How Soon We Forget

[Ronman]

Pre-Seton Hall, practically all the sensible posters on this board (yes, there are some) recognized that McCaffery is fielding a very young team this year and there would be struggles. Most predicted a Hall win. Now, when it actually happens, a certain segment seems to think the season is over and suddenly we aren't the world beaters they thought we would be. It's game three, folks. And Seton Hall is going to be a really good team this season. I would hope we would take a breath, and give these kids a chance to improve before we throw them under the bus. This was really the first taste of what the competition is going to be like for most of these players and hopefully it will prove to be the impetus for them to work even harder to improve their games.

 

[hawk-i bob]

Pre-Seton Hall, practically all the sensible posters on this board (yes, there are some) recognized that McCaffery is fielding a very young team this year and there would be struggles. Most predicted a Hall win. Now, when it actually happens, a certain segment seems to think the season is over and suddenly we aren't the world beaters they thought we would be. It's game three, folks. And Seton Hall is going to be a really good team this season. I would hope we would take a breath, and give these kids a chance to improve before we throw them under the bus. This was really the first taste of what the competition is going to be like for most of these players and hopefully it will prove to be the impetus for them to work even harder to improve their games.

I do think the majority agree with you. I find it ironic...Woody defending the inside & Clemmons defending the outside..doesn't seem to be all that bad now. Course the combo of the 4 seniors last year played a lot of games together. So yes when you have not only a young team but as many have said....you can't under estimate time playing together. It will come...takes more than 3 games.

BUT...its not a walk in the park....when you are playing against really good players & teams...especially come B1G time.

 

[ParkerHawk]

I see several posters making objective, critical observations and a few snarky comments on the defense. I did not see anyone say the season is over

 

[Scott559]

going to be an up and down year, I think most realize it, there is always a segment of the fan base that lives and dies game by game vs looking big picture.

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

I see several posters making objective, critical observations and a few snarky comments on the defense. I did not see anyone say the season is over

I'm with ya. Didn't see that either

 

[Ronman]

No, you're right. I overstated the case. I guess I was just surprised at the level of negativity by some posters given the realistic expectations for this team at this point in the season.

 

[unIowa]

I expected this. Reminds of the Dev Marble team that could score at will but also didn't stop to many by seasons end as well, this young group also needs to learn how to win in crunch time and that is something that takes some time. It also shows how valuable Woodbury was on the defensive end of the court not just with his interior D but also calling out the switches/etc to get everyone working on the same page.

Interior D wise it appears that Fran is going to have the bigs go straight up to try and avoid fouling but I am not sure I would take that strategy for any of the bigs other than TC and only in the first half to keep him out of any potential foul trouble. Dom, CP, RK, Wagner, they need to be more aggressive defensively. Also have to find a guard that can stop the dribble drive, I think that is why we saw Moss early in the game and why Fran will keep giving him chances early this season as he appears to have that sort of capability (it also would be nice to see Williams do better in this area as well, he appears to have the ability as well).

On another note that was an exciting game to watch and I figured Seaton Hall would make a late run bc they were the more veteran team BUT the ceiling is very high for this program moving forward with the pieces that Fran has to work with and those pieces are only going to keep getting better.

Ok one more thing: Peter Jok...my gawd, baller

 

[Bulldogs1974]

My concern was that fact that we didn't take a charge. That is an attitude that starts in practice.

 

[hawk-i bob]

I'm with ya. Didn't see that either

I agree...we don't always agree but for the most part a lot of good Iowa fans expressing their opinions in the Hawkeye Forum...now the Lounge...well that can get weird. One guy suggested that Fran bench Jok the 1st 8 minutes of the next game as a teaching tool for his defensive effort against Seton Hall.

We've all expressed concerns over the team defense...but ya lets bench a 30 and 11 guy...because of poor team defense...makes sense to me

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

I agree...we don't always agree but for the most part a lot of good Iowa fans expressing their opinions in the Hawkeye Forum...now the Lounge...well that can get weird. One guy suggested that Fran bench Jok the 1st 8 minutes of the next game as a teaching tool for his defensive effort against Seton Hall.

We've all expressed concerns over the team defense...but ya lets bench a 30 and 11 guy...because of poor team defense...makes sense to me

Ya that's downright insane. Is Pete the best defender? No hes not, but hes capable of doing better than he showed last night. I think one of the issues for Pete is he's also desperately trying to stay out of foul trouble and I get that, but you cannot make it that easy for the opposition to penetrate.

 

[Suterman]

I have had concerns about our defense since last year. We will be good defensively but it's a question of when. Offensively this team is a blast to watch.

 

[anon_bb9wlf9kj42py]

My concern was that fact that we didn't take a charge. That is an attitude that starts in practice.

Based on the way that game was officiated, it looks pretty dang impossible to draw a charge.

 

[mazda1]

I'm sure we all knew defense was going to be an issue before the season started. I was one of many posters who expressed concerns before the season started. Many on the board are acting like last night was a huge surprise after we gave up 74 and 84 to the sisters of the poor in the first two games.

It is disappointing when Jok has returned to his freshman level of ole d and the sophs haven't shown that they buy into winning on D. Baer is trying to set an example, but he's the only one who showed up on that end of the court last night. I can completely understand the confusion caused by the dribble drive breaking down the interior D for the new guys as that is going to take time, but Uhl, Wagner, and Jones (probably limited by his knee) should understand how to play help D.

I fully expect we will be better as the season wears on, but I'm not sure we should expect people to take a step back defensively. We should easily win our next game and if Fran were to pull people off the floor for defensive lapses and take advantage of the teaching moment I'd have no problem no matter who it was. Warm and fuzzy usually doesn't get it done.

 

[Rustys Dad]

I enjoyed the Seton Hall game. Was a fun game to watch. Absolutely hoped the Hawks would pull it out but I just liked seeing the players we have on the court ... Jok and Cook ... Dang ... Fran has a nice roster ... We'll get better. The Seton Hall game will pay dividends as the season progresses.

 

[Bulldogs1974]

Based on the way that game was officiated, it looks pretty dang impossible to draw a charge.

yes and no. It's not as common for the charge to come from the on ball defender. They tend to come from someone in rotation that has the willingness to step up and take the charge. I just didn't see that from us.

 

[hawk-i bob]

that little smiley face in the lane has reduced a lot of charging calls...just has.

 

[Buffhawk]

Have not forgotten. I am excited at the potential this team is going to have. So what if they lost to Seton Hall. I am glad they are scheduling teams of this magnitude. Sure a hell of a lot better than what the football program keeps scheduling. This team will get better!

 

[SSG T]

yes and no. It's not as common for the charge to come from the on ball defender. They tend to come from someone in rotation that has the willingness to step up and take the charge. I just didn't see that from us.

But that also comes from understanding help defense. I'm not sure most of the younger guys have that figured out yet.

But, it will come, it's just a matter of when.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

It was one game and I agree that it was a tough match-up. Iowa is a young squad and Seton Hall was a Veteran Squad who was ready to play. Iowa's defense needs some work. They are terrible defensively in zone or man. The good thing is Fran and coaches can work on that and they guys will improve.

 

[DanL53]

LOL, I predicted we'd beat Seton Hall but I wasn't nuts enough to count on it. One can have high hopes and reasonable expectations. Of course, none of this has anything to do with the original point of the post.

Yes, so far, and it's been nice, we haven't had too many posters tossing cookies just yet.