Tough day for EIU hoops hopes

[Clonefan32]

Unfortunately for Cyclone fans, I think there are two reasons why this is gonna be Fran's last season.

First, after Iowa completes its charade of a national search, Beth will be named the permanent AD. She's already shown she's the only person at Iowa with enough balls to do the dirty work of firing underperforming high profile coaches.

Second, as the basketball season continues, there are going to be many men's games at Carver where attendance is embarrassing, especially when contrasted to attendance at women's games.

I was looking at their schedule. They have 3 more gimmes in Florida AM, UMBC and Nothern Illinois. Otherwise their Big 10 schedule goes:

Michigan
@Wisconsin
Rutgers
Nebraska
@Minnesota
Purdue
Maryland
@Michigan
@indiana

I have a hard time seeing them winning more than 2-3 of those games. It's going to get ugly quick.

 

[iahawks]

I have a hard time seeing them winning more than 2-3 of those games. It's going to get ugly quick.

I kind of hope you are right.

 

[SEIOWA CLONE]

I can't imagine the state of Iowa basketball right now if

1. They wouldn't have gotten Garza to go to psycho mode off-season and become the player he did and staying the extra year, along with getting the Murray twins, who were not really recruited by many, to turn out as high-level players. Fran seems to just fall into that and still hasn't been to the sweet 16 and will probably become the highest winning coach in Iowa history.

2. if Catlin Clark wasn't there to give them a warm fuzzy feeling.

Fran got on Garza early and when he started to get some offers he had already made up his mind to go to EIU. The summer before he really came on, he went overseas and trained with his uncle, which really improved his footwork. Guy would have been a nice NBA player 30 years ago, today, he just cannot get the minutes, the kid from Purdue is going to face the same problem. The NBA just plays a different game than college.

The Murray twins came to EIU as walk-ons, and just go better every year. Fran redshirted the one that graduated last year which helped down the road. Fran still played his son over both of them, which should have never happened, the oldest boy was a better baseball player, and the one now still is rail thin from his cancer, and just plays a soft game of basketball.

Fran loves the slow white kids that can hit the three, and thinks that is somehow going to make his team better, but they get abused on defense, and when their shots are not falling, or they are not getting out and running, they are in trouble.

 

[GoHawks]

Hadn't watched Iowa before this game. This might be Fran's softest team and that is saying something.

The box score only lists 4 guards: Bowen, Perkins, Dix and Harding. 2 of those guys are okay, and 2 are unplayable at this level (at least now, maybe Dix gets there in a few years?).

Then you got 3 small forwards who can shoot and hustle, but not really defend or handle the ball very well, in the Sandforts and Patty Melt.

And 2 undersized posts. One young and raw, one skilled but undersized and slow.

So that's not enough ball-handling to deal with guard heavy teams, and nothing inside to defend against bigger teams. Just not gonna beat anyone who is even average, unless they totally light it up from 3.

Luckily they get PSU, Michigan, Maryland and Minny twice, plus Nebs and Rutgers both at home. They should win 8 of those, add a couple mild upsets at home (e.g. Wisky, Ill, OSU)... 10-10. Good lord.

I've been saying this is Frans softest team for weeks here. I think now that you've seen it a lot more agree. It's not a good roster simply put. Iowa will not win more than 1-2 road games all year. I'll take the under at 9.5 conference wins.

 

[Three4Cy]

Chad's take:

The Hawkeyes have shown their youth in those games, all losses, including Thursday’s 90-65 drubbing at Iowa State.

Iowa starters last night: 2 5th-year seniors, a 4th-year senior, a junior, and last night, a sophomore.

Leistikow: Cy-Hawk blowout adds to Iowa's adversity; 'We're dealing with some stuff'

A 90-65 loss at Iowa State was filled with red flags for Iowa's play, continuing a tough week emotionally for the Hawkeye players.

www.desmoinesregister.com

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

I agree with all 3 and I'd add a 4th. Need to slow tempo. This team isn't good enough to be playing up tempo. We need to limit possessions of both teams when we're playing teams better than us like last 2 games

I disagree, tempo is their best opportunity to score. Iowa's half court offense is not good. The issue isn't scoring, it's being able to get stops. If they aren't able to get stops they lose their opportunity to play fast. Iowa State did a tremendous job last night getting back after they made a bucket. They allowed almost no opportunities for Iowa to make the long pass and push tempo.

 

[rosshm16]

EIU media always has reasons other than "the team just isn't that good" for their losses.

Too young
Too early in the season, just wait until March
It's ISU's Super Bowl
Dealing with some things

etc.

 

[Die4Cy]

I agree with all 3 and I'd add a 4th. Need to slow tempo. This team isn't good enough to be playing up tempo. We need to limit possessions of both teams when we're playing teams better than us like last 2 games

Iowa doesn't defend well enough to play a slow down game in the half court and Fran knows it.

 

[madguy30]

EIU media always has reasons other than "the team just isn't that good" for their losses.

Too young
Too early in the season, just wait until March
It's ISU's Super Bowl
Dealing with some things

etc.

Wait until March? Is ISU old? Where do they come up with this crap.

 

[Mr Janny]

Fran got on Garza early and when he started to get some offers he had already made up his mind to go to EIU. The summer before he really came on, he went overseas and trained with his uncle, which really improved his footwork. Guy would have been a nice NBA player 30 years ago, today, he just cannot get the minutes, the kid from Purdue is going to face the same problem. The NBA just plays a different game than college.

The Murray twins came to EIU as walk-ons, and just go better every year. Fran redshirted the one that graduated last year which helped down the road. Fran still played his son over both of them, which should have never happened, the oldest boy was a better baseball player, and the one now still is rail thin from his cancer, and just plays a soft game of basketball.

Fran loves the slow white kids that can hit the three, and thinks that is somehow going to make his team better, but they get abused on defense, and when their shots are not falling, or they are not getting out and running, they are in trouble.

Agree with this take, although the Murrays were not walk ons. They famously only had one D1 offer out of high school, which is why they went to prep school for a year. But they were full scholarship players when they joined the Hawks.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

I was looking at their schedule. They have 3 more gimmes in Florida AM, UMBC and Nothern Illinois. Otherwise their Big 10 schedule goes:

Michigan
@Wisconsin
Rutgers
Nebraska
@Minnesota
Purdue
Maryland
@Michigan
@indiana

I have a hard time seeing them winning more than 2-3 of those games. It's going to get ugly quick.

They beat Nebby and Minnesota and honestly I can see them sweeping Michigan, they are bad.

 

[rosshm16]

Gilbert exposed their half-court defense badly last night. He got to the rim whenever he wanted no matter who was guarding him.

 

[Billups06]

I think TJ got pissed about the full court press when he took out the starters and put Lipsey back in to keep that score where it belonged.

Full court pressing down 30 with 2 minutes left is a thing, I guess. TJ had a demonstrable 'both arms up in the air' when Iowa started pressing after he took Lipsey and Gilbert out. Put them back in about 20 sec later. I think TJ was less than amused.

 

[RezClone]

...Fran loves the slow white kids that can hit the three, and thinks that is somehow going to make his team better, but they get abused on defense, and when their shots are not falling, or they are not getting out and running, they are in trouble.

 

[Cyclonepride]

I disagree, tempo is their best opportunity to score. Iowa's half court offense is not good. The issue isn't scoring, it's being able to get stops. If they aren't able to get stops they lose their opportunity to play fast. Iowa State did a tremendous job last night getting back after they made a bucket. They allowed almost no opportunities for Iowa to make the long pass and push tempo.

Yeah, transition and secondary transition scrambles was probably my biggest concern with defending them, and we really shut that all down.

 

[TheCaptain]

F*CK IOWA​

 

[madguy30]

Credit to KCRG: they actually reported on the game.

Still classic Hok fan media vibes with having to point out the series record in the third paragraph.

Maybe they should include most of that advantage took place in the early 1900s.

Gilbert leads the way for Iowa St. beating in-state rival Iowa 90-65 for 600th Hilton Coliseum win

Iowa State started the second half with a 15-5 run.

www.kcrg.com

Iowa–Iowa State rivalry - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[GoHawks]

I disagree, tempo is their best opportunity to score. Iowa's half court offense is not good. The issue isn't scoring, it's being able to get stops. If they aren't able to get stops they lose their opportunity to play fast. Iowa State did a tremendous job last night getting back after they made a bucket. They allowed almost no opportunities for Iowa to make the long pass and push tempo.

You're thinking of past teams when we had the Murray's or Garza surrounded by 4 shooters that could shoot from anywhere. We have some ok shooters but elder Sandfort is the only great one. This teams much more limited. When you play fast you're increasing possessions for both teams and increasing the probability that the more talented team wins. This teams just too limited again imo to play that way. Krikke has a nice savvy old school type game where I think you can play through him in the half court. I respect your opinion though because that's kinda how fran always plays and I don't think either of us thinks he's capable coaching a different style.

 

[GoHawks]

Iowa doesn't defend well enough to play a slow down game in the half court and Fran knows it.

We don't defend anything regardless so that's a mute point. Limit possessions. If I feel you're the more talented team I want each team to have the ball 85 times not 110 times.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

You're thinking of past teams when we had the Murray's or Garza surrounded by 4 shooters that could shoot from anywhere. We have some ok shooters but elder Sandfort is the only great one. This teams much more limited. When you play fast you're increasing possessions for both teams and increasing the probability that the more talented team wins. This teams just too limited again imo to play that way. Krikke has a nice savvy old school type game where I think you can play through him in the half court. I respect your opinion though because that's kinda how fran always plays and I don't think either of us thinks he's capable coaching a different style.

Iowa can't defend to play a slow down type game. Iowa can still clearly score but they are at their best when they play fast. That's not even debatable.