MBB: Is Iowa's Defense Improving?

storminspank

storminspank

Justin VanLaere
MBB: Is Iowa's Defense Improving? | Hawkeye Nation

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By Justin VanLaere


Reflecting back on some of the past B1G games (and sort of CONVENIENTLY forgetting about the MSU and OSU debacles), the average basketball fan can see that Iowa’s defense has looked better than earlier in the year. It was a defense that was prone to giving up mass quantities of treys and high percentage shots, as miscommunication and fundamentals lacked. Jon touched on some improvement on D in his previous story, so let’s use some additional stats to try to backup the recent improvement in defense by the Hawkeyes.
Basketball geeks can agree that eFG% is more telling stat than FG or 3pt FG%. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the current defensive eFG% of the B1G teams. The first stat is their number for the year and national rank, the second is their number for conference only and their conference rank.
You have to keep in mind that Iowa has played the 2nd most difficult conf SOS so far this year, just behind Nebraska. Wisconsin, on the other hand, has the top eFG% in the nation (and conf), but they have played the easiest SOS in conf so far.


eFG% Defense
Wisconsin – Overall 38.2 (1), Conf Only 42.0 (1)
Michigan State – Overall 43.5 (24), Conf Only 44.9 (2)
Ohio State – Overall 45.8 (66), Conf Only 45.9 (3)
Purdue – Overall 46.5 (85), Conf Only 50.4 (9)
Illinois – Overall 46.5 (86), Conf Only 49.6 (7)
Indiana – Overall 46.9 (100), Conf Only 54.9 (11)
Nebraska – Overall 47.4 (121), Conf Only 48.2 (5)
Minnesota – Overall 47.6 (128), Conf Only 48.8 (6)
Michigan – Overall 48.2 (156), Conf Only 50.2 (8)
Northwestern – Overall 48.4 (165), Conf Only 47.0 (4)
Penn State – Overall 51.2 (252), Conf Only 58.3 (12)
Iowa – Overall 51.4 (259), Conf Only 52.0 (10)


Ok then, there they are. Just a bunch of numbers, right? Yes. But the thing you need to look at is the eFG% differences between overall and conference. Generally, defensive eFG% will go up in conference. Why? Because you are playing better teams, teams that score more efficiently, and teams that are just plain better than those in your non-conference slate. (Keep in mind I am talking about the Power 6 conferences, not the MM or LM conferences.) Looking at those stats, you can see most of the teams had a marked increase in conf-only eFG%. For instance, PSU and Indiana leapt an astounding 7+% in their 6 conf games so far. Most other teams increase anywhere from 2 to 4 percent. The one anamoly is Northwestern, who actually lowered their defensive eFG% by 1.4%. Why I am bringing this up? Compare the teams from overall to non-conf… ok, don’t. Let me do it for you.


eFG% Defense Differential (Overall vs. Conf through 6 games)
1. Northwestern -1.4
2. Ohio State +0.1
3. Iowa +0.6
4. Nebraska +0.8
5. Minnesota +1.2
6. Michigan State +1.4
7. Michigan +2.0
8. Illinois +3.1
9. Wisconsin +3.8
10. Purdue +3.9
11. Penn State +7.1
12. Indiana +8.0


Also, a note… this isn’t non-conf vs. conf. It’s overall vs. conf, meaning the conf games are blended into the overall, as well.
So what you are seeing from the Hawkeye angle is that Iowa is the third best B1G team in regards to improving their defense so far over the conference slate. More impressive is the fact that they have done so playing one of the harder conference schedules, coupled in with the fact that they had two monster blowouts that absolutely demolished their eFG% defense.


The fact that a lot of teams are hoisting up and missing threes against Iowa in conference certainly helps their eFG%… I’ll admit that much. There are times where you will see Iowa players collapse when they probably shouldn’t help. But it’s hard not to feel like you are seeing an improved Iowa defense overall, and now you have some stats to back it up.
 
storminspank said:
MBB: Is Iowa's Defense Improving? | Hawkeye Nation

resize.php



By Justin VanLaere


Reflecting back on some of the past B1G games (and sort of CONVENIENTLY forgetting about the MSU and OSU debacles), the average basketball fan can see that Iowa’s defense has looked better than earlier in the year. It was a defense that was prone to giving up mass quantities of treys and high percentage shots, as miscommunication and fundamentals lacked. Jon touched on some improvement on D in his previous story, so let’s use some additional stats to try to backup the recent improvement in defense by the Hawkeyes.
Basketball geeks can agree that eFG% is more telling stat than FG or 3pt FG%. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the current defensive eFG% of the B1G teams. The first stat is their number for the year and national rank, the second is their number for conference only and their conference rank.
You have to keep in mind that Iowa has played the 2nd most difficult conf SOS so far this year, just behind Nebraska. Wisconsin, on the other hand, has the top eFG% in the nation (and conf), but they have played the easiest SOS in conf so far.


eFG% Defense
Wisconsin – Overall 38.2 (1), Conf Only 42.0 (1)
Michigan State – Overall 43.5 (24), Conf Only 44.9 (2)
Ohio State – Overall 45.8 (66), Conf Only 45.9 (3)
Purdue – Overall 46.5 (85), Conf Only 50.4 (9)
Illinois – Overall 46.5 (86), Conf Only 49.6 (7)
Indiana – Overall 46.9 (100), Conf Only 54.9 (11)
Nebraska – Overall 47.4 (121), Conf Only 48.2 (5)
Minnesota – Overall 47.6 (128), Conf Only 48.8 (6)
Michigan – Overall 48.2 (156), Conf Only 50.2 (8)
Northwestern – Overall 48.4 (165), Conf Only 47.0 (4)
Penn State – Overall 51.2 (252), Conf Only 58.3 (12)
Iowa – Overall 51.4 (259), Conf Only 52.0 (10)


Ok then, there they are. Just a bunch of numbers, right? Yes. But the thing you need to look at is the eFG% differences between overall and conference. Generally, defensive eFG% will go up in conference. Why? Because you are playing better teams, teams that score more efficiently, and teams that are just plain better than those in your non-conference slate. (Keep in mind I am talking about the Power 6 conferences, not the MM or LM conferences.) Looking at those stats, you can see most of the teams had a marked increase in conf-only eFG%. For instance, PSU and Indiana leapt an astounding 7+% in their 6 conf games so far. Most other teams increase anywhere from 2 to 4 percent. The one anamoly is Northwestern, who actually lowered their defensive eFG% by 1.4%. Why I am bringing this up? Compare the teams from overall to non-conf… ok, don’t. Let me do it for you.


eFG% Defense Differential (Overall vs. Conf through 6 games)
1. Northwestern -1.4
2. Ohio State +0.1
3. Iowa +0.6
4. Nebraska +0.8
5. Minnesota +1.2
6. Michigan State +1.4
7. Michigan +2.0
8. Illinois +3.1
9. Wisconsin +3.8
10. Purdue +3.9
11. Penn State +7.1
12. Indiana +8.0


Also, a note… this isn’t non-conf vs. conf. It’s overall vs. conf, meaning the conf games are blended into the overall, as well.
So what you are seeing from the Hawkeye angle is that Iowa is the third best B1G team in regards to improving their defense so far over the conference slate. More impressive is the fact that they have done so playing one of the harder conference schedules, coupled in with the fact that they had two monster blowouts that absolutely demolished their eFG% defense.


The fact that a lot of teams are hoisting up and missing threes against Iowa in conference certainly helps their eFG%… I’ll admit that much. There are times where you will see Iowa players collapse when they probably shouldn’t help. But it’s hard not to feel like you are seeing an improved Iowa defense overall, and now you have some stats to back it up.
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these numbers dont count when u have referees giving games away . we should have been keeping tracks of each referees performances and percentages of and also how many times teams get ft compared to the team theyre playing. its something i have been keeping track of i dvr each games we play . thanks for your good writing:eek:
 
Our defense is better but not by much. Man defense is better but teams take advantage of all the mismatches and we have to help because of mismatches we give up open shots. We don't rotate very well at all in the zone and give up wide open shots all the time. Michigan had a bunch of open shots but just didn't make them. We usually never get as many open looks as the teams we play.
 
I'm sorry spank, I gotta be that guy (good info btw)!!

We just gave up 95 points to MSU. I think the good defense in wins has more to do with the teams we are playing. They play a half court style of offense that is easier for us to match up with. Look at how we do with teams that push the tempo a bit. Our defense is really bad than. Half court...good. I think it's been that way all year.

Michigan averages 62 ppg in Big 10 play and they scored 59 against us.
Wisconsin is only averaging 54 ppg in Big 10 play but they scored 65 against us
 
I think it has to be improving some, but you are right about one thing, they help too many times when it's not necessary and leave a shooter wide open. Hopefully as things keep coming together, they can cut down on those errors as well.
 
Wassabbe said:
I'm sorry spank, I gotta be that guy (good info btw)!!

We just gave up 95 points to MSU. I think the good defense in wins has more to do with the teams we are playing. They play a half court style of offense that is easier for us to match up with. Look at how we do with teams that push the tempo a bit. Our defense is really bad than. Half court...good. I think it's been that way all year.

Michigan averages 62 ppg in Big 10 play and they scored 59 against us.
Wisconsin is only averaging 54 ppg in Big 10 play but they scored 65 against us
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Also teams that push the tempo a bit(MSU/OSU) play tremendous defense themselves and are able to push the tempo because other teams miss shots or they get turnovers. We shot horrible in those two games and turned the ball over a ton so they were able to get out and run. We only had 8 turnovers against Michigan which was huge as well.
 
Iowa matched up poorly against OSU/MSU, teams that have frontcourts with a pulse. Illinois and Indiana also has frontcourts that will cause issues as well.

Iowa's defense isn't as bad as it has been, give them more size up front and it will continue to improve. Iowa actually matches up well against most teams in the BIG, quite the contrast to the last few years.

It makes no matter if teams are missing open shots or not, they are missing them. You look at the Wisconsin game and think Iowa dodged a bullet, then Minnesota and well that's two, but then Michigan comes in and doesn't shoot well. The two teams that dominated Iowa have real frontcourts. Iowa dropped the ball against Purdue by letting Byrd go nuts and let Hart get on a roll, other than that, they played solid defense in that game.

Is Iowa going to lock down teams...um, no, but they aren't nearly as bad defensively as people want to think. When it comes down to it, Iowa has a couple brutal games left, but expect the eFG% to continue to improve.
 
sportstalent said:
Iowa matched up poorly against OSU/MSU, teams that have frontcourts with a pulse. Illinois and Indiana also has frontcourts that will cause issues as well.

Iowa's defense isn't as bad as it has been, give them more size up front and it will continue to improve. Iowa actually matches up well against most teams in the BIG, quite the contrast to the last few years.

It makes no matter if teams are missing open shots or not, they are missing them. You look at the Wisconsin game and think Iowa dodged a bullet, then Minnesota and well that's two, but then Michigan comes in and doesn't shoot well. The two teams that dominated Iowa have real frontcourts. Iowa dropped the ball against Purdue by letting Byrd go nuts and let Hart get on a roll, other than that, they played solid defense in that game.

Is Iowa going to lock down teams...um, no, but they aren't nearly as bad defensively as people want to think. When it comes down to it, Iowa has a couple brutal games left, but expect the eFG% to continue to improve.
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Yep, the bigs was the other thing I was going to mention. Marble and Gatens are excellent at locking up the gaurds in a man. I would absolutely hate to have one of those guys on me.
 
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