Seems pretty simple to me.
1. We aren't as good as some people, the team included, thought we could be...but this is still a VERY GOOD basketball team
2. We weren't "quick" last year and we aren't quick this year. That means we have to work harder on close-outs, etc and get tired quicker than a more naturally quick team. Now, this team ain't "slow"...just we lack the really quick athletes that elite teams often have. This really affects our defensive effort late in games.
3. You can call it the Fran fade or whatever, but it is just how tough the Big Ten basketball schedule really is.
4. This team is built on shooters and outscoring the opponents. When we go through a stretch where we aren't hitting shots, well we will lose some games.
5. The good news is, the young guys look a step quicker than some of the older guys and whether or not they will be better, I think we will have better defensive teams in the future. P Mac, JT, Ulis, Perkins and Murray all have better quickness than the guys they will be replacing.
6. Anyone bagging on Conner Mac doesn't get what he means to this team. yes, he is one of those guys who's defense suffers by not being quick, but he defends better than others outside and inside and is one of the best post passers in the country.
7. Is Fran a great coach...probably not, but he has us playing at a level where we haven't been, consistently, since the Tom Davis years and it took 20 plus years and three coaching changes to get back to that level. Be careful what you ask for..Coach McCaffery is a very good, probably not great coach. We haven't had great coach since Ralph miller, although Lute might have been there had he spent a few more seasons in Iowa.
1. We aren't as good as some people, the team included, thought we could be...but this is still a VERY GOOD basketball team
2. We weren't "quick" last year and we aren't quick this year. That means we have to work harder on close-outs, etc and get tired quicker than a more naturally quick team. Now, this team ain't "slow"...just we lack the really quick athletes that elite teams often have. This really affects our defensive effort late in games.
3. You can call it the Fran fade or whatever, but it is just how tough the Big Ten basketball schedule really is.
4. This team is built on shooters and outscoring the opponents. When we go through a stretch where we aren't hitting shots, well we will lose some games.
5. The good news is, the young guys look a step quicker than some of the older guys and whether or not they will be better, I think we will have better defensive teams in the future. P Mac, JT, Ulis, Perkins and Murray all have better quickness than the guys they will be replacing.
6. Anyone bagging on Conner Mac doesn't get what he means to this team. yes, he is one of those guys who's defense suffers by not being quick, but he defends better than others outside and inside and is one of the best post passers in the country.
7. Is Fran a great coach...probably not, but he has us playing at a level where we haven't been, consistently, since the Tom Davis years and it took 20 plus years and three coaching changes to get back to that level. Be careful what you ask for..Coach McCaffery is a very good, probably not great coach. We haven't had great coach since Ralph miller, although Lute might have been there had he spent a few more seasons in Iowa.
