JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
Here is this week's look at how Iowa stacks up statistically in the Big Ten.
The Hawkeyes are third in the Big Ten in scoring with a 69.5 points per game average. They are averaging 74.2 points per game on the entire season, a vast improvement from the 60.5 points per game they averaged in Todd Lickliter's final season at Iowa.
That being said, Iowa needs to do some work on the defensive end. The Hawks are allowing 74.2 points per game in Big Ten action, 12th in the league. The 103 points scored by Indiana doesn't help matters, nor does the 95 points that Michigan State scored against Iowa. If you take away those two games, Iowa is allowing 68.6 points per game in the other nine conference games. That would still rank 10th in the league in points per game allowed.
However, Iowa wants to play an uptempo brand of basketball and that will typically lead to more points allowed per game on the defensive end. The trick is to not give up easy baskets, something Iowa has struggled with at times this year. Opponents are still getting to the rim too often against Iowa, although the Hawks have tightened things up over the course of their past two games.
Iowa has attempted 259 free throws in Big Ten play, more than any other team. The next nearest team is Indiana with 243, but the Hoosiers have played 12 conference games. Iowa continues to play to its strengths, which is attacking the basket in the half court set after fast break opportunities close up.
This remains a very encouraging statistic, as Iowa isn't necessarily blessed with 'break down' players at the present time, meaning several guards that can take you off the dribble and get to the foul line. What Iowa does have in its favor are mismatches at the forward positions.
Aaron White has been to the free throw line 61 times in Big Ten play, far and away the most attempts of any Hawkeye player; Devyn Marble is #2 at 49. When looking at the Big Ten's leaders in free throw percentage, Illinois' Brandon Paul has been to the line 70 times in 10 games and Penn State's Tim Frazier has been to the line 61 times. Those two players are guards who have the ball in their hands much of the time and also attack off the top. White is a forward who has the ball in his hands less often than those two; Paul is 2nd in the Big Ten at 39.1 minutes played per game and Frazier is 4th at 38.3. White has averaged just 24.3 minutes per Big Ten game.
White often attacks the rim because it's his nature and because he has a slower-footed forward guarding him. The same can be said of Zach McCabe, whose aggressiveness and ability to dribble drive has been a revelation this year. He is also getting the job done around the rim, hitting 54.3% of his shots which is good for the 7th best field goal percentage in the league. White's 50.7% is 13th in the league. McCabe has attempted 70 shots with White having 71 attempts.
That leads into another stat that is just great to see, which is balanced scoring from Iowa. Bryce Cartwright has 70 field goal attempts, Marble has 103 and Matt Gatens 113. Let's extrapolate those field goal attempt numbers through an 18 game Big Ten season. Here are the field goal attempt numbers these six players are on pace for:
Gatens: 185
Marble: 169
White: 116
McCabe: 115
Cartwright: 115
Basabe: 92
Now, take a look at last year's numbers for Big Ten play:
Cartwright: 205
Gatens: 194
Basabe: 153
Marble: 115
Cole: 100
May: 88
As you can see on paper, this year's Iowa team is tougher to defend, because there are more players capable of scoring than Iowa had one year ago. The shots are more evenly distributed after you get past the top two. While there is a precipitous drop off, Gatens and Marble are being backed up well by the next three in line.
We don't need the stats to tell us that this Iowa team is more balanced and has more playmakers, but it's fun to see the numbers so spread out.
Let's take it one step further with a points per minute analysis.
White: .45
Gatens: .40
McCabe: .40
Marble: .35
Cartwright: .33
Basabe: .33
White leads the way in production when he is on the court in both points per minute and rebounds per minute. He is the top rebounder on the team regardless of minutes played, and he also leads the team in blocks.
White averages 24.3 minutes per game and McCabe average 24.8. McCabe is averaging 3.7 fouls per game in Big Ten play where White is averaging 2.2. McCabe's minutes are lower due to the foul trouble he finds himself in, while White's minutes were lower to start the Big Ten season due to conditioning, something Fran McCaffery spoke of in January.
That being said, McCaffery recently pointed out that White is able to play more minutes now; he is averaging 27.6 minutes per game over the last five games which has seen him average another rebound per game over his current Big Ten average.
Looking ahead to next year, White's conditioning (both the physical side and the 'what to expect in conference play' mental side) will be better. McCabe must do a good a better job of of controlling his aggressive play; don't get ticky tack fouls by reaching and slapping.
McCabe's task will be tougher, in my opinion. He is an aggressive player, one who looks to takes charges and a guy who is attacking the basket more frequently. He'll have to recognize when a help side defender slides over to stop his lane and pull up and take an eight-footer or pass the ball as opposed to bull rushing the basket.
These are good problems to have, however. It's easier for a player to learn to control his aggressiveness than it is to instill that aggressiveness into his play.
Iowa has something special brewing with these two forwards. If Basabe can get out his funk the rest of this season and/or next year, Iowa will have one of the better front court trios in the league. Add in Adam Woodbury and Kyle Meyer to the mix, and an improved Gabe Olaseni next year and the Hawkeye big men will be a formidable and multi-skilled group.
FANTASTIC FROSH: Aaron White is having a great, great season. The numbers support it and what we see him do with our eyes is even more impressive. White racked up his third Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor.
Indiana's Cody Zeller will win the Big Ten freshman of the year award, but take a look at the production of Zeller and White, side by side. Zeller's numbers are listed first, White's second. I will use averages as Zeller has played 12 games to White's 11:
Points per Game: 15.1 | 10.9
Rebounds per Game: 5.6 | 5.3
Free Throw %: .776 | .705
Blocks: 1.1 | 1.0
Offensive Rebounds: 2.0 | 2.1
White is comparing well with Zeller and all the more so when you consider Zeller is averaging 28.3 minutes per game to White's 24.3.
The Hawkeyes are third in the Big Ten in scoring with a 69.5 points per game average. They are averaging 74.2 points per game on the entire season, a vast improvement from the 60.5 points per game they averaged in Todd Lickliter's final season at Iowa.
That being said, Iowa needs to do some work on the defensive end. The Hawks are allowing 74.2 points per game in Big Ten action, 12th in the league. The 103 points scored by Indiana doesn't help matters, nor does the 95 points that Michigan State scored against Iowa. If you take away those two games, Iowa is allowing 68.6 points per game in the other nine conference games. That would still rank 10th in the league in points per game allowed.
However, Iowa wants to play an uptempo brand of basketball and that will typically lead to more points allowed per game on the defensive end. The trick is to not give up easy baskets, something Iowa has struggled with at times this year. Opponents are still getting to the rim too often against Iowa, although the Hawks have tightened things up over the course of their past two games.
Iowa has attempted 259 free throws in Big Ten play, more than any other team. The next nearest team is Indiana with 243, but the Hoosiers have played 12 conference games. Iowa continues to play to its strengths, which is attacking the basket in the half court set after fast break opportunities close up.
This remains a very encouraging statistic, as Iowa isn't necessarily blessed with 'break down' players at the present time, meaning several guards that can take you off the dribble and get to the foul line. What Iowa does have in its favor are mismatches at the forward positions.
Aaron White has been to the free throw line 61 times in Big Ten play, far and away the most attempts of any Hawkeye player; Devyn Marble is #2 at 49. When looking at the Big Ten's leaders in free throw percentage, Illinois' Brandon Paul has been to the line 70 times in 10 games and Penn State's Tim Frazier has been to the line 61 times. Those two players are guards who have the ball in their hands much of the time and also attack off the top. White is a forward who has the ball in his hands less often than those two; Paul is 2nd in the Big Ten at 39.1 minutes played per game and Frazier is 4th at 38.3. White has averaged just 24.3 minutes per Big Ten game.
White often attacks the rim because it's his nature and because he has a slower-footed forward guarding him. The same can be said of Zach McCabe, whose aggressiveness and ability to dribble drive has been a revelation this year. He is also getting the job done around the rim, hitting 54.3% of his shots which is good for the 7th best field goal percentage in the league. White's 50.7% is 13th in the league. McCabe has attempted 70 shots with White having 71 attempts.
That leads into another stat that is just great to see, which is balanced scoring from Iowa. Bryce Cartwright has 70 field goal attempts, Marble has 103 and Matt Gatens 113. Let's extrapolate those field goal attempt numbers through an 18 game Big Ten season. Here are the field goal attempt numbers these six players are on pace for:
Gatens: 185
Marble: 169
White: 116
McCabe: 115
Cartwright: 115
Basabe: 92
Now, take a look at last year's numbers for Big Ten play:
Cartwright: 205
Gatens: 194
Basabe: 153
Marble: 115
Cole: 100
May: 88
As you can see on paper, this year's Iowa team is tougher to defend, because there are more players capable of scoring than Iowa had one year ago. The shots are more evenly distributed after you get past the top two. While there is a precipitous drop off, Gatens and Marble are being backed up well by the next three in line.
We don't need the stats to tell us that this Iowa team is more balanced and has more playmakers, but it's fun to see the numbers so spread out.
Let's take it one step further with a points per minute analysis.
White: .45
Gatens: .40
McCabe: .40
Marble: .35
Cartwright: .33
Basabe: .33
White leads the way in production when he is on the court in both points per minute and rebounds per minute. He is the top rebounder on the team regardless of minutes played, and he also leads the team in blocks.
White averages 24.3 minutes per game and McCabe average 24.8. McCabe is averaging 3.7 fouls per game in Big Ten play where White is averaging 2.2. McCabe's minutes are lower due to the foul trouble he finds himself in, while White's minutes were lower to start the Big Ten season due to conditioning, something Fran McCaffery spoke of in January.
That being said, McCaffery recently pointed out that White is able to play more minutes now; he is averaging 27.6 minutes per game over the last five games which has seen him average another rebound per game over his current Big Ten average.
Looking ahead to next year, White's conditioning (both the physical side and the 'what to expect in conference play' mental side) will be better. McCabe must do a good a better job of of controlling his aggressive play; don't get ticky tack fouls by reaching and slapping.
McCabe's task will be tougher, in my opinion. He is an aggressive player, one who looks to takes charges and a guy who is attacking the basket more frequently. He'll have to recognize when a help side defender slides over to stop his lane and pull up and take an eight-footer or pass the ball as opposed to bull rushing the basket.
These are good problems to have, however. It's easier for a player to learn to control his aggressiveness than it is to instill that aggressiveness into his play.
Iowa has something special brewing with these two forwards. If Basabe can get out his funk the rest of this season and/or next year, Iowa will have one of the better front court trios in the league. Add in Adam Woodbury and Kyle Meyer to the mix, and an improved Gabe Olaseni next year and the Hawkeye big men will be a formidable and multi-skilled group.
FANTASTIC FROSH: Aaron White is having a great, great season. The numbers support it and what we see him do with our eyes is even more impressive. White racked up his third Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor.
Indiana's Cody Zeller will win the Big Ten freshman of the year award, but take a look at the production of Zeller and White, side by side. Zeller's numbers are listed first, White's second. I will use averages as Zeller has played 12 games to White's 11:
Points per Game: 15.1 | 10.9
Rebounds per Game: 5.6 | 5.3
Free Throw %: .776 | .705
Blocks: 1.1 | 1.0
Offensive Rebounds: 2.0 | 2.1
White is comparing well with Zeller and all the more so when you consider Zeller is averaging 28.3 minutes per game to White's 24.3.
