When Fran went big

[drh1150]

In the 1st half, Fran had 4 guys 6'8" or taller with JBo and absolutely wreaked havoc on Maryland. Both Keegan and Patrick were just too long for their shooters and Jack fills a lot of space. The passing lanes were just taken away.

Fun to watch when it's working.

 

[littlez]

Agree.

 

[hooper56]

In the 1st half, Fran had 4 guys 6'8" or taller with JBo and absolutely wreaked havoc on Maryland. Both Keegan and Patrick were just too long for their shooters and Jack fills a lot of space. The passing lanes were just taken away.

Fun to watch when it's working.

Great observation. Expect we might see more of this because it really worked well.

 

[RocknRollface]

I never imagined that lineup would work well.

Patrick might have had his best game.

Keegan is overshadowing him but he's having a solid freshman year too.

 

[DodgerHawki]

In the 1st half, Fran had 4 guys 6'8" or taller with JBo and absolutely wreaked havoc on Maryland. Both Keegan and Patrick were just too long for their shooters and Jack fills a lot of space. The passing lanes were just taken away.

Fun to watch when it's working.

I will give Fran credit, he stuck with what was working. 4 guys that tall playing zone and there aren't a lot of openings. Team played with a lot of enthusiasm.

 

[RocknRollface]

I will give Fran credit, he stuck with what was working. 4 guys that tall playing zone and there aren't a lot of openings. Team played with a lot of enthusiasm.

Luka even managed to closeout and still defend the drive a couple times.

I couldn't believe it.

 

[perryhawk]

It was a great in-game adjustment or move! Fran can coach.

 

[LaoHawk]

And made IA's defensive in Kenpom go down around 77 from 90s...😁

 

[Moral]

Fran has a lot of experience with long lineups. I feel like this deep threat/POTY lineup is new to him.

 

[chuck285]

It was a great in-game adjustment or move! Fran can coach.

Should be coach of the year. Started with very little talent but coached them up.

 

[Eternal Return]

I will give Fran credit, he stuck with what was working. 4 guys that tall playing zone and there aren't a lot of openings. Team played with a lot of enthusiasm.

Patrick and Keegan give Iowa so much more height and length in that lineup compared to Fredrick and Weiskamp without giving up quickness. In fact, Murray is longer, quicker, more athletic, and has better natural basketball kinstincts than Weiskamp. Joe (usually) has that great 3-point shooting stroke, but Keegan's got a better all-around game. That's not a knock on Weiskamp; it's just that Murray looks like the better player in terms of giving the team an edge when he's on the floor. Hell of a problem to have. I can't believe Iowa landed Keegan this year of all years. The timing couldn't have been better. He's the guy who could put Iowa over the top against the best teams Iowa will face this year.

 

[HawkRugged17]

The big lineup worked last night at Maryland. It may not work every night. Fran has options ... big lineup, shooting lineup, small lineup. He has been using them well most of the time this year.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

Agree with OP. I would add that in addition to length, that lineup and others that included Joe T., looked quick. It's been a while since I have been able to say that. It seems Iowa defenders are always a step slow getting to shooters, in passing lanes or cutting guys off on drives. Patrick, Murray, Nunge and Joe. T really anticipated well and got out on guys and to spots which really bothered Maryland. Nice to see Patrick get some shots to go down. He looked a lot more confident last night both in the paint and from 3.

 

[DodgerHawki]

I never imagined that lineup would work well.

Patrick might have had his best game.

Keegan is overshadowing him but he's having a solid freshman year too.

There was a post on one of the other blogs (perhaps Go Iowa Awesome) that looked at Iowa's efficiency margin (the difference between points scored and points allowed) when Garza and Nunge are on the floor together compared to when just one was on the floor. The defense improves by a lot when both are on the floor. Not making an argument that they both should be playing all the time, just that there is an argument to be made for going bigger.

Murray is so versatile. He can defend guards or big guys. His man defense on Harper against Rutgers was great, and he is active when Iowa goes zone. The bench brought it last night. They won't be that good every game, but they don't have to be. You have a good team when you have 8-9 good players, so that on any given night you are very likely to get 4-5 of them who are playing well.

 

[jonesy5960]

In the 1st half, Fran had 4 guys 6'8" or taller with JBo and absolutely wreaked havoc on Maryland. Both Keegan and Patrick were just too long for their shooters and Jack fills a lot of space. The passing lanes were just taken away.

Fun to watch when it's working.

The insertion of Keegan, JoeT, PMac and Nunge turns Iowa into a completely different team. Not as explosive offensively but they are actually a good defensive team with those 4 on the floor. Maryland had very few good looks, Iowa got nearly every defensive board, and there were turnovers galore.

 

[HemiHawk]

Should be coach of the year. Started with very little talent but coached them up.

"Started with very little talent but coached them up."

Garza **** recruit on rivals
CMac **** recruit on rivals
PMac **** recruit on rivals
Weisy **** recruit on rivals
Ulis **** recruit on rivals
J Bo **** recruit on ESPN
Toussaint **** recruit on ESPN
Ke Murray *** recruit on rivals
Fredrick *** recruit on rivals
Nunge *** recruit on rivals

 

[CyberJJ]

Patrick and Keegan give Iowa so much more height and length in that lineup compared to Fredrick and Weiskamp without giving up quickness. In fact, Murray is longer, quicker, more athletic, and has better natural basketball kinstincts than Weiskamp. Joe (usually) has that great 3-point shooting stroke, but Keegan's got a better all-around game. That's not a knock on Weiskamp; it's just that Murray looks like the better player in terms of giving the team an edge when he's on the floor. Hell of a problem to have. I can't believe Iowa landed Keegan this year of all years. The timing couldn't have been better. He's the guy who could put Iowa over the top against the best teams Iowa will face this year.

I get your points, but I feel you are comparing apples and oranges with the bold text above. You are comparing a Joe a 2-3 with Keegan who plays more of a 4 when he replaces Jack. That isn't a knock on Keegan, as I have been impressed by his game, just think they aren't just plug and play interchangeable pieces as your comments suggest.

 

[HawkRugged17]

"Started with very little talent but coached them up."

Garza **** recruit on rivals
CMac **** recruit on rivals
PMac **** recruit on rivals
Weisy **** recruit on rivals
Ulis **** recruit on rivals
J Bo **** recruit on ESPN
Toussaint **** recruit on ESPN
Ke Murray *** recruit on rivals
Fredrick *** recruit on rivals
Nunge *** recruit on rivals

This is your team ...

 

[jonesy5960]

I get your points, but I feel you are comparing apples and oranges with the bold text above. You are comparing a Joe a 2-3 with Keegan who plays more of a 4 when he replaces Jack. That isn't a knock on Keegan, as I have been impressed by his game, just think they aren't just plug and play interchangeable pieces as your comments suggest.

Kenyon said that Keegan is a natural 3. He can play the 3 or the 4 and is a better defender than JW at either position. He's quicker and a superior shot blocker/changer. When he is playing the 3 and Nunge the 4 like they did last night with Garza on the floor, the Hawks are much, much better defensively.

 

[Ronman]

"Started with very little talent but coached them up."

Garza **** recruit on rivals
CMac **** recruit on rivals
PMac **** recruit on rivals
Weisy **** recruit on rivals
Ulis **** recruit on rivals
J Bo **** recruit on ESPN
Toussaint **** recruit on ESPN
Ke Murray *** recruit on rivals
Fredrick *** recruit on rivals
Nunge *** recruit on rivals

So how come we still see posts about needing to change coaches to improve recruiting?

 

[CyberJJ]

Kenyon said that Keegan is a natural 3. He can play the 3 or the 4 and is a better defender than JW at either position. He's quicker and a superior shot blocker/changer. When he is playing the 3 and Nunge the 4 like they did last night with Garza on the floor, the Hawks are much, much better defensively.

Understood. My comment was based on that fact that before last night he has played almost exclusively at the four when I have watched.

 

[HawkLogic]

With Keegan and PMac at the wings in 3-2 zone, Iowa zone looked more like the Syracuse zones of past that have been effective. You really need that length to be able to contest 3pt shots on closeouts and also contest post shots. That same zone with Cmac and JoeW at the wings doesn't scare anyone.