Defending Indiana

[iowamike21]

It might be an interesting and effective surprise for Iowa, at least part of the time, to use a box-and-one vs. Indiana. May and Clemmons could take turns as the one hounding Oladipo. The two on top could be Marble and Olesani. Try to shoot 3s over that. Under, we'd have
White and Woodbury. Iowa could swallow Zeller with those trees and have four great rebounders while running Oladipo ragged and denying him the ball.

It seems like it would be worth a try as a variation of Fran's 2-3 zone.

I hope Fran is more creative than Kirk and plays Indiana with every trick in the book. And I hope the Hawkeyes play with fire in their eyes and passion in their hearts. In the year of the upset, why not make it one more?

 

[uihawk82]

It might be an interesting and effective surprise for Iowa, at least part of the time, to use a box-and-one vs. Indiana. May and Clemmons could take turns as the one hounding Oladipo. The two on top could be Marble and Olesani. Try to shoot 3s over that. Under, we'd have
White and Woodbury. Iowa could swallow Zeller with those trees and have four great rebounders while running Oladipo ragged and denying him the ball.

It seems like it would be worth a try as a variation of Fran's 2-3 zone.

I hope Fran is more creative than Kirk and plays Indiana with every trick in the book. And I hope the Hawkeyes play with fire in their eyes and passion in their hearts. In the year of the upset, why not make it one more?

Interesting idea and I am sure the coaches and a lot of fans have thought of this even in some past games. The lineup you mention above would really need to play great defense because there is not a lot of offense on the court. You might think about Basabe getting in a lot of minutes in that scenario.

Actually, I think Basabe needs lots of minutes, scoring minutes against IU for us to win. If the hawks can force some extra turnovers and missed shots from IU and then get out on the break with white, marble and basabe I think the hawks have a chance.

go hawks

 

[smbhawk1]

As has been the case all year, and the main reason Iowa will probably not make the NCAA tournament, Iowa needs someone to step up and knock down shots. If someone had done this the first time we played Indiana we win by 10. This is going to be a tough match up on the road. If we even hope to have a chance someone needs to step up. Would be a great day for Ogelsby to actually find his shot. Outside shooting and defense for Iowa will be key in this game.

 

[STILLBUSTER]

I agree with May hounding VO, since he's probably the most athletic, quick defender and, even if gets a step behind, can recover to challenge VO's shots.

Just can't see Gabe out top. Guys will easily go by him, then you've basically created a 3 on 2 against White and Woodbury down low, which Zeller will easily exploit off the dish.

I think the focus needs to be to shut down Zeller as much as possible. Indiana has a tendency to go soft and stray the offense away from Zeller on occasion and, when they do, they struggle to score. I'd keep the base of the zone a "3" with Woodbury / Olesani in the middle, White on one block and Basabe / McCabe on the other. This is a lot of timber for Zeller to have to fight through, not to mention Gabe and Mel can block shots. I'd ALWAYS keep a combo of
White-Woodbury-Basabe / McCabe or White-Olesani-Basabe with the instructions to Woodbury, Olesani and McCabe to beat up Zeller and don't worry about fouling out.

Unfortunately, I fear Fran will stick to his line-change rotations and, at some point it will be McCabe-Olesani-Basabe down low and that combo just isn't quick enough with their feet to stop Zeller from racking up the "and-1's".

 

[wundergrape]

We'll defend Indiana the same way we defend everyone: exceptionally well.

Defense is not the problem.

 

[BJHawkstrong]

My biggest concern going into this game is who matches up against Ferrell. Marbla is not quick enough to stay in front of Yogi. If Ferrell gets in the paint we are in trouble because Indiana has both an interior presence in Zeller and some very good shooters from the perimeter in Hulls, Watford, Sheehey, Oladipo, and so on. I really look for us to play an extended match up zone similar to what Syracuse plays. The thing that scares me about the zone is controlling the defense boards. Indiana is athletic at every spot sans Hulls. Iowa will have to play their best game of the year to keep this one close imo. I'm hoping for the best but I think we will struggle offensively in this game and if it gets to be an open court run and gun kind of game we are in trouble. I agree with SMBHawki that this would be a great time for Oglesby to shut up some of his critics and bust out in a big way!

 

[SteveGarvey]

Hate to say it but this strikes me as a game we might get it handed to us. Something like 91-63ish. Guess if that happens we won't have played such good defense. Hope I'm wrong though.

 

[JHHawk]

No great options,but really cannot stay in a zone for more than a possession or two. IU leads the nation in 3pt shooting(45%) so we would get destroyed if they settle in vs a zone.

Hulls and Watford cannot be allowed to get clean looks..both are over 50% from the arc.
I agree that we need to switch up defenses routinely,but cannot get into a pattern...man to man to start the game at least.
They are the #1 team in the nation for a reason...hard to matchup against. Cannot count on Hulls having another horendous shooting nite vs Iowa like he did in Jan.
I think we end up defending Dipo with Dev/May,and Zeller with Woody/Gabe, Whitey,Mel and Zach on Watford, Josh and Ingram on Hulls, Sapp and Dev on Yogi. Gonna have to be a team effort to keep this one close...I agree with the 91-63 type of score.