Couple of Quick McCaffery quotes at B1G Media Day

[HawkeyeMike23]

People who think it doesn't work don't know what they're talking about. It probably works 19 out of 20 times. The reason it gets a bad rap is because when it works, nothing happens. That's what it's designed to do is to make nothing to happen. It's not done to get steals or force turnovers. Also the 1 out of 20 times it doesn't work are really noticeable because it results in a layup or a foul 30' from the basket. Those very rare times are what stick out in someones mind.

Well said and Woodbury is really good at hedging, despite the occasional foul trouble. Olesani always struggled with hedging a lot more which I think was mostly due to a lack of basketball experience. You just have to have a feel for when you've disrupted the guard enough and need to peel back in the situation, there's no hard and fast rule for when you've hedged enough. Gabe would seem to get stuck doing it too long or he would just give too quick of a hedge at other times.

 

[Hawk5656]

Rank	Team	Conf	W-L	Pyth	AdjO	AdjD	AdjT	Luck	Pyth	OppO	OppD	Pyth
3	Wisconsin 1	B10	36-4	.9629	127.9	1	96.3	54	59.0	346	+.015	145	.7451	4	107.3	8	97.8	4	.6206	38
9	Notre Dame 3	ACC	32-6	.9231	123.2	2	99.3	102	63.9	223	+.062	47	.6507	54	105.1	61	99.5	44	.2371	347
4	Duke 1	ACC	35-4	.9594	121.6	3	92.3	12	66.0	114	+.068	37	.7454	3	108.3	2	98.6	17	.5495	105
6	Villanova 1	BE	33-3	.9504	120.0	4	92.8	13	64.5	187	+.031	103	.6652	42	105.4	51	99.3	37	.5042	158
1	Kentucky 1	SEC	38-1	.9757	119.3	5	86.5	2	63.5	251	+.048	69	.6829	31	106.0	31	99.2	29	.5560	100
7	Gonzaga 2	WCC	35-3	.9319	118.7	6	94.5	30	65.2	150	+.019	138	.5931	78	104.8	69	101.4	108	.5918	56
2	Arizona 2	P12	34-4	.9649	117.8	7	88.3	3	66.5	92	-.032	258	.6693	39	105.9	34	99.6	46	.4876	180
43	Davidson 10	A10	24-8	.7927	116.7	8	103.8	197	66.9	76	+.056	53	.5711	90	103.1	113	100.6	83	.4459	232
53	Indiana 10	B10	20-14	.7742	116.7	9	104.8	214	66.9	72	-.043	282	.6361	65	105.2	59	100.2	69	.3625	322
11	North Carolina 4	ACC	26-12	.9029	116.5	10	96.0	51	69.7	15	-.026	244	.7809	1	108.7	1	97.3	2	.6849	15

They were 346 out of 351 in pace. 59 poss per 40 mins in 2015 127.9 pts per 100 poss in 2015

63.9

poss per 40 mins in 2014 120.8 pts per 100 poss in 2014

So they didn't play faster, they were just way more efficient. Actually the most efficient team in college basketball.

Iowa avg 64.3 poss per 40 mins in 2015 111.4 pts per 100 poss in 2015
Iowa avg 70.4 poss per 40 mins in 2015 119.8 pts per 100 poss in 2014

So Iowa may not have averaged as many points but still played much faster than Wisconsin.

Thanks, that is interesting. I thought they played faster the last few years but apparently not.

 

[JG10Hawk]

People who think it doesn't work don't know what they're talking about. It probably works 19 out of 20 times. The reason it gets a bad rap is because when it works, nothing happens. That's what it's designed to do is to make nothing to happen. It's not done to get steals or force turnovers. Also the 1 out of 20 times it doesn't work are really noticeable because it results in a layup or a foul 30' from the basket. Those very rare times are what stick out in someones mind.

I just opened this thread and was about to go nuts when I read that the hedge never works. Thankfully you and the others pointed out how wrong this is so quickly. I really didn't want to go through explaining this yet again. Cheers!

 

[docholihawk]

The hedge can and does work. You also need good help defense for teams like Wisky who run a lot of backdoor plays. The times where Woody can't get back quick enough, usually traffic in the lane, help defense shuts the backdoor off.

 

[CP87]

I just opened this thread and was about to go nuts when I read that the hedge never works. Thankfully you and the others pointed out how wrong this is so quickly. I really didn't want to go through explaining this yet again. Cheers!

An interesting contrast to this, most NBA teams, at least those with a true rim-protecting big, have followed Thibodeau's lead and primarily had their bigs sagging around the FT line and trying to keep the ball-handler in front of them while bothering passing lanes. The guard then has to fight hard over the top of the screen so he can bother any potential shot from behind. This conserve's the energy of your big, keeps him closer to the rim, and forces teams to take those mid-range shots off the dribble that analytics have shown are the least efficient shot in basketball.

Teams without a true big will often blitz the ball-handler on the pick-and-roll. Miami was fanatical with their ball-pressure when LeBron was there and Bosh was often their center.

Of course, many differences between the pro game and the college game. For one, the pro game is 48 minutes long (and season 82 games long), so conserving energy is more important. Also, far fewer rim-protecting bigs in the college game (most teams don't have one). I wonder if Iowa will utilize this strategy more now that Woody is the lone experienced big? It is also worth noting that Woodbury moves his feet very well for his size, but he is not a great shot-blocker. Perhaps that also influences the Hawk strategy.

 

[BigD]

An interesting contrast to this, most NBA teams, at least those with a true rim-protecting big, have followed Thibodeau's lead and primarily had their bigs sagging around the FT line and trying to keep the ball-handler in front of them while bothering passing lanes. The guard then has to fight hard over the top of the screen so he can bother any potential shot from behind. This conserve's the energy of your big, keeps him closer to the rim, and forces teams to take those mid-range shots off the dribble that analytics have shown are the least efficient shot in basketball.

Teams without a true big will often blitz the ball-handler on the pick-and-roll. Miami was fanatical with their ball-pressure when LeBron was there and Bosh was often their center.

Of course, many differences between the pro game and the college game. For one, the pro game is 48 minutes long (and season 82 games long), so conserving energy is more important. Also, far fewer rim-protecting bigs in the college game (most teams don't have one). I wonder if Iowa will utilize this strategy more now that Woody is the lone experienced big? It is also worth noting that Woodbury moves his feet very well for his size, but he is not a great shot-In January the sunshines on Iowa City as the Hawkeyes go 15-0. The Angels in Heaven sing...."In Heaven there ain't no beer that's why we all stand and Cheer." Nile looks down from heaven while standing next to God and says "Them be my boys!!!!! To hell with Alabama!" God replies " I can arrange that." . Perhaps that also influences the Hawk strategy.

i am not so sure I can agree with this based on his past experience. The reason a lot of players get in foul trouble is because they don't move their feet quick enough which tends to cause them to be out of position which causes them to reach out for the ball thus getting called for the fouls on a regular basis. I will grant you that you did say for a big man. So maybe compared to other bigs this may be true.

Woody will be a key component for the Hawkeyes. Key players to watch this year in my opinion will be Woody, Uthoff, and Joc. We have several other players outside of those three which will contribute to the success of the team, but I feel those three will drive this team. A newcomer to keep an eye on could be Moss even though he is just a freshman.

 

[kicker22]

i am not so sure I can agree with this based on his past experience. The reason a lot of players get in foul trouble is because they don't move their feet quick enough which tends to cause them to be out of position which causes them to reach out for the ball thus getting called for the fouls on a regular basis. I will grant you that you did say for a big man. So maybe compared to other bigs this may be true.

Woody will be a key component for the Hawkeyes. Key players to watch this year in my opinion will be Woody, Uthoff, and Joc. We have several other players outside of those three which will contribute to the success of the team, but I feel those three will drive this team. A newcomer to keep an eye on could be Moss even though he is just a freshman.

My biggest concern as others have said is the conditioning Woody will need to improve those minutes to what Fran is hoping to get out of him and whether or not he'll be in good enough shape to benefit from those minutes. As you stated foul trouble is about quickness and getting where you need to be on the court and I question whether or not he's in/or will be in good enough shape to spend that much time on the court. Its a lot asking those minutes out of a wing or forward, but is it too much asking that out of a 7 footer?