Isaiah Moss transferring according to report

[BBHawk]

I hope Cordell is 100% by Fall. He's the hustle and intensity guy that can help fill in the loss of Baer. (see isu game)

I agree. And he is a good rebounder and really seems to have an instinct for blocking out. I hope that the other interior players can learn some of that from him.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

I don't like this departure but it at least clears up the rotation a bit. Losing Moss will hurt but most likely not as much as we think, he was unguardable when on but most of the time he played like a bench player. His defense was average at best and he wasn't in at the end of games due to his inability to know time + score.(IE: 35 seconds left in the game, Hawks up by one and he would be the player to shoot that early 3 or drive to the hoop and get stripped early in the shot clock.)

The best defenders on the team were Baer, Dailey and Wieskamp/CMac but surprisingly I thought Bohannon wasn't bad this year and was the most improved on defense. He still wasn't great but I actually saw him stop people and he even won a game for us being the only player to actually box out on this team!!

The lineup's will most likely look like this:
CMac - Toussaint
Bohannon - Friedrick
Wieskamp - PMac
Nunge - Pemsl
Garza - Kriener

I think Pemsl won't start, at least at the beginning due to coming back from a major surgery. Offensively CMac just needs hit his 3's at a 35% clip and I think the offense will end up being one of the most efficient in the nation but if he doesn't then the inside lanes will get clogged up and we will have long draughts later on in the B10 as people sag of CMac daring him to shoot. Collectively for this team to make the NCAA again they really only need to improve on 2 things, defense and box outs.

CMac, Bohannon, Wieskamp are ok at this aspect though I expect them to improve a bit again but Garza is beyond pitiful at both. Instead of polishing his already great offense he needs to spend the offseason mostly working on the defensive fundamentals, especially his so called box outs. Boxing out directly underneath the basket is NOT a true box out!! I lost count of how many times the ball went up, Garza turned his fat but around to box out DIRECTLY under the freaking basket and allowed his guy to get the offensive rebound!! Move your ass and force your guy away from the basket, don't just give him the best rebounding position.

I agree with most of this assessment. I am really looking forward to seeing what the new guys have, especially JoeT, and how much Nunge has developed.

It is funny how Luka seems to understand positioning very well on offense, but not so much on defense. I agree that he needs to have this skill developed by repetition in practice. His lack of footspeed and jumping ability will keep him from ever becoming a great defender, but positioning can be learned.

 

[David1979]

I hope Cordell is 100% by Fall. He's the hustle and intensity guy that can help fill in the loss of Baer. (see isu game)

He hasn't ever really been 100%. Injury prone in HS as well.

 

[HawkIDrummer]

He hasn't ever really been 100%. Injury prone in HS as well.

Which is a shame...he seems to be a great kid and teammate. Brings a lot of good energy.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

It is funny how Luka seems to understand positioning very well on offense, but not so much on defense. I agree that he needs to have this skill developed by repetition in practice. His lack of footspeed and jumping ability will keep him from ever becoming a great defender, but positioning can be learned.

Yes. It's not for lack of effort that he is a poor defender. I think it's simply a matter of his quickness, reaction time, footspeed and leaping deficits. He can't do much about those. But he can certainly be smarter about when and where he positions himself and what would be the next best move to make. I see a lot of wasted motion with him on the D end where he is already a step or two behind then he compounds the problem by "recovering" to the area which it is past the time that would do any good.
Doubtful he can become a high level post defender, but he could be serviceable on that end.

 

[owenhawk]

Moss was simply a volume shooter who struggled to meaningfully impact the game in any other facets. You aren’t going anywhere in the Big 10 with Moss as one your primary players. He’s a below-average Big 10 starter. I share the concern, however, that we don’t have any better available options though.

This exactly. Even when he got steals he rarely finished in transition and actually turned it over way too much in those situations. The problem isn’t that they are losing Moss, it’s that as of right now, they don’t have a better option then Moss to start at SG because like you said, he is a below-average Big 10 starter. If I’m being optimistic, I’m hopeful that part of the reason that Fran couldn’t guarantee Moss a bigger role is because what they have seen of Frederick has been very positive (I seriously doubt Connor has anything to do with it because he won’t be starting at SG).

People like to point out how Moss got yanked and sat for long stretches but I’d argue if anything, Moss got way too long of rope and chances over the years. The fact that he continued to start over the years while his production was not strong most of the time was a problem. He should be a back-up who comes in and if he’s hot you give him more run but otherwise a 5-10 minute a game player. Let’s hope they like what they see with Frederick and/or have a potentisl Grad Transfer in the wings.

 

[owenhawk]

I think Moss is getting bad advice.

He has one year left; he's a starter; he plays in the B1G.

If he wants more playing time, EARN IT. At Iowa.

Don't run away from the challenge.

I can only assume he wants to go to mid-major so that he can play more minutes and put up a lot of shots. I can’t see him going to a team similar to Iowa and starting.

 

[FranklinHawk]

I agree with most of this assessment. I am really looking forward to seeing what the new guys have, especially JoeT, and how much Nunge has developed.

It is funny how Luka seems to understand positioning very well on offense, but not so much on defense. I agree that he needs to have this skill developed by repetition in practice. His lack of footspeed and jumping ability will keep him from ever becoming a great defender, but positioning can be learned.

Agree, become a slightly more athletic Woody on defense.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

Agree, become a slightly more athletic Woody on defense.

Luka is not more athletic than Woody, who was actually a very good position defender and defensive rebounder his last couple of years. Luka is light years better on offense.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

Yes. It's not for lack of effort that he is a poor defender. I think it's simply a matter of his quickness, reaction time, footspeed and leaping deficits. He can't do much about those. But he can certainly be smarter about when and where he positions himself and what would be the next best move to make. I see a lot of wasted motion with him on the D end where he is already a step or two behind then he compounds the problem by "recovering" to the area which it is past the time that would do any good.
Doubtful he can become a high level post defender, but he could be serviceable on that end.

I also think the coaches need to instruct Luka not to rush out on shooters, because he almost always is out of control and smart players will draw a foul on him almost every time.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

I also think the coaches need to instruct Luka not to rush out on shooters, because he almost always is out of control and smart players will draw a foul on him almost every time.

Yes, that's one example of what I was getting at as to expending energy without useful purpose and putting himself out of position for the next best spot. He's too far away to affect the shot and is more likely to run into the guy and foul him. Instead he could be getting to a good spot for a potential rebound.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

This exactly. Even when he got steals he rarely finished in transition and actually turned it over way too much in those situations. The problem isn’t that they are losing Moss, it’s that as of right now, they don’t have a better option then Moss to start at SG because like you said, he is a below-average Big 10 starter. If I’m being optimistic, I’m hopeful that part of the reason that Fran couldn’t guarantee Moss a bigger role is because what they have seen of Frederick has been very positive (I seriously doubt Connor has anything to do with it because he won’t be starting at SG).

People like to point out how Moss got yanked and sat for long stretches but I’d argue if anything, Moss got way too long of rope and chances over the years. The fact that he continued to start over the years while his production was not strong most of the time was a problem. He should be a back-up who comes in and if he’s hot you give him more run but otherwise a 5-10 minute a game player. Let’s hope they like what they see with Frederick and/or have a potentisl Grad Transfer in the wings.

Moss was our third highest usage player. We don’t really have to fully replace him, because Jordan and Joe will rightfully get more shots.

As much as people talk about his ability to create his own shot it doesn’t really show up in his offensive metrics.

 

[BBHawk]

Moss was our third highest usage player. We don’t really have to fully replace him, because Jordan and Joe will rightfully get more shots.

As much as people talk about his ability to create his own shot it doesn’t really show up in his offensive metrics.

I agree. While I wish Isaiah could have stayed and got it together, for some reason he just seemed to be timid unless he did something spectacular, otherwise he would just defer to his teammates. He has a lot of natural ability physically but not the mental makeup to take full advantage of it. Plain and simple, he lacks confidence in himself. And nothing McC could do seemed to help that.

 

[hawkjt]

Jordan and Joe were very selective in shooting last season. Both would go long stretches without shooting as they did not want to force shots while guarded tightly.
Next season they will not have that luxury..pressure will be on them to carry us throughout the game.
Ike often scored early in games then got lost.
I think Jordan especially will not find it easy to get many more good shots. He is not hard to guard for a quick defender...cannot go by guys and finish at the rim,

 

[FranklinHawk]

Luka is not more athletic than Woody, who was actually a very good position defender and defensive rebounder his last couple of years. Luka is light years better on offense.

Of course Woody was a very good position defender, my point was Luka should try to emulate that. Only said slightly, but I do think Luka is a bit more athletic.

I wasn't trying to compare them as overall players, just saying Woody's defense was the model for what Luka should do/be.

 

[CanadaHawk]

Jordan and Joe were very selective in shooting last season. Both would go long stretches without shooting as they did not want to force shots while guarded tightly.
Next season they will not have that luxury..pressure will be on them to carry us throughout the game.
Ike often scored early in games then got lost.
I think Jordan especially will not find it easy to get many more good shots. He is not hard to guard for a quick defender...cannot go by guys and finish at the rim,

This is why I think Fran emphasized getting shots through passing assists the past two seasons. It’s also another reason I think JB starts at the 2 this year (2 PGs, passers, in the lineup). All three of our likely leading scorers: JW, JB, LG- are shooters (although I think JW will go off the dribble much more this year). Think you’ll see JB move without the ball a lot this year (you could see it starting to come this past season) a la Gatens’ senior season.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

Of course Woody was a very good position defender, my point was Luka should try to emulate that. Only said slightly, but I do think Luka is a bit more athletic.

I wasn't trying to compare them as overall players, just saying Woody's defense was the model for what Luka should do/be.

Agree that Woody should be Luka's model for how he should play on the defensive end--stay between your man and the basket on defense and go to the best spot for rebounds. If he can do that his last two years, the Hawks will be much better.

Maybe we are defining athleticism differently. Luka is much more skilled, with much better hands. Neither can jump over a big telephone book (younger guys may need to Google what that is). Woody wasn't fast, but he can move his feet a lot better than Luka, who looks like he is playing in cement shoes. Maybe Woody can come back and give him a few lessons on the eye poke to perfect his defense

 

[SDHawkDoc]

Agree that Woody should be Luka's model for how he should play on the defensive end--stay between your man and the basket on defense and go to the best spot for rebounds. If he can do that his last two years, the Hawks will be much better.

Maybe we are defining athleticism differently. Luka is much more skilled, with much better hands. Neither can jump over a big telephone book (younger guys may need to Google what that is). Woody wasn't fast, but he can move his feet a lot better than Luka, who looks like he is playing in cement shoes. Maybe Woody can come back and give him a few lessons on the eye poke to perfect his defense

Perfectly captured.

While not an athleticism trait, Woody's T-Rex arms did him no favors either. At least Garza has a wingspan more in line with what you expect.

As for movement, I'm absolutely with you on that one. Garza's footwork on the D end looks like he's wearing concrete blocks. While Woody was slow even for his position, he moved less clumsily than Luka does on D.