be in there. They just put a guy in the middle of our 1-3-1 last night and got a layup or open 3 every possession in the 2nd half. Patrick w/his length and athleticism should be a way better defender than he is. Especially playing man.

 

[RocknRollface]

Agree 100%. We couldn't miss in the 1st half and Uva couldn't make a shot which let us get out and run in transition and get open shots. We rushed some shots at the end of the 1st half and they ended on a 6-0 run. They have not been a good 3 point shooting team and they couldn't miss the 2nd half, 7-9 from 3. Bad defense? Possibly. I think when a team gets hot it's contagious. That allowed them to get set up in defense and they are hard to score on in the half court game. Rabraca actually made some big shots down the stretch. Unfortunately he missed the free throws down the stretch. I thought it was a very well played game by both teams, big shots by both teams in the last few minutes and we hit the biggest one!

100% bad defense.

Half of those open corner shots were preventable by a simple switch of the pin down.

That should always be automatic with a smaller team like this.

They better get that fixed.

 

[GOHOX69]

Stunned refs didn’t call a foul on Patty Macs block

It was sweet and clean although the ESPN dbags thought it was a foul. Suck on them apples.

 

[RocknRollface]

I mean we can play man, but we aren't great in either. I actually think we should be better on defense this year w/out Garza. We all know how hard he worked but he was unbelievably bad in the pick and roll. Throw Jbo in last year and that's an all time bad defensive team. Rebraca better on D than Garza. Obviously nowhere near the offensive game. Murray super versatile on both ends. Touissant a very solid man defender. Jbo still terrible. However when he's knocking down shots like last night he has to be in there. They just put a guy in the middle of our 1-3-1 last night and got a layup or open 3 every possession in the 2nd half. Patrick w/his length and athleticism should be a way better defender than he is. Especially playing man.

This is a team with quite a few very good individual defenders that doesn't understand basic concepts of team defense.

Its classic Fran.

 

[sober_teacher]

This is a team with quite a few very good individual defenders that doesn't understand basic concepts of team defense.

Its classic Fran.

Well, in previous years we didnt have very good individual defenders either though. I thought we played solid defense for much of the night, but in second half it got spotty as VA got hot from 3.

 

[Slim45]

Well, in previous years we didnt have very good individual defenders either though. I thought we played solid defense for much of the night, but in second half it got spotty as VA got hot from 3.

honestly against a team like va that isn’t supposed to be a good 3pt team, and didn’t make much the first half, it isn’t a bad decision going zone up 20. Force them to make shots. Problem is they got hot and Fran didn’t adjust out of the zone early enough. We got the win in a hostile environment, against our first true test, enjoy the win!

 

[jonesy5960]

I wouldn't say pathetic. It was what I expected with the way the first half ended. Iowa didn't just start turning the ball over a bunch. Virginia actually started getting after it and making things difficult for Iowa. Then Virginia started making 3's at a high clip and we had a game. The contested shots that Iowa made at a high % in the first half didn't go in (surprise) in the second half. Iowa's defense in the second half was not very good. We've heard a lot about how they are going to be better on defense this year. So far, they really aren't. But there is time.

Virginia is a competent team. Holding on and finding a way to win on the road is a positive. Playing at Purdue was always a very low-percentage game, but now with a win in the pocket this week if Iowa loses to the Boilers not a huge deal.

Iowa didn't start turning the ball over, period. Iowa had 3 turnovers in the second half, 5 the entire game which frankly is amazing against that team given the pace that Iowa plays at. There was definitely a pickup in VA defensive intensity from the end of the first half forward. Iowa struggled to score but frankly that was to be expected.

The problem as has been in the past was the Iowa defense not responding like Virginia's did. Iowa's defense was just bad in the second half. Giving up layups and wide open 3 after wide open 3 is what holds this team back every year. Virginia is an elite defensive team. They have shown so far that they are in no way a great or even good offensive team. We've seen it way too often that teams and players who struggle all year offensively have career games against the Hawks, particularly from 3 point range, and is why they haven't finished higher than 75th in defensive efficiency the last 4 or 5 years.

You could make the argument that Fran has sacrificed defense for great offense. You can argue whether that's been effective or not. Last year's team was limited athleticly so it was never going to be a great defensive team, but it certainly could have performed better on that end of the floor. This team doesn't have those physical limitations and yet we are seeing a similar pattern so far this year as in years past and it currently sits at 96 in defensive efficiency. Maybe the staff just has no idea how to coach defense.

This team has an excellent offensive identity, one of the best in the country, but if we see similar defensive performances going forward they will struggle mightily to contain average or better offensive teams. Hopefully that won't be the case.

 

[BBHawk]

Sounds like Iowa State is a lot closer to that level of defense than they were a year ago.

We'll soon see.

 

[Rifler]

Iowa had 3 turnovers in the second half, 5 the entire game which frankly is amazing against that team given the pace that Iowa plays at.

And even more amazing is the fact that Iowa actually only had (4) turnovers for the entire game...

 

[hooper56]

My thoughts-

Classic Fran game minus us taking the L
Outstanding offense to start
Lack of defensive IQ and priority
Questionable subbing or lack thereof

Why do people who hate the Hawkeyes bother to come on here? Go away.

 

[jonesy5960]

And even more amazing is the fact that Iowa actually only had (4) turnovers for the entire game...

I thought it was 5. I stand corrected. Even more impressive.

 

[Rifler]

I thought it was 5. I stand corrected. Even more impressive.

Truly was,.. especially against a UV defense..

 

[jonesy5960]

Im talking about defense.

Blowing a 20 pt lead against one of the slowest teams in the country is flat out ridiculous.

All they had to do was not give up wide open 3s every time down court but they found a way.

After rewatched the game Im more convinced than ever they spend essentially no time practicing defense. The communication was non existent. The front line guys don't have a clue how to switch off the ball in man or a clue where to rotate in zone.

Its all coaching.

Fran going to zone is a joke. Its the equivalent of throwing shit against the wall to see if it sticks.

There was a least one play in the zone where the VA player caught the ball in the middle of the key and 3-4 Hawks on either side of him had an angle to defend but literally stood and watched him as he drove straight to the hoop for a layup wondering who was going to defend him. It's like they all became spectators for a moment.

 

[HawksRMe]

Two cool things about this game: boat racing UVA in the first half showed how good this team can be and they got experience being in a late game dog fight

And most teams would not have Virginia's D to get them back in the game. A 20 pt lead would be game over.

 

[RocknRollface]

There was a least one play in the zone where the VA player caught the ball in the middle of the key and 3-4 Hawks on either side of him had an angle to defend but literally stood and watched him as he drove straight to the hoop for a layup wondering who was going to defend him. It's like they all became spectators for a moment.

They had no idea what they were supposed to be doing.

 

[RocknRollface]

And most teams would not have Virginia's D to get them back in the game. A 20 pt lead would be game over.

Iowas D is what allowed Virginia back in the game.

Iowa still scored 30 points in the second half. Thats like 50 against anyone else.

 

[SI_NYC]

Love the swat by Pmac late, but question...did it matter? Any chance he would have gotten the shot off in time if he hadn't been blocked? I didn't watch a replay but looked like he would have been late in real time.


Doesn't matter either way, just wondering what others saw....GO HAWKS!

It mattered. I just went back and watched. Patrick's block was at .1 remaining.

 

[ObeseMuffins]

I'm glad we got the win but when we will learn how to cover the corner 3?

 

[Ronman]

My thoughts: We handed the home team a loss on a court where the home team had only lost 17 times in 16 years. They may not be a great Virginia team, but we aren't a great Hawkeye team either and yet somehow managed to win. Given the the bizarro reaction of so many on here, I suspect the Virginia forum are yucking it up over the loss.