Iowa looks to rectify defensive issues that led to last year’s season-ending skid

[docholihawk]

I maybe don't remember but weren't we considered a pretty good defensive team before we went into our tailspin last year. I appreciate the contribution Marble gave us last year especially defensively. I think the makeup of our team responds better offensively when we have several players in the 7-14 ppg range rather than one or two go to players. Whether we have players wanting to take shots is a different thing and I'm not sure where I can go with that. I think a lot of guys lost confidence in the ability to hit crucial shots. I think a lot that happens this year will be depend on leadership and Aaron White is the obvious person to provide that.

 

[CyberJJJ]

The team did seem to run out of gas at the end. The trips to Europe could have had an effect on the team in various ways. I think there was more than one aspect to the demise, which seriously blemished the excellence of the team that was 19-5 and ranked number 10 at one point, I believe that was the record at one time. Even during that run, the problems holding onto a lead and throwing the game away were troubling. We led most of the teams we played all year until the final minutes. At Michigan we were soundly beaten although we were only behind 5 points at halftime, and only lost by 12 points. We were behind by 10 to Wisconsin at Carver at halftime, lost by 5. Other than that we were ahead every game at halftime, sometimes by 10 points. At halftime we were tied with NW at Carver at the end of the season.....

We had proven that we could play with everyone on our schedule last season. Then almost every game we would gradually let the opponent back into the game, eventually holding on to win somehow. We should have beat Villanova and Iowa State, we Had them but gave it away. I have to believe that solid D and decision making at the end of close games will the the main focus this season. We have a ton of experience dealing with that problem. What are the odds of Mike G, an 80% free throw shooter his rookie year missing two at the end of the ISU game. Someone at the game said the crowd was the loudest he had ever heard when Mike was attempting the free throws. Not an excuse, but a ton of pressure.....

I hesitate to mention this because I loved Devyn and all the games he won for us, but sometimes I wonder if his handling the ball at the end of close games, dribbling around for 25/30 seconds, acquiring at least a double team the entire time, and then attempting a desperate shot. We really did not have another finisher to rely on, other than Josh if he was hitting the threes throughout the game.....

Despite our very tough preconference schedule, I have a feeling that we will work the problems out and get that elusive quality that separates the wheat from the chaff, Chemistry and unselfish teamwork....

There is solid evidence that we have improved under Fran's guidance every year and no reason not to expect the same this year....

Totally random thoughts from a chronic Homer....

Hard to argue with most of the points you raised. You mentioned Iowa should have beat ISU, and certainly could have. However, the outcome was the MO of both teams. By that I mean Iowa was not able to finish well in multiple games it had played well enough to win, and ISU came from behind in numerous games in which they had trailed by double digits. It will be interesting to see if the additional year of seasoning on the Iowa squad allows them to finish stronger under stress. When games get tight, do they have someone that will WILL them win? For ISU, I believe they will have to answer if the mental toughness to not get down when behind and never say quit left with Kane and Ejim?

 

[jacknicholson]

Love the reference to the great Drake teams and Maury John. I remember hearing a joke that used Maury John on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In and thought "Wow, Drake has really made the mainstream!"

If Maury John married Olivia Newton-John they'd have a kid named.............. John John-John.

I like John John John....

That Drake team was one of my favorites. They were tough as nails. Remevber them beating Louisville at Vets when they had Wesley Undeld and Butch Beard.....

Dolph held Beard under 10, I believe. He would irritate the living He# out of whomever he was guarding.....

Mr. Davis's first team is a close second if not tied and Lutes 1980 team is a close third....

I have been going through my thousands of boxes of books, collectibles and such. I found the entire Big Peach sections before each game in the tournament and the game analysis from Virginia Commenwealth through Louisville in the Final Four.....

After the Virginia Commonwealth game, Maury White wrote:

It was the first time in the three NCAA appearances since the 1956 team played in the National Title Game that Iowa has advanced in tournament play. Olsen's team is now 20-8 and a victory over the Wolfpack would furnish the first 21 game victory season in school history, plus sending this hard working bunch of walking wounded into next week's tournament in Philadelphia.

LEFT THEM AWED

Kenny Arnold led the attack with 23 points but four others finished in double figures and three managed 17 each: Kevin Boyle, Steve Waite and Ronnie Lester. Only 6,865 showed up and some were awed by what veteran Big Ten observers considered merely a typical game.

"Iowa's attack featured not one but a whole brigade of Incredible Hulks, each assaulting the ball - and anyone in it's path - like a kamikize," wrote Bob Bevin in the Greensboro News. "The Hawkeyes hard-charging, stick-it-down-your-craw style rivals that of an NBA All Star game."

North Carolina State's Norm Sloan was complaining about tighter officiating, aaying: "A lot will depend on the officials. If the officials let Iowa hand check like Thrusday night, that will be a hellava factor.They're stronger than we are," said Sloan, the cowardly pussycat who could see the handwriting on the wall.....

I am considering selling the set of newspapers, including the Philadelphia Inquirer papers whose Headline after the Georgetown game said: Who is the best in the East, IOWA.....

Fond Memories.....