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loesshillshawk

loesshillshawk

Well-Known Member
Now I know this board and it's direction have definitely went south with the losses. However, I did make my living coaching basketball for 29 years, not at the D1 level, but I think I have an eye for the game :eek: So I am going to list some strengths, some weaknesses and maybe some sideline coaching things I would love to see happen with this team.
Strengths:
  • We are one of the top 20 teams in the country.
  • Our length at both ends is a big advantage
  • We are a strong rebounding team
  • When we get out in transition we are as tough as anybody in the country
  • We are able to play multiple defenses, and presses (which I think we should do more of)
  • We get to the line...and any coach will tell you that getting to the line is a sign of an offense that is working.
  • We have a veteran flavor to our team, which is usually big come tourney time
  • Our coach has a passion for the game...he sticks up for his guys...he has been to the NCAA's and had some success
Weaknesses
  • Our lack of an identity
  • Our depth (meaning too many bodies not enough minutes)
  • Our lack of physical and mental toughness
  • Our inability to find a way...or guy to score for us when the sledding gets tough
  • Our lack of speed coming off screens and being able to score in tight space
  • Our toughness from the inside out...our toughness is more from the perimeter in
  • Our free-throw shooting
  • Our 3 point shooting
  • Our inability to sustain an offensive game plan
  • A staff that lets the game flow too much (they need to control the game through subs, like Mr. Davis did, or through timeouts)
  • Knowing how to win...and this may be the biggest one in my opinion
My Wish List
  • Show me some full court 1-2-1-1 or 1-2-2 presses with the length we have
  • Put 2-7 footers on the floor together...why has this not even been tried? Woodbury can pass and let him go out in space and screen and roll to the 3 point line and hit guys flashing and curling to the hoop.
  • Control the game from the bench (See Rick Pitino, Jim Boheim, Coach K, these guys do whatever necessary to control the game...from subbing to not subbing to using time outs. Don't just let the team try to work out of situations. I think Fran always has something good out of timeouts...use those to eliminate our droughts.
  • EARN PLAYING TIME, which should of been done in the early season. Don't base playing time on what you totally see in practice. Some players are gamers...and some are practice all-Americans. To me the proof is in statistics and intangibles. You cannot keep 12 guys happy and it is not the staff's job to make anybody happy.
  • Keep Devyn at the wing at a 2, 3, or even 4. He simply is not a point oriented player. What I mean by that is he simply is at his best isolating on the wing or coming off his curl cuts. Everytime he gets to the point we become all dribble!
  • Let Mike Gessel have the GREEN LIGHT, and demand that he shoot the ball more. Mike is a gifted, gifted player. He is a great defender, and the kid can score. I do not think he is used enough to score. How many times has Mike been the one to take the team on his back???? LOTS
  • Tell your bigs to go BIG OR GO HOME. Demand dunks, now I know that sounds funny. However finish at the rim is what our bigs need to do...own the rim. Finesse is fine once in awhile as a change-up only.
  • Demand your guards make the ball go inside out. We have guys working their tails off inside that get repeatedly ignored.
This team truly is capable of making a deep run. However this team is capable of drawing a smart physical team and pulling an Alford and losing in the first round. Fran is a capable coach...he needs to channel his passion to preparation and to his kids. Once he shows that to the zebra's I think they start to respect him...thus leading to more favorable calls. Right now the Zebra's have Fran on their radar and his tuned-out before they ever toss it up. I for one love the fact that I think basketball....I Love it, I Love it, I Love it. Thanks to Fran for making us relevant...thanks to the kids wearing our colors. Now win games and keep us relevant. Love to see everyone's list. Remember everyone has an opinion and it is FUN to see what others see in our basketball team. Rant away boys...
 
Good stuff, one area I would like to add. Teach Gesell and Marble how to feed the ball into the paint. I am not seeing many good entry passes into Woodbury, Basabe, or Olaseni when they have their defender posted up. When your big man has worked hard to get open feed him the ball, if he doesn't have or lose position they can always kick it back out. But with the right bounce pass you can lead your big man towards the basket for an easy score.
 
The problem is that Izzo showed the league how to beat Iowa, at home, with half their team hurt. And Fran has done bupkis to address it. The no offense offense is killing Iowa, and if nothing is done soon, it will be bubble time.
I will quibble with you, after Saturday they will no longer be ranked.
 
Pretty good analysis. I agree with most all of it. My biggest worries are:
#1 Iowa doesn't have any consistently good shooters
#2 There is no leadership on this team. I mean from the players, not the coach.

Those can't be fixed this season.
 
loesshillshawk said:
Now I know this board and it's direction have definitely went south with the losses. However, I did make my living coaching basketball for 29 years, not at the D1 level, but I think I have an eye for the game :eek: So I am going to list some strengths, some weaknesses and maybe some sideline coaching things I would love to see happen with this team.
Strengths:
  • We are one of the top 20 teams in the country.
  • Our length at both ends is a big advantage
  • We are a strong rebounding team
  • When we get out in transition we are as tough as anybody in the country
  • We are able to play multiple defenses, and presses (which I think we should do more of)
  • We get to the line...and any coach will tell you that getting to the line is a sign of an offense that is working.
  • We have a veteran flavor to our team, which is usually big come tourney time
  • Our coach has a passion for the game...he sticks up for his guys...he has been to the NCAA's and had some success
Weaknesses
  • Our lack of an identity
  • Our depth (meaning too many bodies not enough minutes)
  • Our lack of physical and mental toughness
  • Our inability to find a way...or guy to score for us when the sledding gets tough
  • Our lack of speed coming off screens and being able to score in tight space
  • Our toughness from the inside out...our toughness is more from the perimeter in
  • Our free-throw shooting
  • Our 3 point shooting
  • Our inability to sustain an offensive game plan
  • A staff that lets the game flow too much (they need to control the game through subs, like Mr. Davis did, or through timeouts)
  • Knowing how to win...and this may be the biggest one in my opinion
My Wish List
  • Show me some full court 1-2-1-1 or 1-2-2 presses with the length we have
  • Put 2-7 footers on the floor together...why has this not even been tried? Woodbury can pass and let him go out in space and screen and roll to the 3 point line and hit guys flashing and curling to the hoop.
  • Control the game from the bench (See Rick Pitino, Jim Boheim, Coach K, these guys do whatever necessary to control the game...from subbing to not subbing to using time outs. Don't just let the team try to work out of situations. I think Fran always has something good out of timeouts...use those to eliminate our droughts.
  • EARN PLAYING TIME, which should of been done in the early season. Don't base playing time on what you totally see in practice. Some players are gamers...and some are practice all-Americans. To me the proof is in statistics and intangibles. You cannot keep 12 guys happy and it is not the staff's job to make anybody happy.
  • Keep Devyn at the wing at a 2, 3, or even 4. He simply is not a point oriented player. What I mean by that is he simply is at his best isolating on the wing or coming off his curl cuts. Everytime he gets to the point we become all dribble!
  • Let Mike Gessel have the GREEN LIGHT, and demand that he shoot the ball more. Mike is a gifted, gifted player. He is a great defender, and the kid can score. I do not think he is used enough to score. How many times has Mike been the one to take the team on his back???? LOTS
  • Tell your bigs to go BIG OR GO HOME. Demand dunks, now I know that sounds funny. However finish at the rim is what our bigs need to do...own the rim. Finesse is fine once in awhile as a change-up only.
  • Demand your guards make the ball go inside out. We have guys working their tails off inside that get repeatedly ignored.
This team truly is capable of making a deep run. However this team is capable of drawing a smart physical team and pulling an Alford and losing in the first round. Fran is a capable coach...he needs to channel his passion to preparation and to his kids. Once he shows that to the zebra's I think they start to respect him...thus leading to more favorable calls. Right now the Zebra's have Fran on their radar and his tuned-out before they ever toss it up. I for one love the fact that I think basketball....I Love it, I Love it, I Love it. Thanks to Fran for making us relevant...thanks to the kids wearing our colors. Now win games and keep us relevant. Love to see everyone's list. Remember everyone has an opinion and it is FUN to see what others see in our basketball team. Rant away boys...
Click to expand...

I would love to see a full-court press and I'm not sure why we are not running it. The 3/4 press is nice, but some ole Mr. Davis press (not the one that got beat by MSU :)) would be nice for a change up. Most definitely, feed the ball into the post players.
 
Loess, I think Mike has been terribly under-utilized this season in terms of green lighting him to do whatever. Do you agree with my suspicion that with Dev gone next year Mike will take far more of the leadership role?

I think Mike could be the floor leader this year but he's in an awkward position with Fran looking to Dev to be that. I don't know -- maybe that's a mantle Mike simply has to claim for himself, and the fact he doesn't appear to have should be a concern. But I don't think so. I think you'll see a much more confident Mike next year. I also agree with your assessment that he is a very, very gifted player. Fran is going to need to trust him a lot next year. And you're right: he needs to shoot more.

Which brings up another point. Other than Gabe from about 10 feet in, this team sorely lacks true shooters. I'm not convinced Josh entirely fills that bill. Hopefully some of the incoming guys can fill that role.
 
As far as a full court press, totally agree. And I wish Fran had the same devil may care approach to whether the player guarding the baseline stepped over it. I remember many of Mr. Davis's games in which as soon as the official set the spot of the inbounds and waved the invisible plane over which the defender was not supposed to cross, the Iowa player was quickly jumping wildly with hands and occasionally feet over the baseline. The infraction was rarely if ever called.
 
loesshillshawk said:
Now I know this board and it's direction have definitely went south with the losses. However, I did make my living coaching basketball for 29 years, not at the D1 level, but I think I have an eye for the game :eek: So I am going to list some strengths, some weaknesses and maybe some sideline coaching things I would love to see happen with this team.
Strengths:
  • We are one of the top 20 teams in the country.
  • Our length at both ends is a big advantage
  • We are a strong rebounding team
  • When we get out in transition we are as tough as anybody in the country
  • We are able to play multiple defenses, and presses (which I think we should do more of)
  • We get to the line...and any coach will tell you that getting to the line is a sign of an offense that is working.
  • We have a veteran flavor to our team, which is usually big come tourney time
  • Our coach has a passion for the game...he sticks up for his guys...he has been to the NCAA's and had some success
Weaknesses
  • Our lack of an identity Agreed. Especially at the end of close games
  • Our depth (meaning too many bodies not enough minutes) Agreed. Hard to get continuity on offense with so many players trying to force plays to justify more minutes (McCabe)
  • Our lack of physical and mental toughness
  • Our inability to find a way...or guy to score for us when the sledding gets tough Back to the second point
  • Our lack of speed coming off screens and being able to score in tight space
  • Our toughness from the inside out...our toughness is more from the perimeter in
  • Our free-throw shooting
  • Our 3 point shooting Agreed. What can we do?
  • Our inability to sustain an offensive game plan This goes back to point 2 again.
  • A staff that lets the game flow too much (they need to control the game through subs, like Mr. Davis did, or through timeouts)
  • Knowing how to win...and this may be the biggest one in my opinion I believe this is the key issue and it goes back to problems I have pointed to in the past. The same guys that start the game, rarely are on the floor at the end of the game. Players having fouled out not withstanding, of course. I shake my head about this every game. I want my best players on the court for the opening tip and the final whistle.
My Wish List
  • Show me some full court 1-2-1-1 or 1-2-2 presses with the length we have
  • Put 2-7 footers on the floor together...why has this not even been tried? Agreed. We have often had line ups on the floor that consisted of neither, which shows that we aren't afraid to play without them. Woodbury can pass and let him go out in space and screen and roll to the 3 point line and hit guys flashing and curling to the hoop.
  • Control the game from the bench (See Rick Pitino, Jim Boheim, Coach K, these guys do whatever necessary to control the game...from subbing to not subbing to using time outs. Don't just let the team try to work out of situations. I think Fran always has something good out of timeouts...use those to eliminate our droughts.
  • EARN PLAYING TIME, which should of been done in the early season. Don't base playing time on what you totally see in practice. Some players are gamers...and some are practice all-Americans. To me the proof is in statistics and intangibles. You cannot keep 12 guys happy and it is not the staff's job to make anybody happy.
  • Keep Devyn at the wing at a 2, 3, or even 4. He simply is not a point oriented player. What I mean by that is he simply is at his best isolating on the wing or coming off his curl cuts. Everytime he gets to the point we become all dribble!
  • Let Mike Gessel have the GREEN LIGHT, and demand that he shoot the ball more.Agreed. Better him than McCabe/White/Uthoff Mike is a gifted, gifted player. He is a great defender, and the kid can score. I do not think he is used enough to score. How many times has Mike been the one to take the team on his back???? LOTS
  • Tell your bigs to go BIG OR GO HOME. Demand dunks, now I know that sounds funny. However finish at the rim is what our bigs need to do...own the rim. Finesse is fine once in awhile as a change-up only.
  • Demand your guards make the ball go inside out. We have guys working their tails off inside that get repeatedly ignored. Agreed. I will also add that this team doesn't understand how to exploit mismatches and that's on Fran. I find myself yelling at the TV whenever Uthoff/White/Basabe would have Aaron Craft isolated on the block, after a defensive switch and our Guards would rotate the ball the other way. Easily my biggest problem with our players on offense. What good is having such a height advantage if you refuse to use it?
This team truly is capable of making a deep run. However this team is capable of drawing a smart physical team and pulling an Alford and losing in the first round. Fran is a capable coach...he needs to channel his passion to preparation and to his kids. Once he shows that to the zebra's I think they start to respect him...thus leading to more favorable calls. Right now the Zebra's have Fran on their radar and his tuned-out before they ever toss it up. I for one love the fact that I think basketball....I Love it, I Love it, I Love it. Thanks to Fran for making us relevant...thanks to the kids wearing our colors. Now win games and keep us relevant. Love to see everyone's list. Remember everyone has an opinion and it is FUN to see what others see in our basketball team. Rant away boys...
Click to expand...
That's all I got.
 
I know several have commented about pressure defense, specifically running Mr. Davis's of 50 series presses. For a team that struggles in the half court set, you would think ratcheting up the heat would allow the pace of the game to develop in our favor. The press in a 1/2 court fashion simply delays the shot clock and you hope for a poor pass somewhere. The 50 series allows for the other team to play faster, to try to attack and in my opinion this would lead to more running or transition opportunities then we are getting now!
 
great post Loess.
I agree on the thoughts on Gessel including being in the somewhat awkward position of deferring to Dev as that leader. I think we saw Mike in the 2nd half, just take over and put the team on his back. Kind of like "I'm fed up, the 2 guys who are suppose to step-up aren't, so screw it I ain't losing by waiting for them".

What are your guys thoughts on our 1/2 court D? It seems that we expend alot of energy running around trapping with a low rate of success, but eventually OSU and MSU found easy, open looks from the right player. Our M2M D seemed to cause OSU much more trouble. I understand mixing it up, but it seemed like we spent the vast majority of the time in something other than straight-up M2M.

I like the idea of full-court too with this team.

Another thought, Jok had an extended series on the floor vs OSU, I think he took just 1 shot though. I didn't watch him the whole time, but seemed to play pretty aggressive on D. Could just be Fran rewarding Jok for being the practice All-American, but also could be Fran knowing we need someone to be able to hit a jumper. Prepping for tourney run in March.

Last thought, we are built for a tourney run but we'll have to at least get 'warm' from the perimeter. We start making jump shots and we are a very dangerous team.
 
HawkinGoferLand said:
great post Loess.
I agree on the thoughts on Gessel including being in the somewhat awkward position of deferring to Dev as that leader. I think we saw Mike in the 2nd half, just take over and put the team on his back. Kind of like "I'm fed up, the 2 guys who are suppose to step-up aren't, so screw it I ain't losing by waiting for them".

What are your guys thoughts on our 1/2 court D? It seems that we expend alot of energy running around trapping with a low rate of success, but eventually OSU and MSU found easy, open looks from the right player. Our M2M D seemed to cause OSU much more trouble. I understand mixing it up, but it seemed like we spent the vast majority of the time in something other than straight-up M2M.

I like the idea of full-court too with this team.

Another thought, Jok had an extended series on the floor vs OSU, I think he took just 1 shot though. I didn't watch him the whole time, but seemed to play pretty aggressive on D. Could just be Fran rewarding Jok for being the practice All-American, but also could be Fran knowing we need someone to be able to hit a jumper. Prepping for tourney run in March.

Last thought, we are built for a tourney run but we'll have to at least get 'warm' from the perimeter. We start making jump shots and we are a very dangerous team.
Click to expand...
I think as a coach you read the game, how the over the team is reacting, whether the other team is "comfortable" or not. You then switch according to what you see. I have had no complaints other then the 1/2 court trap which has not really gotten us any transition baskets at all. Actually probably have given up more easy back side looks then anything else.

We must be a threat from the perimeter...to me that is an easy fix..."Let Mikey DO IT"
 
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