Going forward

[intrepodor]

The high of the CC years has come to an abrupt halt. We are now seeing what a new coach with role players brings us. The freshman look to have potential but I worry what the recruiting classes going forward will look like.
Yes the 25 class is strong at this time but I have to wonder if we'll keep them all with the team playing as it is right now. The Iowa feel good culture is great but you also feel good when you're competitive. The 26 class will tell us alot because the CC effect will be largely gone and it will be Jan's first class on her own.
We need some leaders and shooters so I hope things change are more positive going forward.

 

[Hawkaholic18]

We graduated 3 amazing players who played/started 3/4+ years and played the majority of minutes. I would argue that other than Hannah, most didn't get a lot of meaningful experience. Those who did play had specific roles, mainly to set up CC and KM. Hopefully they get the turnovers down and keep improving, make the tournament and play their best basketball in March.

 

[Beattheohiostate]

An honest assessment might be that the veterans on this team looked good last year because of CC. Without her this year, they're like objects in your rearview mirror: they aren't as good as they appeared.

I don't want to be overly harsh, but an objective view of Iowa at this point must conclude that Iowa's veteran players are role players who cannot carry a team on their own. Without a mega star like CC, Iowa is just another basketball team. They've been ranked mostly because of the glow that still surrounds them from the last four years. Maybe the freshmen can turn the corner and save the season, but right now Iowa looks lost. Jan stepped into a tremendously challenging situation, and it looks like it may not end well this season.

 

[DewHawk]

The high of the CC years has come to an abrupt halt. We are now seeing what a new coach with role players brings us. The freshman look to have potential but I worry what the recruiting classes going forward will look like.
Yes the 25 class is strong at this time but I have to wonder if we'll keep them all with the team playing as it is right now. The Iowa feel good culture is great but you also feel good when you're competitive. The 26 class will tell us alot because the CC effect will be largely gone and it will be Jan's first class on her own.
We need some leaders and shooters so I hope things change are more positive going forward.

I agree with your comments and last night's game was a coach/players mess not to mention the first half against Maryland.

 

[DewHawk]

We graduated 3 amazing players who played/started 3/4+ years and played the majority of minutes. I would argue that other than Hannah, most didn't get a lot of meaningful experience. Those who did play had specific roles, mainly to set up CC and KM. Hopefully they get the turnovers down and keep improving, make the tournament and play their best basketball in March.

Never was much for excuses, but your comments are somewhat valid. Please tell me when we can expect the current players to improve their individual play post CC. Just curious because I have seen some players regress and others pretty much stay the same. If they continue to play like they have the last two games March will be irrelevant to Iowa women's BBall. Guess we agree to disagree.

The coaching staff also needs to raise its level which I have not seen to-date. Jensen looked totally perplexed, a bit frenetic and at a loss last night to me. Not to mention the nonsensical player rotations.

 

[Hawkaholic18]

Jan is perplexing. She was an assistant for so long under Bluder. Bluder was good before the arrival of CC so one would think Jan would be verse in all sorts of these scenarios. I don't get all of the turnovers. Hannah is most effective when she can run and gets the ball on the fastbreak, but we don't seem to have anyone with the skills to run and get her the ball. We are definitely suffering from CC hangover.

 

[littlez]

Never was much for excuses, but your comments are somewhat valid. Please tell me when we can expect the current players to improve their individual play post CC. Just curious because I have seen some players regress and others pretty much stay the same. If they continue to play like they have the last two games March will be irrelevant to Iowa women's BBall. Guess we agree to disagree.

The coaching staff also needs to raise its level which I have not seen to-date. Jensen looked totally perplexed, a bit frenetic and at a loss last night to me. Not to mention the nonsensical player rotations.

I'm not going to disagree that Jan looks perplexed. Because she certainly does. But she's probably as perplexed as we are. I"d guess she's trying to find some right combinations but they just never come. Now we also don't know how much work Affolter and Stuelke were able to get in the offseason with their injuries. The way Affolter finished the last 10 games of the season last year I expected a breakthrough year. Hasn't come. How much more can we really get from some of these other girls? I'm sure Jan is probably leaning on her veterans waiting for them to put it together. And maybe this is all they have.

 

[the24fan]

This season should not surprise anyone.
This was bound to be a difficult season for this squad.
It will get better but it's definitely been a case of trying to figure out things post CC.
I see the end of the season better for sure as the frosh class gets more confidence and experience.

 

[DewHawk]

This season should not surprise anyone.
This was bound to be a difficult season for this squad.
It will get better but it's definitely been a case of trying to figure out things post CC.
I see the end of the season better for sure as the frosh class gets more confidence and experience.

Agreed - expected they would struggle at times, but not necessarily with fundamentals and especially not the older players repeatedly. Hope it does get better, but it could also implode and that is my concern. And they are halfway through the season so when do they start clicking? Not trying to be difficult just concerned with the possible loss of all of the good CC brought to the program, such as recruiting.

 

[ChiPackHawk]

I'm thinking Bluder knew exactly what she was doing and got out while on top. The fall from the top was inevitable. A tremendous amount of talent has left the building.

 

[hawkod]

Not really fair for this group of players and coaches, but I feel this year is really pivotal for the program's future for 2 reasons:

1) The intangible value of being a member of a team that makes it to a Final 4. Being on the floor or even on the bench for games carrying that much pressure provides experience you can't get anywhere else. Can provide the edge in a tight game without that background.

2) We need elite recruits to challenge for the Final 4; they're tough to land even with our great culture and two consecutive deep runs. Middle of the pack Big 10 finishes and 1st weekend exits from the Big Dance will get us none of those players.

We need to catch some magic in the next couple of weeks and add some sparkle to our playing style or the last two seasons will soon become a distant memory.

 

[doughawk]

I don't think Iowa will finish in the top half of the league. It will difficult to win 20 games this season. IF, we make the NCAA Tournament, we won't be hosting the first two rounds.

My biggest concern is that we lose Addie Deal.

If so, Jan should step down even if we like Jan as a person. This year is a shit show so far and I don't see it ending anytime soon.

These young ladies on the team have been playing since they were very young, have played school ball and AAU ball and they have trouble with basics. Some have terrible shooting structure, some can't make basic passes and most can't be counted on to make free throws. They are slow on switching on defense and the open player kills us. Stop switching and let's see who can play man to man defense.

I can't believe how bad O'Grady and Feurbach are as seniors. I can't believe how Affolter has regressed this year.

After all these years the uppreclasswomen aren't getting any better the remainder of the season.

This is so dissapointing. I truly thought Jan could step up to the role but she looks totally lost.

This is starting to remind me of when Vivian Stringer left and the program tanked until Lisa was hired.

 

[littlez]

I don't think Iowa will finish in the top half of the league. It will difficult to win 20 games this season. IF, we make the NCAA Tournament, we won't be hosting the first two rounds.

My biggest concern is that we lose Addie Deal.

If so, Jan should step down even if we like Jan as a person. This year is a shit show so far and I don't see it ending anytime soon.

These young ladies on the team have been playing since they were very young, have played school ball and AAU ball and they have trouble with basics. Some have terrible shooting structure, some can't make basic passes and most can't be counted on to make free throws. They are slow on switching on defense and the open player kills us. Stop switching and let's see who can play man to man defense.

I can't believe how bad O'Grady and Feurbach are as seniors. I can't believe how Affolter has regressed this year.

After all these years the uppreclasswomen aren't getting any better the remainder of the season.

This is so dissapointing. I truly thought Jan could step up to the role but she looks totally lost.

This is starting to remind me of when Vivian Stringer left and the program tanked until Lisa was hired.

So you think they just started having trouble w/the basics when Jan took over?

 

[DewHawk]

I don't think Iowa will finish in the top half of the league. It will difficult to win 20 games this season. IF, we make the NCAA Tournament, we won't be hosting the first two rounds.

My biggest concern is that we lose Addie Deal.

If so, Jan should step down even if we like Jan as a person. This year is a shit show so far and I don't see it ending anytime soon.

These young ladies on the team have been playing since they were very young, have played school ball and AAU ball and they have trouble with basics. Some have terrible shooting structure, some can't make basic passes and most can't be counted on to make free throws. They are slow on switching on defense and the open player kills us. Stop switching and let's see who can play man to man defense.

I can't believe how bad O'Grady and Feurbach are as seniors. I can't believe how Affolter has regressed this year.

After all these years the uppreclasswomen aren't getting any better the remainder of the season.

This is so dissapointing. I truly thought Jan could step up to the role but she looks totally lost.

This is starting to remind me of when Vivian Stringer left and the program tanked until Lisa was hired.

I have a lot of the same concerns especially the last comment.

 

[Bulldogs1974]

Never was much for excuses, but your comments are somewhat valid. Please tell me when we can expect the current players to improve their individual play post CC. Just curious because I have seen some players regress and others pretty much stay the same. If they continue to play like they have the last two games March will be irrelevant to Iowa women's BBall. Guess we agree to disagree.

The coaching staff also needs to raise its level which I have not seen to-date. Jensen looked totally perplexed, a bit frenetic and at a loss last night to me. Not to mention the nonsensical player rotations.

I think the current players that played with CC benefitted from the wide open spaces the attention for CC drew. Their passes had a much bigger margin for error. Everyones eyes were on CC, now they are much more balanced. Those wide open passing lanes are just not there.

 

[BrotherHawkeye]

These are all good points. Agree that juniors and seniors should not be making the fundamental mistakes. They need to show leadership, set an example for the freshmen and hold them accountable. If the upperclassmen are being careless with the ball, then what message is being sent to the freshmen? Do you think Caitlin, or Kate, or Gabby, or Monica, or McKenna would put up with this? I don't have a clue what happens in practice, but I'm hoping Jan is being really tough on them when they make mistakes, and there are consequences for those mistakes. She's the ultimate leader. She's the head coach, the buck stops with her. No Lisa Bluder to run interference.

It's one thing to play an up tempo game and have turnovers. While not optimal, if you're pushing the ball up the court, it follows there will be a higher risk of turnovers. But it can be covered by more possessions. When your game is at a slower pace, i.e., fewer possessions, you can't squander 20%-25% of your possessions on turnovers. Pick one. Faster pace, higher risk. Slower pace, lower risk. Slower pace, higher risk is a bad combination.

 

[Scott559]

I don’t really see this season as a big deal in regard to the future under Jan, She still has a lot to sell on the recruiting front. I still see the 2026 class as being pivotal for Iowa under Jan. This year is what it is a bad mix of Upper class players that were mostly reserves throughout their careers for a reason and a freshmen class that needs time to develop.

I do believe there is reason for hope next year, IMO a backcourt of a healthy Guyton and Addie Deal is an upgrade to Lucy and Kylie, While not there development wise I believe if you want to play Mallegni at the 3 talent wise she is an upgrade over Syd. Heiden obviously still has a ways to go but she is clearly an upgrade in talent over Addie. Will Hannah be able to become an effective 4 is kind of a who knows. I still would like to see Jan use the portal and try to get a quality 3/4 depending on were she projects Mallegni in the future. Since she was trying to add a 4 to the 25 class may be a hint.

 

[retrodent]

I don't think Iowa will finish in the top half of the league. It will difficult to win 20 games this season. IF, we make the NCAA Tournament, we won't be hosting the first two rounds.

My biggest concern is that we lose Addie Deal.

If so, Jan should step down even if we like Jan as a person. This year is a shit show so far and I don't see it ending anytime soon.

These young ladies on the team have been playing since they were very young, have played school ball and AAU ball and they have trouble with basics. Some have terrible shooting structure, some can't make basic passes and most can't be counted on to make free throws. They are slow on switching on defense and the open player kills us. Stop switching and let's see who can play man to man defense.

I can't believe how bad O'Grady and Feurbach are as seniors. I can't believe how Affolter has regressed this year.

After all these years the uppreclasswomen aren't getting any better the remainder of the season.

This is so dissapointing. I truly thought Jan could step up to the role but she looks totally lost.

This is starting to remind me of when Vivian Stringer left and the program tanked until Lisa was hired.

Deal has signed

 

[kceasthawk]

Deal has signed

I imagine the portal is always in play, but I don't see her going anywhere.

 

[doughawk]

Deal has signed

Do you think Deal and her family aren’t watching every Iowa game and seeing the same things we are? Don’t you think Head Coaches and their recruiter won’t question Jan’s team’s performance if they want Deal? I hope Deal doesn’t change her mind but what are the positives Jan is showing with this year’s team? The team is fundamentally bad in all areas.

 

[citizenHawk]

You have to remember that commitments now are only for a year on the player's side. I'd assume the '25 recruits are going to come and see how it goes, and maybe it will go great. If a player like Deal wants to leave in year two or three, she will have plenty of options.

 

[retrodent]

Must of us should just admit: this is going to be a year where we are not very good- but the freshman are gaining experience and will be ready for Addie Deals class. Addie is going to be Caitlin Clark-like compared to the facilitator we are missing now. Deal will get CC like attention and make the rest look better. We need to play the long game and look for a big payoff in two and three years. So enjoy some good things each game, do not dwell on things that might not be fixable( they are never going to see an open cutter or post and just react- they are going to stare stare until the option is gone😩

 

[1IHawk]

Must of us should just admit: this is going to be a year where we are not very good- but the freshman are gaining experience and will be ready for Addie Deals class. Addie is going to be Caitlin Clark-like compared to the facilitator we are missing now. Deal will get CC like attention and make the rest look better. We need to play the long game and look for a big payoff in two and three years. So enjoy some good things each game, do not dwell on things that might not be fixable( they are never going to see an open cutter or post and just react- they are going to stare stare until the option is gone😩

It was a rebuild year from the get go. The fact that so many of the Fresh class look like they have the potential to be solid contributors and maybe plus players has me encouraged. Next year's new class looks good as far as the high school video goes. Stremlow's vision, Guyton's exsplosiveness, Heiden's coordination, and Malegnes reported shooting ability have me hopeful. Remember in Clark's 1st two years we lost more than it seemed like we should. The last 2 years were really fun. Sometimes really fun only happens after some disappointment.

 

[intrepodor]

Deal has signed

IF Deal wanted out they'd let her