I think Whitney is trying to run the offense getting everyone involved & is still figuring out when to take it herself. Sort of similar situation to last year when she deferred to the Seniors & Disterhoft. Tania seems to have it figured out a little better at this point but just lacks game experience.
WBB opens season with first practice
- Thread starter oakhawk
- Start date
I went to the UNI game, and it was as though she was thinking "if we need points I'll shoot, otherwise I'll play defense and look for assists". Let no one doubt she can score when motivated to do so, she has an extraordinary shooting touch.
Heart-breaking loss Friday for several reasons. Worst maybe, that's going to end up being a "bad loss" come tournament selection time because I don't think ISU is going to win many more games.
Credit the ISU crowd and the ISU players using them to go all out in the 4th. It's a shame Iowa WBB doesn't get the same support.
Credit the ISU crowd and the ISU players using them to go all out in the 4th. It's a shame Iowa WBB doesn't get the same support.
Maybe so, but they will have a much better record in Hilton than they will on the road. There is something real about Hilton Magic, whether it's the fans, officials or both. I'm sure the tournament selection committee is aware of this.
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Agreed, the crowds their WBB draws in Hilton are amazing, have to hand it to them. I like to look at the WBB board on CycloneFanatic because they get a lot of discussion. But one thing I don't get is some of those posters have this deep, passionate hatred for Bluder. In a profession that includes Geno Auriemma, Kim Mulkey, and Fennelly himself, Bluder comes off as pretty mild-mannered to me.
Increasing attendance by raising awareness of the new verbal and signed commitments has been the main reason for me to contribute to the recruiting thread. As it is, the support that ISU WBB receives from their students put Iowa student support to shame. It's embarrassing and almost disgraceful. I know there are some who say that WBB is boring. That does not explain why many other WBB programs with really no more success than Iowa such as Prudue, MSU and Nebraska as well as ISU have far better fan support. Iowa students should be ashamed of themselves for letting ISU's student fans 'show them up'.
Perhaps the members here that live in the greater IC area could start a crusade to raise interest in the WBB program and increase attendance. If there is anyone who is seriously interested in promoting Iowa WBB, please let me know because I have some marketing expertise and would gladly lend my ideas to the cause.
GO HAWKS!
Perhaps the members here that live in the greater IC area could start a crusade to raise interest in the WBB program and increase attendance. If there is anyone who is seriously interested in promoting Iowa WBB, please let me know because I have some marketing expertise and would gladly lend my ideas to the cause.
GO HAWKS!
Even when Vivian was having her great run at Iowa, and attendance was at its peak, hardly any student came to the games.
But in today's world , you can have two top 10 teams play in a HS gym to a sparse crowd, when is years past it would be standing room only. In my area, the gyms were full for any opponent. Now they get a hundred to show up.
I post all the info I get to try to stir interest. It seems to help people get aware of the team. but not nearly enough.
ISU uses their attendance as a recruiting tool. But if you watch their games the attendance is usually about half of what is listed.
But in today's world , you can have two top 10 teams play in a HS gym to a sparse crowd, when is years past it would be standing room only. In my area, the gyms were full for any opponent. Now they get a hundred to show up.
I post all the info I get to try to stir interest. It seems to help people get aware of the team. but not nearly enough.
ISU uses their attendance as a recruiting tool. But if you watch their games the attendance is usually about half of what is listed.
I don't know if the staff does anything to get students to the games or not. You would think that the players would have friends or others they know in the dorms or classes that might want to go watch them play. I just don't understand the apathy as far as the students go.
That issue is much, much more on the students rather than the staff and/or players. Apathy is what it is here.
It is not as if Iowa is not trying to do a thing about it. The figures from last season indicate average attendance (paid) at 5,281 per game. Not great, but certainly not terrible. Can it improve?
Sure. Will it improve? Not without some commitment on the part of the students to support the various athletic teams.
In an interview a few years ago Lisa said when she came to Iowa they tried for many, many years to get students to the game & get them involved. Nothing worked so they made the decision to focus on thanking & recognizing the fans who do show up to games.
From the CR Gazette...
http://www.thegazette.com/subject/sports/knee-injury-sidelines-mohns-20151217
http://www.thegazette.com/subject/sports/knee-injury-sidelines-mohns-20151217
Worried about tonight's game. Drake scores. They don't play much defense, but they are going to put points on the board. Iowa's offense has been in a funk lately.
It would not be good to lose, stew on it for nine days, and then start a stretch of @ Neb, Rutgers, @ Mich, Maryland!
It would not be good to lose, stew on it for nine days, and then start a stretch of @ Neb, Rutgers, @ Mich, Maryland!
I was at that Drake/IA game last year. Probably the best basketball game I've seen -- men or women!
Anyone know why Davis is starting for Jennings? Seems like Tania has moments but struggled with her shot. Maybe the same can be said for Whit. Has Lisa commented on it?
Yes, in the CR Gazette: 'The way Lisa Bluder saw it, the sparkplug needed a spark. “I just felt Whitney (Jennings) hadn’t been playing to her potential,” Bluder said, referring to her decision to start freshman Tania Davis in her place at point guard Saturday. “I thought I’d press a button to get her to be the player she is.” '
http://www.thegazette.com/subject/sports/davis-gets-first-start-iowa-tops-bradley-20151219
Before tonights game, Jennings was shooting .293 from the field. I have seen with mine own eyes that she can really burn the nets on a given night, so don't know if it's an injury, the dreaded sophomore slump, or early onset of Oglesby-itis. But Kamile Whalin got benched for a few games at one point a few years ago and got back in the groove, hope WJ does also.
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Not with Mohns now out for the season. While they may have bodies to throw on the court at that position for a few minutes at a time, Peschel is head and shoulders above any of the reserves at the four.
I thought the first half was as well as they have played this year. A bit of trouble at the end but a good win.
Kali played very well at the end of last season and the beginning of this year. She seems to have become timid again. Needs to get aggressive and not hesitate.
Kali played very well at the end of last season and the beginning of this year. She seems to have become timid again. Needs to get aggressive and not hesitate.
Remember she played the two and a lot of three last season with Logic and Dixon being the main guns. This year she is having to take over the point. You have to see the game differently when you're running the offense. Jennings is still feeling things out. While she came off the bench against Bradley, she actually played one minute longer than Davis. Against Drake, although she had a tough night shooting, she was instrumental in the final 5-minutes with her ball handling/breaking the press and was 8-8 from the free throw line to help seal the win.
I've been told Coach Bluder has been very tough on her in practice since the Iowa State loss. She is a very sensitive kid and tends to internalize criticism. Hopefully she responds by raising her level of game. If Drake is any indication I think she may be toughening up. Which would come a good time with the BIG opener coming up next week.
Agree that Bluder needs to have a long talk with Peschel about playing like a Senior captain. She needs to be more aggressive like earlier in the year but seems like she is thinking the game instead of just playing. If she doesn't snap out of it they could always put Ally back at the 4 & try Buttenham at the 3.
They played without a true "4" on the floor most the time last night. Peschel only played 15 minutes, and it wasn't because of foul trouble.
Not saying reduce her minutes even more. Just don't start her as a wake-up call. Although with B1G season starting, now may not be the best time I guess.
Some players play better off the bench. Kali did very well in the 6th man role. She might be better off coming off the bench. Just a thought.
I wish she would maybe give Hannah a try at the 4. If it doesn't work out fine, but give her a chance.
Understand what you are saying Linus, but they able to do that because Drake put a guard dominant lineup on the court. Iowa could go without her on the court because the matchups were in their favor to do so. The Big Ten schedule is going to be a completely different beast. Off the top of my head I can only think of a couple teams where Iowa could get away with a smaller lineup. Stewart isn't ready for more than spot minutes and Till simply doesn't have much left in her knees. The best answer is for Peschel to raise her level of play. She's a quality kid, I think she will respond.
Is it official that Carly will now miss the rest of the year? I have not seen anything more said since last week when Jeff Lindner wrote the story about it. At that time he quoted Lisa and this is what she said...
“We don’t know the extent yet,” Bluder said during her press conference Thursday. “It could be one month, it could be four months.” Bluder said that Mohns’ absence probably will mean more minutes for Claire Till and Hannah Stewart.
If she should miss the rest of the season, would she redshirt? She has only played in nine games, so I think she would still be eligible. Even if she returns after only one month, it is likely to delay her progress. Regardless, I feel badly for her.
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Except that Kali has generally been starting strong in the early minutes of games and then seemingly fading. Her 3-point shooting percentage is down about 11-12 % points from last year, yet her FT % is still very good. Also she is doing a good job of rebounding and defending. Still I believe Lisa was expecting her to increase her scoring to double digits.
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I personally am very high on Hannah and believe there is not much 'drop off' from Carly or Claire. But I think she may still be adjusting to the same position transition that Carly had last year since they both played post in HS.
MEET THE HAWKEYES: HANNAH STEWART
When she arrived in Iowa City for summer training and to compete in Game Time League, the Hawkeye coaching staff saw her fitting in at the three, four, or five positions in the lineup. Following the team's 10 practices and Italian Tour in August, it was decided that the four was her best fit. Since then, the forward has been learning from and shadowing a pair of seniors.
"Being able to watch Kali (Peschel) and Claire (Till), who play a lot at the four has helped me," Stewart said. "They're senior leaders and have had a lot of experience on this team. Having them to watch has helped with my transition, especially seeing the role a four plays at Iowa."
In three games overseas, Stewart contributed off the bench, averaging eight points and four rebounds.
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