Gesell, Iowa's so much better......
- Thread starter IllQChawk
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I am pretty sure that Fran has tried to get a top PG the last couple of years. Dickerson was supposed to be the insurance policy and next-year starter, but that didn't work out. Ulis obviously would have been great, but some of the others that looked like good options turned out to have other issues. As long as Mike and Sapp are both healthy, we are blessed to have two experienced, very solid PGs.
I am not sure why we need to have these same threads running every week, especially when the team is winning. Biting your nails is part of the fun of college basketball. To hear you guys bitching, you would think that Iowa has a losing record, Mike is shooting 30% on his FTs, and it has cost us a bunch of games. Maybe if you watch the whole game, you will appreciate just how good Mike and Sapp are.
He just needs to keep the Defenses honest and make them have to guard him to the 3 point line. Opens up the court for everyone else and he is a good driver off the dribble if there is room.
The only things that bug me with Mike...end of Halfs and games; never works out with him slowing it down and running through him. #2 is FT shooting at the end of games but that has been beaten like a dead horse.
The only things that bug me with Mike...end of Halfs and games; never works out with him slowing it down and running through him. #2 is FT shooting at the end of games but that has been beaten like a dead horse.
But yet, in the last few days we've had a thread where we were told Fran wants his PG to do this at the end of games. That's why this is particularly baffling to me.
Mike's play has not been poor,but maybe not up to the standards that we expect from Mike Gesell. Mike is a team leader, his defense has been excellent and he is fighting from opening tip until final buzzer. He is not the reason we lost to Maryland.
It depends on the particular circumstances. Fran had instructed Mike to get quick points at the end of the Maryland game, and Mike was taking it to the basket to do that. Yesterday, Mike seemed to want to prove something, because he tried to stuff the ball over a NW defender three different times. One time was with maybe 7 sec left in the half, which was a few sec early to give up on other options. I thought he should have gotten a call on 1 or 2 of those drives, because there was contact on the shots, and only one was near the end of a half when zebras don't want to call fouls. Maybe he didn't think the NW bigs were good at defending the basket???
Great post. I love MG but when he drives into the trees, it rarely ends well. It would be interesting to see how many of his turnovers this year have happened on drives to the hoop. I bet it's a lot. When he scores, it's a bonus, but he needn't force it.
When you play them all at the same time, against the other teams primarily starters, this is what you get. Play them with Iowa's starters in a mix and match and they do just fine.
Did this info come from Fran's presser after the game? The call-in show? Just curious as to where you saw this.
The possessions at the end of the 1st half have been maddening for sure. Not sure of the failure percentage, but it's way too damn high. We had a similar scenario with Devyn Marble taking every last possession shot, with similar poor results.
I think this team should just run their normal offense and trust that these experienced players know when it's too early to shoot and what not. We're dribbling time away and forcing up crap shots the way it is, so what could it possibly hurt?
Question about late game strategy was asked in Fran's presser, and he said they chose to take it to the basket for quick scores and foul. Basically, I don't think he thought they could get decent threes quickly, which I also believe would have made more sense down by more than one possession. Mike does sometimes take it to the basket when it doesn't seem like a good idea, but he was following Fran's instructions at the end of the Maryland game.
Another factor was strength. Those MD bigs made our bigs look like stick people. There was a huge weight advantage at every position.
But that's just it! Only Jok returns out of the starters next year and it's evident just how big of a drop off there is from the four seniors and Jok to the freshman and sophomores that played at the end of the game. I don't want to knock Williams at all because he's just a freshman, but in the minutes I've seen him play I would take Clemmons or Gesell 10 times out 10 over him. Hopefully he improves in the offseason and I REALLY hope Bohannon is ready to go as a freshman.
I know we aren't going to be as good next year and that's okay given how young the team will be. I'm just saying that I find it hard to be critical of Gesell when it's obvious that even on his "off" nights he is usually better than the other team's PG ... and definitely better than anyone on the bench.
Which is why my biggest disappointment with Fran is that he doesn't have a jr or soph PG or combo guard on the team. They have only 2 guards who can handle the ball on the team right now, and who knows how Williams will do when he's pressed into the starting role, never having played any significant game minutes. Plus, the backup is going to be a freshman. Fran has done a lot of great things, but he really dropped the ball here.
What really gets old is the bitching about people you think are "bitching". Go through my posts. I didn't get upset after the loss and I haven't ragged on MG. Stop acting like a drama queen. It's fair to talk about MG's struggles in making FT's at the end of close games. It hasn't been much of an issue this year because Iowa is winning every game by 10 pts+. That's a good thing. If critical comments about a player's performance bother you, don't read them or don't respond. Why is that so difficult to do?
I don't see anyone dumping on the team. I certainly haven't. I've talked about how great this team has played (including the very good year MG is having) and the excellent job of coaching by Fran and the staff. Enjoy the season, but don't get your panties in a wad if someone writes something critical. It's a message board. People voice their opinion and you aren't going to agree with everyone's point of view.
Watch out. You aren't allowed to provide any stats that might show less than stellar play, because this proves you are hating on the player and a terrible fan (actually you probably even aren't an Iowa fan
. Of course, you likely aren't a coach, and have never played D1 basketball, so you don't know what you are talking about. Leave the comments to the ex-coaches and ex-players.Says the guy who just posted for maybe the 20th time in the last couple of months that Fran blew it by not having additional PGs on the roster. Maybe you should wait until next year and see how we are doing with Williams and Bohanon, before you let world know how much you know about coaching a basketball team.
I like MG when he picks his spots when taking it to the hole - He can be very effective WHEN IT'S THERE, but he forces it far too often sometimes. Other than that, I'd like to see him take more of those mid-range jumpers when they are open, and the occasional 3, but he is obviously not our #1, or even #2, option on offense and he needs to just play within himself. I imagine his A/TO ratio, that hasn't been good the last few games, would look a lot better if he stopped trying to take it in among the trees as much as he has been, and just get the ball to Uthoff or Jok, or Woody down low.
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I see you want to continue your drama queen performance. Take a poll among Iowa fans, basketball experts, former players, etc, and I'll wager people will say PG is the biggest question mark going into next season. Relying on a soph, who's played little PG this year, and wasn't a primary PG in HS, and a freshman as his backup, is not ideal. If you took off your blinders for a second you'd agree. It may work out but playing PG is not easy in the B1G. Also, I said PG or even a combo guard. You know, someone who can handle the ball when the other team applies pressure. This team has MG and AC, and nobody else. Next year? But I know, NEVER question because Fran never makes a mistake and I'm not a coach. Good grief, you're act is tiring. It's a message board. If you don't have the stomach for the most minor critique then stay away from the board or refrain from commenting.
... bulletin.....Ulis just missed the front end of free throws...in crunch time..changed the whole complexion of the Tennessee / Kentucky game...elite.
... since no one knows how Williams will do next year..its pretty safe to say its impossible to know that Fran dropped the ball...maybe we should wait til next year...although I would agree...he certainly (as will Bohannon) not have the experience...but that's college basketball ... they come & then they go...
...what I do know is Fran has shown a pretty decent track record with evaluating talent.
... since no one knows how Williams will do next year..its pretty safe to say its impossible to know that Fran dropped the ball...maybe we should wait til next year...although I would agree...he certainly (as will Bohannon) not have the experience...but that's college basketball ... they come & then they go...
...what I do know is Fran has shown a pretty decent track record with evaluating talent.
Kentucky blowing a big lead? or Ulis missing a front end? ... don't know about the trend...but if they keep it up they may have a hard time hanging on to a Top25 ranking...
I highlighted the question (Ullis), but glad Kentucky is blowing big leads and dropping from rankings.Kentucky blowing a big lead? or Ulis missing a front end? ... don't know about the trend...but if they keep it up they may have a hard time hanging on to a Top25 ranking...
Bet if you asked Fran, he'd say he'd do it differently if he could do it over again. A sophomore starting PG who's avg 1-2 minutes a game this year, and wasn't even a primary PG in high school. Nothing says, "welcome to the B1G" like 2 PG's (starter and backup) who have close to no experience in the B1G. How about a combo guard? Is their any guard who can handle the ball who's played any real minutes this year? No.
Fran has a good track record in evaluating talent, but he's not perfect, not even close. Unlike some fans, I'm not afraid to bring up those misses, while they would prefer to swim in the logical fallacy waters that Fran must be right because, well, he's Fran. How dare anyone question Fran and wonder if it would be better to have at least one jr. or sr guard on the team, with game experience, who could handle the ball? It's silly to think Iowa might be a better team next year if they had a returning ball handler who had some game experience.
Sorry, I forgot, one must be wrong in their comments unless you are a coach, but if you aren't a coach you know nothing about basketball. Oh, and Fran is never wrong.
Oh, and unlike the drama queens, I'm really enjoying this season and the great job being done by the players and coaches. Incredibly fun year for Iowa teams and the fans. So, enjoy it.
well of course no coach is perfect with recruiting ... its a crap shoot...but based on the W-L record I'd say Fran has done relatively well...further next years roster isn't in stone until fall practice next year.
I wont judge Williams as yet. ... just a little premature IMO...therefore so is saying Fran dropped the ball.
I have always wondered how someone so dense could have such a high opinion of themselves. I have never said that I don't think PG is a major question mark next year. I have said that Williams isn't ready for any big-time minutes a bunch of times, when some (maybe you included, I don't know) have been calling for him to be on the floor. Difference is that I don't question Fran's ability to recruit and run his team, like you, even when the Hawks are leading the B1G and ranked in the top 10. Fran has proven that he is pretty damn resourceful, so why don't you wait until next year and see how Williams and Bohanon handle being our PGs? Then, if they haven't developed, you can resume your "look at me, I told you so" criticism.
Over the past month or so, I have gone to great pains defending Mike Gesell, mostly because I think he has been greatly underappreciated by some posters, one in particular. I have probably been posting more consistently than ever before, mostly on that topic, because I honestly can't understand how some posters continued to criticize Mike every week, even when the Hawks were on a 13-game winning streak in B1G play. I watch the entire game, not just how someone does when they shoot, so maybe I appreciate what Mike, Sapp, and Woody have brought to this team on both ends of the court, more than some. Uthoff has been tremendous most of the season, and Pete is a game changer, but without the other 3 guys consistently doing what they do together, Iowa is not nearly the team they have been over the past couple of months. If that bothers you, I'm not sorry, because you don't know how good Hawkeye fans have it right now and you should stop and appreciate it while you can.
Fans take critical looks at players and coaches after every game and in between games...so do the coaches and the players themselves.
If the performance is poor...well...that is a topic for discussion.
Why do you feel that you need to be the "self appointed" caretaker of Iowa BB players?
If the performance is poor...well...that is a topic for discussion.
Why do you feel that you need to be the "self appointed" caretaker of Iowa BB players?
I guess my question is just how poor can performance be, when the team is winning almost every game, against the other better teams in the B1G, by double digits? Take away the Mary Land loss, and just what is there really to be critical about? My message is why not enjoy the ride?
Bob, if Williams stinks you won't say Fran "dropped the ball", so that's not really going out on a limb for you. BTW, I don't think he'll be terrible, but there's a reason he's seeing almost no minutes this year, even in games Iowa is blowing teams out. Plus, I feel confident in saying Williams won't play 40 minutes a game next year, so you need a backup who isn't too much of a dropoff.
Again, this team has 2 ballhandlers, and both of them start. Next year's team? Fran would be the first one to tell you that he wishes he had a ballhandler in this year's soph or jr class, who could provide some experience next season.
You are a drama queen who bitches just to bitch.
Seriously, I don't understand you. Your logic is so flippin' silly. Nowhere have I said Fran can't recruit or has done a terrible job recruiting. "I don't question Fran's ability to recruit and run his team...". Good for you, you've just labeled yourself a sheep. A mindless sheep. There's nothing wrong with saying Fran made a mistake not having a PG/combo guard in this year's soph/jr class. I'd bet if you ask Fran he's admit it but being the good sheep you are, you'll only accept it if Fran says it.
Why do you get so bent out of shape if people say MG misses clutch FT's at the end of games, or he sometimes tries to do too much and forces the action. This doesn't mean he's a terrible player, or even he doesn't do a lot of good things. I've made critical comments about MG, and think he's probably the weakest starter on the floor for Iowa, however, I think he'll be missed more than any player next season because of what's returning.
Why would your comment about "the other 3 guys" bother me? I've complimented those guys on numerous occassions. I know you think you're the only one who recognizes their contributions, but you aren't. You just have tunnel vision and focus only on the negative comments and ignore the good comments. As I said before, you are acting like a drama queen. Most of us are enjoying the Hawkeyes success and the great year (both football and bball) the Hawks are having and you think we aren't enjoying it or appreciating it because your nose is so out of joint by a few MINOR criticisms. Dude, lighten up, and take your own advice. Enjoy the season, appreciate the success and stop spending 90% of your time bitching about posters who say MG misses some big FT's. It's kind of ironic, I think the people who make the occasional criticism are having more fun with this season than you are because you take message board comments way too personally.
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.....this is why a lot of posters find your replies nothing more than I'm right & your are wrong....
no one ...that's NO ONE is saying Iowa will not have several question marks next year including PG...its just some of us prefer to wait & let it play out...and some of us have confidence in our head coach based on what he has done..and are not willing on this DAY ... to say he dropped the ball..
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this is what he does Houston...if you don't agree with him he calls you a drama queen who bitches just to bitch & a mindless sheep.
So...Houston, why do you feel the need to be the defender of Iowa BB players? Protector? Caretaker?
I am sure the players and coaches are "enjoying the ride" very much...but they most certainly are taking a look at each game, each play, each player to look for trends, miscues, FT hitches, bad angles, poor decision making...so that the team and each player will improve...get ready for the next big game when missed FTs are game losers, not merely irritations.
Have some fun, enjoy it, praise, critique...it is the way of sports and life.
Sure...people get cranked up when the same mistakes are made again and again, fans get too critical at times, but most people on this board want the team to win and get better...and this has been a great season, the team is fun to watch, and things are looking up. But...the coaches, players and fans want even more...
Now...let's keep pushing deeper into this great season...
I am sure the players and coaches are "enjoying the ride" very much...but they most certainly are taking a look at each game, each play, each player to look for trends, miscues, FT hitches, bad angles, poor decision making...so that the team and each player will improve...get ready for the next big game when missed FTs are game losers, not merely irritations.
Have some fun, enjoy it, praise, critique...it is the way of sports and life.
Sure...people get cranked up when the same mistakes are made again and again, fans get too critical at times, but most people on this board want the team to win and get better...and this has been a great season, the team is fun to watch, and things are looking up. But...the coaches, players and fans want even more...
Now...let's keep pushing deeper into this great season...
oh stop the preacher defending...protector..caretaker crap...just stop. If its OK for posters to play "coach" and critique in their opinion poor play...then it sure & the hell should be OK for posters to question the need to critique poor play....shouldn't it work both ways for you? Rev?
why do you feel the need to defend posters who find the need to post anything & everything negative? Protector? Caretaker?...whats the difference?
I don't care if posters get cranked up (which the vast majority never even played the game..certainly not at this level).. I just don't get off pointing out every time a player fails to perform to fan expectations. You want to call that defending one of ours...so be it.
Last why do you call out certain posters?....seems to me the guy who owns this site was doing a lot of posts recently "in your words defending" one of our guys...
MG is fine. He's not the best PG we've ever had but he's certainly in the upper half. He's had a rough couple games but not nearly as bad as some of you are making it seem.
One thing that I love about his play is his toughness. He doesn't let a bad play affect him. He is going to be tough as nails for this team down the stretch.
One thing that I love about his play is his toughness. He doesn't let a bad play affect him. He is going to be tough as nails for this team down the stretch.
