Positives

[NikeHawk21]

1. Cook (we got ourselves a player)

2. Baer (kids a gamer)

3. Rebounding (looked much better tonight, we outrebounded them 46-38 and had 12 offensive boards)

4. Our biggest glaring weakness can be corrected (Defensive positioning and FT shooting can be coached and practiced)

 

[Hawk5656]

Cook and Jok are really really good. Thought Uhl rebounded really well too

 

[BigD]

Even though we lost tonight I see a lot of potential with this team. I had posted in another thread how this can't be just the Joc and Cook show and that our defense would have to improve as the season goes on. Well that would pretty much sum up the game tonight as Joc and Cook showed they play at a different level than the rest of our team and our defense looked weak on defense in the second half and gave up a lot of easy baskets.

Seton Hall also made some three point shots under pressure and several wide open threes. Both teams did not do well at the free throw. Wagner will have to improve his free throwing ability or else Fran will not be able to leave him in the game in crunch time at the end of the game. Every team will foul him and let him doink them off the backboard.

Bohannon made several freshmen mistakes with three crucial turnovers and also he did not move toward the basketball when it was thrown toward him as he was caught flat footed and that caused another turnover. All four of those turnovers led to easy scores or eight points. Having said that he is a freshmen and he will learn from his mistakes. So over all I thought they did pretty good. We need two players to step up and be our third and forth options behind Joc and Cook. If that happens and our defense steps up we could be pretty good come conference time. I was surprised that Fran didn't play more zone on defense in the second half to help slow down their scoring from close up under the basket.

I am not disappointed as this game turned out pretty much how I expected it to. In fact they played better than I thought they would. As long as we learn from the mistakes and keep improving this team shows a lot of promise.

 

[PCHawk]

Hoe many teams have 2 really good players and don't make the tourney? A decent amount but not a ton. I think we have a pretty good shot.

 

[BigD]

Hoe many teams have 2 really good players and don't make the tourney? A decent amount but not a ton. I think we have a pretty good shot.

I agree IF we can have two or three other players averaging around ten to fourteen points a game and if our defense continues to improve. We could probably cut back on the "hoes" though. Lol

 

[Tierney]

Seton Hall scored around fifty points on driving layups. If the Iowa coaching staff can correct that they should be pretty good. Seton Hall isn't a bad team.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

Positives...our defense has alot of room for improvement. That's positive. We kept them under 100...that's positive.

 

[SpecialKHawk]

Hoe many teams have 2 really good players and don't make the tourney? A decent amount but not a ton. I think we have a pretty good shot.

Just to give you something to think about. We have 6 tough non-con games. Seton Hall, Virginia (tourney), Providence or Memphis (tourney), Iowa State, UNI (Des Moines), Notre Dame (road game). That's a pretty tough gauntlet and there is a chance we lose the remaining 5 of these. That means the non con record would be 7-6 with no big wins. Then add on a 9-9 B1G record and that means 16-15. That does not bode well. If we win 2 of the 6; 18-13, 3 then 19-12. That might get us in.

The key is we have to win 2/3 of those 5 games and then have no other screw ups.

 

[BryceC]

Just to give you something to think about. We have 6 tough non-con games. Seton Hall, Virginia (tourney), Providence or Memphis (tourney), Iowa State, UNI (Des Moines), Notre Dame (road game). That's a pretty tough gauntlet and there is a chance we lose the remaining 5 of these. That means the non con record would be 7-6 with no big wins. Then add on a 9-9 B1G record and that means 16-15. That does not bode well. If we win 2 of the 6; 18-13, 3 then 19-12. That might get us in.

The key is we have to win 2/3 of those 5 games and then have no other screw ups.

I think you're being unnecessarily gloomy. I hadn't seen Iowa play yet this year, and I came away with a ton of positives.

1. Cook is better than I thought he would be, and the offense in general is better than I thought it would be. This is very good IMO, because outside of Cook, I think this is generally a jump shooting team. If Cook didn't have the skill he does with his back to the basket I think Iowa would be pretty easy to defend.

2. Anybody with eyeballs can say the defense was bad. However, defense can be schemed, and the switching defenses looked like it worked really well. SH was an experienced team and it still confounded them, so against less experienced teams it will work really well. IMO offense doesn't get demonstrably better during the season, but I think defense can.

3. There was some talk about Pemsl and J-Bo being overwhelmed and that was obvious. I said it in another thread but Monte Morris was absolutely overmatched in his first game against real competition at BYU his freshman year. Almost lost us the game and I was completely uncomfortable with him even taking the inbounds pass when he was playing due to foul trouble. Don't project careers based on this game.

If I had to guess, I think Iowa will lose to VA, beat Memphis, beat ISU and UNI, and then lose to ND. If that happens I think Iowa ending up at the end of the noncon w/ 3 losses. I think they are still in a position to make a run at the tourney at that point. I do think Iowa has to win 3 of these games though, because the Big 10 conference unbalanced conference schedule doesn't give Iowa as many opportunities for good wins as in the past.

 

[BryceC]

One other thought - the offense looked great today, but the hawks were hitting a lot of jump shots. Jump shooting teams will have bad games sometimes, especially if Jok gets off at all. So there will be likely a game or 2 where the Hawks just look terrible, probably on the road some too. Don't freak out.

 

[deanvogs]

LOL, a Cyclone fan has to be the voice of reason around here now? Don't take that the wrong way Bryce, that was great stuff you posted.

1) The offense should be pretty good this year.
2) We have an inside presence that can score at the rim
3) The inside presence should free up some room for 3 pt shooters
4) Jok is much better at the dribble drive this year. He can either pull up or continue to the rim, should be a real weapon for him

 

[SpecialKHawk]

I think you're being unnecessarily gloomy. I hadn't seen Iowa play yet this year, and I came away with a ton of positives.

1. Cook is better than I thought he would be, and the offense in general is better than I thought it would be. This is very good IMO, because outside of Cook, I think this is generally a jump shooting team. If Cook didn't have the skill he does with his back to the basket I think Iowa would be pretty easy to defend.

2. Anybody with eyeballs can say the defense was bad. However, defense can be schemed, and the switching defenses looked like it worked really well. SH was an experienced team and it still confounded them, so against less experienced teams it will work really well. IMO offense doesn't get demonstrably better during the season, but I think defense can.

3. There was some talk about Pemsl and J-Bo being overwhelmed and that was obvious. I said it in another thread but Monte Morris was absolutely overmatched in his first game against real competition at BYU his freshman year. Almost lost us the game and I was completely uncomfortable with him even taking the inbounds pass when he was playing due to foul trouble. Don't project careers based on this game.

If I had to guess, I think Iowa will lose to VA, beat Memphis, beat ISU and UNI, and then lose to ND. If that happens I think Iowa ending up at the end of the noncon w/ 3 losses. I think they are still in a position to make a run at the tourney at that point. I do think Iowa has to win 3 of these games though, because the Big 10 conference unbalanced conference schedule doesn't give Iowa as many opportunities for good wins as in the past.

I am not gloomy at all on this team. I have been to the last 2 games in person and watched the first on BTN to go. Really like what we have but it's young and inexperienced. There is more talent and pieces with this group than last year.

Yes team D, stopping dribble dive and rebounding are issues. We have no true post player so rim protection and possibly rebounding may not improve until we add the 2 big men coming in next years class. Cook is too good to risk him to foul trouble trying to block tons of shots at the rim.

Team D will improve but it may not dramatically in time in the non-con. Both UNI and ISU have guards that are quick and dribble drive along with shooters. Those are bad match-ups early. What do you know about Memphis or Providence and have you seen either play? Virginia and Notre Dame could be top 15 teams.

It's interesting how surprised many fans are about Cook. Did anyone watch his tape or notice he was a top 75 player? Probably the highest rated guy we have had since Ricky Davis. He's a true freshman but already making the adjustment to the college level. This guy is the real deal.

Bohannen played well except for the 3 minute stretch in the second half where he turned it over 3 times. That's inexperience but will learn. He can really shoot it also but not take any this game. Pemsel is surprisingly better than I thought but did not get the minutes. I'd rather see Fran play Moss & Dailey over Brady. Brady is hitting shots this year but does give you much else. Those other 2 guys offer much more in the long run. The guy that worries me is Wagner. Great athlete but does not have enough game to go with that. He could have used a red shirt to work on shooting and ball handling.

 

[NEIChawk]

Another positive.....Fran needs a true PG...but other than that....

 

[ssckelley]

Positives....holy cow can this team score points!

 

[InGoodCo]

so many positives and a great measuring stick for a young team that doesn't know all of it's rolls yet. SH had a seasoned team that had all played together last season and won 25 games. JBo had a few freshman moments - we're gonna see that again - but I am in no way ready to make any kind of statement on what type of player he is in his 3rd game and his first against a team with a pulse. There's a lot of tape for the guys to watch with this one - a loss like this can be a huge learning experience for a young team. I came away thinking "these guys are only gonna get better." Yeah, they are gonna take their lumps - but I could imagine this team playing outstanding D by midseason and getting it together down the stretch. The great thing about a brutal schedule with a team like this? Opportunities.

 

[1hawkeye1]

1- Cook. He is a baller.
2- Jok. When he's on, the ball doesn't touch the rim. Ever.
3- Baer. He has improved.
4- The offense. It was absolutely on fire and man was that fun to watch!!
5- The future for this team is very bright.

As for #5, the future might not arrive this season. There will be some long nights. Don't freak out! (as Bryce would say)

 

[TritonHawkeye]

This team can score and seems to have real talent and fire power. I was impressed with Nick, Pete and Tyler as they did many things well offensively.

 

[BigD]

Seton Hall scored around fifty points on driving layups. If the Iowa coaching staff can correct that they should be pretty good. Seton Hall isn't a bad team.

I agree and I am sure some of the mistakes will corrected.