Iowa Basketball View

[HoustonHawkeye]

No bashing, but my opinion.

• Good teams usually have above average Point guards. We have been average for the last 5 years. Look how many point guards that can hit the 3 point shot on a regular basis....and look to shoot the open shot! Gessell has been a pass first guard, only shooting when the shot clock is running out.
• Good teams usually have Shooting guards that can shoot. Our last good shooting guard was Matt Gatens (and just his Senior year did he stand out) Oglesby, Ellingson, Clemmons all have struggled with being consistent outside shooters.
• Woody has been a double edged sword for 4 years. Good defensively, not good offensively. Opposing teams have never had to double team him, so they could focus on defending our primary scorers the last 3 years. Get an offensive minded center and it will free up the shooters more.
• Fran has recruited/developed pretty decent Power forwards and small forwards.
• Fran has taken some reaches on recruiting when he has missed on targets: Ellingson, Dickerson, Ingram, Meyer. But when I look at the recruits going back to 2003 (Rivals only goes back to 2003), Fran has done much, much better in recruiting. Go through 2003 -2009, I count 18 out of 30 recruits that were busts. Fran is doing much better than that. But he has to keep improving on recruiting.
• Tough defense keeps you in games, but you still have to have offensive playmakers when the defense does not give you the fast break opportunity. Fran wants up tempo. I get the plan. Recruit athletes, Run, Run, Run. Defend, Defend and Run some more. But when you go up against teams that can disrupt that, we have to have playmakers. We do not have enough offensive playmakers at this time.

 

[SJeagleEye]

You are correct, college basketball is mainly a guards game. Late in the season and in these tournaments, it becomes even MORE a guards game.

We have not had great guards, which has been our main problem.

Bigger problem, going forward, not only do we not have great guards, we pretty much have NO guards, not of the Point or leading the team variety anyways.

If Tyler Ulis were on this team, we would be the team that were a month or so ago, and would be talking about a potential final four run.

We wouldn't even need Ulis, just someone a lot better than Sapp or Gesell. No slight on them, it just is what it is.

Fran needs to sell his soul for a top tier PG, and if that means creaning or not giving his son a scholarship, then so be it.

He gave up on Trey D to fast too, not saying he was gonna to be the answer, but at least he was a PG and we would have SOME sort of option for next season.

I fear that Fran is willing to throw away next season with the thought that his son will be this player the year after that.

After watching IC West all season long, Fran is wrong on that assumption if he is banking on that.

 

[ANYCHawk]

If Tyler Ulis were on this team, we would be the team that were a month or so ago, and would be talking about a potential final four run.

For the life of me, I don't understand comments like this. Who were the guards a month ago? You know that team we were?

 

[HoustonHawkeye]

Every year, most teams have a new combination of players. We had 4 seniors, 1 junior that played together. By February, teams figure out how where a teams weaknesses are. Other teams figured out Iowa's weaknesses, and these other teams started playing together, where Iowa had been playing together for 3 years without significant improvement.

 

[ZumaHawk]

I believe Iowa is gonna waltz into Brooklyn and beat up on em. Fran will put it together one way or another. Just my opinion. Go Hawks.

 

[Vbeachawk]

I picked Iowa to beat Temple..........do I really think so........no. Quite frankly, at this point, I don't know who Iowa could beat in the tournament, other than Michigan. And yes, I also believe if Ulis was Iowa's pg, they would be a #1 seed and would have won the Big 10 regular season.

 

[ZumaHawk]

I'm still trying to be positive with the Hawks!! One reason is all their losses have been only a few buckets away from wins. Not necessarily good wins but they are always in the games none the less.

 

[seseroy]

For the life of me, I don't understand comments like this. Who were the guards a month ago? You know that team we were?

Thank you for a dose of reality. I have watched the same games as the rest of you. I realize we have not been that same team recently, it is hard to have much confidence, but..."Who were the guards a month ago? You know that team we were?" , this gives a little perspective. As bad as it has been recently, to say we have ZERO guard play is just plain ignorant.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

You are correct, college basketball is mainly a guards game. Late in the season and in these tournaments, it becomes even MORE a guards game.

We have not had great guards, which has been our main problem.

Bigger problem, going forward, not only do we not have great guards, we pretty much have NO guards, not of the Point or leading the team variety anyways.

If Tyler Ulis were on this team, we would be the team that were a month or so ago, and would be talking about a potential final four run.

We wouldn't even need Ulis, just someone a lot better than Sapp or Gesell. No slight on them, it just is what it is.

Fran needs to sell his soul for a top tier PG, and if that means creaning or not giving his son a scholarship, then so be it.

He gave up on Trey D to fast too, not saying he was gonna to be the answer, but at least he was a PG and we would have SOME sort of option for next season.

I fear that Fran is willing to throw away next season with the thought that his son will be this player the year after that.

After watching IC West all season long, Fran is wrong on that assumption if he is banking on that.

Yup I agree that Trey D wasn't the best option for Iowa, but at least he would of been an option. He was quick and could handle the ball. Yes his defense wasn't that great, but hell none of our current guards can defend.

I like Williams from what I have seen, but I just do not know about his defense and is able to handle the ball vs "pressure" defense. That is what I worry about next year and the years following.

Frans son is a good ball player, but he will be another "role" player. Fran has to upgrade the talent at the guard position for the upcoming years. It looks like we got the options for the post, now we need to get some quality guards otherwise those post players are going to be over loaded.

 

[hawkeyemark]

People on this and other boards always mention Ulis and what kind of team we would have had with him but I don't see the point. As hard as Fran worked on that recruitment Tyler said he would have gone to Michigan State if not Kentucky. IMO he really doesn't belong in the conversation.

I think you win games at point guard and center and Fran's recruiting in those two areas seems sketchy. I have really enjoyed Woodbury warts and all and Olesani if you want to call him a center but Fran has followed that pair with basically a centerless team aside from Kreiner who I don't see contributing significantly next season. At the point I think he also blew it not bringing in another true point guard behind Gesell and Clemmons who could give us some experience going into next season. Williams seems like he can play but who knows what position he will end up at? Bohannon may surprise but will face a big learning curve as a freshman and Connor's future seems anybody's guess.

You very much do need playmakers and guys who can score in half court sets as at this level Fran simply can't run the way he would like to. Our overall talent level seems on the rise but do we have guys at the key positions to help us climb?

 

[SJeagleEye]

Thank you for a dose of reality. I have watched the same games as the rest of you. I realize we have not been that same team recently, it is hard to have much confidence, but..."Who were the guards a month ago? You know that team we were?" , this gives a little perspective. As bad as it has been recently, to say we have ZERO guard play is just plain ignorant.

You are correct. You see, during that stretch of basketball perfection, those 2 guards were simply playing at an unbelievable level, definitely their ceiling, and look at what the team did!

THAT is what this team is capable of with top tier guard play, and what the team would have been like if the guard play stayed at that very high level.

Instead, those guards came back down to reality, so teams could focus all on our shooters and 2 main players, and we were all shown the results. Well, that along with also having NO bench productivity.

If we would have sustained high level guard play, everything would have continued to fall into place.

So, you were correct, that WAS our team and those WERE out guards. But, those guards simply could not sustain that level of play.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

No bashing, but my opinion.

• Good teams usually have above average Point guards. We have been average for the last 5 years. Look how many point guards that can hit the 3 point shot on a regular basis....and look to shoot the open shot! Gessell has been a pass first guard, only shooting when the shot clock is running out.
• Good teams usually have Shooting guards that can shoot. Our last good shooting guard was Matt Gatens (and just his Senior year did he stand out) Oglesby, Ellingson, Clemmons all have struggled with being consistent outside shooters.
• Woody has been a double edged sword for 4 years. Good defensively, not good offensively. Opposing teams have never had to double team him, so they could focus on defending our primary scorers the last 3 years. Get an offensive minded center and it will free up the shooters more.
• Fran has recruited/developed pretty decent Power forwards and small forwards.
• Fran has taken some reaches on recruiting when he has missed on targets: Ellingson, Dickerson, Ingram, Meyer. But when I look at the recruits going back to 2003 (Rivals only goes back to 2003), Fran has done much, much better in recruiting. Go through 2003 -2009, I count 18 out of 30 recruits that were busts. Fran is doing much better than that. But he has to keep improving on recruiting.
• Tough defense keeps you in games, but you still have to have offensive playmakers when the defense does not give you the fast break opportunity. Fran wants up tempo. I get the plan. Recruit athletes, Run, Run, Run. Defend, Defend and Run some more. But when you go up against teams that can disrupt that, we have to have playmakers. We do not have enough offensive playmakers at this time.

Excellent post.

 

[grugreen]

dribble penetration by the guards that can finish would make a difference. Our guards can get in the lane but can't consistently finish at the rim. Penetrate and dump it to Woody? Can't finish. Count the missed layups and missed bunnies its crazy. Missed 7 in Illini game. Whens the last time one of Iowas guards penetrated in the lane and kicked it out to a wide open Jok or JU? See other teams do it every game against us.

 

[DewHawk]

Every year, most teams have a new combination of players. We had 4 seniors, 1 junior that played together. By February, teams figure out how where a teams weaknesses are. Other teams figured out Iowa's weaknesses, and these other teams started playing together, where Iowa had been playing together for 3 years without significant improvement.

Good point and I think pretty accurate summarization of the situation.

 

[DewHawk]

I picked Iowa to beat Temple..........do I really think so........no. Quite frankly, at this point, I don't know who Iowa could beat in the tournament, other than Michigan. And yes, I also believe if Ulis was Iowa's pg, they would be a #1 seed and would have won the Big 10 regular season.

Sad, but IMO true as well

 

[RocknRollface]

dribble penetration by the guards that can finish would make a difference. Our guards can get in the lane but can't consistently finish at the rim. Penetrate and dump it to Woody? Can't finish. Count the missed layups and missed bunnies its crazy. Missed 7 in Illini game. Whens the last time one of Iowas guards penetrated in the lane and kicked it out to a wide open Jok or JU? See other teams do it every game against us.

A big reason why we never get penetration is that MG and AC aren't looking to shoot 3s.

The defenders know this and are able to close out under control and maintain position in front of our guys.

Iowas players on the other hand go running at three point shooters and fly by them all the time , setting up the rest of the D for scramble mode and an inevitable open shot if you make 3 or 4 passes.

 

[Jumpshot00]

Offensively we are guard poor and have been. Running a screen roll with Woody/MG gets you what? You want Woody on the block?, MG with a jumper? MG driving and finishing? All those things are low % results. No reason for a defense to have to overplay any aspect of it..just communicate and don't allow an uncontested layup. In fact there is really no where on the court any of those guys are a major threat other than uncontested lay ups. So as a result the last 2-3 minutes look similar in close games. When Iowa was rolling in January and early Feb. they were so far ahead most of the time that execution in a half court set didn't matter as much.

They (MG, AC, AW) all have some positive aspects to their game, they helped bring Iowa from a doormat to three consecutive NCAAs. They will be remembered fondly, but if you are looking for a reason why Iowa has lost a lot of close games the last few years look at Woody/MG/Sapp (or whoever else from the last few years including Aaron White). They are not good at scoring in a half court set, they don't have confidence-see MG 15 ft brick vs Illinois in the BTT, and the cycle continues. I have no idea if Iowa will win more or less games the next few years, but they will look different with a different set of strengths and weaknesses.