What a awful game

[SDHawkDoc]

If you've watched any other ball so far this season, particularly other B1G teams, you can see where Iowa compares to their peers.
It's mostly the same story as it has been with Fran's teams. They are out athleted by good teams. They fall short in guard and perimeter play.
They're not a bad team. Just a middling one. Could fall either side of the bubble. I'm leaning toward them just falling short of an NCAA bid.

 

[IamHawkeye]

It's very strenuous on the wrist to throw around all those bricks.

Seems like he has he has started other years with bricking and then got a lot better. At least I remember it being him.

 

[kceasthawk]

😂

I get it. You're from Moline, or Harding's relative or something...

I'm not picking on Harding. As I said, I like and respect him as a competitor. I'm picking on our back court because in the college game, you're only going to go as far as your backcourt can take you.

For the reasons I already discussed, this group probably ain't taking us too far. I'm really picking on Fran who has been mailing it in in a lot of ways for the past 18 months, including the portal.

Dude, don't be a dumb ass because we disagree. I grew up in the Quad cities, (Davenport) but moved to Missouri decades before Brock was born and we're not kin. That's a typical lame come back. I'm fine with picking on the backcourt OVERALL, but clearly thats a FRAN issue, and has been for most of his tenure. That and his affinity to have too may projects on the roster like Dembele, and Mulvey or giving scholarships to practice players like Ash and Kingsbury because they've hung around for 3 or 4 years. Thats not going to keep Iowa competitive in the B1G. This is ALL a Fran issue....

 

[AmericaNeedsMe]

Dude, don't be a dumb ass because we disagree. I grew up in the Quad cities, (Davenport) but moved to Missouri decades before Brock was born and we're not kin. That's a typical lame come back. I'm fine with picking on the backcourt OVERALL, but clearly thats a FRAN issue, and has been for most of his tenure. That and his affinity to have too may projects on the roster like Dembele, and Mulvey or giving scholarships to practice players like Ash and Kingsbury because they've hung around for 3 or 4 years. Thats not going to keep Iowa competitive in the B1G. This is ALL a Fran issue....

Nothing dumb ass about it. I knew there was some QC connection there because of the way you specifically defended Brock and Owen. And I don't really see what we disagree about.

List the B1G teams that would start Brock Harding.

 

[BirdistheWord]

Check out these stats

5/26 from three
8/16 free throws
Out rebounded 45-26
Off rebounded 13-6

If Utah State doesn’t turn the ball over so much they win by 25 points

We are who we thought we were gonna be

Or flip it: if we make 7/26 from 3 (27%) and 11/16 from the line (69%) and we win the game.

 

[RagnarLothbrok]

The whole team needs to crash the boards, our rebounding has been awful all every year.

FIFY

 

[BirdistheWord]

Harding plays hard. He's all Hawkeye. I really like him. But the hard truth is that he is really undersized and lacking athleticism for this level of play. I think he's going to have a tough time when B1G play begins.

I think our backcourt is in the bottom 3d of the league.

He had 19 points (over 50% from field), 5 assists and 4 steals. He wasn’t getting much help as payton, Dix and Pryce were abysmal.

 

[AmericaNeedsMe]

He had 19 points (over 50% from field), 5 assists and 4 steals. He wasn’t getting much help as payton, Dix and Pryce were abysmal.

Could have likely had a double double if anyone else was hitting.

Playing well against Utah State....

If you think that's going to translate to night in night out B1G play...well.....I'll have to agree to disagree.

 

[AmericaNeedsMe]

We’re basically the Purdue of men’s basketball.

That's just the thing. We clearly are not that. If we were, Fran would have been looking for work a long time ago.

Fran gets us to the tourney. He's just good enough not to get fired year after year after year after year....it's the 1st or 2d circle of basketball hell not the 9th.

 

[Rambler Hawk]

How can you call out Harding after this game? Did you even watch this game? Harding was a bright spot. A very bright spot.

Yup, without Brock we lose by 15....Payton's play was selfish and horrible, yet his HC allowed it.

 

[BirdistheWord]

Could have likely had a double double if anyone else was hitting.

Playing well against Utah State....

If you think that's going to translate to night in night out B1G play...well.....I'll have to agree to disagree.

Just going off of a neutral court game against a pretty decent team. I do agree that there will be some B1G matchups that will be really tough for him. I liked having Thelwell and Brock on floor together. Thelwell will see heavier min vs B1G.

 

[kceasthawk]

Nothing dumb ass about it. I knew there was some QC connection there because of the way you specifically defended Brock and Owen. And I don't really see what we disagree about.

List the B1G teams that would start Brock Harding.

There is NO QC connection. I may have lived there until 85, but I have no connection to Moline, (they were a rival in the old QC metro conference) don't know Brock, and Freeman was only there for one year. I couldn't care less. I defended them because they were really the only two guys who played pretty well last night and posters were calling the kid out. Thats all there is to it. The issue with this team is Fran, and how he recruits and his lineups. Why did Traore sit most of the second half, as example A.....

 

[LarryMullenJr.]

I know the kids love playing for him but I can’t wait for him to be gone.

 

[AmericaNeedsMe]

Yup, without Brock we lose by 15....

Interesting math.

Without freeman, do we lose by 25?

 

[AmericaNeedsMe]

There is NO QC connection. I may have lived there until 85, but I have no connection to Moline, (they were a rival in the old QC metro conference) don't know Brock, and Freeman was only there for one year. I couldn't care less. I defended them because they were really the only two guys who played pretty well last night and posters were calling the kid out. Thats all there is to it. The issue with this team is Fran, and how he recruits and his lineups. Why did Traore sit most of the second half, as example A.....

List the B1G teams that would start Harding.

 

[kceasthawk]

We’re basically the Purdue of men’s basketball.

??? Since we are talking basketball, it would be great to be Purdue. The team that keeps winning the B1G..

 

[kceasthawk]

List the B1G teams that would start Harding

Good Lord. List the teams that would start Dembele or little Sandfort? Get the point? Where is the problem?

 

[AmericaNeedsMe]

Good Lord. List the teams that would start Dembele or little Sandfort? Get the point? Where is the problem?

Pr. Sandfort didn't start. Minnesota might start Dembele. Penn State? At least he is a normal size/strength B1G F.

 

[BirdistheWord]

List the B1G teams that would start Harding.

Washington, Northwestern

I don’t disagree that it is likely a short list. I like Thelwell but I don’t think his list is radically different. I will admit we have a low bar.

 

[AmericaNeedsMe]

Washington, Northwestern

Northwestern -- no way.

 

[littlez]

Let’s move on from Harding here. He was very solid last night. I was one of the 200 people in attendance last night. Now Dix might have a bad wrist but not sure that prevented him from playing absolute garbage defense last night. He was not engaged on either end. It’s one thing to have a bad shooting night like Peyton but he literally trails as a defender the entire game. I know he’s basically a 3rd guard but he at least has to attempt to play D. Not sure what game Fran was watching. Traore was giving them fits having to throw over him on the press. Yes, he struggled a bit on the offensive end and clearly that’s all Fran cares about. That was an incredibly disappointing effort by the staff and players.

 

[kceasthawk]

Pr. Sandfort didn't start. Minnesota might start Dembele. Penn State? At least he is a normal size/strength B1G F.

He started when Dix was out I believe and Again thats because Fran thinks he can play him at guard, (because of lack of depth recruiting athletic guards) which is the real problem. Dembele may be of normal size, but he's not a plus defender and a liabilty on offense.

 

[Terrykohawk]

Could have likely had a double double if anyone else was hitting.

Playing well against Utah State....

If you think that's going to translate to night in night out B1G play...well.....I'll have to agree to disagree.

For those who continually comment negatively about Utah State. News flash, they won their conference last year and probably will again this year. They have several transfers, including the kid from Maryland, who could play for any team. Are they 1976 Indiana or a recent UCONN team? No, but the tone here by some posters make it sound like we lost to Wartburg or Coe. Give USU some credit. They hustle hard and play solid D. Did Iowa give the game away with abysmal shooting and strange lineups? Obviously yes but USU had a hand in it too.

 

[BirdistheWord]

Northwestern -- no way.

Technically, they start two point guards. Ty Berry is vulnerable.

 

[BrewHawk]

This team isn't very good at basketball.

 

[ozzie8]

I know the kids love playing for him but I can’t wait for him to be gone.

Who wouldn’t like to play for a coach that just lets you jack 3s and play zero defense. It’s like going to open gym

 

[Rambler Hawk]

Interesting math.

Without freeman, do we lose by 25?

You tell me Chief....

 

[Rambler Hawk]

Dude, don't be a dumb ass because we disagree. I grew up in the Quad cities, (Davenport) but moved to Missouri decades before Brock was born and we're not kin. That's a typical lame come back. I'm fine with picking on the backcourt OVERALL, but clearly thats a FRAN issue, and has been for most of his tenure. That and his affinity to have too may projects on the roster like Dembele, and Mulvey or giving scholarships to practice players like Ash and Kingsbury because they've hung around for 3 or 4 years. Thats not going to keep Iowa competitive in the B1G. This is ALL a Fran issue....

spot on

 

[Rambler Hawk]

Sandfort complaining getting cleanly blocked on his dunk attempt was sad. Stop the childish whining and maybe do what you’re suppose to excel at, shooting with confidence and not hesitating

I have been growing tired of his whining (to his own teammates no less) for awhile now....wish he would have just entered the NBA draft...

 

[littlez]

I have been growing tried of his whining (to his own teammates no less) for awhile now....wish he would have just entered the NBA draft...

He tried. Stock actually dropped after the combine.

 

[Mohawkeye]

Harding had a very good game and will be fine in the Big. Utah State would compete well in the Big. We lost because of 3 point shooting and rebounding. 3 point shooting will always be somewhat inconsistent. Rebounding is a much bigger concern.

 

[intrepodor]

I was on the Harding train last year and thought he was the future at pg. Not now. Too inconsistent on offense and since Fran puts offense before defense, his playing time should be minimal.

Harding keeps driving into the lane with no shot but turning it over.

 

[icwesthawk]

Traore on the Bench with both Sandforts in their 2nd half was dumb, as I blink I think Iowa just gave up another rebound and easy layup

stop blinking

 

[hawksense]

What awful syntax

 

[HawkRose]

I was on the Harding train last year and thought he was the future at pg. Not now. Too inconsistent on offense and since Fran puts offense before defense, his playing time should be minimal.

How do you come away with this take after this game.
? He was the only one that played well.

 

[DewHawk]

Harding keeps driving into the lane with no shot but turning it over.

Agreed. He is trying to make something happen but he is making a bad decision and getting too deep. He hasd several opportunities las night to pull up sooner and take a 10/12 foot jump shot. JMO

 

[HawkLogic]

For those who continually comment negatively about Utah State. News flash, they won their conference last year and probably will again this year. They have several transfers, including the kid from Maryland, who could play for any team. Are they 1976 Indiana or a recent UCONN team? No, but the tone here by some posters make it sound like we lost to Wartburg or Coe. Give USU some credit. They hustle hard and play solid D. Did Iowa give the game away with abysmal shooting and strange lineups? Obviously yes but USU had a hand in it too.

The Mountain West conference was 4-6 in NCAA tourney play and only one of their teams made the Sweet16.
The B1G itself is a shadow of what it used to be in mens basketball and the Big sent 2 teams to sweet16 last year.

I agree Iowa would struggle with a few Mountain West teams, but that is becaue Iowa is just a Bubble NCAA team like most
of the better Mountain West Teams.

Both Sandforts and also Dix are going to need to step up their games a lot from what they showed vs Washington St. and Utah St.
The rebounding is a big concern. We lack footspeed, strength, and effort going after the basketball.

 

[RocknRollface]

I have been growing tired of his whining (to his own teammates no less) for awhile now....wish he would have just entered the NBA draft...

Haven't had time to watch the last two games but I was already getting the impression that Payton was determined to be the man this year like Perkins was last year.

That's great when you're good enough but it's a negative when you're not close to being as good as you think you are.

He has no chance of playing in the NBA and taking a bunch of bad shots and trying to push the ball like you're Russel Westbrook isn't going to increase the chances I'm any way.

 

[BirdistheWord]

Haven't had time to watch the last two games but I was already getting the impression that Payton was determined to be the man this year like Perkins was last year.

That's great when you're good enough but it's a negative when you're not close to being as good as you think you are.

He has no chance of playing in the NBA and taking a bunch of bad shots and trying to push the ball like you're Russel Westbrook isn't going to increase the chances I'm any way.

Not meant to be the “main man”
Needs to be more selective

 

[Grumpy Old Hawk]

The Mountain West conference was 4-6 in NCAA tourney play and only one of their teams made the Sweet16.
The B1G itself is a shadow of what it used to be in mens basketball and the Big sent 2 teams to sweet16 last year.

I agree Iowa would struggle with a few Mountain West teams, but that is becaue Iowa is just a Bubble NCAA team like most
of the better Mountain West Teams.

Both Sandforts and also Dix are going to need to step up their games a lot from what they showed vs Washington St. and Utah St.
The rebounding is a big concern. We lack footspeed, strength, and effort going after the basketball.

So, the Mountain West is lightyears ahead of Fran when it comes to NCAA Tournament success. Please explain to me why he has been the coach of a power 5 program now for 14 years?