So 2016-2017 team doesn't like to play defense?

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

There's never really much of an excuse for poor defense in basketball. None of this stuff is rocket science, not by a long shot. I mean, it's not like having to learn a slant pattern on the Iowa football team. Basketball defense doesn't require three years to learn.

Any D-1 basketball player who WANTS to play defense, can. Defense is about 93% effort and attitude. Bend your knees, move your freakin' feet, and WORK at it.

I don't have any idea what Fran and his staff do to teach defense, but I know of coaches who have locked the basketballs away and done defensive work for hours and days at a time. I like it. No 3-pointers. No fancy dunks. No nothin' til ya work your backside off playing defense.

Why do you think Baer is starting for Iowa? Because he has a work ethic and has had to make the most of the skills he has. Once again we see that hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard. And with all the bodies Fran has available, I absolutely wouldn't put up with it. Either you play your backside off on defense, or you collect splinters. It ain't that hard.

This team has tremendous potential. The question is, do they have the character to put in the effort and play even harder on defense than they do on offense?

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

When your two most experienced players are among your worst defenders, that is a problem. I am not sure that Pete knows how to get into a defensive position and Dom seems to get lost at times. Team defense does require experience playing together, but individual defense is mostly effort and concentration, assuming you have the physical tools to be a good D1 player.