JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
Iowa is shooting just .303 from three in all games this year, but just .268 in Big Ten play. Illinois and Nebraska are actually shooting worse from three than is Iowa in Big Ten play.
During the out of conference, teams were zoning Iowa, given this deficiency from the outside. However now in Big Ten play, with Big Ten teams who have better players and on ball defenders, Iowa isn't seeing as much zone. Why? The double-whammy; they don't have players who can consistently beat opponents off the dribble, therefore teams can play what they prefer which is man to man. It's harder to rebound out of a zone when you don't play it all the time. Iowa is having to work harder to score in its half court sets.
This team will be better next year as I expect Gesell, Clemmons and Woodbury to be a year smarter and stronger. Aaron White has not reached his peak yet and needs more offensive refinement and more core strength. Bring in Jarrod Uthoff (he is not the cavalry, BTW) and that is a good addition.
Peter Jok will be a very interesting wild card. If he can continue to get better on his drive game, re: if he can get his legs back to where they once were, he can be a huge help there and he will be a help in the three game.
Josh Oglesby is hitting just .288 from three on the year, and .261 in Big Ten play. Given that teams are playing man and don't have to offer sag help into the lane because Iowa can't dribble drive as a whole, he's not getting great looks. For all of McCaffery's glowing comments on how he shoots in practice (and I water down Franspeak to some degree as he speaks in hyperbole about his players, likely to let them know he is confident in them), it hasn't shown up in games on a consistent basis. I don't doubt that he is likely Iowa's best outside shooter, but he's having a bad year.
Like it or not, this program is still in a stage of development and is missing a few pieces. Uthoff and Jok will help next year, but the players they have are going to have to get better this off season for Iowa to make the kind of jump everyone hopes they can. There is talent, and this team will flirt with an NCAA bid this year, but the step next year is playing for seed, or needs to be.
During the out of conference, teams were zoning Iowa, given this deficiency from the outside. However now in Big Ten play, with Big Ten teams who have better players and on ball defenders, Iowa isn't seeing as much zone. Why? The double-whammy; they don't have players who can consistently beat opponents off the dribble, therefore teams can play what they prefer which is man to man. It's harder to rebound out of a zone when you don't play it all the time. Iowa is having to work harder to score in its half court sets.
This team will be better next year as I expect Gesell, Clemmons and Woodbury to be a year smarter and stronger. Aaron White has not reached his peak yet and needs more offensive refinement and more core strength. Bring in Jarrod Uthoff (he is not the cavalry, BTW) and that is a good addition.
Peter Jok will be a very interesting wild card. If he can continue to get better on his drive game, re: if he can get his legs back to where they once were, he can be a huge help there and he will be a help in the three game.
Josh Oglesby is hitting just .288 from three on the year, and .261 in Big Ten play. Given that teams are playing man and don't have to offer sag help into the lane because Iowa can't dribble drive as a whole, he's not getting great looks. For all of McCaffery's glowing comments on how he shoots in practice (and I water down Franspeak to some degree as he speaks in hyperbole about his players, likely to let them know he is confident in them), it hasn't shown up in games on a consistent basis. I don't doubt that he is likely Iowa's best outside shooter, but he's having a bad year.
Like it or not, this program is still in a stage of development and is missing a few pieces. Uthoff and Jok will help next year, but the players they have are going to have to get better this off season for Iowa to make the kind of jump everyone hopes they can. There is talent, and this team will flirt with an NCAA bid this year, but the step next year is playing for seed, or needs to be.
