Is Pemsl Becoming A Team Leader?

[InGoodCo]

I think they are trying on defense but don't have a clue what it takes. When they played at ND - the first half - you saw that intensity level was raised. IMO, this is something Fran has been able to do over and over and over again since arriving at Iowa. Take a team that NO ONE thinks has a chance in a game and have them play way over their heads. I can name double digit instances where this has happened - and in those games - it started with the defensive intensity. I personally think we will see that in some games this season once it clicks - and even once it clicks - it can go bad again in a hurry - common trait of a team filled with Frosh and Soph's.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

I think they are trying on defense but don't have a clue what it takes. When they played at ND - the first half - you saw that intensity level was raised. IMO, this is something Fran has been able to do over and over and over again since arriving at Iowa. Take a team that NO ONE thinks has a chance in a game and have them play way over their heads. I can name double digit instances where this has happened - and in those games - it started with the defensive intensity. I personally think we will see that in some games this season once it clicks - and even once it clicks - it can go bad again in a hurry - common trait of a team filled with Frosh and Soph's.

Yes, it will be a roller coaster year. We fans better expect that to an extent.

 

[TJHawkeye]

Pemsl plays the post like an older player. He has the patience to allow the defensive player to make a mistake and then goes to the basket or makes abgreat pass. He has none of the "Deer in the headlights" panicked look Woody had on offense when he got the ball down deep. He's impressive for a freshman.

 

[PCHawk]

Pemsl plays the post like an older player. He has the patience to allow the defensive player to make a mistake and then goes to the basket or makes abgreat pass. He has none of the "Deer in the headlights" panicked look Woody had on offense when he got the ball down deep. He's impressive for a freshman.

Cook had a problem forcing things when it isn't there. Pemsl doesn't. There were a couple times he had the "I'm gunna shoot no matter what" look last night and he ended up passing it anyway. It was pretty damn impressive.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

He has a very fluid game. I think he looks smaller than 6' 8" but maybe that is the way he carries his weight but he is deceptively tall I guess. I like the fact that he makes up his mind he's going to the hoop & lays it in. He has an edge to him to which I like. He's going to get under some BIG team's players skin throughout his career.

Hopefully he can keep his head at certain times. He's almost like a seasoned Soph or Junior out there.

 

[ForeverHawk]

I did not really have any expectations for Pemsl coming in, was obviously looking forward to Cook. However, Cook getting hurt may have been the best thing for this young team. It has allowed for Pemsl and Moss to step up and Bohannon to a certain extent. Pemsl has been a pleasant surprise and is gaining confidence by the game. I think he and Cook will both start when Cook makes it back. Although it was Stetson, Iowa scored in the 90's with Jok only getting 15. Loved what we saw out of Moss last night!

 

[tksirius]

Before the season, I recall Fran mentioning that Moss shot threes at least nearly as well as Jok does. I think we got a glimpse of that against Stetson. The cool thing is it appears Moss actually has the athleticism & defensive ability that we & the NBA scouts wish Jok had.

 

[Stanzi]

The trio of Cook, Pemsl and Moss really provides hope this team will improve. At this point Jok isn't going to change his defensive ways, but if everyone else buys in and works on improving their defense this team should be able to at least hang with most teams.

 

[1hawkeye1]

Quietly, this young man is becoming go-to man already with his great shooting % and passing ability. He seems to pull the team together with his energy and they seem to respond to him. It just seems to me like he's becoming a main cog in the Iowa offense and a lot of the offense is ran thru him working around the rim or passing. This is quite strange for a freshman and he is playing quite composed making good decisions.

I realize this is Jok's team as a senior, but I think Pemsl and Cook will become leaders (play and vocal) as well which really bodes well for Iowa for years to come.

There just seems to be a different feel to the game when Pemsl is in there and the players seem to look for him. I think it really helps that Bohannon played AAU ball with him as he knows his game.

I really enjoy watching that young man play and enjoy the type of game he brings. What a find.

Very insightful on your part and I agree. Pemsl has the makings of a Hawkeye legend.

 

[Knight78]

No it's not. It's part of it but do you really think we're not even trying on defense?

In a lot of ways, yes. We don't box out; if you watch replays we barely try. How else can teams get so many offensive rebounds with us just watching? That is all about effort... trying. We let players go by out front, playing matador defense. That's not being in the proper position, not listening in film time or not putting in the effort to move.

In our players' defense, I'd say they play defense for about 10-15 seconds but we don't keep the effort at top level until the ball is in our possession.

 

[Knight78]

I think it's just as easy for a bad offensive player to became average than it is for a bad defensive player to become average. Look at Jok, he hasn't even became an average defensive player and look how much his offense has improved. Usually if you come into a school and you're bad at something it's going to take a lot of work to become average at it

We all knew Jok was a shooter. He demonstrated that in high school and in AAU. He always had the shot. He wasn't a parade all-American because he could stop his man from driving to the basket. It was his defense, or lack thereof, that kept him from playing heavier minutes early in his career at Iowa. He's probably been the best shooter on the team his entire career.

 

[PCHawk]

In a lot of ways, yes. We don't box out; if you watch replays we barely try. How else can teams get so many offensive rebounds with us just watching? That is all about effort... trying. We let players go by out front, playing matador defense. That's not being in the proper position, not listening in film time or not putting in the effort to move.

In our players' defense, I'd say they play defense for about 10-15 seconds but we don't keep the effort at top level until the ball is in our possession.

Boxing out isn't about athletic ability at all and if we could box out, we would only have one or two losses playing the worst defense I've ever seen.

Also we've shown small stretches of a few possessions in a row where we've played good defense. It's not like we got more athletic for a short period of time, then lost it again.

5656 argues with one breath that the reason our defense sucks is because of athleticism. Then in another breath says Moss, who is one of the better athletes on the team, is one of the worst defenders. Also the best athlete on the team (Cook) is possibly the worst defender on the team.

 

[Hawk5656]

Boxing out isn't about athletic ability at all and if we could box out, we would only have one or two losses playing the worst defense I've ever seen.

Also we've shown small stretches of a few possessions in a row where we've played good defense. It's not like we got more athletic for a short period of time, then lost it again.

5656 argues with one breath that the reason our defense sucks is because of athleticism. Then in another breath says Moss, who is one of the better athletes on the team, is one of the worst defenders. Also the best athlete on the team (Cook) is possibly the worst defender on the team.

Our PG and SG lack lateral quickness to stay in front of their man, we're too slow on rotations and close outs and we don't have a rim protector. That's why are defense sucks

 

[PCHawk]

Our PG and SG lack lateral quickness to stay in front of their man, we're too slow on rotations and close outs and we don't have a rim protector. That's why are defense sucks

The lateral quickness by two guys is the only thing that can't improve. And the really good point guards get around everyone. It's the help defense that really needs to improve.

 

[InGoodCo]

he said "lateral quickness" DRINK!

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Our PG and SG lack lateral quickness to stay in front of their man, we're too slow on rotations and close outs and we don't have a rim protector. That's why are defense sucks

I think you nailed it with this, but, as PCHawk pointed out, this is correctable. This is a young team that has not played a lot of ball in games. Hopefully, this will get better with time.