Media Day Takeaways

NikeHawk21

Well-Known Member
1. Deep rotation. Sounds like Fran is prepared to go at least 10 deep. We have a lot of players that are probably expecting to play this year. I hope we can get that down to a top 8/9 by the stretch run.

2. Tyler Cook. Expectations for Cook are sky high, and it appears Fran is embracing that. He said he has the highest potential of any player he's had here.

3. PG play. Fran didn't seem too concerned, has plenty of confidence in both Williams and Jordan. He mentioned they may play some together because CW is a good defender. He also said that Uhl, Cook, and Jok have the green light to bring the ball up the floor after rebounds as we want to push the tempo.

4. Dale Jones. Several mentions of him, I think he will have a fairly significant role on this team. Sounds like he is cleared to go 100%, but they are easing him back.

5. Moss/Dailey. Didn't hear a ton about either of these guys, I'm sure Fran would have liked to talk more about them. I think Dailey redshirts, and am still holding out hope that Moss is a big time contributor this year.

Overall, I just enjoy listening to Fran. He actually gives interesting insight on what the team will look like this year. He obviously talks all of his players up but I respect that he is trying to build up there confidence. Excited for the season.
 
Going to be different inside. Woody couldn't do it all. He did very well and will be hard to replace, believe it or not. Now we apparently have some Beasts to bang around inside in the B1G, Hopefully we won't be pushed around this season. Can't rely on the referees to monitor the physical play underneath the basket.

And Tyler Cook!!!!! Can't wait to watch Tyler.

Going to be an interesting season. Not too much expected and full of promise. Just as in football, we are better flying under the radar.

Peter extending his range. That is going to be fun to watch. That would put him in Curry territory.

Oh, My.

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Such outstanding form and concentration are a thing of beauty to watch.
 
No TRex arms in this group. They all have long wingspans and will be tuogh in the passing lanes. It also sounds like Kreiner is really coming on. It will be fun watching this team come together.
 
I don't like the line of Jok bringing the ball up the court. We need to worry about getting him open off the ball and create our offense around him
 
I don't like the line of Jok bringing the ball up the court. We need to worry about getting him open off the ball and create our offense around him
I doubt Jok brings the ball up the court very often unless it just works out that way in the flow of the game. It sounds like Iowa is going to have a lot of scorers.
 
I doubt Jok brings the ball up the court very often unless it just works out that way in the flow of the game. It sounds like Iowa is going to have a lot of scorers.

Lots of unknown on who will be our scorers this year. I think Jok will have to be at 20ppg and we'll have to get at least average PG play offensively for us to be a contender. We lost our four best defenders though so defense is more of a concern than anything
 
In a fan selfish kind of way I hope that Cook isn't quite all that Fran is hyping him up to being. I'd kinda like to see him not go pro after 1 or 2 yrs. If he's half of what the hype around him is now he's just going to be making a cameo in Carver this year. Not that I'll be openly rooting against him or anything. But I really don't want to see him be a super star on what might be a rebuilding team that might not make the dance and then say the team really comes together late in the season and then he bolts....
Look what happened after Ricky Davis left. He and Dean Oliver could have been a heck of a back court for a few years but....
 
In a fan selfish kind of way I hope that Cook isn't quite all that Fran is hyping him up to being. I'd kinda like to see him not go pro after 1 or 2 yrs. If he's half of what the hype around him is now he's just going to be making a cameo in Carver this year. Not that I'll be openly rooting against him or anything. But I really don't want to see him be a super star on what might be a rebuilding team that might not make the dance and then say the team really comes together late in the season and then he bolts....
Look what happened after Ricky Davis left. He and Dean Oliver could have been a heck of a back court for a few years but....

The only thing about that is Cook being great might be the only way we make the dance this year. We have a lot of young talent and great recruits coming in. If we make the tourney this year, we could have a long run of consecutive tournament bids.
 
Another interesting point is it appears Iowa is going to generate a lot of mismatches. Let's say for instance Iowa's starting lineup looks like this:

G- Williams
G- Jok
F- Uhl
F- Cook
F- Wagner

Not only do both of our guards have the ability to post up on smaller guards, but if the other team starts 3 guards, that means they are going to task one of their guards with matching up with either Cook, Uhl, or Wagner in the post. Now we will have to guard them on the other end but we can always play some zone if need be, and all three of our "bigs" appear to have the athleticism needed to guard smaller players.

Fran has some options to create mismatches with this roster.
 
In a fan selfish kind of way I hope that Cook isn't quite all that Fran is hyping him up to being. I'd kinda like to see him not go pro after 1 or 2 yrs. If he's half of what the hype around him is now he's just going to be making a cameo in Carver this year. Not that I'll be openly rooting against him or anything. But I really don't want to see him be a super star on what might be a rebuilding team that might not make the dance and then say the team really comes together late in the season and then he bolts....
Look what happened after Ricky Davis left. He and Dean Oliver could have been a heck of a back court for a few years but....

Woah. I'm not that far on the hype machine just yet. The NBA is a whole different animal these days. In my estimation, Tyler is closer to 6'7 then he is to 6'10, (Ik, he is listed at 6'9 by Iowa). Guys under 6'10 better be lights out shooters or excel elsewhere if they want to be lottery picks and stick in this league. I think Tyler has a ways to go in terms of his jump shot and overall game before the NBA comes calling. He won't be able to out athlete people in the league. Just my thoughts.
 
Another interesting point is it appears Iowa is going to generate a lot of mismatches. Let's say for instance Iowa's starting lineup looks like this:

G- Williams
G- Jok
F- Uhl
F- Cook
F- Wagner

Not only do both of our guards have the ability to post up on smaller guards, but if the other team starts 3 guards, that means they are going to task one of their guards with matching up with either Cook, Uhl, or Wagner in the post. Now we will have to guard them on the other end but we can always play some zone if need be, and all three of our "bigs" appear to have the athleticism needed to guard smaller players.

Fran has some options to create mismatches with this roster.

Opposing teams guards would destroy that lineup
 
I think this year might be fun. No expectations, just enjoy the new faces.

I agree, tk. If we can collectively not put any expectations on this team and just enjoy watching them. A NIT bid would be good enough for me. I just want to be able to evaluate the talent; we'll be so young.
 
Opposing teams guards would destroy that lineup

I disagree. Who in the Big10 do you think would destroy that lineup and why? Quite a few teams start three forwards, and other teams start wing players that I think one of our bigs can matchup with. I'll run through a couple of the favorites this year.

Teams projected to start three forwards:
UW, OSU, Purdue.

Interesting matchups elsewhere. Basically one of our bigs would be asked to cover one of these players.
MSU- Eron Harris
Mich- Zak Irvin
ILL- Coleman-Lands
Ind- Robert Johnson

So of the good teams in the big ten I think the above would be our toughest matchups with this lineup. I think you might be underestimating the athleticism of our bigs. I'm okay with one of our bigs checking those guys. We can play a pretty long zone with that lineup if they can't guard one of those guys.

So explain to me why opposing teams guards would destroy that lineup?

Here is the article I referenced for projected lineups.

http://btn.com/2016/04/06/big-ten-basketball-projecting-starting-lineups-for-2016-17/
 
I disagree. Who in the Big10 do you think would destroy that lineup and why? Quite a few teams start three forwards, and other teams start wing players that I think one of our bigs can matchup with. I'll run through a couple of the favorites this year.

Teams projected to start three forwards:
UW, OSU, Purdue.

Interesting matchups elsewhere. Basically one of our bigs would be asked to cover one of these players.
MSU- Eron Harris
Mich- Zak Irvin
ILL- Coleman-Lands
Ind- Robert Johnson

So of the good teams in the big ten I think the above would be our toughest matchups with this lineup. I think you might be underestimating the athleticism of our bigs. I'm okay with one of our bigs checking those guys. We can play a pretty long zone with that lineup if they can't guard one of those guys.

So explain to me why opposing teams guards would destroy that lineup?

Here is the article I referenced for projected lineups.

http://btn.com/2016/04/06/big-ten-basketball-projecting-starting-lineups-for-2016-17/

Uhl Wagner or Cook can't defend a good guard so the only way that would work is if they played 3 forwards or we played zone
 
Uhl Wagner or Cook can't defend a good guard so the only way that would work is if they played 3 forwards or we played zone

Wisconsin started Hayes, Brown, and Happ last year and they were a really good defensive team. I think that Cook, Uhl, and Wagner are more athletic then those three and would have a better chance guarding quicker players. Now UW is much better at playing team defense then we have been but as far as capability I don't see any reason why our guys would get destroyed as you say.
 
Wisconsin started Hayes, Brown, and Happ last year and they were a really good defensive team. I think that Cook, Uhl, and Wagner are more athletic then those three and would have a better chance guarding quicker players. Now UW is much better at playing team defense then we have been but as far as capability I don't see any reason why our guys would get destroyed as you say.

I wouldn't say any of the three you listed for us are plus defenders. Wagner maybe but too small of sample size to say in my opinion
 
Opposing teams guards would destroy that lineup

Start that lineup (Williams, Jok, Uhl, Wagner, and Cook) and play a Syracuse type matchup zone with the long wing spans clogging passing lanes. Call Boheim, stat!

When the subs come in, good luck. :)
 
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