Basketball Scrimmage vs. K-State

[tm3308]

I'd take the Marble/guys standing around concern with a grain of salt... this was the first time they played against another D1 team since the NIT. They have a few new guys in the rotation and are probably trying out new things/are rusty. Some current flaws can be mitigated by strategy and repetition in practice. Not that guys standing around when Marble has the ball is something new.

The reason it concerns me is because that's exactly what we saw a lot of the time last year, which makes me have doubts that it's going to change this year.

Hoiberg was on Andy katz's show today and they talked about the new hand checking rule and he thought it would result in a lot more teams playing zone. Big fan of iowa playing zone with marble at the top and uthoff on the wing.

If Iowa's shooting improves at all, I'd be a fan of facing more zone, too. It places less emphasis on beating guys off the dribble (a weakness) and allows our bigs to take on a bigger role as passers (a definite strength for nearly all of our bigs). I definitely can't wait to see whether Aaron Craft starts getting called for his "defense".

 

[deanvogs]

The reason it concerns me is because that's exactly what we saw a lot of the time last year, which makes me have doubts that it's going to change this year.



If Iowa's shooting improves at all, I'd be a fan of facing more zone, too. It places less emphasis on beating guys off the dribble (a weakness) and allows our bigs to take on a bigger role as passers (a definite strength for nearly all of our bigs). I definitely can't wait to see whether Aaron Craft starts getting called for his "defense".

Not just Craft, but Michigan St., and Wisconsin specifically.....basically the whole BIG to a certain extent, as the refs in the BIG let teams get away with murder.

 

[bcl20]

I'll believe they'll call more hand checks when I see it.

 

[bogeyman]

I'll believe they'll call more hand checks when I see it.

Good point. I'm all for freeing up the game so guys can score but at the same time I hope games don't turn into a 40 minute free throw contest that has the clock stop every 20 seconds.
Not to get off topic, but I wish they would limit the amount of timeouts, either TV or Team. There are just too many timeouts for a bball game. Its hard to get momentum and keep it because right when you get on a run there is a timeout. Kills the crowd enthusiasm too. I think a big X factor in basketball should be who is conditioned the best also and has the best bench, now when you are guaranteed a rest every 5 minutes plus the team timeouts there are a lot of breaks to rest up on. Guys can play nearly the entire game a lot easier than they used to. The timeouts just ruin the flow of many games IMO.

 

[BryceC]

Everybody talking hand checks at big 12 media day today.

 

[bcl20]

Good point. I'm all for freeing up the game so guys can score but at the same time I hope games don't turn into a 40 minute free throw contest that has the clock stop every 20 seconds.
Not to get off topic, but I wish they would limit the amount of timeouts, either TV or Team. There are just too many timeouts for a bball game. Its hard to get momentum and keep it because right when you get on a run there is a timeout. Kills the crowd enthusiasm too. I think a big X factor in basketball should be who is conditioned the best also and has the best bench, now when you are guaranteed a rest every 5 minutes plus the team timeouts there are a lot of breaks to rest up on. Guys can play nearly the entire game a lot easier than they used to. The timeouts just ruin the flow of many games IMO.

If the game turns into free throw contests, that's on the players and coaches not the refs.

 

[DodgerHawki]

I hope Fran scratches where it itches. The team lacks some lateral quickness, especially if we are playing White/Uthoff/McCabe at the 3 spot. What the team does have is length, so while I'm not necessarily a huge zone defense guy, this team may be better suited for the zone. They can run the press and drop back into the zone, and with the length they possess, they can close out on shooter, all the while having an inside presence (Woody, Gabe) if teams drive in the lane.

Against good teams, Iowa's best defense last year was often zone. As you have pointed out, Iowa is tall and not overly quick. Zone allows Iowa to keep Woodbury/Olaseni near the rim, to force teams into shooting contested jumpers.

Frans has shown a willingness to mix up defenses as situations dictate. All coaches prefer to just have good enough man defenders to just lock people up that way, but that isn't always reality against good teams. No shame in using zone if you have the team to do it.

 

[djwoody98]

Regarding hand checks. Aaron Craft already has 356 fouls but none have been called.

 

[ssckelley]

If the game turns into free throw contests, that's on the players and coaches not the refs.

Which plays favorably for the Hawks, they are a pretty good free throw shooting team that emphasis is making more than what the opponent shoots.

 

[MisterLucky]

Regarding the hand checking...It's not just a point of emphasis for the refs this year, it's a rule change. If I'm Coach McCaffery, I am pointing out violations the minute the game starts. Otherwise, we're going to see selective enforcement with teams like MSU, Wisconsin and Purdue getting away with the same crap they've pulled for years. Hell, we may anyway given the attitude of some Big Ten refs.

 

[CWooD4]

K-State wont be anything close to what they were last year though.

 

[RocknRollface]

If the game turns into free throw contests, that's on the players and coaches not the refs.

And eventually they will have to adjust.

But yeah, well see if that actually happens. Seems like they have said stuff like this before but it never actually makes its way to the big ten part of the schedule.

 

[ArvadaHawk]

The "everyone stands around..." comment won't be so bad if Marble gets to the hoop or the foul line (he's our best ft shooter, I believe, or very close) or he hits wipe open guy's for 3's (and this year, we make them). I find it interesting there were no comments about Uthoff or Jok. They could fill that "need another scorer" role, at least I think they could.

 

[okeefe4prez]

HAWKS are better. I do not think the point guard is good enough.

With all due respect to whoever said this, I think the source is kind of an idiot. Iowa made a DEEP run into March and April of last season and teams that don't have good point guard play don't make it to the Final Four. Also, I'd like to point out the Bruce Webber is at K-State and he has a heckuva lot more hardware than Fran when it comes to the Big Ten tourney, but both have Final Fours and losing efforts in championship games, so I'd take his coaching comments with a grain of salt, too.

 

[H8IAST8]

We're talking about PRACTICE

 

[Bigtenchamp]

eehh hard for me to put much into this - true or not.