ADVERTISEMENT

Only option IMO is Dembele getting starter minutes at the 4

Maybe he should, but he stills sucks. None of our back up bigs are worthy of significant playing time. So if Mulvey is the better of the least of them.... This team needs some serious rebuilding.
Tadjo is super raw but has gotten very minimal opportunities. He has 10x more upside that dembele (low bar I realize)
 
Tadjo is super raw but has gotten very minimal opportunities. He has 10x more upside that dembele (low bar I realize)
Agree.

I think Mulvey has looked ok too. Having either one in there with Owen is going to increase rebounding success dramatically.

The problem is it's going to mess up spacing for Owen on offense and that's why Fran likely won't play two bigs even though it would very likely be a net positive.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BirdistheWord
Agree.

I think Mulvey has looked ok too. Having either one in there with Owen is going to increase rebounding success dramatically.

The problem is it's going to mess up spacing for Owen on offense and that's why Fran likely won't play two bigs even though it would very likely be a net positive.
I have been quite harsh towards Mulvey but the guy is fairly effective. Plays within himself, boxes out, high IQ. Challenge is we need difference makers, we are turible.
 
If we are going to do anything in the off season, we need to rebound. Put more minutes into Mulvey at the 5, and Tajo at the 4. Should have been done while we were playing scrub teams. Now we are playing catchup. If you can't rebound consistently, you can't win consistently. And Traore does not look to be a 4 so far. Keep Payton at the 3. Having him play the 4 is a joke. He gets enough rebounds, that with 2 bigs in the lineup, we stand a chance at improving at rebounding. But if it's like other games where Mulvey looks competent, he won't get any minutes in the next game.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BirdistheWord
Only option is sending Harding to the bench. Slide Dix to 2, Payton/Pryce to 3, and figure out the best combination at 4-5 by trial and error.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BirdistheWord
If Fran had balls he’d play young Sandfort over older bro if his D is better to make a proper point to the team!
I keep hearing that Pryce is a good defender. I certainly am not seeing it. Has the idea that you should stay between your opponent and the basket changed. Pryce is frequently a step behind his defender on the perimeter. He also often fails to make the proper switch, so you see him sort of closing out on a wide open 3-pt shooter. I would rate him as pretty much a tie with Payton as the worst defender in the main rotation.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BirdistheWord
I keep hearing that Pryce is a good defender. I certainly am not seeing it. Has the idea that you should stay between your opponent and the basket changed. Pryce is frequently a step behind his defender on the perimeter. He also often fails to make the proper switch, so you see him sort of closing out on a wide open 3-pt shooter. I would rate him as pretty much a tie with Payton as the worst defender in the main rotation.
Completely agree, great spot up shooter, scrappy, but he would never start/get heavy minutes in the B1G for anyone else
 
Agree.

I think Mulvey has looked ok too. Having either one in there with Owen is going to increase rebounding success dramatically.

The problem is it's going to mess up spacing for Owen on offense and that's why Fran likely won't play two bigs even though it would very likely be a net positive.
Rebounding is about desire to go get the ball. There have been and there are now good rebounders who aren't trees.
 
Rebounding is about desire to go get the ball. There have been and there are now good rebounders who aren't trees.
That's for sure, but Iowa doesn't have those guys, at least not the ones that get to play.

The best rebounders I've seen at Iowa were Reggie, Chris Street, Greg Brunner and Daryl Moore. I don't think any of those guys were above 6'8. Moore was 6'4.

Tom Davis had a bunch of guys in the 6'5 to 6'8 range that were good rebounders.
 
That's for sure, but Iowa doesn't have those guys, at least not the ones that get to play.

The best rebounders I've seen at Iowa were Reggie, Chris Street, Greg Brunner and Daryl Moore. I don't think any of those guys were above 6'8. Moore was 6'4.

Tom Davis had a bunch of guys in the 6'5 to 6'8 range that were good rebounders.
Right, Tom really emphasized rebounding and his teams were good at it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RocknRollface
Fran and his staff has driven this team into the ground, Only 4 players are reliable, Owen, Josh, Doug, and Brock. that's it. Payton is toast, even if he comes back, he's damaged goods. Mulvey could have given Owen additional rebounding help, but Fran continued to play Dembele or Braun's who both haven't provided enough rebounding, defense, or scoring support, disappointing at best.
Pryce as a sophomore, is not a rebounder but a 3 point threat that is very inconsistent from game to game, is not very quick and is not that great of defender.
Theore, and Tadjo are very athletic, Fran could play them both, but the offense would suffer as they are not skilled enough offensively. Cooper is sick or injured, so he's not much help going forward and Kingsbury is good to take a charge or two but little else.
Whether this team turns it around or not, it looks like this season is going to be like every other year under Fran, they may make the NCAA tournament but in all likelihood at best the NIT, but in all reality though, something around a five hundred finish is likely as the meat of the season is still in front of them.
To LukaDuka and others that say that Brock is not worthy of starting, so be it. Brock and Owen are my home boys, they earned their starting roles through hard work and I will continue to watch every game they play for Iowa no matter what, they are just sophomores and are not as polished as they will be as they get older.
I've followed Iowa since the 60's and that will continue until I'm no longer breathing and yes, in a perfect world, Fran would ride off into the sunset after this season and Beth would hire a coach that knows how to recruit the portal, can bring in top talent, is charismatic, and will elevate Iowa to a higher level . If it happens fine, probably won't, but I'll continue to support the program even if none of that happens.
My heart may not be behind Fran and his staff, but until he leaves or retires, he still is Iowa's head coach, not the most ideal situation for sure going forward, but until Beth decides enough is enough, nothing is going to change, nor with the distractors of the program or my loyalty to the program.
I'm as disappointed at the result of this season as I'm sure some of you are, but there's lots of Debbie Downers on this board that are thrilled at how the season is playing out, hope it all works out for them, but again despite how the season has turned out, my love for Iowa basketball will never diminish, not for the rest of this season or seasons to come.
Everyone should have the right to voice their opinions and I am wrong to say otherwise. PEACE....
 
Last edited:
Fran and his staff has driven this team into the ground, Only 4 players are reliable, Owen, Josh, Doug, and Brock. that's it. Payton is toast, even if he comes back, he's damaged goods. Mulvey could have given Owen additional rebounding help, but Fran continued to play Dembele or Braun's who both haven't provided enough rebounding, defense, or scoring support, disappointing at best.
Pryce as a sophomore, is not a rebounder but a 3 point threat that is very inconsistent from game to game, is not very quick and is not that great of defender.
Theore, and Tadjo are very athletic, Fran could play them both, but the offense would suffer as they are not skilled enough offensively. Cooper is sick or injured, so he's not much help going forward and Kingsbury is good to take a charge or two but little else.
Whether this team turns it around or not, it looks like this season is going to be like every other year under Fran, they may make the NCAA tournament but in all likelihood at best the NIT, but in all reality though, something around a five hundred finish is likely as the meat of the season is still in front of them.
To LukaDuka and others that say that Brock is not worthy of starting, so be it. Brock and Owen are my home boys, they earned their starting roles through hard work and I will continue to watch every game they play for Iowa no matter what, they are just sophomores and are not as polished as they will be as they get older.
I've followed Iowa since the 60's and that will continue until I'm no longer breathing and yes, in a perfect world, Fran would ride off into the sunset after this season and Beth would hire a coach that knows how to recruit the portal, can bring in top talent, is charismatic, and will elevate Iowa to a higher level . If it happens fine, probably won't, but I'll continue to support the program even if none of that happens.
My heart may not be behind Fran and his staff, but until he leaves or retires, he still is Iowa's head coach, not the most ideal situation for sure going forward, but until Beth decides enough is enough, nothing is going to change, nor with the distractors of the program or my loyalty to the program.
I'm as disappointed at the result of this season as I'm sure some of you are, but there's lots of Debbie Downers on this board that are thrilled at how the season is playing out, hope it all works out for them, but again despite how the season has turned out, my love for Iowa basketball will never diminish, not for the rest of this season or seasons to come.
Everyone should have the right to voice their opinions and I am wrong to say otherwise. PEACE....
Right there with ya.
 
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT