my take

Zstatman

Zstatman

Well-Known Member
As the season unfolds and we head into the stretch run of conference play what our MBB team is has come to the fore. We are a middle of the road B1G team. We play hard, we play good D, we are well coached, but we are a tad short in the talent department.

Tyler Tachman writes a good article on our roster flaws post Purdue. I agree with most of what he says. One thing I disagree on is that Cam Manyawu is not 6'9", at best he's 6'8", maybe 6'7". He's plays hard and does some good things but he's not the answer at the 5 by any stretch of the imagination.

Stirtz can be taken out of games and then the team really struggles. Our team really lacks in the scoring department. The B1G teams that play good D, have size and are big inside really make us struggle. We struggle to get good shots and then we don't shoot are very high percentage.

I assume most are like me and like what we see from this new Hawkeye team. It seems to me it's going to be a 2–3-year process to upgrade the roster to B1G contender status. We have got to get bigger and better inside. We've got to get some guards that can make it happen, especially with Stirtz leaving after this year.

I don't see us pushing guys off the roster, you work with the guys you've got and make them the best they can be, IMO. But the guys they bring in have to be good. The guys on the roster, many have had their moments, but they can't do it consistently.

I'd like to see us finish strong, but it won't be easy. Then I'd like to see us make a BTT run of some kind, then a postseason run of some kind. I like our future under BM.
 
You could make two NBA rosters size-wise out of Purdue’s team. There’s absolutely no substitute for height and weight at this level, I’m sorry.

When Folgueiras at 6’10” gets absolutely stuffed with a playground block more than once (and he’s not the only one) at the rim, you can’t replicate that without a 7’4”guy. Their smallest forward is 230lbs and they average 250.

Iowa is no doubt middle of the pack talent-wise, but facing the teams in this league full of monster size guys is pretty much a non-starter.

Purdue, Michigan, and Illinois all have multiple 7 footers and each has a guy at least 7’3”, and their forwards are built like Karl Malone.

Fuhgeddabaht it.
 
What was most disappointing for me is they didn't look ready to play and against a team they played against, and played well, back in early January. And that's on Ben. Painter on the other hand seemed to adjust to what we did well the first game and took it away. I'd have to re watch the first game to see what we did well.

The cumulative effect of guys getting rejected at the rim in recent games seems to be making interior players rush their shots and see ghosts. Then you throw in back to back games of not shooting well from outside.

Nebraska has size as well. We will see what happens but it would be a good night to break out of the mini shooting slump against a team not known for defense
 
Purdue has improved from when we played at their house

Their second team sitting on the bench would be difficult to beat

Our Lads need to reenergize and get back to the form we have enjoyed most of the season

Beating Nebbie at our house is gong to be extremely difficult but doable

We shall see, I have faith in Ben and the Lads

GO HAWKS

:cool:
 
Zstatman said:
As the season unfolds and we head into the stretch run of conference play what our MBB team is has come to the fore. We are a middle of the road B1G team. We play hard, we play good D, we are well coached, but we are a tad short in the talent department.

Tyler Tachman writes a good article on our roster flaws post Purdue. I agree with most of what he says. One thing I disagree on is that Cam Manyawu is not 6'9", at best he's 6'8", maybe 6'7". He's plays hard and does some good things but he's not the answer at the 5 by any stretch of the imagination.

Stirtz can be taken out of games and then the team really struggles. Our team really lacks in the scoring department. The B1G teams that play good D, have size and are big inside really make us struggle. We struggle to get good shots and then we don't shoot are very high percentage.

I assume most are like me and like what we see from this new Hawkeye team. It seems to me it's going to be a 2–3-year process to upgrade the roster to B1G contender status. We have got to get bigger and better inside. We've got to get some guards that can make it happen, especially with Stirtz leaving after this year.

I don't see us pushing guys off the roster, you work with the guys you've got and make them the best they can be, IMO. But the guys they bring in have to be good. The guys on the roster, many have had their moments, but they can't do it consistently.

I'd like to see us finish strong, but it won't be easy. Then I'd like to see us make a BTT run of some kind, then a postseason run of some kind. I like our future under BM.
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Oh my! This is way too reasonable to be true. Seriously, good post, man!
 
There is no substitution for height at this level. This team needs good ball movement to help offset the height disadvantage they find themselves in. Unfortunately that ball movement has been in short supply of late and the results are predictable. This is year 1 of the rebuild and things will improve in time and with height.
 
This team most likely makes it in the Tournament but either play in or the dreaded 7-10 seed. Team defense is still a big plus for this team, but rebounding effort and passing have really dropped off. Their passing is lazy at best, Stirtz needs to look in the mirror on that one too. Then their rebounding effort is lack luster, I have seen a lot of long bounces where me and the players are just watching the other team hustle for loose balls.
 
TritonHawkeye said:
This team most likely makes it in the Tournament but either play in or the dreaded 7-10 seed. Team defense is still a big plus for this team, but rebounding effort and passing have really dropped off. Their passing is lazy at best, Stirtz needs to look in the mirror on that one too. Then their rebounding effort is lack luster, I have seen a lot of long bounces where me and the players are just watching the other team hustle for loose balls.
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I'm still net positive on this team.

We have to remember what this team is, the constraints we're in regarding NIL compared to a lot of other teams in the B1G, and what realistic expectations are after a coaching change (especially in free agency nowadays). We are playing to the level we should be playing, one could argue an even higher level.

There's more energy surrounding the Iowa basketball program as a whole right now than there has been in a really long time and that's a good thing. I wouldn't trade with Indiana right now in any alternate universe.

If Iowa makes a 7-10 seed it will be under a first-year Power Conference coach with a Missouri Valley team. Anything else above that is gravy. Remember, a lot of people held that as the bar for Fran when he was here (making the tournament), and there were times even when he did make it that it was in doubt way longer than it was in question for BMC. Fran was here for a decade and a half and that was his bar. We have to give McCollum some time to cook and unfortunately as long as there's unlimited salaries and wide open free agency available to players, there is going to be a hard ceiling. We may never see a Sweet 16 team again because of it...that's a real possibility.

But I think BMC has the stones to do it if he can get the players to do it with. He has PLENTY of coaching talent to get it done...it's a matter of the donor base being able to get (AND KEEP) the players who can.
 
I think we will close out fine, but I am reducing my conference win total to 11 and maybe even 10. Still gets us in the dance.

Anything can happen in the dance. Defense travels. Coaching experience travels. Guard play travels. Its all about getting hot shooting at the right time.
 
Fryowa said:
I'm still net positive on this team.

We have to remember what this team is, the constraints we're in regarding NIL compared to a lot of other teams in the B1G, and what realistic expectations are after a coaching change (especially in free agency nowadays). We are playing to the level we should be playing, one could argue an even higher level.

There's more energy surrounding the Iowa basketball program as a whole right now than there has been in a really long time and that's a good thing. I wouldn't trade with Indiana right now in any alternate universe.

If Iowa makes a 7-10 seed it will be under a first-year Power Conference coach with a Missouri Valley team. Anything else above that is gravy. Remember, a lot of people held that as the bar for Fran when he was here (making the tournament), and there were times even when he did make it that it was in doubt way longer than it was in question for BMC. Fran was here for a couple decades and that was his bar. We have to give McCollum some time to cook and unfortunately as long as there's unlimited salaries and wide open free agency available to players, there is going to be a hard ceiling. We may never see a Sweet 16 team again because of it...that's a real possibility.

But I think BMC has the stones to do it if he can get the players to do it with. He has PLENTY of coaching talent to get it done...it's a matter of the donor base being able to get (AND KEEP) the players who can.
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For me the poster child of the Fran era will always be Garza’s senior season - a #2 seed that got embarrassed in the 2nd round by its backcourt being outscored 63-0. Totally inexcusable and indefensible. The guy was way out of his league in a power 5 conference yet was allowed to remain for 15 years. Barta should’ve been fired for that incompetence. It would’ve saved the university a couple of lawsuit payouts.
 
Zstatman said:
As the season unfolds and we head into the stretch run of conference play what our MBB team is has come to the fore. We are a middle of the road B1G team. We play hard, we play good D, we are well coached, but we are a tad short in the talent department.

Tyler Tachman writes a good article on our roster flaws post Purdue. I agree with most of what he says. One thing I disagree on is that Cam Manyawu is not 6'9", at best he's 6'8", maybe 6'7". He's plays hard and does some good things but he's not the answer at the 5 by any stretch of the imagination.

Stirtz can be taken out of games and then the team really struggles. Our team really lacks in the scoring department. The B1G teams that play good D, have size and are big inside really make us struggle. We struggle to get good shots and then we don't shoot are very high percentage.

I assume most are like me and like what we see from this new Hawkeye team. It seems to me it's going to be a 2–3-year process to upgrade the roster to B1G contender status. We have got to get bigger and better inside. We've got to get some guards that can make it happen, especially with Stirtz leaving after this year.

I don't see us pushing guys off the roster, you work with the guys you've got and make them the best they can be, IMO. But the guys they bring in have to be good. The guys on the roster, many have had their moments, but they can't do it consistently.

I'd like to see us finish strong, but it won't be easy. Then I'd like to see us make a BTT run of some kind, then a postseason run of some kind. I like our future under BM.
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Yes, these first couple years, it's going to be a conundrum with these pieces of the puzzle. This Iowa team doesn't have the amount of consistent outside shooting to help and doesn't have the inside height so have to overcome that every game in the BIG. It's and issue and Ben will have to recruit his way out of this. To me he gets a pass as he had to assemble a team to get it going, so hoping he can recruit for the future to get the right pieces, which I think he can.
 
Hawke said:
For me the poster child of the Fran era will always be Garza’s senior season - a #2 seed that got embarrassed in the 2nd round by its backcourt being outscored 63-0. Totally inexcusable and indefensible. The guy was way out of his league in a power 5 conference yet was allowed to remain for 15 years. Barta should’ve been fired for that incompetence. It would’ve saved the university a couple of lawsuit payouts.
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Wow, that is just an awful, awful take.
 
The guy went 2 games over .500 in Big Ten play over those 15 years, after taking over a program at its lowest point in 50 years.

That is really difficult to do. His tenure also included Iowa's first two first round picks in a quarter century, as well as Iowa's first Wooden award winner. Fran also led Iowa to highest NCAA seed in over 30 years.

The man can coach.
 
SwirlinLingerie said:
The guy went 2 games over .500 in Big Ten play over those 15 years, after taking over a program at its lowest point in 50 years.

That is really difficult to do. His tenure also included Iowa's first two first round picks in a quarter century, as well as Iowa's first Wooden award winner. Fran also led Iowa to highest NCAA seed in over 30 years.

The man can coach.
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That's a good take.

And, you are right, the man can coach. Just could not string together two wins in the Big Dance, unfortunately.
 
Hawke said:
His record speaks for itself.
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It does. All time winningest coach in program history. I think he and D R. Tom have about the same resume. The difference being that D oc Tom inherited a beast of a program and talent from Raveling and made his hay the first two years and then largely floated in the range of above average for a decade. He did get to the second Sweet 16 his last season after he got fired, so have to give him that.

Fran inherited the biggest dumpster fire in modern program history and spent his first few years rebuilding a program and culture from scratch. After it was up and running, he and Davis had about the same middle and back end of their careers. They had consistently above average teams that more often than not made the tourney and lost in the first or second round. Fran produced some NBA talent and won a conference tourney. A Wooden Award is nothing to sneeze at. Speaking of sneezing, sure would like to have that Covid year tourney for Fran to see what might have been.

Both guys were very good hires and very good coaches for Iowa.
 
NorthKCHawk said:
It does. All time winningest coach in program history. I think he and D R. Tom have about the same resume. The difference being that D oc Tom inherited a beast of a program and talent from Raveling and made his hay the first two years and then largely floated in the range of above average for a decade. He did get to the second Sweet 16 his last season after he got fired, so have to give him that.

Fran inherited the biggest dumpster fire in modern program history and spent his first few years rebuilding a program and culture from scratch. After it was up and running, he and Davis had about the same middle and back end of their careers. They had consistently above average teams that more often than not made the tourney and lost in the first or second round. Fran produced some NBA talent and won a conference tourney. A Wooden Award is nothing to sneeze at. Speaking of sneezing, sure would like to have that Covid year tourney for Fran to see what might have been.

Both guys were very good hires and very good coaches for Iowa.
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It’s true Fran has the most wins in program history. It’s also true that he has the most losses in program history. Both attributed to his having the longest tenure in program history.

I’m not sure how failing to advance in the tourney with NBA talent is a point in his favor.

It’s true that he inherited a dumpster fire, BUT… in the 7 years prior to Bo Ryan being hired at Wisconsin the Badgers had a conference record of 68-82. Bo took over and in his tenure he had a conference winning percentage of .717. Quite a jump from the years before he took over. Fran reached the .500 level and basically stayed at that level.

In Fran’s final few seasons attendance was in freefall at a time the women’s team were packing the same house.

There is a reason he came from a mid major and returned to a mid major (and didn’t generate serious interest from another P5 program in between). I don’t have any thing against the guy; in fact I enjoy listening to him talk basketball but I make the distinction between talking a good game and producing great results. Bo did the latter, Fran the former.
 
Hawke said:
It’s true Fran has the most wins in program history. It’s also true that he has the most losses in program history. Both attributed to his having the longest tenure in program history.

I’m not sure how failing to advance in the tourney with NBA talent is a point in his favor.

It’s true that he inherited a dumpster fire, BUT… in the 7 years prior to Bo Ryan being hired at Wisconsin the Badgers had a conference record of 68-82. Bo took over and in his tenure he had a conference winning percentage of .717. Quite a jump from the years before he took over. Fran reached the .500 level and basically stayed at that level.

In Fran’s final few seasons attendance was in freefall at a time the women’s team were packing the same house.

There is a reason he came from a mid major and returned to a mid major (and didn’t generate serious interest from another P5 program in between). I don’t have any thing against the guy; in fact I enjoy listening to him talk basketball but I make the distinction between talking a good game and producing great results. Bo did the latter, Fran the former.
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I believe Dick Bennett took the Badgers to the final four in 1990-2000. Wasn't exactly a dumpster fire before Ryan took over. Having said that, Ryan was an amazing coach, but Bennett set the table.
 
Westernhawk said:
I believe Dick Bennett took the Badgers to the final four in 1990-2000. Wasn't exactly a dumpster fire before Ryan took over. Having said that, Ryan was an amazing coach, but Bennett set the table.
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Correct about the final four run. I was glad when Bennet quit the way he did. Wasn’t counting on The Grinch to take the program over. Wish they would’ve kept Soderberg. My point still stands; Fran wasn’t a great coach, he was a good coach that couldn’t get the program to the next level.
 
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