The elephant in the room:
- Thread starter BlackNGoldBleeder
- Start date
No but who do you throw in there at the end of the game if not your ball handlers? Connor, Joe W, Joe T haven’t been good at the line. Heck, even CJ is below 70%. So who do you put out there, who is also a ball handler, with Luka and Jordan?
I agree with that. As long as Connor isn’t in a position to be fouled, I’m good.
Good point. Perhaps Ulis, but I’m not sure of putting someone so green in in that situation.
I hope Iowa’s FT issues don’t comeback to bite them.
This will fall on deaf ears no matter how many times it's posted. 4 out of our 5 worst combinations also involve Connor. He would not be getting these minutes on any other B1G team which the Connor huggers never dispute.
The crazy part about this for me is that these guys shoot basketballs every fricking day. Yes, guys have bad shooting days, but stuff like this is unimaginable to me over multiple games (and I believe our ENTIRE team is worse at the free throw line this year? Different deal but still, hard to believe that's possible). A wide open shot really isn't THAT hard to make on a far more consistent basis. It might be if you're a Mechanic or an Accountant by trade but........
This is correct in many levels Including that Murray should play more than anyone else (not named Luka or Wieskamp)
Keegan had greater value analytical value than Conner does on offense and defense.
Keegan had 3 offensive rebounds (of his 5) which are 3 additional possession earned. We saw in the last Wisconsin game where 2 of his offensive rebounds in the last 2 minutes led to 6 Iowa 2nd Chance points There is more value in those rebounds than 4 defensive rebounds from Conner (not that 4 is bad)
Keegan had 3 blocks which prevented as many as 6 points.
The combination of those to elements, that no other Iowa player can bring, alone created enough value in an of themselves for the margin of victory.
Connors lone elite skill is ’feeding the post’, which is very good, but not exclusive to him, (like Keegan’s skillz are very much exclusive to him) other on this team can feed the post, just not as often, but they can and do feed it.
the opportunity cost for not playing Keegan is being exchanged for the value of feeding the post minus the negative value of being an extremely poor offensive player and when you put it to paper, Keegan easily optimizes Iowa Chances of winning.
jobo at point, can feed the post.
CJF is best assist to TO ratio in history , can feed the post
JoeT can feed the post.
and these guys also contribute other elite FF level things, which at this point we are wondering if Connor can do anything at the elite level, I’m now not certain he deserves the minutes he’s being given.
At the end of the game last night I was thinking put in Aaron Ulis along with JBo. IIRC the kid is like 18 of 19 at the line across tons of games, and coming fresh off the bench. That's not luck folks. I wouldn't hesitate for a second, big game or not. He's a point guard, he's supposed to have the ability to retrieve a ball and not turn it over.
Worked out fine because we were able to get JBo the ball, but more great options are better. Aaron Ulis should absolutely be one of those options, IMO.
Connor can't even sink a mid range jumper most of the time though. We're talking about a major college basketball player that can't make a wide open 3 pointer, think about that. He shouldn't even be on the floor, and wouldn't be for any other team. His shot is just plain ugly, turns almost sideways, if he gets in the lane he always shoots some fade away crap that comes up short. The only other player with a shot close to as ugly as his is his brother. How can 2 sons of a coach have such awful looking shots?
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So what you are saying is Fran loves Connor more than he loves Patrick. Would you be able to shed some insight on which of the Ferentz boys Kirk loves the most? I'm guessing you are in the Brian camp. Amirite?
That’s fair. Jordan, Ulis, CJ, Connor, Luka would be my lineup if I need to get the ball inbounds and preserve the game with free throws. I’m shocked that Joe W has regressed so much at the line.
This should be the end of the debate.
That site is pretty incredible to really breaking down a team. I did a breakdown of Luka with each with each player and guess who Luka has the worst number playing with? Connor and it's not even close. Like others have said in this thread, I'm glad Connor is on the team. He provides toughness, but if you look at the metrics he shouldn't be getting as many minutes as he does. It's glaring that Murray should be playing more when looking at the numbers and it's not really debatable.
I really don't understand the love for Connor either. The whole "glue guy" sentiment is a euphemism for mediocre. I have a bad feeling some will be singing a different tune after today's game. Hope I'm wrong.
Glue guy describes Murray more than Connor.
all you need to understand about Frans player evaluation skills is josh oglesby. Worst shooting “great shooter” in ncaa history.
Last comment I’ll make on it. I hope Conner has an excellent game today, always rooting for him. However, it’s my opinion that against athletic teams (ILL) he needs to play less than 20.
I go back to the OSU game. Conner got his 3rd foul early in 2nd half and we dominated from there forward. Believe Conners minutes were under 20. Especially lineup of JT, Cj, joe, km, Garza was just filthy on both ends.
Unfortunately next 3 games are against non athletic clubs (wisc, neb, wisc) so back to std rotation. We’ll see how Fran plays it today, if he properly rotates in athletic lineup to counter ILL guards ill be first to praise win or lose. I firmly believe it’s our only chance today unless red hot from 3. If we play Conner 28 I don’t think we can contain ayo and Fraser.
Go Hawks.
I go back to the OSU game. Conner got his 3rd foul early in 2nd half and we dominated from there forward. Believe Conners minutes were under 20. Especially lineup of JT, Cj, joe, km, Garza was just filthy on both ends.
Unfortunately next 3 games are against non athletic clubs (wisc, neb, wisc) so back to std rotation. We’ll see how Fran plays it today, if he properly rotates in athletic lineup to counter ILL guards ill be first to praise win or lose. I firmly believe it’s our only chance today unless red hot from 3. If we play Conner 28 I don’t think we can contain ayo and Fraser.
Go Hawks.
Connor always seems to rise to the occasion and get up for Illinois. Looking for more of it today
Fran has been right on players more than he's been wrong. In fairness, it's a tough position to be in to try to evaluate your son fairly. With that said, you have an obligation to put the guys on the floor who give you the best chance to win. I'm sure that Fran has convinced himself that playing Connor thirty minutes a game does that. I disagree, but that's not here nor there. The point is Keegan is your most versatile defender and gives you a scoring threat around the basket as well as the perimeter. He needs more than fifteen minutes regardless of what anyone thinks of Connor.
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anon_b29nm7v7dwp6r
Guest
Well I think the consensus would be that Aaron White should sit because I remember he was nowhere near as good of a post entry pass as CMac
Fran can’t coach, can’t evaluate talent, and his teams suck at defense. So I would ask the idiot posters......how are we a lock for a 2 seed in the Big Dance if the above comments are true?
They would say that all the talent fell into his lap, did their own self improvement, and they ignore the coaching staff during the games that they win. McC only really coached those 7 losses.
😉
No one is saying that. I love Fran and he’s done an amazing job. Doesn’t make him infallible. Guy is equal parts stubborn and loyal. That’s a double edge sword. Add in coaching your own sons and the difficulty that brings.
I think it’s OK to debate based on the metrics. It’s a basketball board, debate the points made. The “coach knows better” no matter what mantra is boring.
No one is saying that Coach McCaffery is infallible. But the incessant bitching after the way this team performed since early February is mind bottling. The “yeah but” arguments are beyond tiresome.
So does the "anonymous message board poster knows better no matter what" mantra.
Iowa is 21-7 and rated top 5 in the country. I think the coaching staff deserves a hell of a lot more credit for this than most of you haters are willing to give them. You love him, blah, blah, but he favors his sons, yadda, yadda, he doesn't play this flavor of the day enough, would have won if he'd only done what I would have, etc. You do realize that it sounds like you have a humongous ego, don't you? And you really don't have a clue.
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Well, he fit your criteria when you said it was “idiocy” to have a 50% FT shooter on the court late in the game When you should have said “it’s idiocy to have your son on the court late in the game” Because Joe also fit your description.
Well, he fit your criteria when you said it was “idiocy” to have a 50% FT shooter on the court late in the game When you should have said “it’s idiocy to have your son on the court late in the game” Because Joe also fit your description.
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Just to be clear, I'm not bitching about Fran. I'm under the opinion, supported by facts, that Murray gives Iowa the best chance to win.
Then don't participate in them if they're that tiresome. Part of the fun of message board bantering is to talk about stuff like this. Doesn't mean I or anyone else don't respect Coach McCaffery.
You heard it, guys. Message board Karen told me to leave the knitting circle. I’m out of the Connor bashing thread.
If you think Fran has been anywhere near good with playing time I don’t know what to tell you.
I don't think it will register until an unfortunate early exit. Even than the blame will go on JW, Jbo, or Garza if they aren't lights out. The metrics show exactly what my unbiased eyes show. I have no reason to not want him in the game. I don't know any of the players and wish them all the best. More importantly I want the deep NCAA run with this once in a 20 year team and it is painfully obvious there is 1 player that slows them down.
This should be obvious to everyone. When Connor is in Luka gets doubled and forces more shots.
