I've watched some Iowa games this year and ...

[Melly]

I have a question for the Hawkeye fans.

As I mentioned in the other thread, I know people who went to Penn with McCaffrey and we get the Big Ten Network, so I turned in.

Can you pinpoint anything in particular down the stretch that was different? I saw in one thread someone said that the winning in the middle was a bit of an stretch and the team is more good than great. Was it a case of playing above their heads and then just reaching the right level?

Or was it a case of mental lapses (anytime someone is out-coached by Pat Chambers at State Penn, I wonder -- good recruiter but HORRIBLE game coach)?

And Uhl? He seemed to be a productive sixth man early and then poof. Any clue on what happened? As you will doubtless recall, Temple was in his final 2/3.

As I mentioned early on, Temple is a uneven -- but they do tend to play up to good teams (barely losing to Butler and Utah at the beginning of the year when things were unsettled, SMU and the regular-season sweeps of UConn and Cincinnati) but down to the bad teams.

As the season went on, they had a tendency to play well in tight games -- if they had that at the beginning of the year, I think they beat Butler and Utah. But. who knows?

 

[HerkyFan]

When the Hawks were playing really well it seemed we had better ball movement, moved our feet on defense and we let the game game come to us.

As the losses started to mount we had players get tight and press a little. That has led to a spiral. If 3 of our 4 seniors play as they did against Illinois Temple won't have any problems winning the game. If we play as we did against MSU and PU then there isn't anybody in the tourney this team can't beat.

My guess is that we see a really good Iowa team against Temple and then the poor Iowa team in the next round.

 

[iowalawhawk]

Shooting is a big part. When we were winning big, not only was Uthoff knocking down threes in people's faces like layups, but guys like Uhl, Baer and others were hitting big threes as well. Uhl hit 46% or so for the season, but looking at his mechanics and bad free throw shooting, it's entirely possible it was all a fluke - and the last few weeks seem to bear that out.

Defense also played a big part. We didn't rebound well in the zone. We give up a ton of wide open dunks/layups. We don't close out on shooters. We overhelp. I think some of this stuff was there early but opposing shooters were uncharacteristically cold against us, and they have regressed to the mean.

 

[hawkeye122671]

Imo, the slide was a combination of several factors. The biggest being ineptitude of quality guard play. Mike and Anthony have been a liability this last month. It has spiraled into other aspects of the team concept. Another factor that cannot be overlooked is the lack of poise, as a team, in close games when the click hits 4-5 minutes left in game. This shouldn't surprise though because this issue has been the exact same issue with these seniors for 4 years. Mostly guards pissing down their legs but also our scorers not demanding the ball in clutch moments. It's real easy and the BIG figured it out....keep it close and let Gesell and Clemmons give it away down the stretch. Sadly, mike, especially Mike, will be remembered for choking big time when pressure is on. He will break the single season assist record but that stat is highly misleading. The end of halfs and when clock hits 5 minutes are abysmal.

 

[lonhawk]

I have a question for the Hawkeye fans.

As I mentioned in the other thread, I know people who went to Penn with McCaffrey and we get the Big Ten Network, so I turned in.

Can you pinpoint anything in particular down the stretch that was different? I saw in one thread someone said that the winning in the middle was a bit of an stretch and the team is more good than great. Was it a case of playing above their heads and then just reaching the right level?

Or was it a case of mental lapses (anytime someone is out-coached by Pat Chambers at State Penn, I wonder -- good recruiter but HORRIBLE game coach)?

And Uhl? He seemed to be a productive sixth man early and then poof. Any clue on what happened? As you will doubtless recall, Temple was in his final 2/3.

As I mentioned early on, Temple is a uneven -- but they do tend to play up to good teams (barely losing to Butler and Utah at the beginning of the year when things were unsettled, SMU and the regular-season sweeps of UConn and Cincinnati) but down to the bad teams.

As the season went on, they had a tendency to play well in tight games -- if they had that at the beginning of the year, I think they beat Butler and Utah. But. who knows?

The posters above have made great assessments on Iowa's demise. Question? Did you watch Iowa when they were world beaters or when they look like a dysfunctional grade school team?

 

[Ihawkhoops]

The bench masked the fact we have 3 starters that don't offer much offensively. When the bench was scoring close to 20 ppg, Iowa was a much different team. Since the bench production's decline, we have been forced to rely on points from the starters, which really means Jok and Uthoff.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

When Iowa was hot, their shots were falling and that lead into great defense being played. They were able to defend with great intensity and actually gamble a couple of times, because their shots were falling. Now since the shots are falling, they have gotten really hesitant on defense and some of our senior guards have been playing at a low level. I am hoping that changes.

The one thing that really causes Iowa's fits is quick PG's who can attack and get into the lane. Iowa's rotation on defense have been horrible for the past month and actually we have started playing zone more and more. The problem is our zone is not good and teams have found a way to dissect it. Also w/our zone we give up a lot of 2nd chance opportunities.

Iowa on offense has also gotten into the 1 side approach. For whatever reason they don't swing the ball and look to attack. They swing it and then hold it and set a ball screen and there is no movement away from the ball. They have to keep moving and make Temple actually play defense, instead of just standing there.

Iowa overall has been slumping, but in 2014 we were losing games. This year we have had the lead in a lot of those games in the 2nd half. They just have to get over that hump and win a close game. If they can do that, it will do wonders for their confidence personally.


I think it will be a ballgame. Iowa has to play smart and also Hit their FT's. If they shoot less than 70% from the FT line, they will lose.

 

[Melly]

The posters above have made great assessments on Iowa's demise. Question? Did you watch Iowa when they were world beaters or when they look like a dysfunctional grade school team?

I saw the Michigan State games. I also saw the Penn State game where the Hawkeyes couldn't hit a second- or third- or fourth-effort close-in shot to save their lives.

So, I've seen them REALLY impress and not so much. That's why I was wondering, because I think I saw more world-beater games than games down the stretch.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

I saw the Michigan State games. I also saw the Penn State game where the Hawkeyes couldn't hit a second- or third- or fourth-effort close-in shot to save their lives.

So, I've seen them REALLY impress and not so much. That's why I was wondering, because I think I saw more world-beater games than games down the stretch.

That PSU game was just a total lack of effort. PSU hit some shots, but Iowa's effort was pitiful that night. They just thought they were going to roll over them and PSU had different plans.

I don't know what Iowa team will show up?