Iowa Has Passed The Eye Test.

[MelroseHawkins]

The hope was that Iowa was going to be good and a different kind of team that could play defense. The question was how they would do in the BIG once conference games started. How would McCollum do, bringing a bunch of players up from Div II, to Drake than onto Iowa, a p4 team in a good conference? We've been waiting to see how they would do against a good p4 team and they shined. They have passed the eye test and I think they have something to be competitive in league. They have some good pieces, what seems to be dynamic offense and play good defense.

 

[Hawkboys]

But have they passed the smell test?

 

[HawkeyeHypnosis]

Gotta shoot better from 3 but I really enjoy watching this team.

 

[Dadman]

Kinda has me thinking similar to a Wisconsin defense but with a better offense to complement it. I am actually looking forward to the Bucky matchup. It is going to look a lot like last night.

 

[Seth53]

Bennett is a given.

I speak the obvious but Iowa will go as far as Koch and Folgueiras take us.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Gotta shoot better from 3 but I really enjoy watching this team.

They are a cut and go to the hoop in ind of team looking for high percentage and high efficiency shots. With how many times they've been going to the FT line a game, is making up the point difference with 3's if they were to hit them.

 

[JoeyLabasForPresident]

But have they passed the smell test?

I want an update on the hearing test, personally.

 

[Hawke]

Bennett is a given.

I speak the obvious but Iowa will go as far as Koch and Folgueiras take us.

Agree and would add Banks to the list.

 

[rschneider]

I was concerned about the quality of competition they will face all year.
So far my concerns entering the season have been alleviated. I still feel this team is undersized for Purdue.

 

[bearcat92]

Bennett is a given.

I speak the obvious but Iowa will go as far as Koch and Folgueiras take us.

Also agree. Of the NWMSU championship/recruited core that followed Ben, their two outside shooters were out of eligibility. So Hawks need that similar consistent threat from Koch and Folgueiras open up the floor, especially in conference, which will allow Stirtz to be a surgeon and allow other undersized bigs to get easier buckets on cuts, etc in this offense against tougher teams.

The Northwest Bulldog transfers' understanding of Ben's system will keep them competitive; if the others get 100% acclimated to system, it will be a better than expected season. Koch pretty much there.

 

[BigD]

I was somewhat bored with the first half and the beginning of the second half, BUT the last ten minutes of the second half it started to look more like a BIG TEN type of game. The players from both teams were more locked in and focused and suddenly it looked like two heavy weight boxer's who were feeling their way around the ring and finally going after each other. That was a fun second half to watch.

 

[ssckelley]

I don't know about passing the eye test. Tonight I had flashbacks to the Lickliter years watching this offense pass the ball around even with wide open shots available. Granted this is a more talented team than anything Lick every had but I about fell asleep tonight.

 

[Seth53]

After watching the Grand Canyon yawner, I don't see Iowa going 8-0.

 

[vork22]

After watching the Grand Canyon yawner, I don't see Iowa going 8-0.

This team is a lot better than what we have been used to with Fran’s teams but they don’t have the defense or the size to hang with the really good teams. I will be surprised if Michigan State doesn’t beat us by 15.

 

[MisterLucky]

I think anyone who has decided that this is a contending team in the B1G should take a couple of steps back. Neither team we played this week are what I would determine to be "good" teams. They both had some talent, but Ole Miss lost both of their games in this tourny and nothing I saw of Grand Canyon had me thinking that they were a dangerous team. Maybe we should wait until these next three games to decide if we can handle the B1G schedule with players from Drake.

 

[Seth53]

This team is a lot better than what we have been used to with Fran’s teams but they don’t have the defense or the size to hang with the really good teams. I will be surprised if Michigan State doesn’t beat us by 15.

Agreed.

I know it's only one game, and every team has off nights, but as poorly as Grand Canyon played, Hawks should have won by 20+ if not more.

 

[Seth53]

And I'll add...opposing teams looking at tape are going to consistently over-force Stirtz to his left.

GC successfully did and it caused Stirtz's offensive fits. (5-15 FGs, 1-7 3's)

Take that away, or at least mitigate it, and Iowa probably can't overcome it enough to beat the good teams.

BTW...anybody watch Michigan dismantle Gonzaga? Wow.

 

[Hawkboys]

Agreed.

I know it's only one game, and every team has off nights, but as poorly as Grand Canyon played, Hawks should have won by 20+ if not more.

As poor as IA shot, they should have lost by 5.

 

[trj]

And I'll add...opposing teams looking at tape are going to consistently over-force Stirtz to his left.

GC successfully did and it caused Stirtz's offensive fits. (5-15 FGs, 1-7 3's)

Take that away, or at least mitigate it, and Iowa probably can't overcome it enough to beat the good teams.

BTW...anybody watch Michigan dismantle Gonzaga? Wow.

Teams are going to blitz Stirtz and try to force him to give the ball up when he doesn’t want to. Combs might be the 2nd most important player(not the 2nd best player) on the team. Because he can play point and allow Stirtz to play off the ball some.

Dusty May has a squad at Michigan. They look really, really good….like threatening Purdue for the conference title type good.