I've never seen a team so caught up in the outside distractions

SpiderRico said:
Or, the flipside could be argued....that we undervalued the team at the start of the year.

When you look at it from an experience standpoint, we start 2 seniors, 1 junior and 2 sophomores. In addition, we have a senior and 2 juniors coming off the bench. So within that top 8, we have 3 seniors, 3 juniors and 2 sophomores. Plenty of experience there to anticipate being able to close out games better than we have.

From a productivity standpoint, we've got 3 starters right now that are 1,000 point scorers. Name another team out there with a starting 5 that has 3 1,000 point scorers. I can't think of any off the top of my head.

From a talent standpoint, we've got 4 guys in the rotation that were Top 150 players as well.

So from every conceivable, objective measurement.....from experience, to productivity, to talent.....we should be better than what we are. So there's obviously something missing. Could it be focus....based on all the comments this year from players and the head coach regarding outside fan perceptions? Could be. Could it be coaching.....the inability to get the right guys in at the end of games? Could be that as well. But as I said, from the things that can be measured, we should certainly be better than the results we've achieved.
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I bet it's all the outside distractions. ;)
 
The one thing that speaks greater then wins and losses is the fact that this team simply hasn't had the priviledge of winning on a consistent basis. They're caught up in the outside distractions, because they're completely unfamilar with external stressors and this much attention from outside the program.

They've yet to learn that winning games (not as easy as it sounds) is the best way to eliminate the doubts and silence the critics. Its not taking shots at the fan base, questioning message board criticism, or saying some players are treated differently. The fact is at the end of the day, winning is the only thing that really matters. The players nor Fran have been in a position where they've had this type of spotlight/expectations. Rather then trying to defend it on a case by case basis, use it, to motivational and educational tool and use it as a stepping stone to the next level of success.

I truly believe that everyone knows the talent is there, the problem is that within the program they're still distracted with external factors and have yet to discover this. Winning is an attitude and I think we're still working on overcoming a loser mentality.
 
SpiderRico said:
Or, the flipside could be argued....that we undervalued the team at the start of the year.

When you look at it from an experience standpoint, we start 2 seniors, 1 junior and 2 sophomores. In addition, we have a senior and 2 juniors coming off the bench. So within that top 8, we have 3 seniors, 3 juniors and 2 sophomores. Plenty of experience there to anticipate being able to close out games better than we have.

From a productivity standpoint, we've got 3 starters right now that are 1,000 point scorers. Name another team out there with a starting 5 that has 3 1,000 point scorers. I can't think of any off the top of my head.

From a talent standpoint, we've got 4 guys in the rotation that were Top 150 players as well.

So from every conceivable, objective measurement.....from experience, to productivity, to talent.....we should be better than what we are. So there's obviously something missing. Could it be focus....based on all the comments this year from players and the head coach regarding outside fan perceptions? Could be. Could it be coaching.....the inability to get the right guys in at the end of games? Could be that as well. But as I said, from the things that can be measured, we should certainly be better than the results we've achieved.
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At least 6 other B1G teams can say that.

The 1000 point scorers have that many points because the team was so bad when they were younger, and so they played every game their whole career. Jok would be well on pace for 1000 right now if this were 2011.

Look, I get your point and I agree that we should have been better than 2-7 in those games. But, sit back and let's discuss this when the season is over. It's still too early to label the season as under/over achieved in my opinion.
 
InGoodCo said:
why won't we be ranked next week? Did we already lose those games? I get that you're trolling bro, I just don't get your point if you're a Hawk.


We're 7-7 against NCAA/NIT/Bubble teams, it could be and has been worse.
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Why not take it all the way out haha. 19-7 against NCAA/NIT/Bubble teams/CBI teams/CBE teams/MAC Teams/Teams with blue uniforms/Teams from the Pacific Timezone/Teams that won't have a post-season/Teams below .500/Teams above .500/teams higher than us in the AP Poll/Teams lower than us in the Kenpom/Teams with butt looking cheerleaders/Teams with a higher % of female fans...

I think you can see where I'm going with this.
 
InGoodCo said:
Spider, I didn't say any of what you said wasn't true. I think the conclusion that they can't win big games because they care too much about things outside of the program is a stretch. They read and know what people are saying about them, so what? You think that's the reason they aren't winning? Every team pays attention to the outside world. Zach got upset, he's human. The coach stuck up for his player? Not a shock. Woody can dunk and thinks ya'll should shut it... I like it. The outside distractions doesn't make this team lose ball games.
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I don't think anything is conclusive... but it is an observation. They can't win close games. They pay far too much attention to the media. A correlation exists.

And Woody is 7'1''. He shouldn't be telling anyone to shut it, other than opposing centers. He should just be dunking more. That's what I would like.
 
atxhawk said:
I'd love to run into Zach and tell him exactly how I feel about him right now, mainly because I'm in his corner which makes it easy. I challenge anybody who's talking **** about him to say it directly to him in front of his teammates.
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...what? Are you his dad or something? People are getting so defensive about all this stuff.

Side note: I've always felt that the culture of "talking ****" is an overlooked consequence of social media. People tend to focus on the exposure and availability of information via social media. But to me, one of the biggest effects of social media is the development of "talking you-know-what". People have this idea now that criticism = talking blank. No it doesn't. What ever happened to: If I see something that's crap, or fake, or BS, I'm going to call you out on it. Nowadays if do that, you are labeled an a-hole or a **** talker.

No one is talking *** about McCabe (I realize that maybe some idiots on twitter are, but I don't feel like anyone on this board really has). But indeed, people are being critical of him. I don't see the problem with this. I've never understood the concept that "the players are off limits" and I think that debate is really the crux of this issue.

And if anyone were to say these critical things to McCabe right in his face... what? would he throw a punch? his hand would probably slip
 
glidinghawk said:
Zach is getting fewer minutes per game in his senior year than he did as a freshman and sophomore. He has sacrificed a great deal for the team. He knew he would not be a starter this year, but it didn't bother him at all and he's concentrated on being as good as he can as a reserve and role player. He didn't mope around or bad mouth any coaching decision or other players. Instead, he has supported them with fervor.

He's been a stalwart, a mainstay, he practices hard and plays hard. He supports the coaching staff, his fellow players, the program, and he's tough as nails.

I think we will see McCabe a lot in the stretch run and late in games, because McCaffery has a great deal of respect for him and his senior leadership. McCabe will be a key player in the March run, just like Eric May was last year. Don't be surprised to see McCabe come up with a huge play to win a huge game over the next month.
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I don't know Zach McCabe, personally, but would expect to agree with your description of his character and attributes. I respect and admire his commitment and effort to Hawkeye basketball. I also applaud you for pointing all of them out. However ...

Gliding, c'mon, man; even you would be little surprised if your last sentence prediction comes true.;)
 
Teams take on the personality of the coach. The coach sets the tone. When he lashed out it set an example for McCabe that it was ok. Say what you want about his fire and tenacity but he whines and our team is starting to whine. Mccaffery has a rep and that rep is leaking into the players as they are copying the coach. He is a very good coach but some changes need to be made with actions.
 
I wish I hard large enough nadz to call into his show and ask Franimal why Mike G doesn't play every min of every game but say 5. There IS a nice break between halves..

Then I'd ask him if he mistakenly huffed his dry erase pens for too long before drawing up that last play against Wisconsin. Would not happen because Im a wenis
 
Sparky said:
These guys playing for Iowa are not kids. They're adults and I guarantee in most aspects of life they want to be treated like adults. Stop making the mistake of thinking of them as kids that can't defend themselves.
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18, 19, 20 year olds. The only people who believe kids that age are "Adults" are kids that age. They're still college kids and amateurs, maybe that's a definition that captures it better. They're not children... but they're not exactly grown men either.
 
Hawkstrat said:
I can agree with that InGoodCo, Fran has taken a talented team and underachieved.
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Maybe he's taken a solid squad and achieved pretty solid. Its been posted that there are limited amount of game changers, players that can create their own shot, or clutch players...in that case I would say its been pretty darned solid.

So 4 years from a bare cupboard, Fran has underachieved?? I disagree...but I guess its all in ones perspective.
 
Tierney said:
I think the main problem with this years team is Fran and the coaching staff have overachieved. Who would of thought that the coaching staff would of accomplished so much in the last two years? The Iowa players talent hasn't caught up to the coaching staffs abilities yet. Olesani is just starting to emerge. Woodbury and Gesell have really developed this year. Marble has come on this year. Basabe and McCabe are good players, but they won't be all conference. The young talent is starting to mature, and hopefully, the coaching staff will bring in a couple of star recruits this spring. Oglesby has really started to mature the last few games too. The point is I don't think the problem is the coaching staff has underachieved, but they have overachieved, and the fans have lost their perspective. The fans have given certain players crap for the last few year, but a lot of the crap is because the see the improvement of the team but have over expectations.
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Heck of a post right there. IMO.
 
Hawkstrat said:
By about every metric Iowa has a worse record than their talent should indicate. It's because they have been awful in close games, unfortunately this is the second year in a row that has been true.

Iowa is a Top 25 team (won't be after this week), but they are 2-7 against ranked teams. Iowa feasts on bad teams, and chokes against good teams.
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As do most good, but not great teams, do. Iowa is a good, even very good at times.
 
Foval21 said:
He is a very good coach but some changes need to be made with actions.
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Maybe some hot yoga will tame him down?


Please, please Fran, DO NOT CHANGE your philsophy, your approach to the game, your sub patterns, your personality, and continue ignoring the fan bluster.
 
SpiderRico said:
Or, the flipside could be argued....that we undervalued the team at the start of the year.

When you look at it from an experience standpoint, we start 2 seniors, 1 junior and 2 sophomores. In addition, we have a senior and 2 juniors coming off the bench. So within that top 8, we have 3 seniors, 3 juniors and 2 sophomores. Plenty of experience there to anticipate being able to close out games better than we have.

From a productivity standpoint, we've got 3 starters right now that are 1,000 point scorers. Name another team out there with a starting 5 that has 3 1,000 point scorers. I can't think of any off the top of my head.

From a talent standpoint, we've got 4 guys in the rotation that were Top 150 players as well.

So from every conceivable, objective measurement.....from experience, to productivity, to talent.....we should be better than what we are. So there's obviously something missing. Could it be focus....based on all the comments this year from players and the head coach regarding outside fan perceptions? Could be. Could it be coaching.....the inability to get the right guys in at the end of games? Could be that as well. But as I said, from the things that can be measured, we should certainly be better than the results we've achieved.
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Perhaps you should start following the Wichita State Shockers.
 
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