takes his game up a couple notches, this will be the result. He has to be a threat on offense or he truly is a liability. Sadly, I believe it will not happen as he has played this way, exactly this way for 4 years. But high level guard play is what this team lacks and will continue to be this teams demise.
Until Mike
- Thread starter hawkeye122671
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It's too late for that. Coach tried to turn him into a point guard and it just didn't happen for him...he graduated, provided some exciting basketball and gave all he could, time to move on.....
He has 3 games (+ however many BTT & NCAAT games) left in his collegiate career...he's not going to flip a switch and become a shooting threat. His game is setting people up, slashing to the basket on occasion, and playing good defense. I agree with the poster(s) who wrote that they wouldn't play him & Clemmons together.
Playing Mike and Anthony together is what got Iowa to the brink of a Big Ten Championship in the first place and to say otherwise is just not true.....what happens to coach Fran's teams when seasons happen like this one and in 2014, only those close to the team really knows, but I'm sure that the Big Ten Network and the rest of the Big Ten schools are thrilled that Iowa is puking all over themselves.....
When things aren't going well (losing 3 of their last 4, damn near losing the 4th at home) I'd mix it up. The guards are a major weakness right now. Having them both on the floor at the same time is rough. It'd be interesting to see one of them be the 1st guy off the bench and see one of Uhl, Baer, or Wagner starting.
Here's a thought maybe try CW at PG and see what he can do.
MG is in a major slump and at this point he is hurting the team more than helping. It's easy to defend us with
Clemmons and MG on the floor at the same time. Time to send MG to the bench.
MG is in a major slump and at this point he is hurting the team more than helping. It's easy to defend us with
Clemmons and MG on the floor at the same time. Time to send MG to the bench.
Mike started the B1G on hot streak and last 10 games he has had a couple where he hit 1/2 his shots, mostly shooting poorly in the other games. Given we are losing, I don't think things can get worse if Fran shakes up the lineup. Fran pretty much rode the Ogelsby,McCabe, Gesell train in 2014 into a disaster.
Playing two point guards who cannot shoot from the field or the line is nuts. Fran should have been able to recruit a true 2 here by now, but hasn't. We basically play 2 on 5 offensively and with Uthoff in the tank, we are even more limited.
Our two PG's "who can't shoot" have combined to shoot 43% from the field this year and have us tied for 11th place nationally in fewest turnovers per game.
Christian Williams is still just a freshman, and has as many turnovers as he does assists. Moreover, he's shooting 26.7% from the field this year.
There's no doubt that Gesell needs to do better than what he has done in the last 10 games. Whether he starts shooting better, I don't know; I hope so. However, what I do know is that it is more rational to believe Gesell, a 4th year PG, will play at a higher level than it is to believe Williams, a 1st year PG, would do the same. We've seen Gesell play at a high level before - even with his current stretch of bad shooting, his season averages are still respectable (40% from the field, 38% from three). We have not, however, seen Williams play at such a level.
Christian Williams is still just a freshman, and has as many turnovers as he does assists. Moreover, he's shooting 26.7% from the field this year.
There's no doubt that Gesell needs to do better than what he has done in the last 10 games. Whether he starts shooting better, I don't know; I hope so. However, what I do know is that it is more rational to believe Gesell, a 4th year PG, will play at a higher level than it is to believe Williams, a 1st year PG, would do the same. We've seen Gesell play at a high level before - even with his current stretch of bad shooting, his season averages are still respectable (40% from the field, 38% from three). We have not, however, seen Williams play at such a level.
Williams is not the answer this year. Mike & Sapp are playing together for a reason.
Only because Fran refused to give CW playing time over the season. Right now, Iowa should have CW playing with Sapp or MG in a rotation which would have given MG and Sapp more rest during the season. CW, in his extremely limited playing time has shown the ability to drive to the rim without having his shot blocked and made a 15 ft. shot recently. CW is a tall, long pg and because of this brings a dynamic, that Iowa presently does not have, to both ends of the court.
When a defense doesn't have to guard your PG on the perimeter it limits everything you do on offense. The worst thing you can have on a team in CBB today is to have a PG who cant shoot 3's, make FTs, and turn the ball over in crunch time. Unfortunately, we have one that does all 3.
The kid is all heart but I just don't get how you become a worse shooter over 4 years. Also, the worst absolute shot you can take in CBB is 1 or 2 feet inside the 3 point line; something he does all the time.
The kid is all heart but I just don't get how you become a worse shooter over 4 years. Also, the worst absolute shot you can take in CBB is 1 or 2 feet inside the 3 point line; something he does all the time.
He shoots the ball on the way up vs the top of his jump which causes long bricks or short armed front of the rim shots
He needs to shoot at the top of his jump
Check out the North Carolina game last year he did just that and made most of his shots
He needs to shoot at the top of his jump
Check out the North Carolina game last year he did just that and made most of his shots
Just what this board needed is another thread hammering MG. Look we all know his is struggling at the offense end, but suggesting that he be taken out of the starting lineup for CW at this point in the year is nuts. It would be one thing if CW has been playing some lately but come on now we are really reaching. How about we replace MG and AC with the twins from Danville and see how that turns out.
It's horrible! A guard shooting .420 fg, .714 ft and .349 from three point land! Sure, people could point at his 3.2 rpg or 3.6 assists, but I would counter with those 1.7 turnovers. This doesn't look good for Mike........wait, 
That's Devyn Marble and his senior year! The one that right after he was drafted by the Orlando Magic.
Now Gesell! He's only shooting ..404, .711 and .378!!! 3.3 rpg, 6.1 assists and 1.9 turnovers!
Funny, one big difference is Marble scored 17 ppg while taking 436 shots on the season!! Do we want Gesell shooting that often?
No, hence the assists. But we do want Gesell shooting when he's open as it keeps the defense honest and he does do that.
Has Mike had some tough games recently? Yes. Should we bench him? No.
That's Devyn Marble and his senior year! The one that right after he was drafted by the Orlando Magic.
Now Gesell! He's only shooting ..404, .711 and .378!!! 3.3 rpg, 6.1 assists and 1.9 turnovers!
Funny, one big difference is Marble scored 17 ppg while taking 436 shots on the season!! Do we want Gesell shooting that often?
No, hence the assists. But we do want Gesell shooting when he's open as it keeps the defense honest and he does do that.
Has Mike had some tough games recently? Yes. Should we bench him? No.
You know some fans have lost their mind when they recommend that 4 year starter Gesell be replaced by untested true frosh Williams with a few games remaining in the regular season and a potential B10 title on the line. That has to be the most ridiculous idea I've heard all season.
I think it's all about being frustrated and having a knee-jerk reaction. The same problem that we had when we have struggled in earlier years is shooting the ball. People are getting open shots, they just aren't falling. Who knows why. Missing shots leads to more transition buckets. I don't think changing the line up would fix the problem, as our bench players aren't hitting open shots either. The only area of improvement I've seen since the Maryland game is that it seems that Woody has turned into a beast on the boards.
Earlier in the year when we were winning, we were making those shots. It was the best shooting I had seen from an Iowa team in as long as I can remember. Until we can return to that form we will continue to struggle unfortunately.
I don't think Mike or Sapp are playing a whole lot different than when we were winning. The outlier is Uthoff, who was being mentioned as best player in country, and lately has been a shadow of that.
Add in the fact that the bench does not score anymore and we have stopped using Woody in the offense, there are lots of issues. Combined with poor defense and suspect rebounding (Woody excepted), you have a recipe for a bad stretch of games. Fran is not willing to make changes either
"Until Mike", it had been 14 years since Iowa's last NCAA Tournament win.
"Until Mike" Iowa had not been ranked in the top 5 in the polls since 1989.
"Until Mike" Iowa had not been ranked in the top 5 in the polls since 1989.
Not too much of a stretch to believe this to be an exhibit of the type of comment/pessimism that one particular poster was referring to in a thread that appeared following the isu game.
Even in one of the very best seasons for Iowa basketball, you are going to have trolls and haters on here.
We're riding the seniors and Peter the rest of the year. It's make or break with them...one way or the other. The others just need to worry about giving us something off the bench. I'm sure if someone else was looking better in practice, they would have been in a long time ago. The seniors have put in their time, they're the best we have to offer. No one needs support when things are going great, just when things are bad. I'll support the seniors until they graduate, they've played with determination and heart for Iowa for 4 years...they deserve that much from the fans!
So it is your theory that Matt Gatens, Devyn Marble, Aaron White, Uthoff, Jok had nothing to do with Iowa resurgence? You are crediting a career 8 ppg point guard with turning around Iowa program.
He was absolutely part of that, yes. They all played a role obviously. Is his statement factually inaccurate or something?
I don't give a rats arse about anything but the current. And currently, Mike has flat out under performed. He has never been a clutch player. He is an awful shooter and currently killing us on offense.
You said "Until Mike...."
Which implies MikeG was largely responsible for current success.
What you ought to say is: until Fran, we had Lickliter and Alford who couldn't recruit or coach for crap. We've had a nice run this year, but lack high level guard play and guard depth.
Which implies MikeG was largely responsible for current success.
What you ought to say is: until Fran, we had Lickliter and Alford who couldn't recruit or coach for crap. We've had a nice run this year, but lack high level guard play and guard depth.
I find it more than simply curious that some find fault in a thread titled "Until Mike..." which can be construed to mean that he has helped contrubute to the success of the Hawks. Even after the poster denies meaning any exclusivity on the part of one player, he/she is still questioned.
BTW - Iowa has had high level guard play. Some are unable or unwilling to recognize that.
Yes, Mike had good game, but in end he was swatted twice trying to make plays beyond his abilities.
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