Am I the only one who likes Iowa over Illannoy?

Despite getting hammered for my opinion that pressing gave IL too many easy hoops when we should have made them earn every basket in the half court (not their strength), I feel the same about tomorrow's game.

If McCabe can contest entry passes and we can rotate Brommer and Olaseni to keep fresh, active bodies harassing Leonard while McCabe rests, I think we can hold our own. I would also like to see McCabe make Leonard guard him on the perimeter to draw him out of the paint. We get a little sideways (to quote Mccaffrey) when bigs like Leonard start swatting our shots. We need to get points out of more than Gatens, White and Marble because Paul and Richardson will get theirs.
 
Despite getting hammered for my opinion that pressing gave IL too many easy hoops when we should have made them earn every basket in the half court (not their strength), I feel the same about tomorrow's game.

If McCabe can contest entry passes and we can rotate Brommer and Olaseni to keep fresh, active bodies harassing Leonard while McCabe rests, I think we can hold our own. I would also like to see McCabe make Leonard guard him on the perimeter to draw him out of the paint. We get a little sideways (to quote Mccaffrey) when bigs like Leonard start swatting our shots. We need to get points out of more than Gatens, White and Marble because Paul and Richardson will get theirs.
We did appear to have quite a few shots blocked last game with Illiinois.....

That certainly didn't help things. If we are smarter with the ball, we do have a fighting chance to win this one.....
 
I am not to confident beating Illinois with Brommer, McCabe, Olaseni trying to slow down Leonard.
 
Leonard was basically a non factor against WI. Granted, they have different personnel than we do, but they aren't a terribly athletic team (like us). We just can't Leonard hang on the rim, flex and do his mean mug that gets him all geeked up. Get Basabe the ball and drive it at him and try to get a couple fouls on him or play tough D and frustrate him. Oh yeah, and we need to avoid nuclear meltdowns in the last 6 minutes of the first half.
 
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Iowa needs to effectively counterpunch. I don't think Illinois can take a punch. Kind of ran into a buzzsaw at Illinois (and still hung around). If the Hawks can come out firing, Illinois will tuck their tail between their legs. It would be nice to get on a mini roll heading into a potential showdown with Sparty.
 
Leonard was basically a non factor against WI. Granted, they have different personnel than we do, but they aren't a terribly athletic team (like us). We just can't Leonard hang on the rim, flex and do his mean mug that gets him all geeked up. Get Basabe the ball and drive it at him and try to get a couple fouls on him or play tough D and frustrate him. Oh yeah, and we need to avoid nuclear meltdowns in the last 6 minutes of the first half.


This.



I don't care if we do some acting flops. If he is in foul trouble early we have a good chance of winning.
 
Iowa needs to effectively counterpunch. I don't think Illinois can take a punch. Kind of ran into a buzzsaw at Illinois (and still hung around). If the Hawks can come out firing, Illinois will tuck their tail between their legs. It would be nice to get on a mini roll heading into a potential showdown with Sparty.
Timing was very bad for us at Illinois, they were in complete meltdown mode, and desperately needed a win, after the debacle at Nebraska, they simply could not lose to Iowa at home. Weber would have been tarred and feathered if they had lost.....

We have won more Big games than Illiinois, Leonard is the only problem, and I desperately hope that Fran's Plan will work.....

:)
 
10:30 am tip. Possibly Weber's last game as IL's coach. IL with really nothing to play for other than an NIT bid, but they could also view it as their way into the tourney and come out like rabid dogs. Unlikely, but it seems conference tournaments show the true heart of teams.

I will be OK witih a loss if the team plays inspired, smart, intense basketball. If it's a blowout loss due to same old same old, it will definitely put a damper on the season. That will make 4 uninspired conference losses that we should have split 2-2. Losing to IL and NW down the stretch will sink our slim NIT chances IMO. Other teams will win their way in through strong showings in conference tournaments.

I still think a Iowa-UNI first round NIT game makes a lot of sense (if we can get in).
 
Leonard was a non factor against Wisconsin, because as many games go up in Madison, the refs let Berggren body Leonard out of the lane the whole game. I don't think we have the personnel to do that. My one hope is based on the fact that we did play better against Zeller in the second Indiana game and Zeller, while a different type player, is much better than the inconsistent Leonard.
 
Jon wields a mighty BanHammer, Atomic.....

2dhbrde.jpg

Man gonna need a lot of body armor to survive the slam.....

:D

hahaha jack thats awesome!
 

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