Watching the recent NCAA tourney, this became very evident. The great teams have several players that can shoot AND drive to the hoop. It didn't seem to matter how tall they were (Baylor had 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 and 6-5 as starters at four of their positions but they could all do both things very well. My question would be, who as potential starters for the Hawks, can do both? If Joe T had an outside dependable shot he would be one. IDK if we have another one who can do both with any consistency. More of this type of player would really energize our O. 😎❤️🏀
Shooters and Slashers.
- Thread starter SuperSK
- Start date
This title sounds like a crime spree...
I think we will definitely see what our backups can do with significant minutes going into next season. They may have played very conservatively in limited minutes to spell time for our starters.
I think we will definitely see what our backups can do with significant minutes going into next season. They may have played very conservatively in limited minutes to spell time for our starters.
Keegan is a shooter and slasher. CJ is, too, when on 2 healthy legs. PMac is also.
Perkins has the potential to be. Same with Sandfort.
I think that Joe T has the potential to be but he needs to be a pg first. Same with Ulis. If they can get into the lane, if the defense collapses on them, the forwards can take it fom there.
Perkins has the potential to be. Same with Sandfort.
I think that Joe T has the potential to be but he needs to be a pg first. Same with Ulis. If they can get into the lane, if the defense collapses on them, the forwards can take it fom there.
The guys you list can do it a little bit of both but weren't elite at either slashing or 3pt shooting in volume. Other than one game PMAC wasn't much of a 3pt shooter, Keegan has a nice FT stroke but his 3pt shooting tailed off bye end of season. Fredrick could be elite 3pt shooter, adequate dribble drive/slasher, but he doesn't shoot much even when healthy.
Iowa has a bunch of guys that may or may not improve a lot and that will be the story of next year between bottom dwelling B1G team and team that is >0.500 in B1G and can make NCAA tourney.
Keegan - Did both well as a freshman
Kris - Hasn't played enough yet to know.
PMac - shot part is questionable currently but he's shown ability to knock down jumpers.
Weezy obviously if he comes back.
Perkins - Has shown finishing/slashing ability and hints of ability to shoot from outside.
Kris - Hasn't played enough yet to know.
PMac - shot part is questionable currently but he's shown ability to knock down jumpers.
Weezy obviously if he comes back.
Perkins - Has shown finishing/slashing ability and hints of ability to shoot from outside.
I'd say the Hawks have struggled to put a team on the floor with more than 1, possibly two guys, that can get off their own good shot against a good defense. Garza and the Joe's primarily. Being able to slash is a part of that, as is the step-back jumper or the spot up jumper.
But this is a result of the kinds of recruits Iowa get. Normally not "5-tool" players (actually a baseball term).
Lute Olsen and his AZ team came to Iowa once way back. He said the defensive tactic was to make the "shooters drive and the drivers shoot". Of course, they beat the Hawks that game.
I hope all the players are working on their weaknesses as well as their strengths.
But this is a result of the kinds of recruits Iowa get. Normally not "5-tool" players (actually a baseball term).
Lute Olsen and his AZ team came to Iowa once way back. He said the defensive tactic was to make the "shooters drive and the drivers shoot". Of course, they beat the Hawks that game.
I hope all the players are working on their weaknesses as well as their strengths.
I agree. What the original poster is really talking about is athleticism. It's a lot easier to find guys that can shoot the ball but are limited athletically than it is vice versa.
Additionally, you don't "need" 4 slasher shooters to be successful but you do need a mix. You need at least a couple guys that can create the need for defensive help which pulls a defender off of a shooter. That's a big thing we've been missing.
Without that athleticism to create mismatches, you're reliant on your offensive scheme getting guys open and that doesn't always work. It's especially important to have a guy or guys that can create late in the shot clock after you've run your set play and gotten nothing out of it.
Someone pull up the clip of Keegan driving the lane, went behind his back, and floated it in. It was a thing of beauty and it oozed potential.
PMac also had some very nice drives and some pretty close to facial dunks. They are on the verge of being highlight reel players.
I may be in the minority here, but I am kind of over the love fest Fran has with 3-point shooters. It's great if you can get them open or they can create their own shots, but we haven't seen much of that. I would rather see more and 1 opportunities from guys driving than prolonged periods of semi-stagnation punctuated with a contested late shot clock 3. The 3-point shot isn't a specialized craft like it used to be. Pretty much everyone has it in their arsenal these days.
PMac actually had a better 3% than Keegan. Just slightly, but still better.
I would agree on Keegan, he really impressed after many (including me) were not expecting much, CJ definitely a shooter, can drive some and maybe you are right on the injury issues, but PMac as a shooter? that one I question..
PMac shot about the same percentages as Keegan but played fewer minutes (quite a few less). PMac seemed to get better the longer he played in a game. Both had inconsistent stats from game to game but I attribute that to their being freshmen getting their first serious minutes. I hope both have better stats next year because they will be playing more minutes and will be relied upon a lot more for scoring.
Yeah I'm surprised PMac's 3 percentage was better than Keegan's. He did take about 20% less threes than Keegan did. Hopefully both improve their shooting when they get more consistent minutes and into the flow of the game.
Hitting threes would open up the game immensely for both of them.
Hitting threes would open up the game immensely for both of them.
This again brings to mind that there is a floor of athleticism issue that Iowa has struggled with during the Fran era.
And while it's hard to argue Iowa had an offensive problem in aggregate, given their scoring prowess over the course of the season, there were definitely moments when they were lacking in a having enough guys available who could effectively take his man to the hole. Particularly when the starting PG was the player with maybe the biggest athletic deficit compared to the opposition and had virtually no chance to get by his man.
And while it's hard to argue Iowa had an offensive problem in aggregate, given their scoring prowess over the course of the season, there were definitely moments when they were lacking in a having enough guys available who could effectively take his man to the hole. Particularly when the starting PG was the player with maybe the biggest athletic deficit compared to the opposition and had virtually no chance to get by his man.
The lack of athleticism of the Iowa Hawkeyes was apparent during
the NCAA Tournament this year. Most of our players are not quick or
fast in transition and thus we do not get many easy baskets
Bottom Line: You can recruit athleticism but you cannot teach it.
the NCAA Tournament this year. Most of our players are not quick or
fast in transition and thus we do not get many easy baskets
Bottom Line: You can recruit athleticism but you cannot teach it.
Last edited:
Exactly. We are always going to have trouble with the Oregons and Michigans of the college basketball world until we can match there speed, quickness and athleticism. If we fail to land those type of players then expect the same results every year.
I liked PMac as a rim runner. I dont see him as a off the dribble finisher. just MO
Good post. I see Charlie Moore is in the portal. Would Fran....? No, too quick scores too much, and plays D. Not a fit for the system.
Funny thing was our 2nd unit that kept up with Oregon actually had good athleticism with JoeT, Patrick, Murray, Perkins when they were out there with Joe W who is a good, not elite athlete along with Luka. Connor, JBo and Fredrick that combo as has been discussed ad nauseam was such a liability defensively all year against teams with good athletes in the backcourt like ILL or Oregon.
But why I don't want JBo back is his whole career he had guys in the post with Luka and Cook taking up so much attention that freed up shots for him or even as a freshman more attention given to Jok. Without an alpha down low next year he will be even less effective and why we need guys who are athletes and can drive it like JoeT and others. As for Connor I'm in agreement with many here he's a role player and shouldn't be starting let alone see the minutes he does and don't think he will be as valuable with out a skilled big man as one of his biggest assets was getting them the ball down low.
OFGS, there is a reason Moore is in the portal. He wouldn't add anything to Iowa.
Iowa needs a big, and a scoring guard in case CJ gets hurt again. Sound like Iowa is only going for a big at this point but I sure wish the could get that scorer, too.
Really! This would be his fourth team. I assume that ties the record although I'm probably wrong.
Frankly I'm getting rather tired about hearing about athleticism. There are a lot of athletes that can't play basketball. What we need are more skilled basketball players.
Kris and Keegan both are going to be guys that can drive and shoot. Perkins can 100% become one, same with Sandfort and Ulis.
What does skilled mean to you? We had four guys who shot the ball north of 39% from three last year, two players with incredibly high assist to turnover ratios, we were first in the Big Ten in rebounding, scoring, and assists (19th, 5th, and 1st nationally), had the second fewest turnovers in the Big Ten, and sixth fewest nationally. We were 5th in the Big Ten in blocked shots and 32nd nationally.
It seems like the team had plenty of skill. So what gives?
Does anyone think that a role a player is asked to do affects their percentages?? I would like to hear people's thoughts on that. I will keep mine to myself for the time being.
Marinate on this...Keegan and Kris were SG/SF all through AAU and HS. They went from 6'4 as Juniors in HS to 6'9 now as Post Grad Freshmen at Iowa. Adjusting their shots due to increases in height, wingspan, strength and reps is part of the process. Believe me you will see them knock down perimeter shots. Go back to Luka's statements at the beginning of the season when he stated, "the Murrays came to campus with the reputation of being able to shoot the basketball." Just letting people know why Fran signed them.
Thanks for your response, Mr. Kenyon. In my opinion, Keegan has shown all the tools to be the primary scorer next year. I expect a big leap from him and Kris right behind!
Height plays such a big role in shot adjustment. Arms get longer, which makes you have to adjust your shot angles. I have no doubt Keegan and Kris will be just fine, they’ll just need to work at it. Really excited to see their progress next season.
Rapid increases in height is quite an adjustment for a teenager.
I'm really looking forward to seeing Kris get some meaningful playing time. Having both he and Keegan on the floor at the same time would create a lot of headaches for the opposition.
For the record, my comment was more in response to a previous post to not discount PMac as a shooter so easily and less about Keegan. Agreed Keegan has a very nice stroke and the shots will go down at an increased clip as he matures and continues his career. I know I will be supporting both Murrays and PMac in the coming years, and look forward to their development.
Jeff Horner ended up having excellent 3 pt numbers for his career, however shot 27% from 3 his freshman year. Point being the jury is still out on each player and I don't think we can say PMac can't shoot after his freshman year the he shot 30% from 3....
What I like about Keegan's game is that he still has the handles and confidence handling the ball of that 6'4" kid he grew out of. I like that confidence. Haven't seen enough of Kris to see if it's the same for him . PMac is much the same. These kids are talented and skilled.
Similar threads
