I have always liked high caliber two sport players, they tend to be good competitors with high intelligence.
McCaffrey is a very interesting player
- Thread starter ChosenChildren
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Northside Hawk
Well-Known Member
Agreed. The true test will come when we go into a hostile big ten environment and a game comes down to one or two possessions. We start winning half those games and I am truly converted.
Very encouraging weekend. Nice to see teams having to adjust to us for a change. And Luka. LUKA!
You have a rebounder like that who can also stroke threes and it opens up so much for Tyler and others.
Maybe the team physicians should check all the players and see if they're carrying around nine pound cysts.
lightning1
Well-Known Member
This^^^. So important for a PG. Probably the most underrated skill and it hardly ever gets talked about. It's one of the more difficult things to get guards to understand. The right amount of dribble to move the defense where you want them, to gain the result you need.
lightning1
Well-Known Member
This is where Fran is going to earn his money. How do you use Connor going forward? He got more minutes due to Bohannon's foul troubles and he was a difference maker. Do you carve out Bohannon's minutes and give them to Connor? Do you slide Bohannon to the 2G spot and reduce Moss/Dailey's minutes?
What would you do here?
Northside Hawk
Well-Known Member
If Connor attacks the rim like he did last night, in addition to everything else he does well, he deserves starter minutes. We would obviously have to hide JBo in zones if he's guarding either ones or twos but Connor is already doing things that Dailey and Moss don't or won't.
I would like to see Moss come off the bench as a Duncan Robinson type three point specialist while keeping in mind that a 87% free throw shooter should also be out there to close games as well.
I still have high hopes for Dailey but maybe he backs up Joe W at the three. But early returns on Dailey have been disappointing. You've been right about Maishe and his lack of agressiveness.
Wasn't it refreshing to see an active defense that overplayed passing lanes and closed out on corner three point shooters? Both were virtually non-existent last year.
It was refreshing to see hands in passing lanes.
It was refreshing to not see the ball go into the post at will.
It was refreshing to not see our defense in scramble mode twelve seconds into a possession.
It was refreshing to see us use our length, not necessarily our quickness, and close out on someone.
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Connor will have bad nights I'm sure. During those games, the other 3 guards can get more minutes. During games like the last couple, he needs 30 minutes at all 3 of their expenses. It can even be at Baer's expense too.
On a side note, Bohannon's defense has been noticeably better so far. If that keeps up, he will need high 20s to low 30s minutes too. I'm really liking this 9 man rotation.
lightning1
Well-Known Member
Amen! Good team defense gets me pumped up. It's always about the little, fundamental things. If you are a great natural athlete, you can get by without the commitment to details. Athleticism can overcome a lot. If you aren't a great athlete, you better pay attention to the details. Especially on the defensive end.
lightning1
Well-Known Member
I hate to give Fran any ideas but Riley Til looked really good in the minutes he played. 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block in 5 minutes. Not too shabby.
That dude is athletic as hell for a walkon. I was shocked at his dunks in warmups.
lightning1
Well-Known Member
My recollection of him last year, was he was a lot skinnier. I could be wrong about that.
atomicblue224
Well-Known Member
That’s a good problem to have.
ArvadaHawk
Well-Known Member
what connor can do (with apparent) regularity is dribble drive to the hoop and get fouled. most of connor's 19 points were from line and the lane.
Northside Hawk
Well-Known Member
Evan Richard, our local high school legend, threw down dunks at 6'2" that rivaled, and frequently surpassed, Eric May's. But he had to play at mid major UW Milwaukee to get his full ride. (Drake, Northern Illinois and South Dakota State showed early interest as well) Wisconsin passed early on him, despite the fact that he played AAU ball on a team with Josh Gasser and Marquette's Vander Blue.
WinOneThisCentury
Well-Known Member
Connor McCaffery looked like a top tier B10 point guard in New York. I think Iowa was a better team with him on the floor. In my "early season" opinion, Jordan becomes the starting two, and the backup point. I honestly feel, we are so much better defensively with Connor and Moss/Dailly at the guard positions. In a half court game in the B10, that's huge. The point is, with Cook, Garza, Weiskamp and Moss...you can still score at a high clip.
It's a good problem to have, but I am really liking what Connor brings to the table.
It's a good problem to have, but I am really liking what Connor brings to the table.
LicThawk
Well-Known Member
My impression so far... an eyebrow raise. Not excitement, not intrigue, not grandiose expectation. The recent past tells us this coach is capable of making this team look good in the beginning of the year. I won't make the same mistake again and go out of my way to tell people Iowa will be good this year. BUT..
What is life without hope?
What is life without hope?
lightning1
Well-Known Member
At least there's hope. I can point to several good things they did in NY and they aren't the type of things that can usually be attributed to smoke and mirrors. I'm honestly looking forward to the next game. I have been able to say that in several years.
WinOneThisCentury
Well-Known Member
I get what you are saying...I really do. In the past...when Iowa teams have started well...and they get into the toughness of B10 play, they tended to wilt. Playing night in and night out in tough arenas and in physical contests...Iowa was just not up to the task. Put simply, we were soft and couldn't handle the physical nature of the way things go...the physicality continues to get ramped up as the year goes on.
Now...with this team...I see a difference. Cook ain't backing down from any contact and isn't getting pushed around by anyone. He's going to take it to whomever lines up against him...the light has gone on with him...you can see it. Garza is a gamer and and has proven...he just plays better when the bright lights come on. He's not intimidated in the least...he knows his game and he's good at it. Kreiner is another one, that looks much, much more physical than last year. I've been impressed with the way Kreiner has played, especially in New York. He was patient down low...and schooled Bol as he should have. I think those three are difference makers in the front court.
The emergence of Connor McCaffery is huge. He's 6'5" and his handle is proving to be B10 ready. Oregon and UConn had quick guards and he handled the pressure...and took it to the basket because he was a mismatch. Fran also isolated him down low a few times for points and fouls. This is a dimension we haven't had. Connor also shows mental toughness. Giving Bohanon rest and going with three guards that are 6'5" or 6'6" that will be secure with the ball is big time.
Lastly, Weiskamp's body is not your typical freshman. Damn, he's athletic. He had a tough go in New York...but he's a gamer too...and can handle the physicality. He's used to having teams set up to stop him. He's going to be really freaking good.
Point...from what the first four games have shown...this is a much different team than Fran has had. I'm hopeful.
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Northside Hawk
Well-Known Member
Go back and read the opening paragraph of my previous post, number 22 in this thread.
