Whats the #1 thing

[eyekwah]

I did not watch the first game between Auburn and Virginia. I did watch the TT vs MSU game. Frankly the way the referees allowed both teams to play physically was a factor in the game. It was really ugly basketball in my estimation. The style of defense works when the refs let physical play go on. When teams start to get chippy with each other and the refs take out the whistles then the style of defense does not work as well.

I'm not saying Iowa couldn't play better defense, but the way the referees permit physical play works in favor of teams that have the athletes to play physical.

 

[oldhawk12]

you hope Iowa improves on defensively next year? I'm going w/ boxing out!

A pt guard that shuts down the other teams’ point and disrupts their offense

 

[revkev73]

Not really. Texas Tech runs a very active switching man to man, from what I have seen in just a few games they do not get caught in many mismatches. They play the hedge on high ball screens very well and these are things every team in the final four, top 10 do for the most part. Tech's defensive footwork is great, the players are low to the court and ready, quick, they do not seem to lose track of the ball and the man they are covering.

Compare that to Iowa where we seem to play high post screens very poorly leading to wide open give and go baskets, mismatches where Garza is guarding a smaller, quicker player 20+ feet from the basket while JBo or a smaller guard gets caught on the opponent big man down low. That is two mismatches in favor of the opponent and it leaves the hawk defense scrambling the rest of the possession. This is why Iowa had to play so much zone which leads to its other problems of poor defensive rebounding leading to a lot of opponent 2nd chance put backs.

So not really. I think we have some rim protectors but the main thing is better defensive speed, footwork, and desire from stopping penetration. Fran needs to develop one on one stoppers at the perimeter so our defense doesnt break down into a series of help double teams when constant penetration occurs.

It is also philosophy as Fran would rather outscore than defend it seems. But it you are a good scoring team and play defense you can be top 10.

Agree with analysis, bottom line for me is, Iowa almost always seems to be playing on their heals, trying to recover, reach when they play defense. And they appear to be going through the motions, waiting to get the ball back so they can jack it up on the other end. This often ends bad when the final score is tabulated.

 

[revkev73]

A pt guard that shuts down the other teams’ point and disrupts their offense

This makes me feel bad.

 

[99topdawg]

Dude! You think Texas Tech is "athletic"? They just do what they are taught. Hawks either aren't taught or don't do what their taught. Athleticism again for the millionth time has no direct correlation to defensive prowess. Cook is more athletic than anyone on Texas Tech roster. He must have been a defensive god.

You totally missed the point of my post. Yes, Cook is athletic. There's a reason he doesn't play good defense and Tech does. Tech is athletic and they have the desire to play defense. Some players have the desire, some have the athleticism. Tech has both. If you don't think Tech isn't athletic, I don't know what you're watching.

 

[99topdawg]

So does Iowa have either of the two at this point? The athletes and/or desire?

I really don't know if they do or not. Not sure they have what it takes at every position athletically, but I think the recognition/reaction is certainly lacking, as is the on-the-ball defense. Another problem is Iowa's offense. They can't have players that are defensive specialists, unless they have offensive skills, because all 5 players are expected to have a big role in the offense in some capacity. We have seen that over the years where solid defenders don't get the minutes because they are a liability in a motion offense.

 

[revkev73]

I really don't know if they do or not. Not sure they have what it takes at every position athletically, but I think the recognition/reaction is certainly lacking, as is the on-the-ball defense. Another problem is Iowa's offense. They can't have players that are defensive specialists, unless they have offensive skills, because all 5 players are expected to have a big role in the offense in some capacity. We have seen that over the years where solid defenders don't get the minutes because they are a liability in a motion offense.

If Iowa hasn't been to the final four in like, 40 years, it might be time to take a look at a different philosophy.

Who are we? What is our identify? What is our signature? How can we become difficult to play against? What can we do differently to get better athletes in our program?

 

[Ian Pike Hammer]

Not really. Texas Tech runs a very active switching man to man, from what I have seen in just a few games they do not get caught in many mismatches. They play the hedge on high ball screens very well and these are things every team in the final four, top 10 do for the most part. Tech's defensive footwork is great, the players are low to the court and ready, quick, they do not seem to lose track of the ball and the man they are covering.

Compare that to Iowa where we seem to play high post screens very poorly leading to wide open give and go baskets, mismatches where Garza is guarding a smaller, quicker player 20+ feet from the basket while JBo or a smaller guard gets caught on the opponent big man down low. That is two mismatches in favor of the opponent and it leaves the hawk defense scrambling the rest of the possession. This is why Iowa had to play so much zone which leads to its other problems of poor defensive rebounding leading to a lot of opponent 2nd chance put backs.

So not really. I think we have some rim protectors but the main thing is better defensive speed, footwork, and desire from stopping penetration. Fran needs to develop one on one stoppers at the perimeter so our defense doesnt break down into a series of help double teams when constant penetration occurs.

It is also philosophy as Fran would rather outscore than defend it seems. But it you are a good scoring team and play defense you can be top 10.

I think a combination of a light press [just slow them down, take an extra 4 or 5 seconds off the 30-second shot clock] and full court press without fouling, combined with a 1-3-1 zone would help tremendously. I have seen a 1-3-1 zone, when executed quickly and efficiently, present 2 defenders in front of every offensive player with the ball EVERY TIME! That stops dribble penetration on 80-90% of possessions. The weakness, of course, is the baseline, but that would be a damn good starting point.
If we are going to an 11,12, 13 man rotation, there's no reason not to press the whole game, each player giving 110%, then rotate them every 7 minutes. Fran has rested he starters sometimes for 10,12 minutes at a time, which is a losing proposition. That's more than 1/2 a half! [I actually understand that, if they're just loafing on defense and/or not contributing anything].

I have been an advocate of the 1-3-1 for the last 100 years, and further more, don't understand why the university doesn't fire Fran and hire me.

 

[Ian Pike Hammer]

This makes me feel bad.

how 'bout a whole team of them! Players have different offensive skill levels, but everyone should b able to play at least decent defense- for a full 30 seconds. How many times did we give up a basket in the last 5 or 6 seconds of the shot clock?

 

[Adam]

You totally missed the point of my post. Yes, Cook is athletic. There's a reason he doesn't play good defense and Tech does. Tech is athletic and they have the desire to play defense. Some players have the desire, some have the athleticism. Tech has both. If you don't think Tech isn't athletic, I don't know what you're watching.

I didn't miss your point, you just missed the mark. Texas Tech was 17 and 15 last year. They were not above average athletically last year and they aren't again this year. Just because someone is winning doesn't mean they have the best athleticism. Texas Tech is winning because they bought in on Beard's teachings. The guy must also be a fantastic teacher.

It is fundamentally thick headed to believe that any D1 athlete lacks the desire to win. The notion that they are content with middling is beyond dumb. Iowa is no different. The players want to win. They are either incapable of remembering what to do in the heat of the moment or they just recieve poor instruction. Which one is more likely?

Serious question. Do you in fact believe that Texas Tech has the 2nd best roster in the country? If you do not believe that then you must concede that Texas Tech is propelled by fantastic coaching and even rarer complete buy in by the players.

It is my stance that a great teacher and motivator like Beard could replicate this success with any roster in the country given that said roster bought in and gave maximum effort like the Texas Tech squad has.

 

[uihawk82]

Agree with analysis, bottom line for me is, Iowa almost always seems to be playing on their heals, trying to recover, reach when they play defense. And they appear to be going through the motions, waiting to get the ball back so they can jack it up on the other end. This often ends bad when the final score is tabulated.

Totally agree. I will say that TTech and the other 3 teams in the final four did their share of grabbing, reaching and clutching. They were just not getting too many fouls called on them as is the case in the tourney. I wish they would call the games a little closer to try to eliminate some bad bumping and grinding.

 

[uihawk82]

I think a combination of a light press [just slow them down, take an extra 4 or 5 seconds off the 30-second shot clock] and full court press without fouling, combined with a 1-3-1 zone would help tremendously. I have seen a 1-3-1 zone, when executed quickly and efficiently, present 2 defenders in front of every offensive player with the ball EVERY TIME! That stops dribble penetration on 80-90% of possessions. The weakness, of course, is the baseline, but that would be a damn good starting point.
If we are going to an 11,12, 13 man rotation, there's no reason not to press the whole game, each player giving 110%, then rotate them every 7 minutes. Fran has rested he starters sometimes for 10,12 minutes at a time, which is a losing proposition. That's more than 1/2 a half! [I actually understand that, if they're just loafing on defense and/or not contributing anything].

I have been an advocate of the 1-3-1 for the last 100 years, and further more, don't understand why the university doesn't fire Fran and hire me.

Very good thoughts. Yes, the 1-3-1 is very good especially when you have the speed and quickness to trap really well in it. Huggy Bear Huggins uses is a lot or used to , it was the main reason his Cincinnati teams were so good and why they got out to such a huge lead against Iowa and Alford in the dance some years back. The other reason is Alford cant really coach during a game and as you said Alford did not have his players ready to attack the main weakness of that defense in the corners and along the baseline. I even knew that years ago and was yelling at alford that day to attack there.

I dont think the hawks have a fast enough man to play at the point of the 1-3-1. Boy a Christian Williams type guard with great defensive skills at about 6-4 to 6-6 is needed for that position. But he never got to play at Iowa.?????

 

[Adam]

Boy a Christian Williams type guard with great defensive skills at about 6-4 to 6-6 is needed for that position. But he never got to play at Iowa.?????

There is nothing like lamenting over a sub par player that couldn't crack the starting rotation.

 

[uihawk82]

There is nothing like lamenting over a sub par player that couldn't crack the starting rotation.

I said a player of that type as in height, really good speed and quickness, can really play defense with great reactions and seeing plays unfold. Not necessarily Williams who I hardly saw play.

 

[Adam]

I said a player of that type as in height, really good speed and quickness, can really play defense with great reactions and seeing plays unfold. Not necessarily Williams who I hardly saw play.

If that was your nature of your comment it was lost in the wash. Especially your last line "But he never got to play at Iowa????".

Williams did get to play. He was weighed and measured and was found wanting.

Overall though the sentiment of getting a 6'5 or 6'6 guard that can handle, shoot and distribute and bring defensive skills to the table is a great one. Those guys are valuable. P.S. Joe W says Hi.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Boxing out is critical and it involves thinking and effort. Even foot laggards like Iowa can be proficient if they put their minds to it. It is amazing how little effort/thinking seems to go into it for the Iowa players. If you can excel at boxing out and be in the face of another team, the less than athletic teams can compete.

I don't disagree. My point is that you can't as a defense let the opposing team shoot 60%. A team has to at least play good enough defense to have a chance to box out for a rebound.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Boxing out is critical and it involves thinking and effort. Even foot laggards like Iowa can be proficient if they put their minds to it. It is amazing how little effort/thinking seems to go into it for the Iowa players. If you can excel at boxing out and be in the face of another team, the less than athletic teams can compete.

Doesn't make a damn difference if you can't make them take a bad or less % shot. if they make it, boxing out is a moot point.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

I did not watch the first game between Auburn and Virginia. I did watch the TT vs MSU game. Frankly the way the referees allowed both teams to play physically was a factor in the game. It was really ugly basketball in my estimation. The style of defense works when the refs let physical play go on. When teams start to get chippy with each other and the refs take out the whistles then the style of defense does not work as well.

I'm not saying Iowa couldn't play better defense, but the way the referees permit physical play works in favor of teams that have the athletes to play physical.

I did notice as well they are allowing A LOT of physical play at the rim take place. I'm kind of fine with that, though.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Dude! You think Texas Tech is "athletic"? They just do what they are taught. Hawks either aren't taught or don't do what their taught. Athleticism again for the millionth time has no direct correlation to defensive prowess. Cook is more athletic than anyone on Texas Tech roster. He must have been a defensive god.

Todd Lickliters's teams were what I would call, quite unathletic and they were still able to play pretty good defense. I agree with you, this falls on coaching.

 

[uihawk82]

If that was your nature of your comment it was lost in the wash. Especially your last line "But he never got to play at Iowa????".

Williams did get to play. He was weighed and measured and was found wanting.

Overall though the sentiment of getting a 6'5 or 6'6 guard that can handle, shoot and distribute and bring defensive skills to the table is a great one. Those guys are valuable. P.S. Joe W says Hi.

isnt Joe W about 6-8 and he is a good defender. He could be the classic type of guy to be on the point of a full court press with his athleticism. Trap the ball carrier and make that first pass a tough one.