Hawkeyes score record 119 points on Molly Davis day





Was an absolute routing. Listening to it I couldn’t believe the scoring output.
Had em stuck on 30 forever it seemed like...

I was just glad Molly got her moment/day. I'm still bummed about how her career ended. To not get to play in the BIG or NCAA tournys that yr was criminal. Life isn't fair and sports isn't either I suppose. I'm glad she's so well appreciated by the fans coaches and teammates. Cause she damn well should've been. It's not like that everywhere. Players like her are long gone forgotten most places I would bet 5 mins later. Not with Iowa though.
 


Attended, it was awesome, the crowd really showered Molly with love when she got recognized during a timeout in the 1st quarter. You could tell it meant a lot to her, and it was cool to see her current team come to the realization that they were being coached by a Hawkeye legend! (I am using "legend" loosely, but she was certainly a favorite, and a huge part of that team)

It was interesting to watch them in-person. My takeaways...

I think McCabe will stay in the starting lineup, and she needs to launch 3's with no conscience. I don't care how many she has missed prior, who else is on the floor, the game situation (outside of protecting a late lead), keep gunning! She has an elite skill, and the way it helps the team the most if she is constantly looking to deploy it.

I am comfortable with her starting because she has improved considerably on defense, kudos to her. Not a plus defender, but not a sieve like she once was. Capable, and she knows the scheme. Also, they will need Deal as a ball-handler in second units. That backup PG spot is looking very shaky right now. Stremlow/Deal can hold it down against non-pressing teams, but when we run into pressure teams, Wright might have to play 40 min.

Wright is amazing...I was excited about this acquisition, but I had no idea she would be this good. Obviously the 3FG will not continue to fall at a 67% clip, and maybe the 8.5/1 A/TO ratio will drop a smidge, but she is so in control on both ends of the floor. And she plays like a Hawkeye (fast, un-selfish, joyful).

On the flip side, Emely Rodriguez definitely does not play like a Hawkeye, and I think that some of that is good. She hunts shots like no one else we have seen not named Clark. Sometimes we will need that, and she can get a shot in almost any situation. But sometimes she needs to move the ball and let the system work (Deal also has this issue). She is a very capable passer (excellent post-feeder from the wing), she just needs to get familiar with the "beautiful" basketball that has always been a hallmark for this team. I am excited to see what she can become once it clicks, but I also understand why she is coming off the bench, for now.

I underappreciated Houston. She is playing backup 4 minutes with Mallegni injured, and she does not look out of place. She always knows where to be and what to do, on both ends. She is also very scrappy. I don't really know what her overall skillset looks like, as she is not being asked to score or create, but she is fitting very nicely into the role they have made for her. Kind of reminds me of a young Syd Affolter.

This is going to be a fun team, and a fun season.
 


It was great great great to hear the big crowd response to Molly. There were a TON of Molly tshirts worn in the stands by both young and old yesterday, including yours truly.

Agree that Chit Chat is a really really good player and wow are we lucky to land both her and Rodriguez in the portal. I think our best players this year will be 1. Heiden 2. Chit Chat 3. Emely.

Rodriguez is a really good player. Her aggressiveness is impressive. They like her being an alternate ball handler, and will be an option to bring it up court when Chit Chat is off the court. I think Emely will remain the sixth player even though she may be our 3rd best player.

Maybe it is just opportunity, but Hays is really showing something and playing much better than Heiden was in November last year. Our 5 spot is completely locked down with those two, and holy cow is it going to be a great 3 years to have that pair together. Hays might be our 4th best player!

Kylie is still not much of an offensive force, but she has had a huge number of deflections this year. I think she will be like Gabbie as a defense-first player.

Wow, the future is bright for this program!!!
 


Kylie is still not much of an offensive force, but she has had a huge number of deflections this year. I think she will be like Gabbie as a defense-first player.

Wow, the future is bright for this program!!!

But you knew Gabbie would go on a stretch (usually late in the season) where she couldn't miss for a week or two. That will never happen to Kylie. On the plus side, she can do some damage as a cutter and finisher around the rim that Marshal never could.

Feuerbach had a few wide-open, brutal misses. You could tell she was trying to guide the ball toward the hoop instead of just letting it fly, with the result being an airball that missed by 3 feet, and a corner 3FGA that hit the side of the backboard. But when she caught at the top of the key late in the shot-clock and had to let fly without thinking, it looked pretty as a picture. Hopefully she can learn to harness that, but as you said, even if she doesn't she will be an absolute pain for the opponents as a ball-hawking defender.
 




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