Ohio State men lose again

[Dukeslater21]

After Iowa interrupted the Buckeyes's five-game losing streak by falling 93 to 77, Ohio State returned to its losing ways last night @ Illinois, losing its 6th game in its last seven tries and only scoring 60 points in the process. We all know every game is its own event, and playing on the road is tougher than playing at home, BUT to my eyes at least, this recent result only makes Iowa's lack of effort at Columbus even more disappointing. Beat Michigan State in East Lansing tomorrow, and we can move on. But losing again with another lackluster effort wouldn't be much fun.

UPDATE: And Ohio State got blow out AGAIN yesterday, 86-70 @ Indiana. So now OSU has lost seven of its last eight with the only W being the rout of Iowa in which, as you may recall, the Buckeyes tallied 93 points. That Hawkeye loss keeps looking worse and worse.

 

[HawkeyeGenius]

Iowa's had a lot of lackluster efforts mixed in with good results. It will probably cost them the tournament come March.

 

[ihawkhoops]

Defense continues to be a major deficiency. Iowa can't play man because they give up too much athletically at key spots on the floor. Offensively teams have committed to smothering Rebraca and will live with Kris getting his 20+. There have been a lot of defensive lapses but the majority of the issues IMO stem from guys losing their 1:1 matchups. OSU got what they wanted with little/no resistance from Iowa. Fran prides himself on switching up defenses to "surprise" teams but that is more of a smoke screen to mask the inability to play man against pretty much anyone.

ISU in year 2 with TJ is ranked # 12, leads the Big 12 and is poised to make another Sweet 16 run with talent from the portal.

 

[SLarew]

Defense continues to be a major deficiency. Iowa can't play man because they give up too much athletically at key spots on the floor. Offensively teams have committed to smothering Rebraca and will live with Kris getting his 20+. There have been a lot of defensive lapses but the majority of the issues IMO stem from guys losing their 1:1 matchups. OSU got what they wanted with little/no resistance from Iowa. Fran prides himself on switching up defenses to "surprise" teams but that is more of a smoke screen to mask the inability to play man against pretty much anyone.

ISU in year 2 with TJ is ranked # 12, leads the Big 12 and is poised to make another Sweet 16 run with talent from the portal.

What was score of Iowa -ISU game this year???

 

[Dukeslater21]

What was score of Iowa -ISU game this year???

Yes, Iowa smoked the Cyclones. But one rout, even if it was against the hated boys from ISU, does not a season make. It was--and is--a great win for Iowa, but who won the Eastern Illinois game? And, of course, the only team Ohio State has beaten in its last SEVEN tries is Iowa, and the Buckeyes scored a whopping 93 points in that one.

Iowa is a conundrum again this season. At times, like against ISU, the Hawkeyes look like a juggernaut. At other times, like against Eastern Illinois and Ohio State, the Hawkeyes look pedestrian and, to be honest, disinterested. As many of us on here have noted over and over for years, most of basketball is effort and energy. It is inscrutable as to why Iowa cannot, at the very least, display nonstop effort and energy every time out. Defense and rebounding are mostly effort and energy, even if you're not as talented as the other guy, if you work your tail off, you can be an effective defender. Sadly, too often for too many games over too many seasons, I haven't seen that kind of in-your-face defensive or rebounding effort from our favorite team. Shooting will come and go, but energy and effort should be consistent. They are not in Iowa City, and that's an ongoing issue.

So sure, beating ISU like a drum was a lot of fun, but that was one game a long time ago. Regardless of the outcome tomorrow night, I hope the Hawkeyes physical play, effort, and energy will at least match that of MSU. Otherwise, it will be another long and sad evening in East Lansing.

 

[jeedel]

Ohio St. is a young team that has only played four home games in the first half of the Big Ten Schedule. They are not as bad as you are making them out to be. Their home record may end up being similar to the rest of the conference teams. If so they will finish in the middle of the Big Ten pack.

 

[jthawk]

The game is over. Move on

 

[HawkTex]

What was score of Iowa -ISU game this year???

Doesn’t matter to the BB Selection Committee. Iowa St. shows up on the defensive end every game, Iowa does not. Thus, Ohio St. scores 90.

 

[DodgerHawki]

Yes, Iowa smoked the Cyclones. But one rout, even if it was against the hated boys from ISU, does not a season make. It was--and is--a great win for Iowa, but who won the Eastern Illinois game? And, of course, the only team Ohio State has beaten in its last SEVEN tries is Iowa, and the Buckeyes scored a whopping 93 points in that one.

Iowa is a conundrum again this season. At times, like against ISU, the Hawkeyes look like a juggernaut. At other times, like against Eastern Illinois and Ohio State, the Hawkeyes look pedestrian and, to be honest, disinterested. As many of us on here have noted over and over for years, most of basketball is effort and energy. It is inscrutable as to why Iowa cannot, at the very least, display nonstop effort and energy every time out. Defense and rebounding are mostly effort and energy, even if you're not as talented as the other guy, if you work your tail off, you can be an effective defender. Sadly, too often for too many games over too many seasons, I haven't seen that kind of in-your-face defensive or rebounding effort from our favorite team. Shooting will come and go, but energy and effort should be consistent. They are not in Iowa City, and that's an ongoing issue.

So sure, beating ISU like a drum was a lot of fun, but that was one game a long time ago. Regardless of the outcome tomorrow night, I hope the Hawkeyes physical play, effort, and energy will at least match that of MSU. Otherwise, it will be another long and sad evening in East Lansing.

It kind of is what it is at this point with Fran. He is a good coach overall, don't get me wrong. And he has done a good job at Iowa. But teams that are good on defense are only that way because it is embedded into who and what they are as a program. And Iowa just is not that. The defense is better some years than others, and within certain seasons there are better stretches as well. Iowa was actually playing some pretty good defense down the stretch last year. Both Murrays and Perkins gave them more + defenders than Iowa usually has on the floor at the same time.

But Iowa's defense, overall, has been bad this year. As in very bad. That game against OSU was perhaps the most glaring effort, but there have been other very bad performances on defense. Allowing OSU to make 28-48 2's and 8-16 3's was just awful. OSU has a good offense on an efficiency basis, but that was dreadful. Allowing Eastern Illinois to make 30-45 2-pointers was comical. The quickest remedy would be greater effort and intensity on a regular basis. If Iowa can bring that, they have a chance to make the tournament. If not, then hello NIT.