deanvogs
Well-Known Member
So there have been several conclusions that I have come to after this season of Iowa Basketball:
1) This team didn't choke down the stretch, the team actually OVER performed it's talent during Dec. and Jan. By this I mean I think most were right when saying this was a bubble team. We played like a bubble team in Nov., Feb. and March. That is what we were. The team played above it's talent level for most of Dec. and all of Jan.
2) We relied on the jump shot way too much this season. Mike G. never developed into a player who could finish at the rim. Uthoff never developed the strength or speed to get to the rim. Clemmons could get to the rim and finish, but was just too inconsistent in his game. Jok didn't finish at the rim well enough either.
3) I am tired of the motion offense. Watching so many other teams play over the last 4 days the basketball game has evolved away from the motion offense for a reason. It clogs up the lane, and doesn't give our players many lanes for a dribble drive opportunity. There is a reason that every time one of our players drives to the hole that they are met by at least 1 or more often 2 guys who can sag and help on D. That is because we don't create offensive spacing with the motion offense. Too many double screens for Jok to have to run off every time down the court (that is why he is gasses during games). Too little clear outs, and 4 men on the perimeter. Watch the sweet 16 and you will find the game has moved to more spacing with 3 or 4 guys on the perimeter to create lanes for whomever has the ball to drive to the basket.
4) Back to relevant. This is 3 NCAA appearances in a row. I thought that during the first 3 years of Fran that this might be something we would never see again. Now Fran's job is to exceed this 3 year run over the next 4 years. I think it is obvious by how Fran is recruiting that he understands that he needs some higher level athletes to make take this team to even more success. He did what he needed to do to get the program back on track, and I think he will now do what he needs to do to take Iowa up even another level.
1) This team didn't choke down the stretch, the team actually OVER performed it's talent during Dec. and Jan. By this I mean I think most were right when saying this was a bubble team. We played like a bubble team in Nov., Feb. and March. That is what we were. The team played above it's talent level for most of Dec. and all of Jan.
2) We relied on the jump shot way too much this season. Mike G. never developed into a player who could finish at the rim. Uthoff never developed the strength or speed to get to the rim. Clemmons could get to the rim and finish, but was just too inconsistent in his game. Jok didn't finish at the rim well enough either.
3) I am tired of the motion offense. Watching so many other teams play over the last 4 days the basketball game has evolved away from the motion offense for a reason. It clogs up the lane, and doesn't give our players many lanes for a dribble drive opportunity. There is a reason that every time one of our players drives to the hole that they are met by at least 1 or more often 2 guys who can sag and help on D. That is because we don't create offensive spacing with the motion offense. Too many double screens for Jok to have to run off every time down the court (that is why he is gasses during games). Too little clear outs, and 4 men on the perimeter. Watch the sweet 16 and you will find the game has moved to more spacing with 3 or 4 guys on the perimeter to create lanes for whomever has the ball to drive to the basket.
4) Back to relevant. This is 3 NCAA appearances in a row. I thought that during the first 3 years of Fran that this might be something we would never see again. Now Fran's job is to exceed this 3 year run over the next 4 years. I think it is obvious by how Fran is recruiting that he understands that he needs some higher level athletes to make take this team to even more success. He did what he needed to do to get the program back on track, and I think he will now do what he needs to do to take Iowa up even another level.