If you want defense

[RocknRollface]

JBO has to sit.

Its that simple.

We already have Garza who really can't play man defense and when you add in a totally inept player at guard its impossible.

Iowa is a much better team with Joe Tousaint on the court even with his issues of being somewhat out of control.

The defense and transition are night and day better and the half court offense becomes multi dimensional vs 4 guys standing around Garza.

 

[Moral]

I'm all in on JT being the point now. Great speed, penetration, and defense.

 

[unoHawkeye]

I was in on Toussaint starting before the season started, but having Bohannon play the majority of the minutes and close out games. Not sure where Bohannon should even be getting minutes at this point. His passing isn’t great, his shooting is less than great, and his defense is trash. Connor is currently capable of doing everything that Jordan is from the point guard position, and Murray has been valuable enough at the 4 to start stealing those minutes from Connor.

If Jordan doesn’t figure it out, it should be Toussaint and Connor at PG (shit, Ulis if he can contribute and defend) and Connor, Murray, and Nunge at the 4

 

[RocknRollface]

I was in on Toussaint starting before the season started, but having Bohannon play the majority of the minutes and close out games. Not sure where Bohannon should even be getting minutes at this point. His passing isn’t great, his shooting is less than great, and his defense is trash. Connor is currently capable of doing everything that Jordan is from the point guard position, and Murray has been valuable enough at the 4 to start stealing those minutes from Connor.

If Jordan doesn’t figure it out, it should be Toussaint and Connor at PG (shit, Ulis if he can contribute and defend) and Connor, Murray, and Nunge at the 4

I know Fran won't do it but Ulis would be an upgrade to back up JT.

Our defense would improve exponentially.

 

[Bulldogs1974]

Toussaint and Murray. J bo should be a spark plug off the bench. He comes in hot he plays more.

 

[hawkisoaker]

No, Fran needs to know WTF is up, no changes will make significant changes in Def, so friggin quit playing man to man and go zone. Make the other team out shoot ya, period.

 

[Fran-Con-2]

Last year our best lineup included Joe Toussaint. This year, our best lineup includes joe Toussaint. Yet Bohannon played 11 more minutes than Toussaint tonight.

Loyalty earns Fran respect, but loyalty might have lost us a game tonight.

 

[Moral]

Last year our best lineup included Joe Toussaint. This year, our best lineup includes joe Toussaint. Yet Bohannon played 11 more minutes than Toussaint tonight.

Loyalty earns Fran respect, but loyalty might have lost us a game tonight.

It would be really hard to argue against that.

 

[Slim45]

No, Fran needs to know WTF is up, no changes will make significant changes in Def, so friggin quit playing man to man and go zone. Make the other team out shoot ya, period.

Lol god ur an idiot. Howd that zone work for us in OT? JoeT needs to play way more and we need to play man. Force teams off the 3pt line. Our f’n zone is strictly to hide jBo because of his inability to stay In front of anybody!

 

[Bulldogs1974]

I will question the judgment of any man that continued to play josh o. As much as he did.

 

[hawkisoaker]

Lol god ur an idiot. Howd that zone work for us in OT? JoeT needs to play way more and we need to play man. Force teams off the 3pt line. Our f’n zone is strictly to hide jBo because of his inability to stay In front of anybody!

You can't play man when you have no athleticism...get a clue, were beat off the ball everytime. Its time to work on zone def, get avg at it, and ride it out. You can teach athleticism & quicker feet, were slow, period.

 

[unoHawkeye]

You can't play man when you have no athleticism...get a clue, were beat off the ball everytime. Its time to work on zone def, get avg at it, and ride it out. You can teach athleticism & quicker feet, were slow, period.

Man defense isn’t what allowed the same career 30% shooter to go 8/9 on wide open corner threes tonight fool. If we’d switched back to man, maybe we either force layups or more contested threes and win the game

 

[hawkisoaker]

Man defense isn’t what allowed the same career 30% shooter to go 8/9 on wide open corner threes tonight fool. If we’d switched back to man, maybe we either force layups or more contested threes and win the game

You're trying to judge an outcome by cutting a small sample. Im talking whole game perspective, if you want to play better defense with this team, we have to focus on better zone play and rotation, we are out manned athletically by every team we play.

 

[unoHawkeye]

You're trying to judge an outcome by cutting a small sample. Im talking whole game perspective, if you want to play better defense with this team, we have to focus on better zone play and rotation, we are out manned athletically by every team we play.

Iowa has always had the most defensive success under Fran when they can effectively throw different looks at the other team. Going man, then zone, keeps the opposition off balance when our press is effective, we are rotating well, and closing out on shooters. Unfortunately nobody stays off balance when you give up offensive boards and wide open threes. If you go man, it’s drives to the hoop. Pick your poison

 

[chuck285]

All this bitching and some deserved but who (Joe) missed two critical free throws with under 10 seconds to play?
And which coaching staff didn't intentionally foul the other team with under 5 seconds to go and let their best player shoot a three to tie the game.
I blame both Joe on the free throws and I think his great defense let the other guy make a three and the head coach for not giving the foul with a three point lead...JMO

 

[denmar81]

Doesn’t make a difference which D Fran wants to throw at them, they suck at it. It isn’t a priority of Fran’s to develop in that area. Work on the help side of the D would be a huge improvement. Help on D doesn’t mean to leave your man open for a wide open look

 

[Pepperman]

I’ve posted this before and it never gets answered, which I suspect means nobody knows:

which coach is a defensive specialist responsible for teaching defense?

 

[Hendy hawk]

Man defense isn’t what allowed the same career 30% shooter to go 8/9 on wide open corner threes tonight fool. If we’d switched back to man, maybe we either force layups or more contested threes and win the game

Seemed to me when Iowa was in zone we give up a open man when passes are fast around the perimeter and the defense sags to far one way that they can't recover fast enough to the open shooter

 

[denmar81]

I’ve posted this before and it never gets answered, which I suspect means nobody knows:

which coach is a defensive specialist responsible for teaching defense?

If there is one he needs to be canned. My guess though is there isn’t one specific specialist, just a bunch that think they are.

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

Zone is the only answer for this team. The problem is Iowa’s “zone” is disgraceful. Don’t confuse what you see from Iowa as zone defense. It’s not. It’s a ****ing debacle

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

Seemed to me when Iowa was in zone we give up a open man when passes are fast around the perimeter and the defense sags to far one way that they can't recover fast enough to the open shooter

That’s because there’s absolutely zero discipline in what Iowa does. Everyone over commits, runs at shooters and stands straight up. It’s horrific

 

[Kabby]

Seemed to me when Iowa was in zone we give up a open man when passes are fast around the perimeter and the defense sags to far one way that they can't recover fast enough to the open shooter

It is also because we rotate after the ball is passed instead of as it is being passed so we can be in position when the ball gets there.

 

[DewHawk]

You do have to wonder about a professional's (FM) expertise/decision making when year after year he refuses to demand improvement (defense) which is obviously a very significant part of the game. I personally do not understand this approach. Iowa is probably a top 25 team and will finish 3rd to 6th place in BIG IMO. FM seems to be incapable of much better.

Watching all BIG games to-date I would give Wisconsin, Rutgers, Illinois, Northwestern, MSU, OSU, and maybe Minnesota a better chance than Iowa to win BIG. Iowa for whatever reason thinks they can just show up and win about half the time. But early and JMHO.

 

[HawkLogic]

I know Fran won't do it but Ulis would be an upgrade to back up JT.

Our defense would improve exponentially.

Zone is the only answer for this team. The problem is Iowa’s “zone” is disgraceful. Don’t confuse what you see from Iowa as zone defense. It’s not. It’s a ****ing debacle

How can Wisconsin play man defense? They don't blow anybody away athletically. The lineups Fran chooses to play at times are not capable of playing defense. The starting lineup with jbo and Garza and undersized Connor in particular can't play zone or man.

substitute Keegan for Connor at 4 and JoeT for Jbo and you can play man defense.
Go bigger with Keegan and Pmac at wings and you can play more effective zone.

Fran's best defensive lineups are not his best offensive lineups, but any lineup with Garza
playing can score.

 

[CO_hawk]

All this bitching and some deserved but who (Joe) missed two critical free throws with under 10 seconds to play?
And which coaching staff didn't intentionally foul the other team with under 5 seconds to go and let their best player shoot a three to tie the game.
I blame both Joe on the free throws and I think his great defense let the other guy make a three and the head coach for not giving the foul with a three point lead...JMO

True but it is a chain reaction. Joe wouldn't have been in that position if like you said foul the shooter. Or if CJ didn't miss two of three previously. Or if Garza didn't have a slow start. Or if Bohannon sat out all year. Ect.

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

If you go man, it’s drives to the hoop. Pick your poison

That's an easy choice. I'll take 8 drives to the hoop (worth 16 points) rather than 8 three-pointers (worth 24 points). Guard the threes tight. Make them drive. The math is simple. If Iowa had done that last night, they'd have won easily, despite everything else. You HAVE to run the shooters off the 3-point line, especially when you have a 7-point lead with under a minute to play.

And as others have said, you should foul before they get a chance to launch the game-tying three. Even if they make both FTs, you still have a 1-point lead and the ball with under 10 seconds to play.

That was a heartbreaker for sure. A team with such talent and experience should not lose a 7-point lead in the final minute. But this team did.

Oh well...it's the same old story for long-time Iowa fans.

 

[tippet1]

How can Wisconsin play man defense? They don't blow anybody away athletically. The lineups Fran chooses to play at times are not capable of playing defense. The starting lineup with jbo and Garza and undersized Connor in particular can't play zone or man.

substitute Keegan for Connor at 4 and JoeT for Jbo and you can play man defense.
Go bigger with Keegan and Pmac at wings and you can play more effective zone.

Fran's best defensive lineups are not his best offensive lineups, but any lineup with Garza
playing can score.

Because they get drilled and drilled on how to play pack line defense. Same with UNI.

 

[CleteyColgate]

JBO has to sit.

Its that simple.

We already have Garza who really can't play man defense and when you add in a totally inept player at guard its impossible.

Iowa is a much better team with Joe Tousaint on the court even with his issues of being somewhat out of control.

The defense and transition are night and day better and the half court offense becomes multi dimensional vs 4 guys standing around Garza.

For defense, JT, Nunge, and Keegan all need to play more

 

[unoHawkeye]

That's an easy choice. I'll take 8 drives to the hoop (worth 16 points) rather than 8 three-pointers (worth 24 points). Guard the threes tight. Make them drive. The math is simple. If Iowa had done that last night, they'd have won easily, despite everything else. You HAVE to run the shooters off the 3-point line, especially when you have a 7-point lead with under a minute to play.

And as others have said, you should foul before they get a chance to launch the game-tying three. Even if they make both FTs, you still have a 1-point lead and the ball with under 10 seconds to play.

That was a heartbreaker for sure. A team with such talent and experience should not lose a 7-point lead in the final minute. But this team did.

Oh well...it's the same old story for long-time Iowa fans.

I’m fine going zone, but if they’re hitting shots or somebody gets hot, as Johnson did down the stretch, you gotta switch back to man to make them hit contested threes to force OT. If Minnesota makes layups, they never have the chance to tie the game

 

[Fran-Con-2]

Because they get drilled and drilled on how to play pack line defense. Same with UNI.

It's funny, 4 of the last 5 years, wisconsin's adjusted offensive efficiency was ranked well into the 100's. In other words, their offense is not good. I know they won the conference last year, but the last time they were truly elite was in 2014-15 when they went to the national championship.

Their offensive efficiency in 2014-15? Ranked first in the nation. They had an offense that could match their routinely great defense.

So maybe our hopes were misplaced this year. Maybe Iowa won't have a truly special season when they have a tremendous offensive. As an already offensive minded-team, maybe they won't have a truly special season until they have a special defense that can match their offensive.

 

[chuck285]

True but it is a chain reaction. Joe wouldn't have been in that position if like you said foul the shooter. Or if CJ didn't miss two of three previously. Or if Garza didn't have a slow start. Or if Bohannon sat out all year. Ect.

But I have a short memory. I can only remember the last two min. of a game. That's when I see and remember missed shots or bad coaching. When you get down to the end of a game you need to be able to shoot free throws and when to foul on purpose. Not what you think but just my opinion...

 

[Hawks2424]

I want defense when it matters. When Iowa went up 8 in regulation, Fran should have went all defense. Murray and possibly PMac should have been in the game for rebounding and defense. Our starting guards are small and fail to play defense. JBO, CMac and Fredrick should have sat. If nothing else, Murray should have been out there. Having JT out there was the right move. He has to play a lot more. Bad coaching.

 

[mooresville hawk]

All this bitching and some deserved but who (Joe) missed two critical free throws with under 10 seconds to play?
And which coaching staff didn't intentionally foul the other team with under 5 seconds to go and let their best player shoot a three to tie the game.
I blame both Joe on the free throws and I think his great defense let the other guy make a three and the head coach for not giving the foul with a three point lead...JMO

Joe is going to be a great player for the Hawks and has improved dramatically from last year. That being said, the mistakes he made at the end of the Minnesota game were very costly. He fouled Mashburn with a five point lead with 19 seconds remaining. He missed two free throws with a three point lead with 14 seconds remaining. He went under the screen and allowed Carr an open shot on a three pointer with five seconds remaining and a three point lead. If any of these things happen differently, Iowa probably wins this game.

There is no doubt that Joe is a better defender than Jordan. I believe that is why we saw him play nineteen minutes against Minnesota and expect that we will only see his minutes continue to increase as the season progresses. I believe that Joe will learn from this game as will the rest of the team.

 

[icwesthawk]

more contested threes

LOL, you said more contested 3's

 

[24 so far]

Joe is going to be a great player for the Hawks and has improved dramatically from last year. That being said, the mistakes he made at the end of the Minnesota game were very costly. He fouled Mashburn with a five point lead with 19 seconds remaining. He missed two free throws with a three point lead with 14 seconds remaining. He went under the screen and allowed Carr an open shot on a three pointer with five seconds remaining and a three point lead. If any of these things happen differently, Iowa probably wins this game.

There is no doubt that Joe is a better defender than Jordan. I believe that is why we saw him play nineteen minutes against Minnesota and expect that we will only see his minutes continue to increase as the season progresses. I believe that Joe will learn from this game as will the rest of the team.

He's also nowhere near the Free Throw shooter Bohannon is, and he's much looser with the ball.

The Defense gets torched anyway, and in this case Toussaint in particular (as you described), so we are much better off having Bohannon in there if we make sure he touches it every inbound entry late in a close game, Home or Away, crowd or no crowd.

Bohannon is a weapon in that situation that every team on the planet wishes they had, and Iowa responds with him not going to the line one single time. It's unfathomable to me that this could happen. Complete and utter failure = L.

 

[littlez]

He did touch it on the last 2 possessions. He got the inbound pass from Connor. He chose to pass it back to Connor who hit Joe T. who was fouled. He could have kept it and tried to draw the foul, correct? Joe T was 4-4. Happened to miss the last 2. Touissant has shot 20 free throws this year and Bohannon 2. No real close games until this one. Want to blame someone fine.

 

[wilson reborn]

I'm all in on JT being the point now. Great speed, penetration, and defense.

No question he needs to start, for defense alone. Needs to nail his free throws.

 

[papabeef]

True but it is a chain reaction. Joe wouldn't have been in that position if like you said foul the shooter. Or if CJ didn't miss two of three previously. Or if Garza didn't have a slow start. Or if Bohannon sat out all year. Ect.

good point on luka . did his 1st half hurt as much as anything that happened in the last 5 minutes ? food for thought .

 

[CO_hawk]

good point on luka . did his 1st half hurt as much as anything that happened in the last 5 minutes ? food for thought .

I don't know, but I do know when Iowa jumps out early on a team it is usually a good sign.

 

[ZumaHawk]

I agree about Luka......He missed so many bunnies in the first half it's no wonder we had so many offensive rebounds. I'm thinking he will never have another game like this one again. He's too good period. The Hawks will bounce back and be just fine. I would love to see more of Joe T as well and hope at the end of the game he makes free throws. He's good enough to make this happen too.