We are a very poor defensive team.

DuffMan

Well-Known Member
The struggles of this team are primarily defensive. No we aren't an offensive buzz saw, but we have enough offensive skill to score. Our real issue is our inability to defend. It is on D (rather than O) where our lack of athleticism is most hurtful.

A fast break or transition oriented team must get stops and secure defensive rebounds to be effective. We just can't do that effectively, yet.
 
Defense is horrible right now...Looks like lack of talent, lack of passion and lack of big body all are feeding this issue. The worst part is the lack of passion, something is off on this team and I hope coach can figure it out?
 
We are over rotating in zone and the swing passes to the wing are killing us. We should stay man to man, we just aren't quick enough to guard the perimeter in zone.
 
I've harped and harped this for years but it's been a trend at iowa not being able to or wanting to guard the 3 point shot. Davis, Alford, TL. And now Fran's team. Is it because iowa has primarily slow white guys?
 
I've harped and harped this for years but it's been a trend at iowa not being able to or wanting to guard the 3 point shot. Davis, Alford, TL. And now Fran's team. Is it because iowa has primarily slow white guys?

No one defends the 3 very well except for the top teams. And even then your best defense vs the 3 is your ability to go down on offense and hit your own 3.
 
what we are missing is a 2nd banger down low to get the baskets and let the guards and wing player get out on the perimeter to guard
they are so busy dbling down low to be effective on the outside
 
Next year's class will be the barometer for Caff.

If Ingram and Clemmons are as good as Caff described them defensively, that should make a HUGE impact in pressing and half court defense. Add Gesell into the mix as well and the backcourt should make big strides alongside Marble and Ogelsby. Caff will also have 4 guys that are 6'8 or taller that will hopefully make a defensive impact inside as well (Woodbury and Meyer should take some pressure off Basabe and White should improve from this year to next).

Next year's class won't solve all the problems, but those five guys he's bringing in should help this program take the next step defensively and offensively. If not, then questions can start to be asked about Caff. But hopefully we'll see more of the style Caff wants to predominantly play.
 
Next year's class will be the barometer for Caff.

If Ingram and Clemmons are as good as Caff described them defensively, that should make a HUGE impact in pressing and half court defense. Add Gesell into the mix as well and the backcourt should make big strides alongside Marble and Ogelsby. Caff will also have 4 guys that are 6'8 or taller that will hopefully make a defensive impact inside as well (Woodbury and Meyer should take some pressure off Basabe and White should improve from this year to next).

Next year's class won't solve all the problems, but those five guys he's bringing in should help this program take the next step defensively and offensively. If not, then questions can start to be asked about Caff. But hopefully we'll see more of the style Caff wants to predominantly play.

It definitely hurts watching this team try to be something they aren't but yes, it will get better. Will be nice to finally have some length down low.
 
We are over rotating in zone and the swing passes to the wing are killing us. We should stay man to man, we just aren't quick enough to guard the perimeter in zone.

Did you see what happened when we played man? A power forward was able to penetrate and dunk multiple times. It was bad. We don't play good help D and our inability to stop a man 1v1 opens up shooters on the outside. Our man is much worse than our zone at times. Athletically we are behind at almost every position besides basabe at times, so a zone helps us in that aspect a bit.

The problem is, with a zone, you have to find a body to box out, and we aren't doing that nor are we strong with the ball underneath. That has to improve. They also don't do a good job getting position early when a shot goes up. And dont even mention closing out on shooters with a little control. They either don't close out or they close out too fast and get blown by.
 
What little I watched of this game in the first 10 minutes it was painful that our defensive positioning was so poor. On ISU's Whites first dunk May was in terrible position, reaching across his body, crossing his feet, White did a crossover dribble and he was gone down the lane. and then nobody came over for help defense.

Tom Davis's teams played some DEE compared to these guys. Some of these guys need their minutes cut until they can prove they can do BBall 101 which is stay between their man and the basket.
 
Help defense is just awful right now for the Hawkeyes.
They don't play screens very well and rotation is really really bad.
 
Rebounding is an atrocity right now as well, it is a similar mind set for defense and rebounding...attitude and effort. Some of Iowa's players have been fortunate not to be pushed by talented, or equally as talented guys behind them...that will change and hopefully, both areas see significant improvement next season when there will be kids pushing.
 

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