A couple things we learned about the basketball team

The Hawkeyes have been merrily rolling along accumulating wins that might help them get into the post season and help build some confidence but is there anything we can actually learn from playing against these opponents?

Last night, I think we learned a couple things.

First, if the team doesn’t pay attention, one guy on the other team can really put up some points.  Ed Tyson  scored 32 points including 7 of 10 from the 3 point line.  To put that in perspective, the Hawkeyes next opponent is Bradley.  Ed Tyson scored just 11 points against Bradley just two nights before lighting up the Hawkeyes.  In his other two games he has scored 20 each.  He clearly can score some points, but still 32?

The team defense is still pretty solid.  Other than the 32 points that he scored, MD Eastern Shore only scored 16 points.  Only one other player on their team scored more than 1 field goal.  That’s pretty decent defense.  I’m willing to let a guy get 30+ points a game if the final score is still going to be less than 50.

Freshman point guards are brutal.  Peterson has been playing pretty well so far this year.  I was watching the live box score on Yahoo! Sports for a few minutes to end the half and start the 2nd.  I saw Peterson’s name show up a few times in quick succession and started to get excited.  Then I realized that he had just committed 3 fouls in less than 2 minutes.  With his 1 foul in the first half, it was time for Peterson to spend some time sitting next to the coaches.

The Hawkeyes are still susceptible to the long scoring droughts.  I had hoped that getting rid of Alford would have taken care of our 5 minute plus scoring droughts but the Hawkeyes didn’t score a point for at least 6 minutes into this game.

I don’t think anybody is really expecting too much out of the Hawkeyes this season and we have to be prepared for a lot of unexpected moments of bad play as people learn the new system.  I’m sure Lickliter will be able to put together plenty of game tape of things the players need to practice after these first four games.

Still being 4-0 against weak teams is better than losing some of those games.

Football Season Recap

Ouch. What a bummer of a football season. Going 6-6 is disappointing but losing at home to Western Michigan kind of sucks.

Unlike Pat Harty, I’m not ready to turn into a complete cry baby and start saying that Ferentz better turn things around or else.

Check this out:

History shows that it’s hard enough turning around the fortunes of the Iowa football program once, but to do it twice with the same coaching staff is asking a lot, maybe too much.

Hayden Fry is probably the only Iowa coach to come close to rebuilding the program twice. The first time occurred in the early 1980s followed by another resurgence in the mid-1990s.

But it wasn’t as good the second time around under Fry.

Apparently it is time for Ferentz to accept one of those pro job offers and bring in a new Hawkeye coach. Whatever.

The team has a fair amount of extremely young talent. I think a summer of getting some practices in are going to result in a team that can score some points next year. Besides the crazy youth and inexperience at QB and WR, the offensive line was normally 1 JR, 2 SO, and 2 FR. They’ll be bigger, stronger, faster, and meaner next year.

The defense has been pretty solid for a while now as long as the offense can keep them off the field for more than 3 plays and a punt. The punter seems to be pretty solid after a season that saw him set the Iowa record for most punts in a season as a freshman.

One coach and position that I would like the team to really look at is whoever is in charge of the cornerbacks and safeties. It seems like when the opposing offensive line gives their QB any amount of time at all, he normally has no trouble throwing that ball about 10-20 yards down field which is a problem Iowa has had for several years now. I would love for Iowa to tighten down that area of their defense and really start making 3rd and long a punishment instead of an opportunity for the other team.

Anyway, hopefully there will be no bowl game and the team can head straight to the weight rooms and start watching game tape and the rest of us fans can move on to basketball.

Iowa Is Playing Western Michigan Right Now

The game isn’t on TV here, so I logged into Yahoo Sports to see what is happening.

Iowa started with a 3 and out. So at least some things never change. I really am amazed at how often Iowa goes 3 and out.

Then Iowa gives up what sounds like an easy touchdown because Western Michigan apparently knows that to beat Iowa, you try to pick on the secondary.

After the touchdown, and missed extra point, W. Michigan kicks off and Iowa fumbles.

What a horrible start. I think I’m glad it isn’t on TV. I still expect Iowa to be able to win this game but they really need to work on not collapsing so badly right at the opening kick off of games.

Here’s hoping Iowa gets to go to a bowl game so that we’ll have the extra few weeks of practice for next year.

College Basketball Gets Rolling

I haven’t been able to see the Iowa basketball team on TV yet but I did follow most of the Northern Colorado game on the internet.

What do we know about the Hawkeyes after two games against not so good teams? Probably nothing besides the fact that they can beat bad teams. Which is a start.

So far though, the defense seems to be showing up ready to play. The highest scorer for the other team in either game was 11 points. That is pretty good solid all around covering everybody defense. We’ll see if it holds up against teams with some big name players.

The highest fouls earned by any Hawkeye in those two games is 3. Nobody has been in foul trouble yet this year which means the defense is coming from playing good position, team defense.

On offense they are shooting just under .500 as a team and have had a different 20 point or more scorer in each game. That’s good news. If the team isn’t going to score very many points, they need to be able to have a few different guys that can score on any given night otherwise teams will just shut down whoever emerges as the main scorer.

The schedule is pretty favorable for a couple more games which will hopefully give the team some confidence and understanding of what every body’s role is going to be before the road game at Bradley (who just beat ISU) and the home game against Wake Forest.

I’m really looking forward to getting into Big 10 season and getting a chance to watch the Hawkeyes. I was definitely among the group ready for a coaching change. I’m really looking forward to seeing the new style with my own eyes.