So why are we so bad?

[HawkGold]

I've mentioned this several times. Look at the players. They mostly played for high schools that play against medium to lower size schools. One played for a very small school against teams like Lone Tree or Tri County. The speed that comes from playing in a state like Illinois or Michigan is so much more different. It just isn't there.

 

[PCHawk]

I don't see how we're better next year unless Connor is better than I expect

Garza clogging the lane would be a start.

 

[PCHawk]

Listen...this isn't a one year rebuilding effort. You are going to lose 25 points off this team next year. I'm just not seeing how we are going to be that much better next year. The players back from last year haven't made a leap...Wagner, Uhl, & Ellingson. Wow...I expected alot from the first two and they just haven't shown up. Top that with Baer playing terrible today and well...that's how you lose to Omaha.

We won't be better at the start of next year than we will be at the end of this year. So if we aren't better at the end of the year we are in real trouble. I just have to keep reminding myself that our second best player is out right now. Most teams drop considerably when they lose their second best player. Especially a team as young as this one. 25 minus went to players that are a lot worse than Cook.

 

[Hawk5656]

Garza clogging the lane would be a start.

Doesn't make up for losing Pete though. I think we'll be better defensively next year but worse offensively

 

[NBAFAN123]

I've mentioned this several times. Look at the players. They mostly played for high schools that play against medium to lower size schools. One played for a very small school against teams like Lone Tree or Tri County. The speed that comes from playing in a state like Illinois or Michigan is so much more different. It just isn't there.[/QUOTE

Well put. Kinda like the idea that keeping Iowa kids in Iowa is the key. Wrong. Sorry but mr basketball in Iowa is light years from mr basketball in Michigan, Ohio, New York, etc. Do the names Woodbury, gessel, uthoff mean anything? Nice in state players that were raved about mainly because they were home state talent, but far from tier 1 / game changing talent. I'm sure I'll get drilled for the comments, but, facts r facts.

 

[deanvogs]

Can't win without talent

It really, really hurts that Uhl is looking like a bust. If he would have developed, then we would have Jok, and Uhl as the second scorer. Then you sprinkle in a Baer for hustle and D, a Cook/Pemsl for added depth in the front court, and now you have at least something.

Looking more and more like the '14 and '15 classes are complete busts. Heck even if Moss does develop, you gotta hit on more than 1 out of 6 kids.

 

[HawkGold]

It really, really hurts that Uhl is looking like a bust. If he would have developed, then we would have Jok, and Uhl as the second scorer. Then you sprinkle in a Baer for hustle and D, a Cook/Pemsl for added depth in the front court, and now you have at least something.

Looking more and more like the '14 and '15 classes are complete busts. Heck even if Moss does develop, you gotta hit on more than 1 out of 6 kids.

I don't think he's a bust. Look at his stats.

There isn't a miracle cure for this team. However several players need to be allowed to grow.

> Uhl
>Williams
< Bohanon

 

[PCHawk]

Doesn't make up for losing Pete though. I think we'll be better defensively next year but worse offensively

I agree it doesn't make up for losing him. That's why I say we won't be better at the beginning of next year than we are at the end of this one. Bringing in 3 more possible contributors, having an off season for everyone to get better, and Jok being bad at defense make it possible that we won't get worse next year. But if we don't improve a lot over the course of this year, we will be in trouble.

 

[EstronHawk]

I agree it doesn't make up for losing him. That's why I say we won't be better at the beginning of next year than we are at the end of this one. Bringing in 3 more possible contributors, having an off season for everyone to get better, and Jok being bad at defense make it possible that we won't get worse next year. But if we don't improve a lot over the course of this year, we will be in trouble.

Yeah, and if you look at past teams under Fran, they usually get worse at the end of the season.

 

[PCHawk]

Yeah, and if you look at past teams under Fran, they usually get worse at the end of the season.

If you mean one third of the time I agree. They got better as the season progressed 4 times, then got better as the season progressed until the last 8 games or so where they tanked 2 times.

They have actually gotten better 100% of the time during seasons where they weren't ranked in the top 10. Since we won't sniff the top 10 this year, I like our chances.

 

[BigD]

I was at the game today, they are flat out bad I hate to say. Iowa may be lucky to win 3-4 Big 10 games, I don't even see this team making the NIT as of now. No point guard, no dominate big men in the middle, they don't play defense or know how to play it. They are a young team, and it shows in their play. I don't understand how Fran couldn't go out and get a couple 6'10 - 6'11 big men knowing Woody's career was ending. We really lack size. I fear UNI and ISU will just run Iowa out of Carver and DSM next week.

Lol, can't help but laugh as i expressed concern over this very subject and I remember being told by a couple of people on here how we don't need that big center and that these midsize guys were so athletic that they could make up the difference with there speed and abilities.

 

[Tierney]

The way this year is going it could be worse than the Lickliter years. Fran has been around long enough that he should be able to prepare in advance for an upcoming season. I don't miss Lickliter, but I do miss Olson, and Davis. Raveling probably was a lot better coach than what were getting this year. I think Iowa has some good players, but the coaching hasn't been very good.

 

[phdsvp]

Listen...this isn't a one year rebuilding effort. You are going to lose 25 points off this team next year. I'm just not seeing how we are going to be that much better next year. The players back from last year haven't made a leap...Wagner, Uhl, & Ellingson. Wow...I expected alot from the first two and they just haven't shown up. Top that with Baer playing terrible today and well...that's how you lose to Omaha.

Because Jok is playing for the only team that needs him to score this many points in major college basketball. He'd be getting 25 minutes a game max for any other program and maybe scoring 15 a game. Him graduating will be a wash and easily replaced by Bohannon/Cook/etc. Ellingson will have a role next year, but Wagner and Uhl will be at the end of the bench. They'll be maybe NIT-level better.

 

[phdsvp]

The way this year is going it could be worse than the Lickliter years. Fran has been around long enough that he should be able to prepare in advance for an upcoming season. I don't miss Lickliter, but I do miss Olson, and Davis. Raveling probably was a lot better coach than what were getting this year. I think Iowa has some good players, but the coaching hasn't been very good.

Raveling. Seriously. Ol' George Two-Chairs. Are you drunk right now?

 

[Playmaker]

-------So why are we so bad?

For the EXACT same reason we cannot reach the next level in Football....Lazy/Stubborn/Outdated recruiting practices.

 

[tksirius]

I don't see how we're better next year unless Connor is better than I expect

Connor is a good passer. That's about all I got.

 

[BigD]

George's specialty was recruiting but he fell short at game day coaching. During game coaching none of those guys come close to Lute. That's one thing that has always stood out to me with Lute compared to Fran. Lute could design and run plays that would get the ball to each player to maximize their abilities offensively and have them matched up on each player defensively to utilize those abilities also. Sometimes Fran ball looks like street ball to me, especially on the offensive side of the court.

What was the key in Lute ball was to have point guards that could penatrate and force the defense to react and collapse in which often would lead to a post player being open or have a strong advantage moving to the hoop. Penetrate, pass to a wing positioned out around 16 to 18 feet out and then a quick pass from the wing down to the post position player who moved in under the basket when the defense collapsed around the guards penitration. If the post player was stopped short the wing or guard would have positioned themselves for a wide open shot. It was the sum of all moving parts designed for a well coached team.

The point guard was the catalyst. Ronnie was a master at this as he could hit from anywhere on the floor and he had the prettiest floater from ten to twelve feet out. Nothing but net. Mostly everyone else on the team were lunchpale type players. Not superstars but Lute set up plays that maximized each players strengths. Total team concept. It was fun and you felt you could win any game because Lute would figure out their defensive and find the open man. That's what final fours are all about, and that was our last final four. Then Lute went to Arizona and Arizona became a major player for many years.

 

[Knight78]

Lol, can't help but laugh as i expressed concern over this very subject and I remember being told by a couple of people on here how we don't need that big center and that these midsize guys were so athletic that they could make up the difference with there speed and abilities.

Those mid-sized guys are athletic. But athletic ability isn't what's lacking. It's defensive will and intensity. IF these guys figure out just how much effort defense takes and then the will to play defense, they will improve dramatically. Offensively we may have plenty of talent. But it goes for naught without defense.

 

[Joshbrown]

This was going to be a borderline year... .

There's this weird thing where people predict Iowa is gonna be bad as if that justifies it.

Millions in salary = you're supposed to earn it every year. Not every 5th year the way Contract Cirk does.

 

[Hawk5656]

Those mid-sized guys are athletic. But athletic ability isn't what's lacking. It's defensive will and intensity. IF these guys figure out just how much effort defense takes and then the will to play defense, they will improve dramatically. Offensively we may have plenty of talent. But it goes for naught without defense.

I don't think it's lack of effort it's lack of talent. Who on this team is defensively talented?