28 minutes
2-2 from 3 point land
0-1 FTs
6 points
2 Rebounds
1 Steal
4 assists
0 Turnovers
3 fouls
Pat Chambers on Iowa's Biggest Difference maker?
- Thread starter Franisdaman
- Start date
28 minutes
2-2 from 3 point land
0-1 FTs
6 points
2 Rebounds
1 Steal
4 assists
0 Turnovers
3 fouls
He really is. I was a dope earlier in the year stating that we were going to have problems with pressure if Connor was the pg.
Yes, with Iowa at "full power" or whatever that is for this year, he is really valuable. He doesn't need shots, but will shoot it if the other team leaves him alone. He's perfectly fine having the ball go to others. Makes a bunch of good plays.
Someone else said it earlier, but boy do I feel much better when it's Connor with the ball in tight spots.
If you missed this podcast (at end of this post), it was pretty good.
One thing that Fran mentioned: Connor can play the 1, the 2, the 3 and the 4. He knows where he AND EVERYONE ELSE is supposed to be on the court at ALL TIMES.
Think about that for a second. Connor knows 4 positions and he knows where he and everyone else needs to be when it comes to:
* Offense
* Defense
* Full court trap defense (where are you? whats your responsibility?)
As Iowa goes to close out games, however, the ball is in Connors hands. Why? He doesn't turn it over; he's smart; and he hits his free throws.
Skip ahead (if you want) to the 7 minute mark where Fran enters.
Enjoy.
DIRECT LINK: https://soundcloud.com/compass-media/college-hoops-today-with-jon-rothstein-iowas-fran-mccaffery-3
One thing that Fran mentioned: Connor can play the 1, the 2, the 3 and the 4. He knows where he AND EVERYONE ELSE is supposed to be on the court at ALL TIMES.
Think about that for a second. Connor knows 4 positions and he knows where he and everyone else needs to be when it comes to:
* Offense
* Defense
* Full court trap defense (where are you? whats your responsibility?)
As Iowa goes to close out games, however, the ball is in Connors hands. Why? He doesn't turn it over; he's smart; and he hits his free throws.
Skip ahead (if you want) to the 7 minute mark where Fran enters.
Enjoy.
DIRECT LINK: https://soundcloud.com/compass-media/college-hoops-today-with-jon-rothstein-iowas-fran-mccaffery-3
I was at the game yesterday and saw this a lot better live than on tv. Connor dribbles to locations on the court that takes doubles away from Luka before he feeds it to him. Helps get the right angles also. CMac is an artist with his IQ.
I'll admit I wasn't sold on him after last year, but he has definitely made me a believer this year. Such a high basketball IQ, it's essentially like having an extension of the coaching staff on the floor when he's in the game. Stays calm in pressure situations and has called timeouts on multiple possessions to prevent a turnover, even when he didn't have the ball. Highest assist/turnover ratio in the country speaks for itself, if he can continue to improve his shooting we are shaping up to be a nightmare match up next season.
You certainly were not in that boat alone my man. Cmac has shown himself to be that guy that every successful team needs. High IQ facilitator, who can steer the ship without need for his own gain. In doing so he has earned his own recognition. You would hope after many of the view points on Cmac last season, that fans will give our new class a chance to settle in and make their own way before judging them and their talents. Certainly Connor has shown us all that there is more to a book then its cover....
They, the critics, were all on Conner's back harping early for just one reason...and we all know what that reason is.
He had all of that last year, but the fact he is now making open 3’s makes him the 2nd most valuable player in the team behind Garza.
Absolutely. Having a unique situation at Iowa where both of our high profile mens coaches have had all of their male offspring play for them, probably rubs the nepotism and entitlement crowds the wrong way. Having said that, I think ALL of these young men showed themselves to be worthy of their rewards. Steve F was the only one of the group who fairly couldn't be called a D1 worthy player, and he was never on scholorship, so......
Count me among those who caught a nepotism vibe last season when Connor spent so much time at the point which I thought took away minutes from Moss who ended up transferring. Fran ended up bringing in Toussaint the penetrating point guard we have lacked for so long and then injuries brought the situation we have where we have point guard by committee with Connor acting as the primary ball handler only in closing minutes where his handling, floor awareness and free throw shooting serve us best.
Things usually work out the way they do for a reason and Connor developing into the all-around utility player that he has could not fit this team better.
Totally thinking way too far in the future, but if Garza and Bohannon return, what does the starting lineup look like?
Bohannon, CJF, JW, CMc, and Garza?
Bohannon, CJF, JW, CMc, and Garza?
Seeing the difference CJF makes for JW... imagine having Bohannon, CJF, and Garza.
JW would THRIVE in that environment. Floor spread to allow for drives/cuts. He's not the only shooter, so he'll get more open looks. Late clock he can drop it in to Garza or let Bohannon launch from deep.
Connor has always been steady and a difference-maker, except when he's been sick or hurt. Was that way as a four-year starter for Iowa City West.
I agree he provides an extremely important element to the game, but the difference to me is Fredrick. An assist isn’t an assist until there is a score. C.J. is solid on defense and he provides offense when the offense may be stagnant without him. He also, for whatever reason, makes weezy a better player. There are too many scoring threats for a defenses to handle when C.J. is out there. He adds another dimension to the team. If he wouldve been healthy for the MSU game, I really think the outcome would’ve been different.
Patience is a virtue, my friends........
He is the glue. Man, am I happy I was wrong about him. I like his feisty attitude too.
I don't think it's CJ himself that makes Weezy better, it's simply having another competent outside shooter on the floor to open things up a bit.
Yes, but the current list of healthy players on Iowa’s roster to fit that description includes one player.
Agree with this also.
I like how his attitude is fiesty but not too much or over the top.
He’s toned it down this year but still has the right amount of edge to him.
He’s not really hated by opposing teams & that tells me he’s not viewed as a major DB. That’s even more impressive since he’s the coach’s son.
Frank is correct in my view about his ability to pass. What I like is his, "This is my rock, and you can't have it" attitude with defenders.
Sorry, I have no issues with his contributions, but he's our 4th best player at best, in regards to who we could stand to lose, IMO.
He really knows his role. He won't hunt shots (and he shouldn't), but he'll shoot just often enough and just effectively enough that defenses can't just ignore him to sag on Garza.
This team is so thin right now having already lost 3 anticipated contributors that there's really nobody they can't lose from Pemsl on up. Garza is obviously #1. After that, I could argue JW, CJF or CM.
The one positive to the CJF injury was that Iowa was forced to look to Evelyn and Toussaint a lot more, plus Pemsl had to play more minutes. I hope this really helped them develop effective depth, but I'm still going to be a lot more comfortable late in tournament games with the ball in Connor's hands than just about anyone else's.
Connor is the brains of this operation.
But, come on, Garzilla is what sets this team apart, making them capable of playing with anyone.
GO HAWKS
No doubt... but he gets the ball to Garza more effectively and gets Luka into better position than any of his teammates. He understands how to get the double and triple team off of him using angles and positioning. I wasn’t taking anything away from Garza but it’s a team game and he wouldn’t be in the NPOY consideration without them. He would even tell you that.
Meh, agree to disagree. I absolutely love to see him knock down some of those wide open 3's, but he has a ways to go to continue developing his shooting. He's averaging less than 2 points more than last year and he's shooting a lot more. He's made major strides from last year to this year in rebounding and taking care of the ball (43 turnovers to 24 thus far this year) I guess I just think it's a stretch to say he had all that last year, when clearly he's made strides in taking care of the rock and asserting himself on the floor. Just seems to be playing with more confidence this year.
https://hawkeyesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/connor-mccaffery/13199
Next years lineup if everyone’s healthy
S= JB, CJ, JW, JN, LG
B= JT, TP, CM, PM or KEM, JO
A very Bo Ryan like team if Garza stays?
S= JB, CJ, JW, JN, LG
B= JT, TP, CM, PM or KEM, JO
A very Bo Ryan like team if Garza stays?
Last edited:
He was also tough and had a chip on his shoulder on day 1 and I think that has rubbed off on the whole team. He never took shit from anyone and that is how the team is now.
Similar threads
