Nunge Garza Perfect Storm

CyberJJJ said:
Interesting point, but not sure I can agree. Fran has tried to recruit (evidence is in who he offered) penetrating point guards, but so far hasn't landed some of his top targets there. He has gotten around some of that by having forwards taking the ball to the hoop in some prior years. Last year, as you point out, the team compensated for that to get shots off but often they were long 3's or more shots quicker in transition. Iowa had some excellent shooters (Ex. Jordan and Pete) so it worked on many occasions, but from what I have seen, I would still say Fran's offense is built to be more effective with dribble penetration, he just hasn't always had that talent on the team and has coached around it accordingly.
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Fair enough. I guess it depends on personnel.
 
There are a lot of spot-on comments being posted, but with all due respect, it doesn't make a gnat's-ass bit of difference if we average 90 pts a game or 83 pts per game.
What matters this season is we've got to be better defensively.
Gotta be MUCH better defending in the paint, and way better at defending the 3-ball.
If Fran can get it to where we improve 7-8 points per game defensively, we can some real noise this year and have a helluva nice run come March!
 
NikeHawk21 said:
It may just be PTL hysteria but I keep coming back to this line of thinking that both the freshman in the starting lineup makes a ton of sense.

Garza has the build of a true center and I won't be surprised if he starts from day one.

I think Baer will be in the starting lineup to open the season at the 3, but eventually Fran may decide to give Nunge the nod and let Baer go back to his role as the super sub.

Okay, how cool would it be to start 3 sophomores and 2 freshman? Also our rebounding and zone would look pretty good with a frontline of 6'11, 6'9 (freak athlete), 6'11.
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I agree with ya. I think Baer coming off the bench still makes perfect sense. Iowa can start a long athletic lineup that will have 4 guys out there that can shoot outside pretty well. If Cook improves his midrange-outside shot look out.... Using Baer & Pemsl as the energizer bunnies off the bench should be awesome. The flexibility game to game matchup wise Fran will have should just give other teams nightmares on how to matchup. Iowa can shoot teams out of zones all day long and pick and roll you to death if you play man to man. Pick your poisen
 
The Big LeHAWKski said:
There are a lot of spot-on comments being posted, but with all due respect, it doesn't make a gnat's-ass bit of difference if we average 90 pts a game or 83 pts per game.
What matters this season is we've got to be better defensively.
Gotta be MUCH better defending in the paint, and way better at defending the 3-ball.
If Fran can get it to where we improve 7-8 points per game defensively, we can some real noise this year and have a helluva nice run come March!
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No doubt about it. I view rebounding as a part of D too (the defense doesn't turn to offense till you have the ball) And that needs to improve as well. I expect more from Cook in that department and hopefully Garza will too.
 
NikeHawk21 said:
It may just be PTL hysteria but I keep coming back to this line of thinking that both the freshman in the starting lineup makes a ton of sense.

Garza has the build of a true center and I won't be surprised if he starts from day one.

I think Baer will be in the starting lineup to open the season at the 3, but eventually Fran may decide to give Nunge the nod and let Baer go back to his role as the super sub.

Okay, how cool would it be to start 3 sophomores and 2 freshman? Also our rebounding and zone would look pretty good with a frontline of 6'11, 6'9 (freak athlete), 6'11.
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I think that we need size up front defensively. Sure, we could use more D on the perimeter, but inside is something we can do about personnelwise. Garza seems to fit that bill. I like his potential as a defender and low-post game better than Kriener. Is he ready? I like Nunge a lot and think he could start IF: 1) he can use his length to defend quicker players at the 3. 2) his passing in the PTL can translate to the regular season. Baer has learned to use length and high energy to defend, and his passing would be valuable in the starting lineup. Jok was really our 2nd trigger man, averaging 2.6asts/gm. Baer averaged 1.8 asts and could certainly improve on that to pick up the slack. Nunge is averaging 3.8asts in the PTL. If he could average 2 in-season and effectively defend then I could see him starting.
Yes, a Garza, Cook, Nunge, Moss, Bohannon lineup could be a frightening one to defend against.
 
NikeHawk21 said:
It may just be PTL hysteria but I keep coming back to this line of thinking that both the freshman in the starting lineup makes a ton of sense.

Garza has the build of a true center and I won't be surprised if he starts from day one.

I think Baer will be in the starting lineup to open the season at the 3, but eventually Fran may decide to give Nunge the nod and let Baer go back to his role as the super sub.

Okay, how cool would it be to start 3 sophomores and 2 freshman? Also our rebounding and zone would look pretty good with a frontline of 6'11, 6'9 (freak athlete), 6'11.
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I don't think we will start both freshman. Honestly, I think Nunge is the better player but Garza has the better opportunity to start because he is really the only center on the roster.

We know JBo, Cook and Moss will start. I think Baer had the 3 locked down.

It's really only one open starting position which with Cook as a 4 leaves the 5 spot open. We could go a Wagner, Garza or even Ellingson and move Baer to 4. That option only works though if you can trust Dailey or Williams to play some solid wing minutes off the bench.
 
ibahawkeye said:
I don't think we will start both freshman. Honestly, I think Nunge is the better player but Garza has the better opportunity to start because he is really the only center on the roster.

We know JBo, Cook and Moss will start. I think Baer had the 3 locked down.

It's really only one open starting position which with Cook as a 4 leaves the 5 spot open. We could go a Wagner, Garza or even Ellingson and move Baer to 4. That option only works though if you can trust Dailey or Williams to play some solid wing minutes off the bench.
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I am wondering how Pemsl fits in...
 
Have faith in Fran.
Fran will know what lineup combinations to try and even more important, he'll know when to adjust. It will take time for the new players to settle into their roles and I can't wait to watch the whole thing develop!!
 
The Big LeHAWKski said:
Have faith in Fran.
Fran will know what lineup combinations to try and even more important, he'll know when to adjust. It will take time for the new players to settle into their roles and I can't wait to watch the whole thing develop!!
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I definitely have faith in Fran. I am one that fully supports the coaches and I acknowledge we are Monday morning QBs.
 
BB on the college and NBA levels is now dominated by players who are mobile, athletic, and can shoot...you need a lot of them to be on the top tier because it is tiring basketball.

Those players who struggle with confidence in their shooting, or can't shoot well, or aren't athletic and mobile...well, are end of the rotation types of players.

If a coach falls in love with players who aren't mobile, can't shot, aren't athletic...the season (career) will be average, and certainly won't be top shelf.

Which Iowa players fall into this high level type of player? Which don't? Perhaps the two big rookies are a new wave?

Fran has never impressed me with his in game calling or rotation decisions.

I do like his passion...I hope to see him demonstrate more as a coach...now that he has some talent and has taken (to his credit) a program from the brink of irrelevancy.

My two cents...
 
IMO and if I'm being honest, Fran has never had a point guard that can consistently do what Fran needs him to do. Gesell simply wasn't a consistent offensive player. I think Bohannon can be that guy. Let's see how much JB has improved defensively now that he's a year older, stronger, and knows what to expect. He's damn close on the offensive side of the table though... a scorer, a game manager, and a guy that can make his teammates better by distributing the ball.

With all the talent in the paint and on the wing now, we need someone to run the show. I'm very optimistic JB is the guy. It would be great to see Williams also make a leap too...adds more size/strength to the lineup, and it allows JB to play the 2 once in a while too.
 
ibahawkeye said:
I don't think we will start both freshman. Honestly, I think Nunge is the better player but Garza has the better opportunity to start because he is really the only center on the roster.

We know JBo, Cook and Moss will start. I think Baer had the 3 locked down.

It's really only one open starting position which with Cook as a 4 leaves the 5 spot open. We could go a Wagner, Garza or even Ellingson and move Baer to 4. That option only works though if you can trust Dailey or Williams to play some solid wing minutes off the bench.
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JBo, Moss and Cook are surefire starters as you suggested. I think Baer is a surefire 6 man that will play starter minutes. His energy is just so effective off the bench playing vs either fatigued starters or bench players. It is game changing play. I like Wagner starting at the 3 for his ability to defend 4 positions, rebound and run the floor. He can solidify that spot by making his FTs but won't play as much as Baer. The other starter just has to be Garza. He's the only true 5 on the team and I'll call him as the next all-B1G freshman at Iowa. He and JBo both don't have a comparable sub. After Baer as 6th man, the next subs in will be Pemsl, Nunge and Brady. CW will spell JBo 5 min a half in games Iowa is winning or should win and 2 min a half vs the likes of PU, MSU, WI, etc. Kreiner will see more time when someone is off or has foul trouble.
 
I'm not yet convinced Moss will be a "surefire" stater. He sure seems to have the talent to be but hasn't showed it consistently enough as of yet. FWIW I am really wondering how Fran will manage the minutes on this squad!
 
FirstDownHawkeyes said:
JBo, Moss and Cook are surefire starters as you suggested. I think Baer is a surefire 6 man that will play starter minutes. His energy is just so effective off the bench playing vs either fatigued starters or bench players. It is game changing play. I like Wagner starting at the 3 for his ability to defend 4 positions, rebound and run the floor. He can solidify that spot by making his FTs but won't play as much as Baer. The other starter just has to be Garza. He's the only true 5 on the team and I'll call him as the next all-B1G freshman at Iowa. He and JBo both don't have a comparable sub. After Baer as 6th man, the next subs in will be Pemsl, Nunge and Brady. CW will spell JBo 5 min a half in games Iowa is winning or should win and 2 min a half vs the likes of PU, MSU, WI, etc. Kreiner will see more time when someone is off or has foul trouble.
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My concern with Wagner playing the 3 with Cook at the 4 and Garza is the spacing on offense due to lack of outside shooting.

Because of that I think you almost have to go Baer at the 3
 
The Big LeHAWKski said:
There are a lot of spot-on comments being posted, but with all due respect, it doesn't make a gnat's-ass bit of difference if we average 90 pts a game or 83 pts per game.
What matters this season is we've got to be better defensively.
Gotta be MUCH better defending in the paint, and way better at defending the 3-ball.
If Fran can get it to where we improve 7-8 points per game defensively, we can some real noise this year and have a helluva nice run come March!
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They will shave points off that easily just by having experience. The understanding of defensive rotation will be much better this year. It will not happen nearly as much that guys are late getting out on shooters, if they got out on them at all.

Some may disagree, minus the TCU game and 3 or 4 others the defense did improve the 2nd half of the season. Not where it is needs to be, but you could see the light bulb slowly start to turn on.
 
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