That was some great basketball last night!

[uihawk82]

More energy, attention, and technique on defense. The offense especially in the second half was just awesome with great passing, ball movement, player movement and spacing, and of course when you shoot like that it really helps. But the end of the first half shooting flurry carried over and the hawks got a lot of layups and dunks.

OSU was way behind and had to push out their defense but the hawks knew how to make them pay with backdoor and cutting down the lane cuts and layups.

Good for Fran, his coaches and coaching, and the players.

I will say that Alford couldn't adjust and get his team to bury a team when he had a big lead, as in the last game he coached.

 

[BustingNarratives]

Good win. Great job on the boards and decent defense and we only had 7 turnovers. Still puzzled at the lack of bench minutes in a blow out. Tied for 3rd in the B1G at this point in the season is exceeding my expectations. The double bye is within reach.

 

[Hawkfan_08]

Good win. Great job on the boards and decent defense and we only had 7 turnovers. Still puzzled at the lack of bench minutes in a blow out. Tied for 3rd in the B1G at this point in the season is exceeding my expectations. The double bye is within reach.

I know we say this every year but another game like last night will bring up the topic again and again. Bowen played 2 minutes? Mulvey 0. Ogundele 0. Dix didn't play a ton. Walk ons 0 minutes.

Fran even said that Patrick and Rebraca were really sick and couldn't even practice the last few days. Had a hard time even eating food. He said he was going to try and limit their minutes and that's why Filip didn't come back in.

 

[Titanhawk2]

Good win. Great job on the boards and decent defense and we only had 7 turnovers. Still puzzled at the lack of bench minutes in a blow out. Tied for 3rd in the B1G at this point in the season is exceeding my expectations. The double bye is within reach.

End of the season, THE team needs to close out, garbage time can come in the tourneys if there's room

 

[Packer54]

End of the season, THE team needs to close out, garbage time can come in the tourneys if there's room

I told a buddy of mine I do not like bringing in the bench to close out unless the other team puts in their bench. Closing games strong is a learned behavior.

 

[amahawk]

A key to Iowa winning is when Perkins and Ulis are contributing.

 

[the24fan]

That was a sneaky good win against a squad that seems to match up well with us.
They hung for a half. But midway through the first half I had to admit i was a bit nervous. It looked eerily similar to the loss in Columbus. That little flurry of points near the end of the first half seemed to really deflate tOSU

 

[icwesthawk]

Had me worried until that run end the first half. I find OSU very confusing. Good to great talent, much better on paper than the Hawks but somehow they suck. Always liked that coach but they cannot find themselves. Great win, have to win at home especially after giving one away to the BADgers earlier in season

 

[hawkjt]

Rotations shorten come tourney time.
Last year Fran cut the rotation in the last 6 weeks and the Hawks went on a 12-2 tear.
Nut cutting time boys...just win!

 

[Hendy hawk]

A key to Iowa winning is when Perkins and Ulis are contributing.

In a positive way.

 

[uihawk82]

Good win. Great job on the boards and decent defense and we only had 7 turnovers. Still puzzled at the lack of bench minutes in a blow out. Tied for 3rd in the B1G at this point in the season is exceeding my expectations. The double bye is within reach.

The last few minutes of clock time Fran put in almost all 2nd team and they did not react well. I think OSU got a couple quick buckets etc and forced a couple turnovers and sloppy possessions with 2+ minutes to go.

I think Fran might have been sending a message to that group. I dont know if he needed to put Murray back in but I was glad to see Connor get off the bench and perhaps Ulis just to give much better ball handling.

I cant remember what football game it was in the last 6-8 years iirc where the hawks were crushing a Big opponent on the road and had like a 17-21 point lead with just a few minutes left, and were maybe working on a shutout. The 2nd team defense was shredded pretty easily and gave up a TD and there was still a couple minutes left so Kirk and Phil put the starters back in.

It tells those 2nd teamers they should be playing much better along with not wanting to somehow sweat out some big comeback.

 

[TritonHawkeye]

It was fun watching Perkins last night. His game has vastly improved in the last month. Ulis was also very good at the start and kept us in it early. This starting 5 with a smaller bench has been a solid team!

 

[FranklinHawk]

I told a buddy of mine I do not like bringing in the bench to close out unless the other team puts in their bench. Closing games strong is a learned behavior.

Particularly when the opposing team is aggressively pressing with their starters.

 

[BustingNarratives]

The last few minutes of clock time Fran put in almost all 2nd team and they did not react well. I think OSU got a couple quick buckets etc and forced a couple turnovers and sloppy possessions with 2+ minutes to go.

I think Fran might have been sending a message to that group. I dont know if he needed to put Murray back in but I was glad to see Connor get off the bench and perhaps Ulis just to give much better ball handling.

I cant remember what football game it was in the last 6-8 years iirc where the hawks were crushing a Big opponent on the road and had like a 17-21 point lead with just a few minutes left, and were maybe working on a shutout. The 2nd team defense was shredded pretty easily and gave up a TD and there was still a couple minutes left so Kirk and Phil put the starters back in.

It tells those 2nd teamers they should be playing much better along with not wanting to somehow sweat out some big comeback.

I understand your point and believe Fran was trying to send them a message but we are running out of potential "development time" for guys like Bowen, Mulvey and Josh this year. We just did not seem to take advantage of a home game blowout to do that and with three remaining road games before the tourney those opportunities are going to be limited. The last home game against Nebraska may be our next best opportunity or possibly first game in the B1G tourney.

Still a great night though and looking forward to the NW game.

 

[MitchLL]

But that missed dunk!!!!!!!!!

 

[LaQuintaHawkeye]

B+ ...let them hang around too long in the first half.

If we're just grading the second half, then A+

 

[rrsteffe]

I understand your point and believe Fran was trying to send them a message but we are running out of potential "development time" for guys like Bowen, Mulvey and Josh this year. We just did not seem to take advantage of a home game blowout to do that and with three remaining road games before the tourney those opportunities are going to be limited. The last home game against Nebraska may be our next best opportunity or possibly first game in the B1G tourney.

Still a great night though and looking forward to the NW game.

For all the Bowen hype coming into the year he hasn't shown much when he has been in. Hopefully it'll all come together for him next year.

 

[TampaHawkfan]

Well, regarding the defense, Iowa allowed OSU to shoot 57% for the game and over 50% beyond the arc. That ain't good. Defense continues to be "THE ISSUE" as far as I'm concerned.

Fran's teams can be fun to watch and they put points on the board. We all know that.

To be able to take the next step, they're going to have to figure out how to stop teams from making more shots than they miss.

 

[Franisdaman]

7 players played significant minutes (Dix had just 4; Bowen had less than 1).

Iowa shot 37% from 3 (10-27).

Guard play has been our Achilles heel when it comes to the NCAA Tournament. If Ulis & Perk can keep that mid range jumper thing going? Things could get interesting.

From midrange last night:
3-4 (75%): Ahron Ulis
9-13 (69%): Tony Perkins

 

[icwesthawk]

For all the Bowen hype coming into the year he hasn't shown much when he has been in. Hopefully it'll all come together for him next year.

Freshman, remember freshman. Superman Connor wasn't very good as a freshman.
Have some patience

 

[Franisdaman]

Well, regarding the defense, Iowa allowed OSU to shoot 57% for the game and over 50% beyond the arc. That ain't good. Defense continues to be "THE ISSUE" as far as I'm concerned.

Fran's teams can be fun to watch and they put points on the board. We all know that.

To be able to take the next step, they're going to have to figure out how to stop teams from making more shots than they miss.

they brought up KenPom offense & defense rankings during the broadcast. Today we are ranked with the #3 offense and the #149 defense (dead last in the B1G). This is out of 363 teams.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[83Hawk]

Good win, against a team they were supposed to beat. Those games always make me nervous, but the Hawks held serve!

 

[Franisdaman]

Freshman, remember freshman. Superman Connor wasn't very good as a freshman.
Have some patience

I just wish Fran had a little patience. The game was a blow out & Fran immediately yanked Dasonte after he made a mistake.

 

[lucas80]

A key to Iowa winning is when Perkins and Ulis are contributing.

This. With Perkins and Ulis both hitting mid range and 3pt shots, and getting into the lane the Hawks are so much better. Murray had a rather pedestrian game by his standards in the 1st half in particular, but the Hawks cruised with a balanced attack.

 

[djwoody]

For years everyone bitched that Fran played too many players. Now he’s down to playing the best 7 and there’s bitching about that. The time will come for Bowen and Dix. The shortened bench is working.

 

[jonesy5960]

For all the Bowen hype coming into the year he hasn't shown much when he has been in. Hopefully it'll all come together for him next year.

Some freshman come in ready to go. Some freshman don't. Most of Iowa's freshmen don't. Keegan was probably the most ready of any freshman that Iowa has had. He arrived on campus B1G ready. Weezy was probably the only other player under Fran. Out of all of the guards on the team today, I think Dix has looked the best as a freshman when playing extended minutes. I think he's already shown a lot more than I expected and people should be excited about his future.

 

[uihawk82]

Well, regarding the defense, Iowa allowed OSU to shoot 57% for the game and over 50% beyond the arc. That ain't good. Defense continues to be "THE ISSUE" as far as I'm concerned.

Fran's teams can be fun to watch and they put points on the board. We all know that.

To be able to take the next step, they're going to have to figure out how to stop teams from making more shots than they miss.

Good point about the perimeter defense, the hawks are not usually a very quick, fast perimeter defensive team. And Fran's hawks have mostly been late to close out or get on arc shooters. Not sure if this is coached since they do sort of sag in on defense and have to run out at shooters, without getting beat on the drive penetration.

But OSU also made 4 to 6 treys with a hand in their face so that was good Dee without the miss. Fran and other coaches are just trying to play the percentages from the arc.

Believe me, I would love to see the hawks also have two shutdown defensive guards on the team who could totally take away 1 or 2 really good arc shooters.

 

[uihawk82]

As an aside, in the recent jNW game I really took notice of Dix skying for a rebound put back or shot in the lane. He really has some ups, seems to be a pretty tough defender, and of course can handle the ball and shoot.

He could be a really really good player over his career.

 

[blhawk]

Nice wins this week VS the two worst teams in the league, what happens in the next 4 will be far more telling. For a team that has looked flat in the last couple ncaa tourneys I'd like to see the bench getting more minutes in games where Iowa has a 20 pt lead... both for their development and to rest guys they will need when it counts. It was clear Connor was chasing a triple double towards end which is an awful look IMO

Oh, and it's been 16 years since Steve Alford coached at Iowa. Can we just let it go after all these years? Jeesh

 

[WadeLookingbill]

Had me worried until that run end the first half. I find OSU very confusing. Good to great talent, much better on paper than the Hawks but somehow they suck. Always liked that coach but they cannot find themselves. Great win, have to win at home especially after giving one away to the BADgers earlier in season

I was thinking about this last night. If you traded rosters but the coaches stayed, what would the outcome have been last night? Seems like Fran is able to make the sum greater than its parts.

 

[Georgia_Hawk]

It was clear Connor was chasing a triple double towards end which is an awful look IMO

Chasing a triple double? Awful look? He took 4 shots in the game. If he was truly chasing a triple double he would have been forcing up shots at end of game, but instead he continued to set up his teammates

 

[kwik44]

That was a sneaky good win against a squad that seems to match up well with us.
They hung for a half. But midway through the first half I had to admit i was a bit nervous. It looked eerily similar to the loss in Columbus. That little flurry of points near the end of the first half seemed to really deflate tOSU

Actually did to them what they did to us. Almost identical.

 

[kwik44]

For years everyone bitched that Fran played too many players. Now he’s down to playing the best 7 and there’s bitching about that. The time will come for Bowen and Dix. The shortened bench is working.

Not necessarily. He used to do wholesale line changes, and that is what ticked people off. There was no flow it seemed.

 

[Rifler]

Not necessarily. He used to do wholesale line changes, and that is what ticked people off. There was no flow it seemed.

People around here live ticked off 24-7...

 

[Hawk_4shur]

"Development time" is over. The chemistry seems better with the shorter bench. I'm sure Dix will get some minutes, but the end of the bench - not so much.

 

[iahawks10]

. It was clear Connor was chasing a triple double towards end which is an awful look IMO

He went a funny way about chasing it then. Connor had 7 points and his one and only FGA in the second half came at the 9:19 mark. Awful look 🙄

 

[kwik44]

Dix can hang and provide some good minutes. That's about it though. No point in leading Bowen to the tourney wolves.

 

[jonesy5960]

People around here live ticked off 24-7...

I take great umbrage with this statement and demand an apology.

 

[Rifler]

I take great umbrage with this statement and demand an apology.

I'm sorry then, but that's only for you,.. the rest of these guys can go piss up a rope...