Hmm. Maybe I'm Off My Rocker but.....

[NikeHawk21]

Mike and Sapp were really good perimeter defenders. I'm not sure Bohannon and CW can defend quick guards like those two could. CW has more length but this will be new to him and Bohannon is undersized

Yes, they were pretty good perimeter defenders, and will be missed, however we weren't some unbelievable defensive team last year. You assume every player that is new will inheritely be worse then whoever they are replacing, which is odd given the nature of college basketball, with all the young talent you see out there.

I do worry about Jordan on defense but I'm still not convinced he's going to get major minutes.

Another interesting quote from Iowa media day I heard was Ahmad talking about how athletic our forwards are this year and their ability to switch almost everything. That type of versatility can help a team defensively.

 

[Hawk5656]

Yes, they were pretty good perimeter defenders, and will be missed, however we weren't some unbelievable defensive team last year. You assume every player that is new will inheritely be worse then whoever they are replacing, which is odd given the nature of college basketball, with all the young talent you see out there.

I do worry about Jordan on defense but I'm still not convinced he's going to get major minutes.

Another interesting quote from Iowa media day I heard was Ahmad talking about how athletic our forwards are this year and their ability to switch almost everything. That type of versatility can help a team defensively.

We were the 30th best defensive team on KenPom last year. I'm guessing we will take a pretty big step back from that.

 

[Tierney]

We lost 4 of our best defenders from last season and replace them with a lot of unknowns. Not sure why you think we are going to be better defensively this year. I mean it's possible but I'd say it's unlikely

I'm looking forward to what they will do. Iowa is losing a lot of experience, but my optimism is based on the coaching staff, added athleticism, and added depth. Iowa is going to be a lot deeper than last year, and overall more athletic and longer. The coaching staff has had summers to work with the players for the last couple of years, and one thing McCaffery will stress is defense. The Hawkeyes have a lot of new guys, but they have a foundation of guys with experience. I think they should be pretty good offensively, and although it would be nice to have Uthoff back for another year, I'm looking forward to seeing what Cook and Wagner can do. Uhl should be solid, and both Pemsl and Kriener are supposedly pretty gifted offensively.

 

[WindsorHawk]

Every team wants to stop the other team's best player. And coaches generally concede all they can really do is contain them...best they can. I think Jok is too good to be stopped and will have games where he can't be contained...goes off.

 

[Hawk5656]

I'm looking forward to what they will do. Iowa is losing a lot of experience, but my optimism is based on the coaching staff, added athleticism, and added depth. Iowa is going to be a lot deeper than last year, and overall more athletic and longer. The coaching staff has had summers to work with the players for the last couple of years, and one thing McCaffery will stress is defense. The Hawkeyes have a lot of new guys, but they have a foundation of guys with experience. I think they should be pretty good offensively, and although it would be nice to have Uthoff back for another year, I'm looking forward to seeing what Cook and Wagner can do. Uhl should be solid, and both Pemsl and Kriener are supposedly pretty gifted offensively.

Last year we played 9 and that was without Jones, this year we will play 10. I actually wish we only played our 8 best but I'm not sold on depth as always being a good thing unless you're a pressing team

 

[Tierney]

Last year we played 9 and that was without Jones, this year we will play 10. I actually wish we only played our 8 best but I'm not sold on depth as always being a good thing unless you're a pressing team

It remains to be seen, but I think they have a higher ceiling defensively this year than last.

 

[NikeHawk21]

We were the 30th best defensive team on KenPom last year. I'm guessing we will take a pretty big step back from that.

As a betting man I wouldn't assume we will be able to top that, although I bet we were well outside of the top 50 for the stretch run, which is the most important part of the season.

The point remains, the potential is there with this group, hopefully it comes all together, relatively quickly.

 

[Tierney]

As a betting man I wouldn't assume we will be able to top that, although I bet we were well outside of the top 50 for the stretch run, which is the most important part of the season.

The point remains, the potential is there with this group, hopefully it comes all together, relatively quickly.

The reason for the reason Iowa was so good in the first two thirds of the season and the drop off in the last third part of the season, to me, is the coaching. Iowa had a lot of weaknesses that the other teams figured out as the season progressed. I agree that this years team had the potential. Last years team had experience, but I don't think they had the overall potential that this years team has.

 

[Hawk5656]

It remains to be seen, but I think they have a higher ceiling defensively this year than last.

Well most of us think we'll be worse than last year and you think we'll be better so I guess we'll see. I would be really surprised if we were a top 30 defensive team next year

 

[NikeHawk21]

Last year we played 9 and that was without Jones, this year we will play 10. I actually wish we only played our 8 best but I'm not sold on depth as always being a good thing unless you're a pressing team

I think our true rotation last year was 8. We certainly could have used some more firepower off the bench at the end of last year, in regards to your comment about depth.

I think we are probable 9/10 deep this year, but Fran will have some tough decisions to make in getting the rotation down to that level.

 

[Hawk5656]

I think our true rotation last year was 8. We certainly could have used some more firepower off the bench at the end of last year, in regards to your comment about depth.

I think we are probable 9/10 deep this year, but Fran will have some tough decisions to make in getting the rotation down to that level.

We played 9 last year. I wish we only played 8 this year and give your better players more minutes. With TV timeouts they can play more minutes

Uthoff
MG
Sapp
Woodbury
Jok
Uhl
Baer
Wagner
Ellingson or CW

 

[NikeHawk21]

Well most of us think we'll be worse than last year and you think we'll be better so I guess we'll see. I would be really surprised if we were a top 30 defensive team next year

Also, those Pomeroy statistics aren't the end all be all. They had Iowa 22 overall and Temple 86 and it took OT for us to beat them.

 

[Hawk5656]

Also, those Pomeroy statistics aren't the end all be all. They had Iowa 22 overall and Temple 86 and it took OT for us to beat them.

I think adjusted offensive and defensive stats by KenPom are the best way to get a picture of how good you are at both ends of the court. Michigan State was 5 overall and lost to 119 overall Middle Tennessee. Upsets happen

 

[bogeyman]

As a betting man I wouldn't assume we will be able to top that, although I bet we were well outside of the top 50 for the stretch run, which is the most important part of the season.

The point remains, the potential is there with this group, hopefully it comes all together, relatively quickly.

This might be a dumb question, but could part of the reason our stretch run defense was poor based somewhat on the fact our offense was poor? In other words, we go on those long stretches of games without a bucket (see my first post this thread) doesn't that result in more easy hoops or transition buckets for the opponent? Just wondering, I'm not really into all the deep analytical stats in basketball.

 

[bogeyman]

I think adjusted offensive and defensive stats by KenPom are the best way to get a picture of how good you are at both ends of the court. Michigan State was 5 overall and lost to 119 overall Middle Tennessee. Upsets happen

Lots of variables to all these "stats" to consider for sure.

 

[NikeHawk21]

We played 9 last year. I wish we only played 8 this year and give your better players more minutes. With TV timeouts they can play more minutes

Uthoff
MG
Sapp
Woodbury
Jok
Uhl
Baer
Wagner
Ellingson or CW

Combined, CW and Brady averaged 8 minutes in conference, and that includes blow outs when they were likely on the court at the same time. IMO, that's not part of the rotation.

We relied heavily on our top 8 last year as you say you like, and free fell at the end of the year, food for thought.

 

[Tierney]

This might be a dumb question, but could part of the reason our stretch run defense was poor based somewhat on the fact our offense was poor? In other words, we go on those long stretches of games without a bucket (see my first post this thread) doesn't that result in more easy hoops or transition buckets for the opponent? Just wondering, I'm not really into all the deep analytical stats in basketball.

You make as much sense as I do or anyone else. How effective offensively makes a big difference. Iowa had a lot of weaknesses both offensively and defensively that a good opposing coach can find.

 

[NikeHawk21]

This might be a dumb question, but could part of the reason our stretch run defense was poor based somewhat on the fact our offense was poor? In other words, we go on those long stretches of games without a bucket (see my first post this thread) doesn't that result in more easy hoops or transition buckets for the opponent? Just wondering, I'm not really into all the deep analytical stats in basketball.

I'm not as familiar with the adjustments that KenPom makes, 5656 may know more. I do know that is much tougher to play defense off missed shots then it is when the other team has to take it out from underneath the basket following made shots. So to answer your question, yes poor offense can hurt defense.

 

[Hawk5656]

Combined, CW and Brady averaged 8 minutes in conference, and that includes blow outs when they were likely on the court at the same time. IMO, that's not part of the rotation.

We relied heavily on our top 8 last year as you say you like, and free fell at the end of the year, food for thought.

Considering most people on here are confident in CW being our PG because he looked good last year I think we can say he was in the rotation

 

[NikeHawk21]

Considering most people on here are confident in CW being our PG because he looked good last year I think we can say he was in the rotation

Wow. Sometimes your logic amazes me!