Big 10 Tournament Champion - Iowa

W

WindsorHawk

Well-Known Member
The year was 2001. Iowa was the 6 seed and played Northwestern in the 1st round. Iowa's conference record was 7-9. This is how they ended the season.

OSU - L 68-69
@ NW - L 61-69
@ MI - L 85-95
@ MSU - L 70-94
PU - W 78-72
@ IL - L 63-89
PSU - L 73-78
WI - L 57-59

That's 7 losses in 8 games. The only win in that stretch was by 6 at home against Purdue. Any of this sounding familiar? This is what happened in the BTT.

NW - W 72-55
OSU - W 75-66
PSU - W 94-74
IN - W 63-61

Note that NW, OSU and PSU all beat Iowa during that end of season slide. Things looked pretty hopeless. I remember.

It's never hopeless...and this team is better than that one. I've freed up my weekend so I can watch Iowa play 4 games. Keep the faith!
 
We can only hope Fran has an.

images
 
Anyone else notice that this team has been different since Basabe went out?

Macabre and oglesby were inserted, the the defense spiraled from a top 20 KenPom defensive efficiency rating to plus 100 (in 6 games), and the player rotations have become even more erratic culminating in the worst loss of the yr which included such irrational substitutions like uthoff playing 8 consecutive mins to finish the 1st half then not seeing the court in the 2nd half, to Jok playing more mins than he has in the combined 10 games, to marble playing the #3 hole (and not getting double figures for the 1st time all yr) and Mel playing only 14 minutes despite going 3-4 while contributing 2-2 FGs including a o-Reb put back.

So my question is, what changed when Mel went down? I have an idea but I'd like ton hear from others....
 
kctom said:
Anyone else notice that this team has been different since Basabe went out?

Macabre and oglesby were inserted, the the defense spiraled from a top 20 KenPom defensive efficiency rating to plus 100 (in 6 games), and the player rotations have become even more erratic culminating in the worst loss of the yr which included such irrational substitutions like uthoff playing 8 consecutive mins to finish the 1st half then not seeing the court in the 2nd half, to Jok playing more mins than he has in the combined 10 games, to marble playing the #3 hole (and not getting double figures for the 1st time all yr) and Mel playing only 14 minutes despite going 3-4 while contributing 2-2 FGs including a o-Reb put back.

So my question is, what changed when Mel went down? I have an idea but I'd like ton hear from others....
Click to expand...

why don't you just enlighten us
 
kctom said:
Anyone else notice that this team has been different since Basabe went out?

Macabre and oglesby were inserted, the the defense spiraled from a top 20 KenPom defensive efficiency rating to plus 100 (in 6 games), and the player rotations have become even more erratic culminating in the worst loss of the yr which included such irrational substitutions like uthoff playing 8 consecutive mins to finish the 1st half then not seeing the court in the 2nd half, to Jok playing more mins than he has in the combined 10 games, to marble playing the #3 hole (and not getting double figures for the 1st time all yr) and Mel playing only 14 minutes despite going 3-4 while contributing 2-2 FGs including a o-Reb put back.

So my question is, what changed when Mel went down? I have an idea but I'd like ton hear from others....
Click to expand...

It's pretty simple. When Basabe was ill, then came back and played while ill, there was a definite adverse effect on the inside presence on both ends of the court. What is your idea?
 
kctom said:
Anyone else notice that this team has been different since Basabe went out?

Macabre and oglesby were inserted, the the defense spiraled from a top 20 KenPom defensive efficiency rating to plus 100 (in 6 games), and the player rotations have become even more erratic culminating in the worst loss of the yr which included such irrational substitutions like uthoff playing 8 consecutive mins to finish the 1st half then not seeing the court in the 2nd half, to Jok playing more mins than he has in the combined 10 games, to marble playing the #3 hole (and not getting double figures for the 1st time all yr) and Mel playing only 14 minutes despite going 3-4 while contributing 2-2 FGs including a o-Reb put back.

So my question is, what changed when Mel went down? I have an idea but I'd like ton hear from others....
Click to expand...

I want to hear your idea, and I also want to know if Macabre was intended or a mistake. Either way, I kinda like it.
 
DunderMifflinHk said:
Or maybe that was the year after.
Click to expand...

I think that was 2002 and if recall, he did it on consecutive days over Indy and Wisky? Think they got 2nd to fOSU. It was great to see that team finally play up to it's potential, after an incredibly disappointing, underachieving season that had Rucker and Reggie battling for the spotlight and Alford never able to harness the talent toward the collective goal.

A lot like this year, in some ways. McCaffrey completely diluted this team, which has more deep talent than 2002. At times I wondered if White's m.i.a. routine was a bit of both deference to and frustration with Marble's, um, possessiveness with the ball.

Regardless, hope this team and coach can get their crap together to play up to their billing. It all starts with confidence and effort. Maybe karma will finally release all the things that have eluded them -- this program -- for years ... perhaps a last second shot? maybe actually defending like their capable and the other team isn't shooting an obscene %?
 
A. The defense has had huge drop off after Mel was out, but still is suffering why?

Mel Avg +22mn since return, only 16, despite scoring at an elite eFG 13-20, and his elite O-Reb and ability to turn those into scores at the rim, Fran only plays him 14 gm and vs IL 3-4 in 14mn. Remember the team on the floor wjen ia down 20-6? Mcacbre, ogles, gesell, marble, oly. (only 1 rebounder and 1 inside defender) Got to get him back up to +22mn as Sr and is elite defender and o-rebounder and transition finisher.

Oglesby. Avg +24 mins/gm, but can't rebound or play interior defense. Ogles HAS been on the court for most of this awful run of defensive games.

Uthoff. Played +16mins in 14 of 1st 19 GMs with double digit scoring in 14. But has less than 16mins in 8 of last 13. Including 4 of last 5, when the defense has collapsed, (or the entire 2nd half when he and Mel sat next to each unable to do what they did early in the BIG season.) he was 6th man of the yr candidate whe he was playing, now, can't even get into the game.

Gesell. Is now a shooter. Double digit shooter 3x in 1st 12 BIG games, but now, 5 of last 6, with terrible results. 22-67 and 5-23 from 3. Mike is taking shots Mel and Jarrod used to take.

Confidence. macabre, uthoff, and Mel get benched and their confidence is showing, these guys are all playing less, and playing worse than earlier in the yr.

Since Mel's illness; guys like mike, and Josh have stepped up the shots taken, their eFG% isn't like others, ogles defense isnt nearly what uthoff or Mel bring to the overall game. Get ball to Whitey, uthoff, and Mel. Thaws are the 3 elite eFG % guys on the team. Ogles and Mike, shoot less, get ball to these 3.

Fran. Please decide to go with a rotation that makes sense.
 
Seeing Haston's shot get blocked, and seal the win, was BIG!

That said...IDK if this team even gets past NW in the first round. Deathly serious here.
 
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