Lexi warming up with team so looks like she is back from the flu.
WBB 2017-18 Season
- Thread starter cyberhawk
- Start date
Last 3 quarters looked like Lisa’s early years when the entire offense was forcing the ball into the post.
http://hawkeyesports.com/documents/2018/3/1//Big_Ten_Tournament_Notes_Update.pdf
1:30 pm . Same Directv channels.
1:30 pm . Same Directv channels.
Loved the season from MG, but really think the injury to Davis (and injuries to Mohn), transfer of Bre Cera and Jinaya Houston defection prevented a possible break-out season from the high floor-low ceiling mode that is Iowa women BB. Need more athletes on the floor to go with MG. A huge athleticism deficit today, against a very athletic Minnesota team. A historic performance from MG was almost enough, but it would be nice if she had a little more help.
MG is a great player who should be getting more national attention. If she just had another forward who could make a play on their own they would be a top team. Bluder needs to get a forward (transfer/recruit) who can make a play on their own that the defenses need to be aware of. If she gets that player next season could be really special.
I don't understand how our team commits so many turnovers every game it seems. Early in the season maybe but ALL season. Yes, I know Tania is out but we had lots with her too. How can Lisa tolerate so many ? I don't mean to be too critical but it doesn't seem to be getting any better. We're not playing first year freshmen.
TOs have been a part of Lisa’s teams since she’s been here, even when consensus all-American Logic was running the show.
I think this is a big deal. Not only can playing 40 minutes / fatigue cause TOs, when any player is on the court that much opposing players learn tendencies. Makes it easier to cause TOs. But it's not all the guards. Chase gets too many. Megan has a habit and bringing the ball down and getting jump balls...
Easily in the tournament. Creme projected them as six seed last week, could see that fall to 7 though. They have RPI of 16 mid week, so wouldn't expect much change
One trend of Lisa's teams is the TO issue. Running the triangle offense requires good angles for the passing lanes and when we get pushed a little off this causes some issues. A lot of bounce passes too as these are slower to get recipient and thus easier to intercept too
I agree and you could see the difference in the 1, 2 and 3 players. Minnesota would drive to the hoop when we were man to man, and Iowa basically doesn't have those type players.
They make the dumbest and sloppy passes game after game. They also are terrible with the ball at the end of a quarter. Time after time they go too early, miss and the other team goes down and scores, sometimes banking in a 3. Case in point yesterday, Chase has the ball around the FT line with 5 or 6 seconds left, and instead of shooting the ball, she throws it to the wing and Minnesota picks it off and throws up a prayer and Doyle fouls her with about a tenth of a second before the buzzer and they make 2 FTs. There's two points. We all tend to look at the last play, but there were 18 of those through out the game that make a difference.
I understand playing 40 minutes and the fatigue factor but how about having 10 to 15 turnovers in the first half of games. By my count that's 20 minutes. If you are saying fatigue is the primary factor it goes back to Lisa not having used all her scholarships and having a deeper bench due to injuries etc.
My concern is that we may not be recruiting the correct type of guard skills. It seems other teams guards are much quicker/athletic and are causing our guards to turn over the ball.
Every player makes mistakes and can turn the ball over once or twice a game depending on minutes per game. But 4 or more turnovers for a point guard is unacceptable and other players, not the point guard, should never have more than 2.
I know Jan Jensen works with the centers and power forwards but who is working with the ball handlers ? It appears Lisa would benefit by having a person on her staff who is really strong on dribbling and passing skills.
What are the other coaches (not Jensen) strengths and responsibilities ? Just asking.
My concern is that we may not be recruiting the correct type of guard skills. It seems other teams guards are much quicker/athletic and are causing our guards to turn over the ball.
Every player makes mistakes and can turn the ball over once or twice a game depending on minutes per game. But 4 or more turnovers for a point guard is unacceptable and other players, not the point guard, should never have more than 2.
I know Jan Jensen works with the centers and power forwards but who is working with the ball handlers ? It appears Lisa would benefit by having a person on her staff who is really strong on dribbling and passing skills.
What are the other coaches (not Jensen) strengths and responsibilities ? Just asking.
I spent way too much time looking at our stats this AM.
The weird thing is that we were first in the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (and assists), but last (by quite a bit) in turnover margin. Not easy to do. For comparison, the Big 10 teams that finished 2-6 in assist/turnover ratio all also finished in the top six in the conference in turnover margin.
http://www.bigten.org/sports/w-baskbl/wbb-confldrs.html
SWAG on reasons for this?
Lots of Assists
1. The Gustafson Factor. I am guessing, admittedly, but we likely have at least 3-4 turnovers a game on entry passes to her when she is heavily guarded. If you succeed on one of those passes, however, "you get an assist!" because she is likely scoring. While there is always room for improvement, the risk is probably worth the reward on those. Lots of assists to be had. She has 52 more FGs than anyone else in the conference. (Mitchell will somewhat close the gap the next couple days) Guessing +80% involved assists; the other 20% or so were from offensive rebounds, including many of the Moses Malone variety (rebounding your own miss).
2. We also have H. Stewart and C. Coley. During yesterday's broadcast, Vera Jones called those two and Megan, the most efficient front-court in the country. Not sure if she had any statistics to support this, but if you feed those three within 10 feet of the basket, you are going to get assists.
3. In roughly the same number of minutes (fewer games) as last year, Meyer had an impressive 40 more assists this year with roughly the same number of TOs and steals. Doyle had 43 more assists than last year. She will become our #3 career assist leader next year and likely end her career as #2 all time. No one is catching Sam Logic anytime soon.
4. We already have 669 assists this year. The school record was 644.
Turnovers and lack of opponents' turnovers
1. Injuries. Our three starting guards going in to the season missed 27 games this year. We were playing a walk-on freshman at guard in crucial games (and fortunate to have her).
2. Depth/Fatigue. The unplanned departures of the past two years (and Tania's knees) are putting stress on Meyer and Doyle when they are healthy. Kathleen, the primary ball-handler and leader in assist and TOs, played at least 34 minutes in every conference game (at least 39 in 13 of them). She essentially plays the entire game unless in foul trouble or the outcome is decided. Mak had the injury during conference play, but has been in for more than 35 minutes in the majority of conference games played.
3. The Gustafson Factor--she who must be fed. (see above)
4. General lack of athleticism leads to our inability to force TO's. A few of our players plod more than they glide. Doyle is the primary exception to this, but even she has 26 fewer steals than last year (and 33 more TOs). But, also a shout out to Hannah Stewart, who had only 10 steals fewer than Kathleen (the team leader) in roughly half the minutes. I would have never guessed that without looking at the stats. This lack of athleticism, of course, also leads to some of our turnovers.
5. Also, we don't play that constant grabbing (I guess it is not fouling if they aren't calling it) defense like Rutgers and Penn State.
A healthy Tania Davis would address some of these, although the TO issues seem to predate her.
Buttenham, concussions, would have been a senior, but now his playing for a team in Canada, Jennings would have been a senior, Cera would have been a junior?, Tagyn Larson left, and Houston left before the season. Carly Mohns has not even come close to her potential because of her knee problems, a big loss to this team over the last 4 years in my opinion. So, several left for whatever reason, and Lisa, for whatever reason didn't replace them. She used to be short of players because of injuries, but a few years ago she seemed to solve the problem, and now she is down to basically 7 players that contribute in a meaningful way. Sanders has been helping at guard and for whatever reason she never played yesterday, and Carly only played 1 minute.
Nice post wneff, I just deleted a post of mine because you covered all my points and then some 
I often get frustrated with Doyle, but her plate has been really full since she's been here, and I do love the effort and enthusiasm. Almost got lost that she made 2nd team All-B10. She and Meyer make a nice pair in the backcourt.
But I have to admit I enjoy watching Minnesota's Wagner and Bell, and players like that have always been a tough matchup for us.
I often get frustrated with Doyle, but her plate has been really full since she's been here, and I do love the effort and enthusiasm. Almost got lost that she made 2nd team All-B10. She and Meyer make a nice pair in the backcourt.
But I have to admit I enjoy watching Minnesota's Wagner and Bell, and players like that have always been a tough matchup for us.
How much would have Jinaya Houston helped Iowa this year? I know she was a top recruit, but I don't know anything about her game.
This thread has kind of gone off the rails. I was just wondering how our staff can justify all the turnovers. This isn't just a 1 game or 1 year thing. It's been a problem for several seasons. After reading some posts I'd conclude Lisa doesn't place a priority on valuing the ball by her guards and staff. Also, I'd say generally it seems we don't have the quickness and athleticism other teams have at the guard positions and lastly we don't start any season with a full allotment of scholarships thus when injuries happen (and they always do) we are short handed. Injuries aren't always at the guard spots and we have years we are short at power forward.
I also think the staff has whiffed on who they recruit. We didn't get a lot in 4 years from Coley. Cera was generally out of control and no offensive threat so I wasn't bothered by her leaving. Jenning couldn't physically match up because she was so small and her offense was warm or very cold. Buttenham didn't have a role. She played like a tweener between off guard and small forward. Didn't really have developed skills for either position in the Big 10.
I am very hopeful Stewart continues to develop as I think she could be a real good power forward along with Gustafson down low.
I'm hopeful Tomi and Kate bring athleticism to the guard court in backup roles and Cizanano can provide some help at center when Gustafson gets her 2nd and 4th fouls in games.
Sorry to ramble on.
I also think the staff has whiffed on who they recruit. We didn't get a lot in 4 years from Coley. Cera was generally out of control and no offensive threat so I wasn't bothered by her leaving. Jenning couldn't physically match up because she was so small and her offense was warm or very cold. Buttenham didn't have a role. She played like a tweener between off guard and small forward. Didn't really have developed skills for either position in the Big 10.
I am very hopeful Stewart continues to develop as I think she could be a real good power forward along with Gustafson down low.
I'm hopeful Tomi and Kate bring athleticism to the guard court in backup roles and Cizanano can provide some help at center when Gustafson gets her 2nd and 4th fouls in games.
Sorry to ramble on.
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Considering there are only 5 players on each team (unlike the Big Tens 10), that’s pretty good.
Stats don’t always tell the full story. Most of the other players had many other talented players on their teams that would dilute their totals.
Stats may not always tell the full story as you say, but that is what most people refer to when comparing players. That is especially so with points per game. So many players score a lot by shooting a lot. But if the percentage is [relatively] low, that is not efficient scoring. What about the PPP (points per possession) stat which it was reported that Megan was number one in the nation with 1.3, or points per shot attempt which measures scoring efficiency by factoring shooting percentage? Megan has shot about 67% from the floor (while being double-teamed) and 80+% from the line (also drawing a lot of fouls), which surely puts her high in scoring efficiency. She is one of the top rebounders in the country, has more assists than the other top centers (seven in one game alone), and is among the leaders in the nation in many other stats as well. So it is not just one or two stats we are talking about, it is the total number of all the stats that she ranks high in. Finally, exactly what is it about those other players (other than their stats) that makes them first team All-Americans and not Megan?
I know that there are at least two US Basketball Writers Association writers, Blake DuDonis and Howard Megdal, who have voted Megan as an All-America on their ballots. Unfortunately I don’t know who else votes or maybe I would have been privy to see their votes, too.
I believe Megan will get a few more all-American honors before she’s done!
