Iowa vs Northwestern Game Thread

We just beat NORTHWESTERN at home at the buzzer. Pounded on the boards Enjoy it May not be many more
You're right. The Jekyll - Hyde isn't lost on me. Nor are the shortfalls (I saw firsthand at exhibition this was a poor rebounding team).
However, unlike multiple issues of recent seasons, there is really only 1 obstacle to this team's success. It isn't low athleticism, low talent or even low defense. It's horrific inconsistency from 3.
 
Made a lot of plays down the stretch. That's something that Fran's early teams could never do. Missed every free throw down the stretch tho and that's something those past teams were really good at.
For sure. Kept at it all the way, Like, I had given up. They hadn’t. That’s fight. We know that Sandfort has been clutch, I feel like Dix and Harding are clutch. That’s why I’m so bummed about Koch not being something we can expect. Like he’s a big reason why i was excited about our team and depth. Was he going to awesome? Probably not, but like maybe Kegan Murray/Joe Weiskamp kind of Frosh year? That’s what this team needs
 
For sure. Kept at it all the way, Like, I had given up. They hadn’t. That’s fight. We know that Sandfort has been clutch, I feel like Dix and Harding are clutch. That’s why I’m so bummed about Koch not being something we can expect. Like he’s a big reason why i was excited about our team and depth. Was he going to awesome? Probably not, but like maybe Kegan Murray/Joe Weiskamp kind of Frosh year? That’s what this team needs
What this team needs is:
* to make their FTs. 58% for a close BTen game isn't going to get it done 90% of the time.
* for Freeman to stop getting the ball 15 ft from the basket. It's a turnover waiting to happen when he starts dribbling toward the basket. The PGs are not getting him the ball down low in the post, which is where he does his best work.
* to come up with a plan for when Freeman gets doubled down low. He's become a turnover machine.

Inexplicable that Fran chose the smallest guy on either team to inbound the ball with .8 seconds remaining. NW saw that, called timeout, and brought out their 7 ft sub to guard him. OF COURSE Harding couldn't get the ball to one of the first 3 options!
Happy for Dix.
Iowa only played 8 guys this game. NW 10.
 
What this team needs is:
* to make their FTs. 58% for a close BTen game isn't going to get it done 90% of the time.
* for Freeman to stop getting the ball 15 ft from the basket. It's a turnover waiting to happen when he starts dribbling toward the basket. The PGs are not getting him the ball down low in the post, which is where he does his best work.
* to come up with a plan for when Freeman gets doubled down low. He's become a turnover machine.

Inexplicable that Fran chose the smallest guy on either team to inbound the ball with .8 seconds remaining. NW saw that, called timeout, and brought out their 7 ft sub to guard him. OF COURSE Harding couldn't get the ball to one of the first 3 options!
Happy for Dix.
Iowa only played 8 guys this game. NW 10.

Really just eight players??? Iowa last final four team played mainly eight players and because of that they were nicknamed the Ironmen.
I Wouldn’t mind seeing a repeat of that again. If Ronnie Lester hadn’t gotten hurt then I may be talking about Iowa’s last national championship. Ooooh to have another guard like Ronnie. It’s the one key part of the puzzle that has haunted Fran during his tenure as Iowa’s head coach.

May we see a guard like that arise this year and play consistently good…… then it’s going to be a fun season.
 
scUM ahead at #11 Bucky. 7'1" mich center is a stud
They have 2 long 7'ers AND can shoot, too. That's a deadly combo vs Iowa.
Hawks might be able to out shoot them but it's a tall order (see what I did there?) to overcome both when they're undersized overall, missing an athletic interior guy (Traore) and getting faltering production from your other bigs - Dembele and Braun.
 
What this team needs is:
* to make their FTs. 58% for a close BTen game isn't going to get it done 90% of the time.
* for Freeman to stop getting the ball 15 ft from the basket. It's a turnover waiting to happen when he starts dribbling toward the basket. The PGs are not getting him the ball down low in the post, which is where he does his best work.
* to come up with a plan for when Freeman gets doubled down low. He's become a turnover machine.

Inexplicable that Fran chose the smallest guy on either team to inbound the ball with .8 seconds remaining. NW saw that, called timeout, and brought out their 7 ft sub to guard him. OF COURSE Harding couldn't get the ball to one of the first 3 options!
Happy for Dix.
Iowa only played 8 guys this game. NW 10.
yeah, they could use a freshman Wieskamp or Kegan Murray on this team....which is what Koch was likely going to be. That's all I said and they really really really really could use that type of player on this team. What you are saying isn't wrong either for the most part, but like Freeman had 2 turnovers last night and Iowa had 12 total. Not exactly a turnover machine but I will admit, there's probably some open interpretation there.
 
You're right. The Jekyll - Hyde isn't lost on me. Nor are the shortfalls (I saw firsthand at exhibition this was a poor rebounding team).
However, unlike multiple issues of recent seasons, there is really only 1 obstacle to this team's success. It isn't low athleticism, low talent or even low defense. It's horrific inconsistency from 3.
yeah and I wouldn't call them a poor rebounding team either, I'd call them a team with not a lot of size - also, you are dead on with the horrific inconsistency from 3 and it's mostly 1 guy but that 1 guy can shoot us out of games
 
I thought Peyton was a hot mess, out of control on D and O. Can he think and play at same time? Dix for the win, hope they can watch film and make corrections, could be a fun squad or a bum squad to watch, it's tbd. Last night was fun for sure.
 
Made the mistake of telling my buddies that I really like Dix at the beginning of the game and I took alot of comments from that crowd the entire game, as I deserved. But by the end of the game and the walk off 3, I let em know I stand by my original comment!
 
Yeah and he only had 1 RB. I get it. We need Traore back big time as well as Koch’s status tho I think that is not great.
Their was a stretch in the 2nd half when the Sandfort bros were out there together and we got clobbered on the glass. Those two aren't physical rebounders I don't think they are any good when they try to box out which I don't think they even do much of. Between that and Dembele being all but worthless that'll be a theme this yr. We'll have to overcome being out rebounded a lot this yr.
 
I thought Peyton was a hot mess, out of control on D and O. Can he think and play at same time? Dix for the win, hope they can watch film and make corrections, could be a fun squad or a bum squad to watch, it's tbd. Last night was fun for sure.
I'll be so glad when Peyton is gone. He can't defend he can't box out he has questionable shot selection far too often and turns it over a lot. His skill set says he should be a Kyle Korver catch and shoot sniper type. Yet he tries to think he's Lebron and can do it all. He's just not that athletic or smart of a player most of the time. He can put the ball in the basket though especially when he's on. That's what makes him tolerable as a coach. But man between him and Patricks play the last few yrs I don't know how Fran hasn't gone bald.
 
I get being frustrated with some players play but Payton Sandfort is a top 10, probably top 5 player in the B1G this season and that's backed up with stats, just head to the B1G website if you're unsure about that, and this is with him playing like absolute shit most of the year. Also, Pryce is going to be better and a more overall player when all said and done IMO.
 
I'll be so glad when Peyton is gone. He can't defend he can't box out he has questionable shot selection far too often and turns it over a lot. His skill set says he should be a Kyle Korver catch and shoot sniper type. Yet he tries to think he's Lebron and can do it all. He's just not that athletic or smart of a player most of the time. He can put the ball in the basket though especially when he's on. That's what makes him tolerable as a coach. But man between him and Patricks play the last few yrs I don't know how Fran hasn't gone bald.
I hear you, but NW plays sticky D and can make some decisions look bad even though the drive or take may not be the worse decision. The trouble with him being Korver is that he just aint. He isn't that great of a shooter, or I agree, he would be best served to just hang deep and show the NBA what he can be at the next level. I fear if he did that he would shoot a lot of 3s at 33%. He has to show more game if he wants a shot at the next level, which seems unlikely to me.
 
They have 2 long 7'ers AND can shoot, too. That's a deadly combo vs Iowa.
Hawks might be able to out shoot them but it's a tall order (see what I did there?) to overcome both when they're undersized overall, missing an athletic interior guy (Traore) and getting faltering production from your other bigs - Dembele and Braun.
I'm afraid we'll come up a little short.
 
I hear you, but NW plays sticky D and can make some decisions look bad even though the drive or take may not be the worse decision. The trouble with him being Korver is that he just aint. He isn't that great of a shooter, or I agree, he would be best served to just hang deep and show the NBA what he can be at the next level. I fear if he did that he would shoot a lot of 3s at 33%. He has to show more game if he wants a shot at the next level, which seems unlikely to me.
He's not a pro though.. He was by far the least athletic player invited to that predraft deal in Vegas. His only shot at the NBA is if he's a marksman at shooting. I agree the more he chucks the less effective he'll be. Situationally when he's hot he's awesome. But he shoots himself right out of hot streaks too. If he was a 40% shooter from 3 he'd have a snow balls chance at the league but if he's gonna be below that I don't see anything other then Gleague and Euro ball in his future
 
He's not a pro though.. He was by far the least athletic player invited to that predraft deal in Vegas. His only shot at the NBA is if he's a marksman at shooting. I agree the more he chucks the less effective he'll be. Situationally when he's hot he's awesome. But he shoots himself right out of hot streaks too. If he was a 40% shooter from 3 he'd have a snow balls chance at the league but if he's gonna be below that I don't see anything other then Gleague and Euro ball in his future
Exactly. If he was a consistent 40% shooter he could have a niche as a Korver and be a role player in the NBA for a decade. But, he just aint that.

He is an excellent college player though and has a chance to help Iowa to a good season if he plays within himself.
 
I get being frustrated with some players play but Payton Sandfort is a top 10, probably top 5 player in the B1G this season and that's backed up with stats, just head to the B1G website if you're unsure about that, and this is with him playing like absolute shit most of the year. Also, Pryce is going to be better and a more overall player when all said and done IMO.

In past seasons Payton has been off at the start of the season

Has taken a little while until he gets into stride

The last play of the game, He was covered in the corner by an opponent

Josh ran to the top of the key and stepped back to be open to receive the pass
for the game winning shot

Harding is the one you want tossing the ball in because he is perhaps the best passer in
the Conference, and rather smart with game savvy off the charts

Outstanding win, don't think we can rely on, less than a second, game winning threes the
entire season

I was shocked into disbelief when the three went in

WOW
 
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