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Iowa WBB - post Toledo thoughts (long)

DanHawkPella

HB Legend
Jul 24, 2001
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A few glaring observations, some of which have already been stated:
  • Iowa players, all the way down the roster, are playing offense and defense VERY HARD at all times
  • Iowa players, with a few exceptions, are playing VERY PHYSICAL regardless of the competition (not taking it easy on you just because you are Toledo or smaller)
  • Iowa players are all blocking out defensively very, very well
  • Iowa players on offense are all cutting hard and finishing hard
  • Iowa players, with a few freshmen exceptions, are all playing at mid-season form in terms of basketball IQ and execution, even given some of the new actions they are running
Poor Toledo got hit by a train, and a train that never let up on the gas the whole game. They were outmanned, and Iowa took no mercy on them.

Our players were bigger, stronger, sometimes taller, often faster, and definitely better shooters all around. And they just hit Toledo in all the right places and consistently made good decisions on both ends.

We do have a lot of upside due to the freshmen, but one downside to this is that maybe part of our team is already close to their peak. Not sure ranked teams want to see us right now because we're executing well and playing so hard for this early in the season - most teams are not this sharp yet.

All that being said, a few detailed observations:

In general basketball at all levels has moved to 4 out or 5 out offense with 4 or 5 of the offensive players being outside the 3 point line almost at all times. It has also moved from continuous motion offenses and set pieces to "conceptual offense" where it is just a set of "actions" (like wing Pick and Roll) that aren't called from the bench but are simply "triggered" by the players themselves based on where the ball goes and who is on that side of the court.

Iowa is technically trying to play 4 out and 1 in (O'Grady) but doing it with the following starters:

1. Olsen - most of her shots are within 16 feet, with a strong right side bias
2. Kylie - 3 point shooter, can drive
3. Affolter - driver, can shoot the 3
4. Hannah - range to 15 feet, mostly low post or dribble drive
5. O'Grady - range to 15 feet, mostly low post scorer

The challenge Iowa has is basically SPACING, at least on paper, because so many of those players treasure that 5 to 15 foot area around the lane, which can clog it up and bring help defenders really close to the ball.

If I'm defending Iowa, I would:
  • Play behind O'Grady and Hannah in the post, to avoid giving up lobs - make them shoot over defenders, not around them
  • When defending O'Grady or Hannah, never go outside of 14 feet
  • When they get the ball in the post, double them on the bounce (when they dribble) using the other Big's defender who is no further than 8 feet away
  • Don't help off of the true perimeter shooters (McCabe, Kylie, Olsen)
  • If perimeter ballhandlers get a screen, go OVER the screen to take away the 3 pointer and force them into the DROP (sagging) coverage I just mentioned
  • Lock Lucy to the left side where she is much less efficient historically (even though she's made a few nice one's this year)
This can in theory take away the 3's and force the true perimeter shooters to drive - right into the help defenders who are guarding O'Grady / Hannah.

Iowa does a good job in these situations of finding the "free" big and dumping it to them for layups and those free players cut to the open space, so the last trick is whatever rotation you need to do to take that away or at least make it a tough pass. So they will get a few of those, but overall I think Iowa's efficiency would drop quite a bit.

The "actions" that Iowa is running this year are a bit different given they are using 2 posts:

1. Trying to get Hannah drive opportunities by running "Fingers" action with a rub screen near the top of the key to get her attacking off the dribble - usually from the top of the key down the far lane line to the rim using her right hand (rarely see her do this lefty)
2. Running low post actions:
(A) if they try to defend the high side, the lob is there so it is a lob and finish,​
(B) if they play behind the post player, then Iowa is running "Splits" where the 2 closest guards are screening and cutting off of each other for a kickout 3 usually, or it may end in a "Laker" cut like Affolter had where she cuts off the side of O'Grady and gets a close pass for a shot at the rim.​
3. Running high post actions with different types of cuts for the guards, although in theory will also allow for high/low post entry too
4. Running standard Read and React action where you pass and then cut through the lane with the perimeter players rotating to create movement and angles
5. Perimeter pick and rolls

They have other stuff but usually when they are trying to get a Hannah drive it is coming off of actions 1 or 4, and if they want a post up then they try to make the entry easier by having the post first set a back flex style screen for a guard on the same block they want the ball for (to distract their defender from fronting them) and then they get an entry pass. Then if their defender trying to deny them over a shoulder they can drop step and attack immediately, but if the defender stays behind them they let the guards do their Splits/Laker cuts with them as they passer.

Overall they are looking very good despite the challenge of spacing, and their actions are working.

The only thing I need to see yet is how they fare against a TALENTED TEAM who defends them like I outlined above.

In any event, they are playing defense well enough to be a solid to good NCAA team regardless. They will be a real threat if those Freshmen play as well as I think they can.

Mallegni has some skills in her bag that are very, very unique and once she figures out the right decisions she's going to be a huge weapon off the bench. I love her offense, and her defense is above average too, despite the fouls last night :)
 
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It's an interesting mix of players. Right now Iowa is starting 4 seniors and a junior. I like McCabe as a sniper off the bench and you can see the potential of the freshmen. This team is well coached and has a very high basketball IQ. Fun to watch.
Good point. While Jan is a new “head coach” she’s been a coach for over 30 years and was a great player before that. We might have some new starters but getting Olson from the portal to run the show is huge. She just knows how to play bball. Love watching her play. Of course we’re going to lose a few games but I’m convinced this is a sweet 16 team.
 
I am a big fan of Lucy Olsen's game. Affolter looks like she's getting her legs back underneath her. Once she gets it going full strength, her and Olsen will be an awesome backcourt duo. Feuerbach getting more consistent from behind the arc is crucial. Freshmen look great. Super happy for AOG. Stuelke legit.

Love this team!
 
A few glaring observations, some of which have already been stated:
  • Iowa players, all the way down the roster, are playing offense and defense VERY HARD at all times
  • Iowa players, with a few exceptions, are playing VERY PHYSICAL regardless of the competition (not taking it easy on you just because you are Toledo or smaller)
  • Iowa players are all blocking out defensively very, very well
It's only been a couple of games, but I've been impressed with with the energy/attitude on defense. When CC was playing 34+ minutes she simply didn't the gas to work hard on defense. I would like to see 9 or 10 players get solid minutes and try to keep the starters around/under 30 mpg.

Hopefully they'll be able to maintain that intensity against bigger/stronger teams.
 
A few glaring observations, some of which have already been stated:
  • Iowa players, all the way down the roster, are playing offense and defense VERY HARD at all times
  • Iowa players, with a few exceptions, are playing VERY PHYSICAL regardless of the competition (not taking it easy on you just because you are Toledo or smaller)
  • Iowa players are all blocking out defensively very, very well
  • Iowa players on offense are all cutting hard and finishing hard
  • Iowa players, with a few freshmen exceptions, are all playing at mid-season form in terms of basketball IQ and execution, even given some of the new actions they are running
Poor Toledo got hit by a train, and a train that never let up on the gas the whole game. They were outmanned, and Iowa took no mercy on them.

Our players were bigger, stronger, sometimes taller, often faster, and definitely better shooters all around. And they just hit Toledo in all the right places and consistently made good decisions on both ends.

We do have a lot of upside due to the freshmen, but one downside to this is that maybe part of our team is already close to their peak. Not sure ranked teams want to see us right now because we're executing well and playing so hard for this early in the season - most teams are not this sharp yet.

All that being said, a few detailed observations:

In general basketball at all levels has moved to 4 out or 5 out offense with 4 or 5 of the offensive players being outside the 3 point line almost at all times. It has also moved from continuous motion offenses and set pieces to "conceptual offense" where it is just a set of "actions" (like wing Pick and Roll) that aren't called from the bench but are simply "triggered" by the players themselves based on where the ball goes and who is on that side of the court.

Iowa is technically trying to play 4 out and 1 in (O'Grady) but doing it with the following starters:

1. Olsen - most of her shots are within 16 feet, with a strong right side bias
2. Kylie - 3 point shooter, can drive
3. Affolter - driver, can shoot the 3
4. Hannah - range to 15 feet, mostly low post or dribble drive
5. O'Grady - range to 15 feet, mostly low post scorer

The challenge Iowa has is basically SPACING, at least on paper, because so many of those players treasure that 5 to 15 foot area around the lane, which can clog it up and bring help defenders really close to the ball.

If I'm defending Iowa, I would:
  • Play behind O'Grady and Hannah in the post, to avoid giving up lobs - make them shoot over defenders, not around them
  • When defending O'Grady or Hannah, never go outside of 14 feet
  • When they get the ball in the post, double them on the bounce (when they dribble) using the other Big's defender who is no further than 8 feet away
  • Don't help off of the true perimeter shooters (McCabe, Kylie, Olsen)
  • If perimeter ballhandlers get a screen, go OVER the screen to take away the 3 pointer and force them into the DROP (sagging) coverage I just mentioned
  • Lock Lucy to the left side where she is much less efficient historically (even though she's made a few nice one's this year)
This can in theory take away the 3's and force the true perimeter shooters to drive - right into the help defenders who are guarding O'Grady / Hannah.

Iowa does a good job in these situations of finding the "free" big and dumping it to them for layups and those free players cut to the open space, so the last trick is whatever rotation you need to do to take that away or at least make it a tough pass. So they will get a few of those, but overall I think Iowa's efficiency would drop quite a bit.

The "actions" that Iowa is running this year are a bit different given they are using 2 posts:

1. Trying to get Hannah drive opportunities by running "Fingers" action with a rub screen near the top of the key to get her attacking off the dribble - usually from the top of the key down the far lane line to the rim using her right hand (rarely see her do this lefty)
2. Running low post actions:
(A) if they try to defend the high side, the lob is there so it is a lob and finish,​
(B) if they play behind the post player, then Iowa is running "Splits" where the 2 closest guards are screening and cutting off of each other for a kickout 3 usually, or it may end in a "Laker" cut like Affolter had where she cuts off the side of O'Grady and gets a close pass for a shot at the rim.​
3. Running high post actions with different types of cuts for the guards, although in theory will also allow for high/low post entry too
4. Running standard Read and React action where you pass and then cut through the lane with the perimeter players rotating to create movement and angles
5. Perimeter pick and rolls

They have other stuff but usually when they are trying to get a Hannah drive it is coming off of actions 1 or 4, and if they want a post up then they try to make the entry easier by having the post first set a back flex style screen for a guard on the same block they want the ball for (to distract their defender from fronting them) and then they get an entry pass. Then if their defender trying to deny them over a shoulder they can drop step and attack immediately, but if the defender stays behind them they let the guards do their Splits/Laker cuts with them as they passer.

Overall they are looking very good despite the challenge of spacing, and their actions are working.

The only thing I need to see yet is how they fare against a TALENTED TEAM who defends them like I outlined above.

In any event, they are playing defense well enough to be a solid to good NCAA team regardless. They will be a real threat if those Freshmen play as well as I think they can.

Mallegni has some skills in her bag that are very, very unique and once she figures out the right decisions she's going to be a huge weapon off the bench. I love her offense, and her defense is above average too, despite the fouls last night :)
Very good. As you said we'll need to see how we shoot the three when we start playing top 20 and above level teams and there are a bunch on the schedule. If we struggle with that when they pack the lane it could be problematic. McCabe needs some space to get her shot off, and we'll need to see better consistency from Kylie. Mallegni, Syd.
 
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