Massive team win

[The Deplorable Sleeping Dog]

Everyone played well tonight. RK and Bakari were the least effective and they didn't hurt us.

Hard nosed team defense. Moving the ball better against the TT defense than anyone else has done. Big shots out of Jordan, CJ and Joey W. Joey T on loose ball and scramble play. Conner played very good defense tonight, with one glaring play excepted. Luka dominated TT inside with another double double. Cordell with big rebounds.

This was a team effort and it really payed off.

 

[And1Hawk]

Really good win tonight with a lot of team contributions.

The biggest issue is rebounding and our lack of boxing out. We were beat repeatedly on the backside for O boards or this game would have never been close.

 

[Wango Z Tango]

Really good win tonight with a lot of team contributions.

The biggest issue is rebounding and our lack of boxing out. We were beat repeatedly on the backside for O boards or this game would have never been close.

If DePaul would have shot like Texas Tech we would have won. If Texas Tec shoots like DePaul we lose big! So, whatever. Love the win today and hopefully tomorrow. Confidense builder...

 

[BioHawk]

Really good win tonight with a lot of team contributions.

The biggest issue is rebounding and our lack of boxing out. We were beat repeatedly on the backside for O boards or this game would have never been close.

That was noticeable and Iowa got a bit lucky that Texas Tech missed a lot of uncontested layups. Still, that just means they can still play better than they did tonight.

 

[And1Hawk]

If DePaul would have shot like Texas Tech we would have won. If Texas Tec shoots like DePaul we lose big! So, whatever. Love the win today and hopefully tomorrow. Confidense builder...

Very true but I will say it was just not the shooting that was undeniable against DePaul, it was the athleticism difference. We looked we had cement shoes on and had no business being on the court at all. It was embarrassing and almost Lick’esque.

Much better look tonight no doubt. Watching this Tech team, I’m pretty certain this will not be the level of team they had last year but still a great, unexpected win to help our team’s confidence.

 

[Hawkfan_08]

That was noticeable and Iowa got a bit lucky that Texas Tech missed a lot of uncontested layups. Still, that just means they can still play better than they did tonight.

I honestly think Garza was living rent free in their heads tonight. He got those early blocks and set the tone. I think TTU was anticipating contact or contested shots.

I have zero clue what was up with Kriener. Not his best game but he'll get more chances. Frederick saved the day with that 3.

 

[HawkSTL]

We really competed on defense. One of the more feisty, physical, tough defensive performances I can recall.

Garza is starting to become a high end rim protector. Wieskamp, CJ, and Toussaint have good size, strength, and lateral quickness and want to on defense. CMac tries on defense and is physical (though slow).

If we can play consistent defense, we’ve got enough perimeter shooting and Garza to win games and be an NCAA team. Tonight was the blueprint though—have to compete on defense.

 

[Hawkeyes4Life32]

Very true but I will say it was just not the shooting that was undeniable against DePaul, it was the athleticism difference. We looked we had cement shoes on and had no business being on the court at all. It was embarrassing and almost Lick’esque.

Much better look tonight no doubt. Watching this Tech team, I’m pretty certain this will not be the level of team they had last year but still a great, unexpected win to help our team’s confidence.

So you're saying you weren't wrong we just magically got more athletic in 2 weeks? Riiiight

 

[HawkTex]

Everyone played well tonight. RK and Bakari were the least effective and they didn't hurt us.

Hard nosed team defense. Moving the ball better against the TT defense than anyone else has done. Big shots out of Jordan, CJ and Joey W. Joey T on loose ball and scramble play. Conner played very good defense tonight, with one glaring play excepted. Luka dominated TT inside with another double double. Cordell with big rebounds.

This was a team effort and it really payed off.

Kriener needs to start playing like he has a pulse.

 

[The Deplorable Sleeping Dog]

Based on what we've seen thus far it seems that the DePaul game is an outlier. The shelled a young team with 3 new starters right out of the gate. While the Hawks area hardly a jack rabbit team nothing in any other game has looked as slow and lost as the boys looked in that DePaul game.

Everyone that ever played a sport or did anything else competitive over a long period of time had the game where you just suck. The proverbial burn the tape game. Maybe the boys are actually pretty good but just looked terrible in that one game?

 

[And1Hawk]

So you're saying you weren't wrong we just magically got more athletic in 2 weeks? Riiiight

No, I think it’s safe to say we are not an overly athletic team and DePaul beats us again. They were impressive. Tech was smaller, inexperienced and lacking great shooters. This was also their first power 5/6 matchup and it showed. We hit shots the first half and played a smart game hanging on until we could hit the final CJ dagger and pull away.

I’ll also add, not having Nunge at the four helps defensively.

 

[perryhawk]

If DePaul would have shot like Texas Tech we would have won. If Texas Tec shoots like DePaul we lose big! So, whatever. Love the win today and hopefully tomorrow. Confidense builder...

I have a different perspective...if we played defense against Depaul like we did tonight against TT...we might have won that game-probably win that game. AND if we shoot the ball better against Depaul we have a good chance of beating them.

 

[IllQChawk]

Kriener needs to start playing like he has a pulse.

Kriener needs to dunk the ball when he's under the basket, but the one thing that upset's the "L" out of me is Pemsl. He's had over a year the work on his game and basically he's the same player that can't pull the trigger on a jump shot. Show's absolutely no confidence in taking a shot away from the basket. Only 6 games, but that doesn't bode well for the season going forward.

 

[BBHawk]

CM, Joe T, Weezy, Bakari, and CJ play defense by moving their feet and staying focused for the most part. We haven't had that level of 3 pt defense for years.

 

[perryhawk]

No, I think it’s safe to say we are not an overly athletic team and DePaul beats us again. They were impressive. Tech was smaller, inexperienced and lacking great shooters. This was also their first power 5/6 matchup and it showed. We hit shots the first half and played a smart game hanging on until we could hit the final CJ dagger and pull away.

I’ll also add, not having Nunge at the four helps defensively.

We aren't overly athletic....but not as bad as we looked against Depaul. I think this TT team is pretty athletic and not that different than Depaul.

TT is more inexperienced but still very talented.

I will say with some confidence that these last three games our defense has clearly been better than probably any game the last two years...We might not continue to play defense at this level and we might get exposed by some teams, but the effort and toughness in this last game in particular (against good competition) was as good as we've seen from a Fran team in quite a while. Makes me very happy.

 

[And1Hawk]

We aren't overly athletic....but not as bad as we looked against Depaul. I think this TT team is pretty athletic and not that different than Depaul.

TT is more inexperienced but still very talented.

I will say win some confidence that these last three games our defense has clearly been better that probably any game the last two years...We might not continue to play defense at this level and we might get exposed by some teams, but the effort and toughness in this last game in particular (against good competition) was as good as we've seen from a Fran team in quite a while. Makes me very happy.

If you go back and watch the DePaul game you’ll notice the first two threes were on Nunge as he could not come out and cover his guy on the 3 pt line leaving him wide open. That got DePaul off to a great start and they never looked back. He also could not move laterally allowing DePaul players to drive right past him for easy buckets. I like Jack, but he lacks foot speed and athleticism to play the four, especially when paired with Garza who also lacks foot speed despite his great effort. I’m not sure how we could be any slower with those two paired together against a quality opponent?

I hate to see Jack hurt, but in terms of basketball we are better with him not playing the four.

 

[perryhawk]

If you go back and watch the DePaul game you’ll notice the first two threes were on Nunge as he could not come out and cover his guy on the 3 pt line leaving him wide open. That got DePaul off to a great start and they never looked back. He also could not move laterally allowing DePaul players to drive right past him for easy buckets. I like Jack, but he lacks foot speed and athleticism to play the four, especially when paired with Garza who also lacks foot speed despite his great effort. I’m not sure how we could be any slower with those two paired together against a quality opponent?

I hate to see Jack hurt, but in terms of basketball we are better with him not playing the four.

I think our whole team was a step slow in that game...Not just Jack. At first when Fran said that it was on him that he practiced them to long and to hard and put to much in leading up to that game...I thought he was just covering for his team. Now, after seeing the game tonight I think that might just be a logical explanation.

I disagree on Nunge being to slow at the 4....I think he was rusty coming off of the redshirt year and I think that as Fran said, he didn't have them fresh and ready to go...I think and hope that is what we are seeing right now and saw tonight.

 

[And1Hawk]

I think our whole team was a step slow in that game...Not just Jack. At first when Fran said that it was on him that he practiced them to long and to hard and put to much in leading up to that game...I thought he was just covering for his team. Now, after seeing the game tonight I think that might just be a logical explanation.

I disagree on Nunge being to slow at the 4....I think he was rusty coming off of the redshirt year and I think that as Fran said, he didn't have them fresh and ready to go...I think and hope that is what we are seeing right now and saw tonight.

Here’s the best part and that is we will get to see it play out over the next 6 games to see if this is repeatable. I hope it is and tonight was fantastic but I still have concerns.

I’ll stand by my sentiment that this is not an overly athletic team. It has to find smart ways to win games and hit shots. I’ll disagree on Nunge playing the four. Moving your feet has nothing to do with being rusty. He needs to be a true post player with his size and given his limited athleticism. The problem is he wants to be a finesse guy hanging out shooting threes. We will be better with a smaller lineup.

Connor is no blazer so combined with Nunge and Garza that was a troublesome lineup athletically.

 

[perryhawk]

Here’s the best part and that is we will get to see it play out over the next 6 games to see if this is repeatable. I hope it is and tonight was fantastic but I still have concerns.

I’ll stand by my sentiment that this is not an overly athletic team. It has to find smart ways to win games and hit shots. I’ll disagree on Nunge playing the four. Moving your feet has nothing to do with being rusty. He needs to be a true post player with his size and given his limited athleticism. The problem is he wants to be a finesse guy hanging out shooting threes. We will be better with a smaller lineup.

Connor is no blazer so combined with Nunge and Garza that was a troublesome lineup athletically.

100% Agreement
Here’s the best part and that is we will get to see it play out over the next 6 games to see if this is repeatable. I hope it is and tonight was fantastic but I still have concerns.

100% Agreement
I’ll stand by my sentiment that this is not an overly athletic team. It has to find smart ways to win games and hit shots.

Some Disagreement; Being rusty is at least part mental, which affects how quickly a person makes decisions, which affects physical reaction time.
I’ll disagree on Nunge playing the four. Moving your feet has nothing to do with being rusty.

I think that we have all seen that when teams and players are confident that they play a little quicker and certainly better.....confidence is that belief that greases the mental wheels and makes them turn quicker and more efficiently.

 

[Eternal Return]

That was noticeable and Iowa got a bit lucky that Texas Tech missed a lot of uncontested layups. Still, that just means they can still play better than they did tonight.

Iowa was hustling on defense all game, though, and didn't look lost running around like chickens with their heads cut off like they did against DePaul. They knew what they were doing defensively in this game and it paid off against a really good team. Might need to chalk up that DePaul game as an outlier given it was the second game of the year. Or, the game against TT was an outlier and Iowa won't be able to play with that intensity night in and night out. We'll see. Having JBo playing a lot of minutes and playing effectively was a big difference in this game.

 

[TheRealHerky]

It was a great effort by the Hawks and they played their best game of the season.
That being said, when CMac banks in a NBA three with the shot clock hitting zero, you know it's your night.

 

[hawkeyemark56]

Kriener needs to start playing like he has a pulse.

Kriener did not have his best game for sure. Ryan has always had his ups and downs but gives you a nest positive in his overall play. In fact I came away from the game thinking that we fared pretty well down a big and not having much production on the inside outside of Garza. Granted we played a team without alot of size and Pemsl did some other things well even without scoring all that much.

 

[bojihawk44]

It was a great effort by the Hawks and they played their best game of the season.
That being said, when CMac banks in a NBA three with the shot clock hitting zero, you know it's your night.

Meh, they had a lotta lucky bounces and calls as well.

 

[katman15]

Based on what we've seen thus far it seems that the DePaul game is an outlier. The shelled a young team with 3 new starters right out of the gate. While the Hawks area hardly a jack rabbit team nothing in any other game has looked as slow and lost as the boys looked in that DePaul game.

Everyone that ever played a sport or did anything else competitive over a long period of time had the game where you just suck. The proverbial burn the tape game. Maybe the boys are actually pretty good but just looked terrible in that one game?

Like this post. I was all over Iowa for being too white and too slow,,,,we looked much better from an athletic standpoint last night. If we have Bo we will be competitive,,,,,if not,,,,it's going to. E a long season in my opinion...

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

We aren't overly athletic....but not as bad as we looked against Depaul. I think this TT team is pretty athletic and not that different than Depaul.

Nobody would have beaten DePaul that night, except maybe Stephen F. Austin or Evansville. LOL

DePaul had one of those games where they just couldn't miss. It happens sometimes. I agree that Iowa would have drilled DePaul last night, or pretty much anyone else. I mean, don't forget that Tech was ranked #12 in the country going into that game.

Give Iowa credit. They played a heckuva game last night and, despite some iffy officiating at times and several second-half surges by Tech, they never gave in. Iowa earned the win period, end of story.

 

[anon_gjzkhykcp9iuj]

As focused and intense as I've seen the team in quite a long time.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

Everyone played well tonight. RK and Bakari were the least effective and they didn't hurt us.

Hard nosed team defense. Moving the ball better against the TT defense than anyone else has done. Big shots out of Jordan, CJ and Joey W. Joey T on loose ball and scramble play. Conner played very good defense tonight, with one glaring play excepted. Luka dominated TT inside with another double double. Cordell with big rebounds.

This was a team effort and it really payed off.

Good post. Was going to comment along similar lines about it being a team win. Unlike years past when the great team chemistry Fran talked about seemed elusive at best, the team collectively fought and scratched last night down the stretch.

It was nice to see the guys on the court encouraging each other vs. hanging their heads or looking frustrated. The bench was energized throughout the game and ran out to meet guys during timeouts. Fran seems to have a few more guys (CJ, Touissant) with the intangibles that Jbo and Graza possess. Connor played solid D and made a couple shots when the offense broke down. Not enough superlatives to talk about Garza and JBo. I keep thinking Evelyn is going to show more than he has. Hopefully tonight.

 

[kceasthawk]

Kriener needs to dunk the ball when he's under the basket, but the one thing that upset's the "L" out of me is Pemsl. He's had over a year the work on his game and basically he's the same player that can't pull the trigger on a jump shot. Show's absolutely no confidence in taking a shot away from the basket. Only 6 games, but that doesn't bode well for the season going forward.

This. Its a little strange too because he actually did shoot a little in high school I believe. He also has a pretty good stoke from the free throw line. Don't want him chucking three's but it would help immensely if he could hit that free throw line extended jumper that Nunge started hitting last week. Otherwise if he's in at the four with Garza, he provides little on offense because he needs to be out of the lane for Luka to operate, and not have his man there for the double team.

 

[ZumaHawk]

It was a great effort by the Hawks and they played their best game of the season.
That being said, when CMac banks in a NBA three with the shot clock hitting zero, you know it's your night.

I said the same thing. After he banked it in I said we are gonna win this game.

 

[aurorabimmer]

Kriener did not have his best game for sure. Ryan has always had his ups and downs but gives you a nest positive in his overall play. In fact I came away from the game thinking that we fared pretty well down a big and not having much production on the inside outside of Garza. Granted we played a team without alot of size and Pemsl did some other things well even without scoring all that much.

RK will come up big in some games. I like his ability to hit the 3pt'er. When that is on for him his game gets better.

 

[HawksRMe]

Based on what we've seen thus far it seems that the DePaul game is an outlier. The shelled a young team with 3 new starters right out of the gate. While the Hawks area hardly a jack rabbit team nothing in any other game has looked as slow and lost as the boys looked in that DePaul game.

Everyone that ever played a sport or did anything else competitive over a long period of time had the game where you just suck. The proverbial burn the tape game. Maybe the boys are actually pretty good but just looked terrible in that one game?

This. I think DePaul just punched the Hawks a few times in the nose early and the Hawks just never recovered. Game got away from them. It happens. Although I'm not convinced that the Hawks could beat DePaul if they played again.

 

[ccrawford117]

The year Wisky made the title game they got beat by Rutgers early in the season. Was Rutgers better? No, but basketball is fickle and so much of each game has to do with shooting and momentum. Don’t get too high (Texas Tech) or too low (DePaul). Fran does a great job preaching a business-like approach.

 

[Fsanford]

Everyone played well tonight. RK and Bakari were the least effective and they didn't hurt us.

Hard nosed team defense. Moving the ball better against the TT defense than anyone else has done. Big shots out of Jordan, CJ and Joey W. Joey T on loose ball and scramble play. Conner played very good defense tonight, with one glaring play excepted. Luka dominated TT inside with another double double. Cordell with big rebounds.

This was a team effort and it really payed off.

Mississippi fan I see

 

[vgshwk]

That was noticeable and Iowa got a bit lucky that Texas Tech missed a lot of uncontested layups. Still, that just means they can still play better than they did tonight.

TT was pushing off with their elbow all night and wasn’t called

 

[BioHawk]

TT was pushing off with their elbow all night and wasn’t called

I believe that.

 

[The Deplorable Sleeping Dog]

TT was pushing off with their elbow all night and wasn’t called

TT had a huge officiating advantage, especially in the first half. One of the O rebounds had a Red Raider just crash into CMac's back and knocked CMac out of the way. Official right on the play, no call. The Red Raider with the dreads got away with murder both pushing off and fouling to get rebounds.

In the end it didn't matter. The boys from Iowa were tougher. More focused. Better.

 

[Ronman]

Oddly, when I visited a TT forum, they thought Iowa got all the calls and we were the ones beating them up all night. I guess Luka was battering their elbows, and boy, do they hate Garza.