So Michigan State sleep walks through the 1st half…

[RagnarLothbrok]

Then puts up 62 points in the second half.

I’m sure the usual suspects will find a moral victory from this, but the truth is the second half just punctuates everything that ails Iowa basketball under Fran: too soft, too unathletic, too white.

And yes, I watched a bit of the first and second half. Even with Iowa playing balls to the wall that first half and Michigan State playing nearly in a coma, the gap in talent and athleticism was still glaring.

If Iowa is content with mediocrity, then keep Fran. If Iowa wants to be reasonably competitive with the best teams in the conference, then Iowa has to part ways with Fran. Has to. This is garbage basketball. Had MSU taken this game seriously from the beginning, the final score would have been 130-80.

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

Great thread. Would read again.

 

[RagnarLothbrok]

Great thread. Would read again.

I’m glad you liked it, old man.

Now go to bed.

 

[HawkOptimist]

If I’m being honest, I was kinda getting worried Iowa was going to pull off the upset, win this weekend, win a game or two in the B1G tournament, and save Fran’s job for another year. Time for a change.

 

[Hawkins63]

Iowa has fallen apart in the second half of games and I think it’s fatigue from constantly playing up tempo.

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

Might have been foul trouble on our second and third string centers.

 

[Lakerswillbeback]

Then puts up 62 points in the second half.

I’m sure the usual suspects will find a moral victory from this, but the truth is the second half just punctuates everything that ails Iowa basketball under Fran: too soft, too unathletic, too white.

And yes, I watched a bit of the first and second half. Even with Iowa playing balls to the wall that first half and Michigan State playing nearly in a coma, the gap in talent and athleticism was still glaring.

If Iowa is content with mediocrity, then keep Fran. If Iowa wants to be reasonably competitive with the best teams in the conference, then Iowa has to part ways with Fran. Has to. This is garbage basketball. Had MSU taken this game seriously from the beginning, the final score would have been 130-80.

TBH I would LOVE ‘mediocrity’. Unfortunately this team, and program right now, is WAY less than that. I’ve watched a lot of PSU and WAS (the only 2 below us), and they have considerable more talent there imo

 

[TheRealHerky]

You could see it coming a mile away with this team.

 

[Bulldogs1974]

Iowa has fallen apart in the second half of games and I think it’s fatigue from constantly playing up tempo.

Yep. You don’t play at that tempo with that bench.

 

[sm_hawkeye]

I still can’t believe Payton tried to dunk it over an athletic guard today. That was an awesome block that shouldn’t have been a foul. Payton just needed to do a brief fake layup and on second attempt could have got fouled legitimately.

 

[TampaHawkfan]

The game went about how I expected. Iowa was competitive - they almost always are in Carver. But they didn't have what it takes to win a game like this, and crumbled the last 10 minutes. We've seen it time and time again.

 

[BirdistheWord]

Would Fran ever consider running his soft press that makes the other team utilize clock, PLUS slow down on our offensive end?

 

[Ladell-hawk]

Then puts up 62 points in the second half.

I’m sure the usual suspects will find a moral victory from this, but the truth is the second half just punctuates everything that ails Iowa basketball under Fran: too soft, too unathletic, too white.

And yes, I watched a bit of the first and second half. Even with Iowa playing balls to the wall that first half and Michigan State playing nearly in a coma, the gap in talent and athleticism was still glaring.

If Iowa is content with mediocrity, then keep Fran. If Iowa wants to be reasonably competitive with the best teams in the conference, then Iowa has to part ways with Fran. Has to. This is garbage basketball. Had MSU taken this game seriously from the beginning, the final score would have been 130-80.

It’s easy to be cynical but that was a great effort by the Hawkeyes tonight. Our lack of depth was the difference.

 

[Ladell-hawk]

Yep. You don’t play at that tempo with that bench.

Freeman and Cooper Koch would help a lot.

 

[BrewHawk]

It’s easy to be cynical but that was a great effort by the Hawkeyes tonight. Our lack of talent was the difference.

FIFY

 

[BHoppy]

Mich St played perimeter ball and shoot 16 3's in the first half. Did not take the ball to the basket, except Richardson. Second half took the ball to the basket and that was game.

 

[intrepodor]

I still can’t believe Payton tried to dunk it over an athletic guard today. That was an awesome block that shouldn’t have been a foul. Payton just needed to do a brief fake layup and on second attempt could have got fouled legitimately.

Payton = airhead

 

[intrepodor]

Would Fran ever consider running his soft press that makes the other team utilize clock, PLUS slow down on our offensive end?

No

 

[Legs94]

Iowa has fallen apart in the second half of games and I think it’s fatigue from constantly playing up tempo.

It’s more likely that the other team has an actual coach who can make adjustments. Fran consistently gets out coached in the second half and has no idea what to do. He is and always has been in over his head. the seasons we’ve had some success because he’s had NBA players on the roster who were either lifelong Iowa fans, legacy recruits, or one diamond in the rough that Fran gets credit for. Yes he is better than his predecessor but that’s not saying much. Has a below average power five conference coach. If that’s what you’re satisfied with and that’s your guy. But the rest of us think we could strive for a little more.

 

[QChawks]

Izzo threw Fran a bone

 

[Legs94]

It’s easy to be cynical but that was a great effort by the Hawkeyes tonight. Our lack of depth was the difference.

 

[HawkPT]

I still can’t believe Payton tried to dunk it over an athletic guard today. That was an awesome block that shouldn’t have been a foul. Payton just needed to do a brief fake layup and on second attempt could have got fouled legitimately.

Disagree. The reffing was not great in general, and Hummel was claiming all ball. While that was true, he forgot to recognize or note the body check. The defender was vertical but his body was moving horizontally. That was a clear foul.

 

[MikeyHawk]

I still can’t believe Payton tried to dunk it over an athletic guard today. That was an awesome block that shouldn’t have been a foul. Payton just needed to do a brief fake layup and on second attempt could have got fouled legitimately.

Of course Payton was complaining about the officials after the game

 

[MikeyHawk]

Disagree. The reffing was not great in general, and Hummel was claiming all ball. While that was true, he forgot to recognize or note the body check. The defender was vertical but his body was moving horizontally. That was a clear foul.

No

 

[Titanhawk2]

The stretch where they lost the lead, the made one out of 12-13 shots, committed 6 TO's and committed 6 fouls. Made 1 shot, a couple free throws and went from a 10 point lead to down 4

 

[iowalawhawk]

If Iowa wants to be reasonably competitive with the best teams in the conference, then Iowa has to part ways with Fran. Has to.

Yeah man, if we could find a coach that could win 5 of the last 7 against MSU, that would be awesome. Wait... crap.

(I do agree that the wheels have fallen off and Fran needs to go though)