As bad as they played tonight, bring the A game next Wednesday and it's doable. I noticed in their game against Ohio State tonight, when Garza gets frustrated he makes mistakes. Play our tenacious D and crash the boards we can do this. Of course the shots have to fall too
Iowa is winnable
- Thread starter knight82
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Myles has to stay out of foul trouble guarding Garza. May need some quality minutes from Doucoure.
We can beat anyone!! Only thing holding us back is ourselves
In the first game we were 9-23 from the FT lindd Ed and lost by 2. I just worry about the drop off from Myles to Cliff. As long as Garza doesn’t get every call we can win
They have an important game at Indiana this Sunday first. Talk about two programs that could use a W right now...
We can beat Iowa but RHJ and Geo need to be on top of their game. And an even call by the zebras.
We're gonna need Ron to be Ron to beat Iowa and Michigan in the upcoming weeks.
Ron lights up Iowa. Looking forward to him getting back on track vs. the Hawkeyes.
I agree to a point. Unfortunately, Iowa is one of those teams that gets the calls and playing them at their house may be difficult. What we have going for us is Iowa is not a very sound defensive team. And if we're on and can match them score for score and then clamp down on them on defense we might have a good chance of upsetting them. I just wish we had beaten them at home and wouldn't worry about this game. Sadly, I think this may be a game where Iowa shoots 30 FT's and we should 12.
Life in the B10. They’re really, really good and just about everybody hits a bump along the long road.
Toussaint did not play in the 2nd half against Ohio State. Iowa fans on their board were very vocal about their feelings on Fran's handling of PT. Connor and Bohannon played almost the entire second half and their fans were ripping those guys for bad defense.
I agree CJ being out is a big hit for them.
Iowa usually tends to wilt late. Last year they went 5-6 in their final 11 games. In 2019 they went... 5-6 in their final 11 games including 1-5 in the last six. In 2018 and 2017 they just weren't a good team. In 2016 they went 2-5 in their final 7 games.
That said only the Indiana loss was bad and they're still an incredibly dangerous team. I'm glad we play them after they get their rematch with the Hoosiers that they should be amped up for.
That said only the Indiana loss was bad and they're still an incredibly dangerous team. I'm glad we play them after they get their rematch with the Hoosiers that they should be amped up for.
RU has yet to play it’s best game this season. Or at least, yet to play a game where everyone is playing at the top of their game from start to finish. Last game JY was struggling; not near his best most of the night. Harper has been seemingly less than 100% since his injury. Not singling them out; it seems most of the team has been somewhat streaky this season.
If we have a couple games where we curb the bad habits on offense, get everyone to stick with Pike’s game plan and use team-offense instead of individual heroics, and everyone shoots more consistently, and where we defend and rebound the way we are capable for the entire game, then we can beat Iowa and Michigan and pretty much anybody else.
I’m not saying we need to play better than we’re capable of playing. We just haven’t yet put together any games where we are meeting our existing, periodically demonstrated, full potential for an entire game.
I think our early season ranking was due to a recognition of this team’s fully achievable potential. But due to injuries and perhaps a bit of inexperience with being at the top, we haven’t lived up to that potential.
I would love to see what happens if we start consistently firing on all cylinders.
If we have a couple games where we curb the bad habits on offense, get everyone to stick with Pike’s game plan and use team-offense instead of individual heroics, and everyone shoots more consistently, and where we defend and rebound the way we are capable for the entire game, then we can beat Iowa and Michigan and pretty much anybody else.
I’m not saying we need to play better than we’re capable of playing. We just haven’t yet put together any games where we are meeting our existing, periodically demonstrated, full potential for an entire game.
I think our early season ranking was due to a recognition of this team’s fully achievable potential. But due to injuries and perhaps a bit of inexperience with being at the top, we haven’t lived up to that potential.
I would love to see what happens if we start consistently firing on all cylinders.
That OSU/Iowa game was a fun watch. The shot making was at a high level and Iowa never stops moving to get good shots. OSU hung around and got some stops at the end and that was the difference. Two very good teams. I do agree that Iowa's starting five is not strong on the defensive end. They were actually doing 5 man substitutions down the stretch for offensive and defensive situations.
Iowa is a tough match up because they consistently score at least 75 points a game even when they lose.In contrast Rutgers struggles to score 70 points because they lack consistent 3 point scoring and points from the foul line.Harper and Baker need to score at least 40 points to give Rutgers a chance to match baskets with Iowa.In a up tempo game Young and Mathis must score in double digits.
That is probably our best win of the season, at least based on opponent strength. And perhaps the closest we’ve come to our full potential. But IIRC, it was a game won by the individual heroics of Harper and Young. Geo struggled in that game. And, in giving up 88 points, it wasn’t our best D of the year.
So while it was a good game and a good win, I think we can do still better. I think we have an even higher realistic potential. I’m hoping we get to see it.
We can beat them even if CJ is back. We only lost by two at home with some awful FT shooting and Harper less than 100% coming back from his ankle injury. But it is going to be a challenge.
Well, despite Fran and the refs, they've lost three of their last four. Play well and you have a good shot to beat them.
What’s going for us is getting back at then foe the first win. We have to play smart, in control, and figure out GarzA
I don’t like that the NW game is after Iowa. I feel like part of the issue with Michigan State was the team walked away from the Iowa game with a false sense of how reliable the offense is. For whatever reason, when the offense is clicking for a stretch this team just seems to relax on defense.
the last Iowa game we could not get any stops. It comes down to defense. Iowa will allow Ru to score, it will be a different game than the last 3 . Jacob Young will be a factor in this game and a matchup nightmare but the key as usual will be turnovers and rebounding. Win that battle and make the stop when needed and we win
I think this could get ugly for RU. Iowa is at home, they remember how close the last game was, and they want to finish the league strong; RU is coming in with a winning streak and I don't think they'll feel the urgency to get a win.
Huh? Come on now. It's ridiculous to think either team will not feel urgency to win.
Did you not play sports when you were that age?
When I was their age, no matter what the physical activity, I wanted to win that activity so bad it was borderline psychotic (maybe not even borderline at times). I hated losing. Could be walking across the street and I'd hate not getting across first.
I'm guessing nobody gets to be a D1 scholarship athlete without a similarly competitive nature, at least in their chosen sport.
Both teams will feel an urgency to win. The trick, as always for all teams, will be getting the players to channel that drive productively and not allow it to lead to mistakes.
One big key is not shooting below 50 % on free throws. I am quite certain we will play much better defense than we did in our first meeting with Iowa. We must be healthy also. I am glad they are playing Indiana before they play us.