Player Rotation - Get Real Fran

[DesMoinesHawki]

I am not coach. Speaking as a fan ... I don't like all of the rotating we do ... I think it is too hard for players to get into the flow of the game when we are constantly bringing guys in and out. Basketball is a game of streaks ... where a guy could miss 5 shots in a row and then come back and drain 3 long jumpers ... I don't think we wear anybody down by playing a deep bench ... Our defense at the end of the season was horrible ... I would like to see us pick our top 7 guys and go with them and bring in others on a spot basis ... I mean do we have a bench that is that deep in talent to warrant playing all of them? Last year we didn't ... And one of our better players (Uthoff) saw very little action ... If we were wearing teams down with stellar defense and fresh legs ... that's one thing ... I just think we pick our best 7 and go with them ...

 

[Hawkfnntn]

It just depends this will be a way different team with no Marble and no Basabe/McCabe. I think White and Uthoff will play a ton more then last year with Uhl being the forward off the bench by default. (Gabe will get some PF mins but I think he'll mostly be splitting time with Woody with the hotter guy getting alittle more at center.) How much he plays will depend on how well he does he's a big fat question mark as of now. As is Dickerson. That's where the log jam is that needs sorting out. With 3 pg sized players and 3 sg sized players that's where we'll see some mixing and matching early in the year. I think MG Oglesby Uthoff White and Woody is the starting 5 to start and after that it's a crap shoot to how the mins get divided amongst the guards.

 

[jacknicholson]

I am not coach. Speaking as a fan ... I don't like all of the rotating we do ... I think it is too hard for players to get into the flow of the game when we are constantly bringing guys in and out. Basketball is a game of streaks ... where a guy could miss 5 shots in a row and then come back and drain 3 long jumpers ... I don't think we wear anybody down by playing a deep bench ... Our defense at the end of the season was horrible ... I would like to see us pick our top 7 guys and go with them and bring in others on a spot basis ... I mean do we have a bench that is that deep in talent to warrant playing all of them? Last year we didn't ... And one of our better players (Uthoff) saw very little action ... If we were wearing teams down with stellar defense and fresh legs ... that's one thing ... I just think we pick our best 7 and go with them ...

Quite exactly, DMHawki.....

 

[DodgerHawki]

i would like to see a full court press for 40 min.

Full-court pressing for 40 minutes in today's game, with this roster, is inviting disaster. A serious question, but how many top-level teams today are using full-court pressure for 40 minutes? Not many, or any. Teams today (on average, and especially the good ones) have more guys who are capable ball-handlers and shooters. Pressing the entire game just opens up the floor for skilled players to shoot layups or wide-open 3's. This Iowa roster is not going to be more athletic or quick than the good teams in the league.

I generally like how Fran uses pressure. He does it to change the tempo of game or to make the opponent use clock in getting up the court and into their offense. When Iowa is successful with the 3/4 court pressure they force opponents to take 7-9 seconds to just get into the front-court, then another 5-8 seconds to get into their half-court zone offense. That leaves the opponent time to just look at its first couple of options before the shot clock becomes a factor.

This Iowa team has a couple of positives on defense.

1) They are tall. If Iowa can keep opponents in front of them, it can force the opponent into shooting contested jump shots (that's good).
2) They are experienced. Most of the rotation knows what it takes to defend. Whether they can do it or not is another issue (see the end of last season when Iowa's defense collapsed).

 

[HawkeyeFan57]

I like the idea of a deep bench. This protects us if we run into injuries or foul trouble, due to refs calling it too close.

The most important thing Iowa needs is intensity on defense: Hopefully Jok has figured out how to play better D. Dickerson can utilize his quickness on defense. Sapp, supposedly, is quicker and in shape...hopefully this improves his D. Defense is a challenge for many freshmen. Playing 11 deep will allow FM to find out who can play D, and use that focus to shut down other teams streaks.

It will be interesting to see the defensive focus this year, and does it work with a deep rotation.

 

[docholihawk]

I like the idea of a deep bench. This protects us if we run into injuries or foul trouble, due to refs calling it too close.

The most important thing Iowa needs is intensity on defense: Hopefully Jok has figured out how to play better D. Dickerson can utilize his quickness on defense. Sapp, supposedly, is quicker and in shape...hopefully this improves his D. Defense is a challenge for many freshmen. Playing 11 deep will allow FM to find out who can play D, and use that focus to shut down other teams streaks.

It will be interesting to see the defensive focus this year, and does it work with a deep rotation.

Yeah like Jon said, start with 10-11 and pare down in December.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

I love having 2 good centers that bring alittle something different. That way they throw a change up at the other team and allows them to play hard and aggressive the whole time knowing if they get in foul trouble it's not a big deal. That's 10 fouls to play with. Playing them together is intriguing to me and I do want to see how that looks. I doubt they'll do it much or for a long stretch just as a matchup nightmare for whoever they are up against.

To me the big question is the guards and how those mins get divided. It's anyones guess as to if Jok is ready to shoulder more time. And Ellington to what extent he can help. I like JO I think he's got a shooters mentality that the next one is going in and as a senior I think he'll play well.

The PGs is a 3 headed monster that I can see game to game any of them doing well. I'm not sold on MG being the hands down best one at the end of the year. I think he starts there but Sap is more athletic a better defender (when he's on I know he didn't show it last yr) But he's capable of it. Dickerson we just don't know yet... I hope MG don't play much at the 2. I hope JO Jok and Ellington play well enough that isn't necessary

 

[LASBUR]

I think Jok will get as many min at the 3 as at the 2 backing up Jarod

 

[Hawkfnntn]

I think Jok will get as many min at the 3 as at the 2 backing up Jarod

I can see Iowa play alittle small ball this year. But I doubt it'll be a ton. I doubt Jok can defend 3s very well but who knows you might be right I'll just need to see it first. Maybe they play zone while they have a smaller lineup out there. (I hate zone it seems like we suck at it)

 

[jacknicholson]

I love having 2 good centers that bring alittle something different. That way they throw a change up at the other team and allows them to play hard and aggressive the whole time knowing if they get in foul trouble it's not a big deal. That's 10 fouls to play with. Playing them together is intriguing to me and I do want to see how that looks. I doubt they'll do it much or for a long stretch just as a matchup nightmare for whoever they are up against.

To me the big question is the guards and how those mins get divided. It's anyones guess as to if Jok is ready to shoulder more time. And Ellington to what extent he can help. I like JO I think he's got a shooters mentality that the next one is going in and as a senior I think he'll play well.

The PGs is a 3 headed monster that I can see game to game any of them doing well. I'm not sold on MG being the hands down best one at the end of the year. I think he starts there but Sap is more athletic a better defender (when he's on I know he didn't show it last yr) But he's capable of it. Dickerson we just don't know yet... I hope MG don't play much at the 2. I hope JO Jok and Ellington play well enough that isn't necessary

Nice post, TennHawk, I also like the idea of the twin towers, they both seem to have improved their game this Summer and will be a handful for the opponents. Woody is a very good passer and that will create problems if they try to double team him leaving Greg and the snipers open. If we have the intensity, teamwork and chemistry, this will be a very good team....