First two sentences? "Admit it. You didn’t see this coming."
I will not admit this
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https://www.hawkeyenation.com/forum...eam-lets-look-at-it.84670/page-6#post-1759918
Saying they are capable and saying they will are two different things.
But you get partial credit for at least seeing the ceiling.
Fair enough. You earned the B.
And if we were grading on a curve based on the preseason tone of this board, it would be an A.
So it sounds like “da haters” have helped fuel this team’s success?
Seriously though as I said yesterday it’s just interesting how much this current group of players concerns themselves with “outside noise.” Maybe it’s just a product of our society today, these kids grew up in the Lebron generation.
Like it wasn’t enough that they had matched the worst conference record in school history or that they were constantly getting run out of the gym on the road, it was the meanies on Twitter that motivated them to work hard?
Now things are going well and JBo is trolling NW bench players or Indiana on Twitter and Instagram. We still have another game with Indiana by the way.
Okay so I have a feeling I might take a beating for the above so id like to add if anyone has made it this far that it’s great the players worked their tails off and I am certainly enjoying this season. Winning cures all but again I just find this fascination with outside noise very interesting.
And to reference the entire article not just a small portion of it as I did above. I think most recognized some talent existed on this roster but after last years debacle were very uncertain it would come together.
You have to tip you caps to the players for working their butts off, they all have improved their games, and you also have to give some credit to Fran from making the right adjustments.
And to reference the entire article not just a small portion of it as I did above. I think most recognized some talent existed on this roster but after last years debacle were very uncertain it would come together.
You have to tip you caps to the players for working their butts off, they all have improved their games, and you also have to give some credit to Fran from making the right adjustments.
Players are more available than they've ever been due to social media. I'm sure the constant mean tweets and messages would get to anyone. Heck even when teams are winning they get them. I couldn't imagine playing on a Big Ten stage in this day and age.
Absolutely, heck of a job by everyone involved. They could have easily folded again at times this year (after both MSU games and @Purdue) but have continued to fight back. Kudos to them and here's to hoping they continue to play hard down the stretch!
If it channeled in the right way absolutely. Right now it’s going well and the players should be proud of the improvement they’ve made. I’m certainly enjoying the ride.I'm OK with the players using what they hear or see outside the locker room as motivation. It's fine if it's channeled in the right way.
As JG said, it's the world we live in. They see it. They hear it. It's unavoidable.
I agree with your take on Joe W. Dude has been amazing and his play has been a huge part of our turnaround and success. Baer on the other hand... I don't think he's played any better than last yr has he? Still makes a dumb turnover here and there. Isn't a volume scorer. How many games has he hit double digits? Not his role so much I know but he's streaky in that department. He misses way too many free throws for my liking he's borderline a liability there frankly. And even defensively he gambles and plays off who he's supposed to be on too much. Look I'm not trying to bash him at all I feel I'm being honest about his game. He also provides all the hustle and timely clutch plays he does too. No doubt. I think he's the ultimate 6th man/complimentary player. Every team wants one. But if you try and have him shoulder much more...Okay, here is another assignment for you @RobHowe (or maybe @JG10Hawk , since Rob admitted on Twitter that he is a little mathed out after quantifying just how much the Hawks and Cyclones have improved this year):
What do the advanced #s say with regard to just where this turnaround came from? Who was using Joe W's minutes last year, and what did their productivity look like (Win shares, PER, etc.)? Who was using Connor's minutes? Which rotation guys have made big jumps, either in overall usage, or in efficiency? I am not sure what defensive metrics are available at the college level, but how do we explain their improvements from 240-something last year (abysmal) to 110-something this year (just regular bad) in team defensive efficiency?
My gut sense: Joe Wieskamp is light-years beyond whose ever minutes he assumed in terms of efficiency and PER (the direct Wieskamp effect). I also feel like Baer has reverted to sophomore form (except better) with a return to a consistent role that maximizes his strengths (the indirect Wieskamp effect). Baer is the kind of player who shines on a good team because he can excel without the ball (open 3s, cutting, O-Reb, attacking a scrambled defense); but if you stick him on a lousy team and expect him to soak up a ton of usage or create offense from nothing, his limitations stick out.
Of course beyond that it seems like everyone in the current rotation has improved from last year save Bohannon. And it's not like Bohannon has gotten worse, he is just assuming a different role and getting used to everything that entails. It seems like it is starting to come together for him, as well.
Okay, get to work.