You can do whatever you like in a public forum. You can even suggest that keeping it close for most of a game puts Iowa in the same class as ISU. You would be wrong of course, but nobody is stopping you.
Now that's what a guaranteed Sweet Sixteen team looks like (ISU)
- Thread starter BrewHawk
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I’m just waiting for some type of illegal activity…at a minimum a couple DUI’s to a more serious offense like one of their players robbing a Burger King, to derail the clown season. 😜
I was there…there really weren’t that many empty seats for such a large arena.
Nope.
They played mediocre to poor D until the last five minutes or so of the game.
Good news for them is that they actually know how to do it and have the athletes that can turn it on and overcome earlier poor play.
I actually think it is more of a compliment to Iowa's game-planning and offensive execution. Iowa State traps a lot, and gets lots of steals. Iowa countered that by starting a smaller three guard line-up, spread the floor making it harder to trap, then moved the ball really well to the open shooter, and started out at--least for much of the first half--on a torrid shooting streak hitting those open three pointers. IA hit 6 of the first 7 and was over 50% for the first half. Spreading the D allowed Harding and others to get dribble penetration into the lane, and while there weren't a ton of layups, it caused the D to collapse and he was able to kick out to the open shooters. I believe Harding had 8 assists. That 3-pt shooting cooled off in the second half as ISU trapped less and played more straight up man defense leaving less wide open shooters (IA still finished above their season average on 3PT%) and limited IA offensive rebounds to 8. I thought the extra guard ball handler and quick passing limited Iowa's turnovers to 9 for the game, below ISU's season average. While the constant ball pressure didn't create as many turnovers, I thought the result was the Hawks were gassed late in the game and it showed, but I also credit that to lack of timeout usage and Fran not using as many players or minutes off the bench as usual. Shooting ~20% higher than their season average on FTs also helped keep Iowa in the game and extend the time with the lead. In summary, credit the game planning and shooting for Iowa for the scoring more than bad defense, and the frenetic pace of the game too.
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Fran has no faith in anything but offense so when a game is tight he rides his "best" offensive players too long.
Results don't change the way Fran thinks. He's an odd guy.
For years, Hawk fans cited State fans for complaining about the refs, using it as an excuse for a loss. Referring to is as "little brother" mentality.
I guess times have changed.
No team is guaranteed to make the sweet 16.
But ISU would be a pretty good bet to do it. How much money do you have on it?
ISU always plays tough defense. There's no switch that gets flipped with them. Sounds like you're just discrediting the good things that Iowa did to lead most of the game.
A lot of things can make up for a poor shooting night. Iowa does some of them.
Are you suggesting that rebounding or rebounding effort is what can be fallen back upon? Because they aren't always the same.
Fran may or may not move on. But you're always free to go root for the Cyclones
what did iowa have to shoot as a % to even stay close in that? Imagine the score is iowa puts together 2 of the second half performances.
What iowa did one offense in the first half was the anomaly, not the second. ISU's defense can do what it did every night. That is why defense travels and defense rules the modern day NCAA tournament.
the number of times Brocks feet hit the paint will probably be the highest ISU gives this season.
I’d be happy with a sweet sixteen opponent like the Clones. Maybe that helps settle some scores here as well. As it always says about the Hawkeyes. Work to do!
That is a spot on analysis…….one that appears to come from objective analysis, not dependent on a common narrative….critical thinking!
That’s a change in direction for this discussion.
I think ISU has a REALLY good team. I think they play good to great defense. I think they have a legit shot at the final four.
Where this discussion all started (for me) was the other poster mentioned ISU’s stellar defense….. yet they gave up 80 points but Iowa’s defense was bad when we gave up 85 (?) points before just fouling and giving them at least 4 points just on last minute free throws?
The point being…..and I think this gets lost in the lack of objectivity…..BOTH teams played really well. It was a high level basketball game. That doesn’t require a hyper critical analysis of the team that lost.
I hate losing to the clones….. but it was a great game.
ISU IS a better basketball team. A lot better wouldn’t appear to be supported by the margin of victory/defeat considering the free throws at the end.
I think ISU is a legit final four level team…..and yet, if the Hawks can get healthy this can be a really good team as well.
There are significant coaching issues with Iowa that have declared themselves on a regular basis over the past 15 years that will keep any Iowa team from being really good while Fran is coaching.
Yes, Iowa played about as well as they could against the Clones and left it on the court.
Did you ever consider the fact that maybe that was ISU's "bad" game?
Hilarious……
ISU comes into a game with a hated state rival…..Ranked 3rd in the country. Knowing the team they’re facing is really really good on the offensive end. Knowing this will be a very hostile crowd.
You think they weren’t ready to play?
Did you ever consider that the reason they trailed the Hawks for 90% of the game was because Iowa outplayed them? Or does your negativity block that possibility from consideration?
