The day after....I'm still not sure how we lost that game....

[SpiderRico]

If you had told me before the game that we would hold Gary Harris to 9 points, that MSU would shoot 55% from the FT line, that MSU would be called for 10 more fouls than us, that we would shoot 20 more free throws than them and have fewer turnovers than them, I would have said we would have won the game by 20.

I continue to be dumbfounded as to how we continue to be unable to do the little things at the end of games. Sometimes it's late game free throws, sometimes it's shot selection, sometimes its not boxing out at the worst times, etc. Of the 5 games we've dropped this year, the only one I walked away from saying, "That team legitimately beat us." was Michigan. They were just better that night in all phases. But against Villanova, ISU, Wisky and MSU we had them if we had just done the little, fundamental things necessary to close them out.

In the MSU game (and most other games as well), 6 of the 10 guys that play are juniors and seniors and they are getting about 75% of the minutes. So it's not being young. It's not because they don't know the system. It's not because they are unfamiliar with the opponent.

Some of it I put on Fran. If we continue to melt down with the combinations he's putting in at the end of the game, maybe it's time to modify that combination. Zach McCabe, God love him, has no business playing the 5 in the last 3 minutes if either Woody or Gabe haven't fouled out or aren't injured. Or if we have a 12 minute stretch during regulation where we haven't hit a shot and we've got our full compliment of time outs, maybe you call one or two to draw up a set play that'll help get the lid off the basket. Or maybe instead of getting up in their faces, he shows a calmer demeanor that'll get them to calm down some and focus.

All I know is that these games are not outliers or exceptions, but they have been the rule for the last 2+ years since we started becoming competitive. Something has to change or we will continue to be the bridesmaid in games like this.

 

[HawkIPA]

tl;dr

You arent sure how Iowa lost?

The Hawks missed 13 free throws, including a couple front end 1 and 1's and Iowa had a stretch in the 2nd half and OT where we went over 15 mintues without making a field goal. Its not rocket surgery, it was just a bad shooting night.

 

[StatelineHawk]

If you had told me before the game that we would hold Gary Harris to 9 points, that MSU would shoot 55% from the FT line, that MSU would be called for 10 more fouls than us, that we would shoot 20 more free throws than them and have fewer turnovers than them, I would have said we would have won the game by 20.

I continue to be dumbfounded as to how we continue to be unable to do the little things at the end of games. Sometimes it's late game free throws, sometimes it's shot selection, sometimes its not boxing out at the worst times, etc. Of the 5 games we've dropped this year, the only one I walked away from saying, "That team legitimately beat us." was Michigan. They were just better that night in all phases. But against Villanova, ISU, Wisky and MSU we had them if we had just done the little, fundamental things necessary to close them out.

In the MSU game (and most other games as well), 6 of the 10 guys that play are juniors and seniors and they are getting about 75% of the minutes. So it's not being young. It's not because they don't know the system. It's not because they are unfamiliar with the opponent.

Some of it I put on Fran. If we continue to melt down with the combinations he's putting in at the end of the game, maybe it's time to modify that combination. Zach McCabe, God love him, has no business playing the 5 in the last 3 minutes if either Woody or Gabe haven't fouled out or aren't injured. Or if we have a 12 minute stretch during regulation where we haven't hit a shot and we've got our full compliment of time outs, maybe you call one or two to draw up a set play that'll help get the lid off the basket. Or maybe instead of getting up in their faces, he shows a calmer demeanor that'll get them to calm down some and focus.

All I know is that these games are not outliers or exceptions, but they have been the rule for the last 2+ years since we started becoming competitive. Something has to change or we will continue to be the bridesmaid in games like this.

I definitely agree a lot with what you say. Michigan beat us and were better than us that night but the other losses are extremely disappointing. Especially last night.

 

[SpiderRico]

tl;dr

You arent sure how Iowa lost?

The Hawks missed 13 free throws, including a couple front end 1 and 1's and Iowa had a stretch in the 2nd half and OT where we went over 15 mintues without making a field goal. Its not rocket surgery, it was just a bad shooting night.

It's kind of a rhetroical question.....but yeah, it boggles my mind how we can hold Harris to 9 points, shoot 20 more free throws than them and win the turnover battle and not win comfortably. FTs down the stretch really shouldn't have mattered when you have those stats in your favor.

 

[HawkIPA]

It's kind of a rhetroical question.....but yeah, it boggles my mind how we can hold Harris to 9 points, shoot 20 more free throws than them and win the turnover battle and not win comfortably. FTs down the stretch really shouldn't have mattered when you have those stats in your favor.

You are forgetting Iowa didnt make a basket for over 15 minutes. Also had at least 2 other 5 minute droughts without made baskets.

 

[PCHawk]

The 15 minutes without a field goal is a little misleading for a couple reasons. One is we shot 20 some free throws in that stretch. Hard to make field goals when you're at the free throw line. The other is our defense was killing it. It seems like every possession they were heaving up a shot at the buzzer. That really limited the number of possessions we had.

Good post by the OP.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

tl;dr

You arent sure how Iowa lost?

The Hawks missed 13 free throws, including a couple front end 1 and 1's and Iowa had a stretch in the 2nd half and OT where we went over 15 mintues without making a field goal. Its not rocket surgery, it was just a bad shooting night.

The FT's were bad, but MSU also made 10 threes to our 3. That's a -21 differential just from behind the arc. Even if you look at those 7 extra threes MSU made and assume that Iowa was simply trading 2 for 3, that's still +7 in MSU's favor.

 

[pmchawk]

Simple question, not making a field goal for over 9.5 minutes left in regulation.

 

[tm3308]

The FT's were bad, but MSU also made 10 threes to our 3. That's a -21 differential just from behind the arc. Even if you look at those 7 extra threes MSU made and assume that Iowa was simply trading 2 for 3, that's still +7 in MSU's favor.

MSU was +21 from behind the arc and Iowa was +19 from the line. Threes killed us, even if MSU didn't hit a high percentage. They also hit timely ones; seemed like every time we were on the verge of stretching out the lead, they would hit a three and keep it to two possessions. After last night's performance, I think my pick for B1G POY right now would be Appling. That guy made plays right when they needed them, and he's been doing that all year while leading a walking MASH unit.

 

[HawksMN]

My question exactly. For them -Harris was off. Two guys out. Bench warmers for MSU getting significant minutes. Hit barely half of their free throws.

For us: Carver packed full, national audience, no one hurt, amped up.

And we LOSE??

Just heartbreaking.

 

[DJL]

My question exactly. For them -Harris was off. Two guys out. Bench warmers for MSU getting significant minutes. Hit barely half of their free throws.

For us: Carver packed full, national audience, no one hurt, amped up.

And we LOSE??

Just heartbreaking.

To me this was the most painful loss in the FM era. Even worse than at Nebraska last year. We have nobody to blame but the players and coaches. We didn't get hosed. We had every opportunity to win, and we just couldn't get a shot to fall. We had open looks. We played great D, but just could not make open shots or free throws. At some point you have to question the team's mental toughness. I hate to go there, but when you look at Villinova, ISU, Wisconsin, and MSU, it's hard to wonder why this team gets so tight down the stretch. Maybe Fran needs to change his approach at the end of games?

 

[PCHawk]

The more I think about it the more its obvious that we just can't handle the big game with so much on the line. Maybe now that the title is all but out of play we will feel less pressure and win some games. And hopefully come march we will have enough big game experience to handle it better.

 

[SpiderRico]

I'm starting to get to the point, after witnessing this time and time again over the last 2 years, that maybe the team is simply taking on the characteristics of it's leader. I love Fran, but "composed" is not the term I'd use for him. So if the leader can't be composed when things aren't going right, how can we expect the players to show composure either?

It's one thing to come in and use some "theatrics" right away to show that things aren't going to be like they were and to show other coaches, officials, etc that this isn't Iowa Basketball under Lick anymore. But now that he's got things to the point where they are....Top 15 team, Top 3 in the conference, etc....it might be time to change things up somewhat because we aren't that downtrodden team anymore just looking for respect. More nights than not, now, we are the hunted.

 

[tweeterhawk]

tl;dr

You arent sure how Iowa lost?

The Hawks missed 13 free throws, including a couple front end 1 and 1's and Iowa had a stretch in the 2nd half and OT where we went over 15 mintues without making a field goal. Its not rocket surgery, it was just a bad shooting night.

This. It's also not brain science.

 

[tweeterhawk]

I'm starting to get to the point, after witnessing this time and time again over the last 2 years, that maybe the team is simply taking on the characteristics of it's leader. I love Fran, but "composed" is not the term I'd use for him. So if the leader can't be composed when things aren't going right, how can we expect the players to show composure either?

It's one thing to come in and use some "theatrics" right away to show that things aren't going to be like they were and to show other coaches, officials, etc that this isn't Iowa Basketball under Lick anymore. But now that he's got things to the point where they are....Top 15 team, Top 3 in the conference, etc....it might be time to change things up somewhat because we aren't that downtrodden team anymore just looking for respect. More nights than not, now, we are the hunted.

I've defended Fran's outbursts as I've generally felt B1G officiating has been horrible and that was just a joke of a non-call on MSU travel that ended up being a four-point swing (made layup and 2 FTs on Fran's technical). But after seeing Fran kick the advertising panel on the front of the scorer's bench, pound the scorer's table, slam chairs and last night kick a notebook off the end of the scorer's bench, I've reached the point that I agree Fran needs professional help. I would hope his demeanor and flappability are not carrying over to the players but they could be.

I'm still embarrassed by his very public outburst against Dev during last year's Penn State game.

 

[NEIChawk]

 

[tweeterhawk]

I'm also going to go out on a limb here and praise MSU's defense. Irregardless of whether you approve of the hacking, hand-checking, holding, pushing, shoving that Tom Izzo's teams do (and I don't like it), B1G officials let them get away with it and that's what opponents need to overcome. They pretty much shut down our main threats last night (Dev, Ogs, to a lesser degree Mike and Woody). One of the reasons we took so many fewer shots (besides the fact we were going to the foul line more) was the fact that Iowa didn't have many open looks in the second half.

Meanwhile, I can fill up one hand and start on the second counting the number of times we played pretty good defense, only to leave Appling or Harris wide open on the next possession for a trey.

 

[eveningnewsteam]

I'm also going to go out on a limb here and praise MSU's defense. Irregardless of whether you approve of the hacking, hand-checking, holding, pushing, shoving that Tom Izzo's teams do (and I don't like it), B1G officials let them get away with it and that's what opponents need to overcome. They pretty much shut down our main threats last night (Dev, Ogs, to a lesser degree Mike and Woody). One of the reasons we took so many fewer shots (besides the fact we were going to the foul line more) was the fact that Iowa didn't have many open looks in the second half.

Meanwhile, I can fill up one hand and start on the second counting the number of times we played pretty good defense, only to leave Appling or Harris wide open on the next possession for a trey.

Michigan State missed a lot of wide open looks as well. Iowa didnt have many open looks at all period. Iowa's defense is good, but man do they have some bonehead breakdowns( Both Gesell and Woodbury chasing Valentine on a slip leaving Appling for a wide open 3)

 

[Xerxes]

Michigan State missed a lot of wide open looks as well. Iowa didnt have many open looks at all period. Iowa's defense is good, but man do they have some bonehead breakdowns( Both Gesell and Woodbury chasing Valentine on a slip leaving Appling for a wide open 3)

For as good as Iowa's D plays at times this is a problem that plagues them over and over.

 

[Dominate]

If you had told me before the game that we would hold Gary Harris to 9 points, that MSU would shoot 55% from the FT line, that MSU would be called for 10 more fouls than us, that we would shoot 20 more free throws than them and have fewer turnovers than them, I would have said we would have won the game by 20.

I continue to be dumbfounded as to how we continue to be unable to do the little things at the end of games. Sometimes it's late game free throws, sometimes it's shot selection, sometimes its not boxing out at the worst times, etc. Of the 5 games we've dropped this year, the only one I walked away from saying, "That team legitimately beat us." was Michigan. They were just better that night in all phases. But against Villanova, ISU, Wisky and MSU we had them if we had just done the little, fundamental things necessary to close them out.

In the MSU game (and most other games as well), 6 of the 10 guys that play are juniors and seniors and they are getting about 75% of the minutes. So it's not being young. It's not because they don't know the system. It's not because they are unfamiliar with the opponent.

Some of it I put on Fran. If we continue to melt down with the combinations he's putting in at the end of the game, maybe it's time to modify that combination. Zach McCabe, God love him, has no business playing the 5 in the last 3 minutes if either Woody or Gabe haven't fouled out or aren't injured. Or if we have a 12 minute stretch during regulation where we haven't hit a shot and we've got our full compliment of time outs, maybe you call one or two to draw up a set play that'll help get the lid off the basket. Or maybe instead of getting up in their faces, he shows a calmer demeanor that'll get them to calm down some and focus.

All I know is that these games are not outliers or exceptions, but they have been the rule for the last 2+ years since we started becoming competitive. Something has to change or we will continue to be the bridesmaid in games like this.

Some additional reasons the Hawks lost:
1. Harris playing great defense and holding White to one basket.
2. Back Up center (Costello) putting up a career high 11 pts and 12 rebounds filling in for Payne.
3. Only 15 total pts off the bench last night.
4. Hawks lack mental toughness down the stretch against good teams.