I guess if I have to choose one game between Ohio State and Nebraska for Iowa to lose, I still prefer Nebraska. But, getting down by 36 points was quite something. Two things, one, Nebraska used 12 players, each played at least 7 minutes; two, perhaps assists is overrated, Nebraska only had 13. Ohio State only had 5 against Iowa on Thursday. Maybe Iowa's usual high assist number shows limited skills on individual players, and if the opponents play tough defense like Nebraska and Purdue did, Iowa's offense is easily disrupted.
WBB 2017-18 Season
- Thread starter cyberhawk
- Start date
Bluder started off the post-game interview by apologizing to the fans for laying an egg in front of our best crowd in a while. Said it was the poorest defensive effort of the season, and that some players who played well against OSU didn't today. Also said "I can't comment on the officiating, but it seemed the game was called differently in the last quarter than the first 3 quarters". Coach Fitzgerald remarked that "Nebraska had 3 centers, each with 5 fouls to give, and when the officials don't call anything they have even more". Both Bluder and Fitz said that MSU will be very similar defensively; sounds like a difficult trip to East Lansing ahead.
Nice article on CR Gazette about the Final Four team from 25 years ago:
http://www.thegazette.com/subject/s...omens-basketball-a-fairy-tale-season-20180128
http://www.thegazette.com/subject/s...omens-basketball-a-fairy-tale-season-20180128
Vote for Megan - Best Junior in D1 Women’s Basketball! When I voted a few minutes ago, she only had four votes. WE know how good she is!
https://herosports.com/basketball/vote-best-junior-in-d1-womens-basketball-blbl
https://herosports.com/basketball/vote-best-junior-in-d1-womens-basketball-blbl
Megan had a healthy lead last night, but McCowan has taken over - currently a 200+ vote lead. Voting is open until Feb 2nd at 4 p.m.
i had my kid read it. "Don't let anyone tell you Iowa hasn't been or can't be elite!"
Hmmm, Iowa pulled one out of their collective behind at Michigan State, winning 71 to 68 in OT. Iowa was 3 of 16 from the three, 16 of 27 from the free throw line, and had 24 turnovers. And all this equals to a win! They did out-rebound Michigan State 52 to 38. Gustafson made two big free throws to tie the game at the end of regulation, and Coley hit a HUUUGE base line jumper to gave Iowa the lead near the end of the OT. Gustafson then stole the inbound and made another two free throws to provide the final margin.
Purdue sure play up to its competition. Won all three games against ranked teams, two on the road. And at the same time they have some really ugly losses.
Good point. Amanda is proof that hard work and finding your role pay off. She may never be a shooter, but she is contributing just as much with her defensive intensity and rebounding. They need Alexa too, but right now she is making too many turnovers and not hitting her threes like she was earlier. She may be better off the bench.
Iowa had a couple of threes wiped out by foul calls. Including one by Lexi. That would have given her two, and she never hit another shot. Mak had one that was 3/4 of the way down, late in the game, that I still can't figure out how it came back out.
I noticed even in the Ohio St. game Amanda was in late instead of Lexi. It might be due to Lexi's ball handling not being strong enough, decision making, or she just has more trust in Amanda in tight game situations. I'd try bringing Lexi off the bench as nothing else has worked so far, might just be what she needs to see the game & then come in.
Are Carly's knees acting up again?Or just fallen out of the lineup? For a while she was starting and playing a lot. Yesterday she didn't even play & lately her minutes are very limited.
Sorry if this has been addressed before, didn't scroll back to look.
Sorry if this has been addressed before, didn't scroll back to look.
Agree with the posts above. We need Lexi and Mac to hit a better percentage, and I like Amanda's game, without the 3pt shooting. MSU threw the pass with 6 seconds left that is sort of like some that we throw. If they would just be more careful with their passes would really help. They usually shoot free throws pretty well.
Amanda is quick for her size and can defend guards and forwards. She is a good rebounder. I wish she would look for her offense in other ways than 3pt shots. She had her best success in the first Nebraska game without launching the threes. She is really hit or miss. Hits the shot or misses the basket completely.
Iowa killed a big, beefy MSU team on the glass last night. They had no trouble getting open shots, just didn't knock them down.
Too many turnovers---24. MSU points off turnovers--24 Cut that number in half and Iowa wins going away.
This team was chasing points late in the game. Down 5 with around 7 minutes left.
Ironically a couple of Spartan turnovers in the last minute helped seal Iowa's win. Coach Merchant was also livid that Agee didn't kick the ball out after missing her drive, but getting her own rebound. Instead challenging Gustafson and getting swatted. The shot clock was off at that time and Iowa would have needed to foul.
I know it's easy to look at shooting percentage and say if the Hawks would just hit more they would be fine, but the reality is this team is a little too careless with the ball. They are averaging 16 turnovers/game in conference play. With the exception of Illinois, the least amount they have committed in any game is 14.
While the remainder of the schedule is favorable (with maybe one exception) none of them are gimmies. Next opponent Minnesota is a good example. Iowa committed 16 TOs in the first meeting that the Gophers converted into 12 points. Minnesota won by 5. If they could even cut down 2-3 turnovers/game Iowa wouldn't have so many blood pressure spikers, and have 2-3 more wins in the process.
Should be a blowout win. Wisconsin is in next to last place in the conference. But virtually every game in the Big Ten is a grind this year.
Lexi traveled before that second three as I recall. Also ost couple baskets because Srewart called for travel on what were close-in layup type shots
Definitely some passes that made me say WTF. Luckily MSU making similar mistakes. Megan also made plays on defense at end
The boxscore listed her with just three blocked shots. I wasn't counting, but would have guessed 5 or 6.
Watching the Michigan State game highlight with Iowa's radio broadcast audio, it sounded like when Coley made the shot in OT, Jamie Cavey just about jumped out of her seat and knocked her mike out
My biggest complaint is that we have too many turnovers on entry passes because of the double teams. Megan gets fronted a ton, need to swing the ball and/or reverse it, and do so crisply, to get better angles on the entry passes. I get that Megan needs the ball, but make it easier on her. Her hands, which are phenomenal, save a lot of would be turnovers.
Agree on the entry passes. Many times Megan is open and the guard hesitates just a second and then it's too late. They need to anticipate a little bit to where and when she will be coming open and then pass it, and a bounce pass would be nice occasionally instead of over the top. Those seem to be the ones that get picked off.
I can forgive those. The vast majority of passes in to Megan are successful, especially from Kathleen, who is making most of those passes. That's an accomplishment given everyone in the building knows that's where the ball is going, and the opponent is doing everything they can to prevent that pass because if if the pass is successful, it's probably two points.
Frustrating thing for me lately is TOs caused by our bigs often bringing the ball down low and little people slapping it away or getting a jump ball call.
Turnovers need to be reduced, but the other half of the offensive story is outside shooting; when it is there Iowa regularly wins against all but the elite teams... when they shoot less than 30% they can be beaten by a lot of teams. Defense is effort and attitude! Still, really like this team ( but for the Nebraska games! )
Hard to believe but Nebraska is for real this year. They are 8-2 in the conference, just a half-game behind first place Maryland. And they still play Maryland home and away. I hope Iowa gets a rematch with the Cornhuskers in the BTT, but their new coach has proven to be a winner.
Been a long time ST holder. Megan is the first young lady who I get emotional about. Might do the most with her ability as any athlete I have seen.
