Systemically bad defense.

[RocknRollface]

The players change but the attention to detail never does. Communication and cohesion is always lacking.

Always poor fundamentals, confused on what what to do on a screen.

Always more worried about not fouling than getting stops.

The sample size is more than big enough to know its not going to change.

Its become pretty clear that this is what spinning your wheels and going nowhere looks like.

 

[QChawks]

lack of athletes doesn’t help either

 

[RocknRollface]

lack of athletes doesn’t help either

Its 99% coaching.

 

[BirdistheWord]

Fran desperately needs a dominant shot blocker, to take away all the easy short range buckets, so team can focus on guarding perimeter. It was like the NBA 3 Point Contest, Hauser with the money ball!

 

[BubsFinn]

Fran’s defenses typically don’t do anything well. Can’t close out on threes, can’t stop dribble penetration, abysmal against the pick & roll, don’t box out on the glass.

 

[HawkLogic]

lack of athletes doesn’t help either

Yes, but we got four decent athletes in starting lineup...Kris Murray, Rebracca, Ulis, and perkins. They should play better defense.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Fran’s defenses typically don’t do anything well. Can’t close out on threes, can’t stop dribble penetration, abysmal against the pick & roll, don’t box out on the glass.

Some of his early teams were actually quite good at shot blocking. Just bad at, well, everything else, at least in the long run.

This year's team is actually decent at forcing turnovers/picking pockets............just bad at everything else.

I will say that we are a better rebounding team both this year and than what I thought they'd be given their lack of size inside.

 

[jonesy5960]

Fran desperately needs a dominant shot blocker, to take away all the easy short range buckets, so team can focus on guarding perimeter. It was like the NBA 3 Point Contest, Hauser with the money ball!

That's the least of this teams defensive problems. It starts at the guards and wings.

 

[wilson reborn]

Some of his early teams were actually quite good at shot blocking. Just bad at, well, everything else, at least in the long run.

This year's team is actually decent at forcing turnovers/picking pockets............just bad at everything else.

I will say that we are a better rebounding team both this year and than what I thought they'd be given their lack of size inside.

Just enjoy the moment. Incredible win. You can pick back up with this stuff on Monday.

 

[RocknRollface]

That's the least of this teams defensive problems. It starts at the guards and wings.

Correct. A shot blocker would help make up for some other problems but Iowa defends screens like its a pickup game.

Its different every possession.

They clearly don't drill this stuff enough for everyone to be on the same page and it doesn't get any better year after year.

 

[RocknRollface]

Yes, but we got four decent athletes in starting lineup...Kris Murray, Rebracca, Ulis, and perkins. They should play better defense.

Better than decent.

Athleticism is not the problem its details.

 

[slipHawk]

what defense?

 

[HawkLogic]

That's the least of this teams defensive problems. It starts at the guards and wings.

Lickliter when he was at Iowa, once said shot blocking was overrated. He then proceeded to tank the Iowa program and then wash out of coaching basketball.

Edey makes a big difference defensively for Purdue which has a slow/not super athletic group of
guards/forwards.

Having a shot blocker in the paint to affect shots after the guards get beat would be helpful, Rebraca is okay, not great at affecting shots.

Connor is good defender in sense he can guard a big or a forward or a guard somewhat okay. However the
fact that he's not much of a jumper and not particularly quick limits him in contesting shots.

Murray, Tony and Ahron are pretty good athletes--they should do better. It does like the've been taught to let their man go on drives to avoid fouls.

Last I checked Iowa was Last in B1G in 2pt FG percentage defense and 2nd to Last in 3pt FG defense percentage.
Everyone goes off against iowa because Iowa gives up too many uncontested/minimally contested shots.

 

[RocknRollface]

Lickliter when he was at Iowa, once said shot blocking was overrated. He then proceeded to tank the Iowa program and then wash out of coaching basketball.

Edey makes a big difference defensively for Purdue which has a slow/not super athletic group of
guards/forwards.

Having a shot blocker in the paint to affect shots after the guards get beat would be helpful, Rebraca is okay, not great at affecting shots.

Connor is good defender in sense he can guard a big or a forward or a guard somewhat okay. However the
fact that he's not much of a jumper and not particularly quick limits him in contesting shots.

Murray, Tony and Ahron are pretty good athletes--they should do better. It does like the've been taught to let their man go on drives to avoid fouls.

Last I checked Iowa was Last in B1G in 2pt FG percentage defense and 2nd to Last in 3pt FG defense percentage.
Everyone goes off against iowa because Iowa gives up too many uncontested/minimally contested shots.

The level of athletes Iowa has doesn't correspond to the level of defense they are playing.

You could say it did a couple years ago but not now.

You can’t be producing the same defensive results now as when you had JBO and Garza on the floor and not say there's a bigger issue.

 

[gojojo]

Fran’s defenses typically don’t do anything well. Can’t close out on threes, can’t stop dribble penetration, abysmal against the pick & roll, don’t box out on the glass.

And they rarely protect the rim. A two on one usually means a lightly contested lay-up. He must teach the guys to let them score, saving a foul and hoping to push the ball for a secondary break off a make.

Saved by some miraculous shots today that mask the on going issue.

I'm tired of it. I'd love a new coach and style but we won't be seeing it anytime soon.

 

[ObeseMuffins]

The level of athletes Iowa has doesn't correspond to the level of defense they should be capable of.

You could say that a couple years ago but not now.

You can’t be producing the same defensive results now as when you had JBO and Garza and not say there's a bigger issue.

NW is the blueprint.

 

[goodbyebobby]

lack of athletes doesn’t help either

We have arguably the most athletic backcourt players Fran has had in his tenure.

It's Fran and his ABA mindset. If he can get Dr. J, Ice, and Issel maybe he could play his way but he doesn't.

 

[jonesy5960]

Lickliter when he was at Iowa, once said shot blocking was overrated. He then proceeded to tank the Iowa program and then wash out of coaching basketball.

Edey makes a big difference defensively for Purdue which has a slow/not super athletic group of
guards/forwards.

Having a shot blocker in the paint to affect shots after the guards get beat would be helpful, Rebraca is okay, not great at affecting shots.

Connor is good defender in sense he can guard a big or a forward or a guard somewhat okay. However the
fact that he's not much of a jumper and not particularly quick limits him in contesting shots.

Murray, Tony and Ahron are pretty good athletes--they should do better. It does like the've been taught to let their man go on drives to avoid fouls.

Last I checked Iowa was Last in B1G in 2pt FG percentage defense and 2nd to Last in 3pt FG defense percentage.
Everyone goes off against iowa because Iowa gives up too many uncontested/minimally contested shots.

Yeah. I'm thinking his opinion on shot blocking might be pretty low on the list of why he failed at Iowa.

People go off on Iowa because they haven't a clue as to how to play good defense.

 

[HawkLogic]

That's the least of this teams defensive problems. It starts at the guards and wings.

Lickliter when he was at Iowa, once said shot blocking was overrated. He then proceeded to tank the Iowa program and then wash out of coaching basketball.

Edey makes a big difference defensively for Purdue which has a slow/not super athletic group of
guards/forwards.

Having a shot blocker in the paint to affect shots after the guards get beat would be helpful, Rebraca is okay, not great at affecting shots.

Connor is good defender in sense he can guard a big or a forward or a guard somewhat okay. However the
fact that he's not much of a jumper and not particularly quick limits him in contesting shots.

Murray, Tony and Ahron are pretty good athletes--they should do better. It does like the've been taught to let their man go on drives to avoid fouls.

Last I checked Iowa was Last in B1G in 2pt FG percentage defense and 2nd to Last in 3pt FG defense percentage.
Everyone goes off against iowa because Iowa gives up too many uncontested/minimally contested shots.

 

[uihawk82]

Yes, but we got four decent athletes in starting lineup...Kris Murray, Rebracca, Ulis, and perkins. They should play better defense.

our guards need to pick up ball handlers with more bend in their legs, wider stance, ready to really shuffle slide their feet instead of crossing their feet over, focus on the dribblers waist because it is impossible to have your hips turned to the right and dribble to the left and vice versa.

so as many have said the technique and will is not there with the coaches and players

 

[BubsFinn]

As great as Iowa was in the final minute, MSU uncharacteristically collapsed defensively. You all know if the shoe and been on the other foot, we all would have been bemoaning the epic meltdown under pressure. That doesn't often happen to Izzo's teams.

 

[uihawk82]

We have arguably the most athletic backcourt players Fran has had in his tenure.

It's Fran and his ABA mindset. If he can get Dr. J, Ice, and Issel maybe he could play his way but he doesn't.

Wow you are going way back in the way back machine. George Mcginnis smoking cigs during practice, multicolored balls. those were the days.

 

[uihawk82]

As great as Iowa was in the final minute, MSU uncharacteristically collapsed defensively. You all know if the shoe and been on the other foot, we all would have been bemoaning the epic meltdown under pressure. That doesn't often happen to Izzo's teams.

Well and Izzo had his team shooting free throws with 10 seconds left and he could have easily yelled at them after the first free throw miss to lightly press and foul when Iowa got it over the half court line with a 3 pt lead.

 

[RocknRollface]

As great as Iowa was in the final minute, MSU uncharacteristically collapsed defensively. You all know if the shoe and been on the other foot, we all would have been bemoaning the epic meltdown under pressure. That doesn't often happen to Izzo's teams.

Not really. Every 3 Iowa hit in that last minute MSU had a hand in their face.

It was the law of averages making an abrupt correction to Iowas shooting percentages from the previous 2 games.

Thats why If you're a 3p shooting team you never stop shooting.

 

[EarlHawk]

I think the main problem with our defense in the last few games especially has been with defending the high ball screen. Rebraca hedges too hard and either gets beat on the switch or doesn’t get back to the post fast enough. Our rotation behind the screen hasn’t been very good either. We do too much ball watching and lose shooters. When FR fouled out, we did much better on the ball screens, because we had a better athlete helping on the screens.

 

[flaiawis]

This topic is "low hanging fruit".
Diasect it how you like. It will never change while Fran is here.

 

[Mohawkeye]

Rebraca and Kris are good defenders. Connor is better defending post up players than perimeter players. To me, Ulis and Perkins have been the biggest disappointments, they let their man get past them frequently. At least Perkins has some offense, Ulis has reverted to norm after a couple good offensive games.

I’m most impressed with Dix’s defense. He rarely gets burned and when he does he has length to still contest the shot. His defense should be getting him more playing time.

 

[JRHawk2003]

Here is my main problem with Fran, besides his childish antics; Almost every Final 4 team is in Top 15 in offense AND defense. This is well known, yet he does not try anything different. He goes back to outscoring as a strategy, although it will always fail in the end.

 

[CookyMonster]

I have better defensive instincts from playing 2k on adderall for weeks on end in college than what these guys have. It is really hard to watch sometimes.

 

[RocknRollface]

Rebraca and Kris are good defenders. Connor is better defending post up players than perimeter players. To me, Ulis and Perkins have been the biggest disappointments, they let their man get past them frequently. At least Perkins has some offense, Ulis has reverted to norm after a couple good offensive games.

I’m most impressed with Dix’s defense. He rarely gets burned and when he does he has length to still contest the shot. His defense should be getting him more playing time.

Most of the time when guards get in the lane its because Iowa didn't handle ball screen action properly and that usually involves the screener man more so than the ballhandlers man at least where Tony and Aaron are concerned.

 

[ZumaHawk]

RnR you definitely have a point! Lots of people think Izzo coached teams are mean n tough. Well, the Hawks just handed them 111 points. 🤷‍♂️

 

[BirdistheWord]

That's the least of this teams defensive problems. It starts at the guards and wings.

That is why I suggested this, to HELP THE GUARDS AND WINGS focus on the perimeter.

 

[Buffalo43]

I think the main problem with our defense in the last few games especially has been with defending the high ball screen. Rebraca hedges too hard and either gets beat on the switch or doesn’t get back to the post fast enough. Our rotation behind the screen hasn’t been very good either. We do too much ball watching and lose shooters. When FR fouled out, we did much better on the ball screens, because we had a better athlete helping on the screens.

Why hedge at all?

 

[RocknRollface]

Why hedge at all?

Because the man defending the ball is getting picked off so he can't stay in front of the ballhandler.

 

[KcTo]

The players change but the attention to detail never does. Communication and cohesion is always lacking.

Always poor fundamentals, confused on what what to do on a screen.

Always more worried about not fouling than getting stops.

The sample size is more than big enough to know its not going to change.

Its become pretty clear that this is what spinning your wheels and going nowhere looks like.

I couldn’t agree more with the assertion that Frans IOWA coaching tenets has systemic poor defense baked in, as we see it year after year, with the result being, as competition gets better, IOWAs defense is consistently exposed.

I will add my 2 cents in that Frans iron clad 2 fouls jail policy with no chance of probation is a leading contributor

the players all know, if they are a starter, they can play >35 minutes, only if they don’t foul. They know they wont get benched for poor defesne, rebounding or not blocking/contending shots, but only get benched if they foul. So they don’t foul and play soft defense because of it.

it doesn’t take a rocket science to understand why IOWA is 150th in D, last in B1G in D, and can’t make it to the 2nd round, they are disincentivized to play D, by the head coach.

the definition of insanity is expecting anything different with Fran McCaffery teams.

 

[Titanhawk2]

I guess Izzo's defense was worse and team was less athletic?

 

[Bishop1971]

We're not deep enough to lose,guys to foul problems. If fr, km, or tp goes down we don't have a deep enough bench. Sandfort and p mac are our bench with small appearances from dix who is fine in small quantities. It's the getting lost on rotation and overhedging that seems to be where we struggle the most.

 

[Rifler]

Here is my main problem with Fran, besides his childish antics; Almost every Final 4 team is in Top 15 in offense AND defense. This is well known, yet he does not try anything different. He goes back to outscoring as a strategy, although it will always fail in the end.

You make it sound like it's relatively easy to be top 15 in both offense and defense...

 

[IllQChawk]

When are you people going to understand, that the system Fran runs will never produce great defensive . It just won't. Fran wants as many touches or offensive positions as can be produced in a game. That also translates to allowing the opposition lots of offensive positions. When the opponents are missing shots, Iowa wins handedly, when they shoot like Michigan St did on Sunday, games depend on whether Iowa's offense is clicking or not. I know that makes sense to me, evidently not so much with the rest of you.
Conversely, if a team like Wisconsin milks the 35 second clock down to say under 5 seconds and then initiates the offense, then less touches for the other team, hence, a Wisconsin like team will always be known for their defense. Those type of teams also play good man to man defense to also slow the opposition down. So you can wine all you want about Iowa not playing defense but it's just not what Fran's system is about. If you want Iowa to play better defensively, maybe Barta needs to bring back Todd Lickliter......JUST KIDDING!!!!!!
Can Iowa play better defense, absolutely, and has produced better defensive teams in the past, but this years roster makeup and Fran's player rotations just falls short of what it takes to get the job done this year.
Except who they are and hopefully they will get a break in the NCAA tournament, otherwise hope next years team will be better on defense.

 

[Rifler]

There definitely are trade offs to be made when a team concentrates on defense vs offense,.. Watch the Badger's almost non-existent offensive rebounding and second chance attempts,.. Except for the occasional clean bounce that falls into their lap, they're normally heading back down the court as soon as their initial shot goes up...