That was a beautifully brutal win

[IowaCityLit]

Iowa shoots 33 percent and beats a “Top 10”
Team. Absurd.

The defense and rebounding were extraordinary. Nebraska hasn’t been guarded that well all season, and BM had Iowa prepared for all of Nebraskas flow action.

Thank goodness cause Iowa might just be conceding at this point that they don’t have the pieces offensively. BM might make the rest of the season a rugby match.

 

[The Big Z]

Iowa shoots 33 percent and beats a “Top 10”
Team. Absurd.

The defense and rebounding were extraordinary. Nebraska hasn’t been guarded that well all season, and BM had Iowa prepared for all of Nebraskas flow action.

Thank goodness cause Iowa might just be conceding at this point that they don’t have the pieces offensively. BM might make the test of the season a rugby match.

Might be conceding we don’t have the offensive pieces? Lol. I’m with you though, I’ll take it.

 

[IowaCityLit]

Might be conceding we don’t have the offensive pieces? Lol. I’m with you though, I’ll take it.

Conceding was the wrong word. Let’s just say BM might be prioritizing defense. lol

 

[iahawkeyes17]

Conceding was the wrong word. Let’s just say BM might be prioritizing defense. lol

BM went with the defensive lineup and when he put Cam in under 7 he was there for 2 stops right away and we locked them down rest of the way. Too much watching waiting for stirtz to do something. Wish we would’ve gone to the hoop or inside when up 5 but didn’t matter with the way we guarded them.

 

[HawkAlum2002]

What an ugly, but beautiful win. Reminded of that game against NC State when Alford was coaching and both teams were ranked but it was just brutal to watch and we won with both teams in the 40s.

 

[IowaCityLit]

BM went with the defensive lineup and when he put Cam in under 7 he was there for 2 stops right away and we locked them down rest of the way. Too much watching waiting for stirtz to do something. Wish we would’ve gone to the hoop or inside when up 5 but didn’t matter with the way we guarded them.

Yeah Nebraska is doing what other teams have done. Literally giving up open shots 5-15 feet from the basket. Encouraging Iowa to shoot them.

BM is holding this thing together with voodoo magic. Watching this roster compared to most rosters in the B10…it’s startling.

 

[HawkBall23]

Stirtz made Sandfort almost a complete non-factor.

Sandfort, if not shooting 3s, lives off the cutting backdoor action and Stirtz always took the right route to cut it off tonight.


One of the things that Morris wouldn't shut up about, but one of the few things I didn't mind hearing him drone on and on about.

 

[Hendy Hawk]

It will be brutal in two weeks or so when they play again.

 

[2D]

Defense and rebounding were the names of the game. We killed it on the boards. If we can figure it out on offense, look out.

 

[IowaCityLit]

It will be brutal in two weeks or so when they play again.

Not if the coaches are still McCollum and Hoiberg.

 

[HawkeyeGenius]

The melt down on their board and from some of their "experts" on there and X is beautiful.

 

[Hawkinne]

The melt down on their board and from some of their "experts" on there and X is beautiful.

Similar to the melt down on this board by you after the Purdue game.

 

[HawkInDenver]

Very tough game. Both teams struggled at times with scoring. First time I saw Nebbie this year. They have a solid team but I'm a bit surprised they are top 10 -maybe our D just brought them down to earth!

Other thoughts:

• I really don't like seeing Pryce in a red/white uniform.
• Hoiberg Jr. is a gritty player (although undersized).
• Stirtz did a great job on D. (whole team did but he kept Sandfort mostly contained)

 

[Rambler Hawk]

Yeah Nebraska is doing what other teams have done. Literally giving up open shots 5-15 feet from the basket. Encouraging Iowa to shoot them.

BM is holding this thing together with voodoo magic. Watching this roster compared to most rosters in the B10…it’s startling.

I think there are obviously a handful of loaded teams like IL, Purdue, Michigan, but Nebbie’s roster did not scare me at all….good coaching can be an equalizer and even though we don’t pass the eyeball test…we are the type of team that will make higher seeded teams nervous to play next month.

 

[Rambler Hawk]

Defense and rebounding were the names of the game. We killed it on the boards. If we can figure it out on offense, look out.

I’d really like to see Hausen in there….is his defense really THAT bad?

 

[IowaCityLit]

I think there are obviously a handful of loaded teams like IL, Purdue, Michigan, but Nebbie’s roster did not scare me at all….good coaching can be an equalizer and even though we don’t pass the eyeball test…we are the type of team that will make higher seeded teams nervous to play next month.

It was Iowas defense.

Nebraska won at Illinois and almost beat Michigan in Ann Arbor. It’s a talented roster that still can be too finesse. Iowa bullied them and it was awesome to watch.

 

[Ozzie89]

 

[Rambler Hawk]

It was Iowas defense.

Nebraska won at Illinois and almost beat Michigan in Ann Arbor. It’s a talented roster that still can be too finesse. Iowa bullied them and it was awesome to watch.

I don’t doubt they are having a magical season, but watching them for the first time - they just didn’t appear to be on the same level of Illinois or Purdue. (I haven’t seen Michigan yet)

 

[Ozzie89]

I don’t doubt they are having a magical season, but watching them for the first time - they just didn’t appear to be on the same level of Illinois or Purdue. (I haven’t seen Michigan yet)

They aren’t. Waaaaaay too soft(like their football program) to be mentioned with those programs

 

[Old_wrestling_fan2]

Iowa shoots 33 percent and beats a “Top 10”
Team. Absurd.

The defense and rebounding were extraordinary. Nebraska hasn’t been guarded that well all season, and BM had Iowa prepared for all of Nebraskas flow action.

Thank goodness cause Iowa might just be conceding at this point that they don’t have the pieces offensively. BM might make the rest of the season a rugby match.

FWIW, I was at the game tonight with great seats which I feel like leads to closer observations. There were a lot of pretty darn good college basketball players out there tonight...with one of them a little above all the rest. Thank goodness that that player wears the black and gold. #14.

He was the only one who could consistently overcome the very tough defense played by both teams. Even then, Stirtz had a lot of missed shots, but over and over he was the only one that could consistently create his own offense.

Many times the Hawks were late in the shot clock and somebody other than 14 would receive a pass with a narrow window to shoot it...and then pass it again. I wondered why Hausen wasn't brought to bear at any point in the game.

The Hawks desperately need someone to compliment Stirtz offensively so he isn't forced to do it all so much. Howard and Combs both seemed reticent to fire away. Really good win, but if the Hawks are going to keep logging wins in February and March...they need at least one more elite scorer to emerge.

 

[twindman]

As someone else mentioned, anyone not named Stirtz refuses to take an open shot from 12-14 feet - especially Koch, but others too.. Several times guys in the cornet get the ball, fake and get defender out of position and drive in 6-8 feet where they are open - AND NOT SHOOT. I don't know if Ben is telling them to not shoot or they are all gun shy.

 

[HawkBall23]

Hoiberg, in his post game presser (paraphrasing slightly) ....

"They got underneath us. We were overwhelmed by their physicality defensively. And that also showed up in the rebounding battle."

 

[Palmerhawk]

As someone else mentioned, anyone not named Stirtz refuses to take an open shot from 12-14 feet - especially Koch, but others too.. Several times guys in the cornet get the ball, fake and get defender out of position and drive in 6-8 feet where they are open - AND NOT SHOOT. I don't know if Ben is telling them to not shoot or they are all gun shy.

Seemingly Ben wants only layups or three pointers. No mid- range allowed with the possible exception of stirtz.

 

[rchawk]

Nebraskans are doing pretty well for a fan base that, just this year, discovered that basketball is a sport.

 

[HawksRule25]

 

[ComradeKirk]

Seemingly Ben wants only layups or three pointers. No mid- range allowed with the possible exception of stirtz.

I get it, but advanced analytics has ruined basketball. Game has been min/max-ed to death.

 

[RO Hawk44]

Stirtz made Sandfort almost a complete non-factor.

Sandfort, if not shooting 3s, lives off the cutting backdoor action and Stirtz always took the right route to cut it off tonight.


One of the things that Morris wouldn't shut up about, but one of the few things I didn't mind hearing him drone on and on about.

I'm not sure there's anything Morris will shut up about. I think he gets paid by the word. Often times, he's not adding any color, he's just describing the play that I just watched.

 

[IowaCityLit]

Seemingly Ben wants only layups or three pointers. No mid- range allowed with the possible exception of stirtz.

Yep. Good point.And analytics support this. And it feels like they get a lot of really good looks from 3.

 

[IowaCityLit]

I get it, but advanced analytics has ruined basketball. Game has been min/max-ed to death.

The problem is that now if you play that outdated mid range game you have little margin for error. You better shoot an insanely high percentage from midrange and play terrific 3 pt defense. Gonna need more possessions

 

[LetsGoHawks83]

The problem is that now if you play that outdated mid range game you have little margin for error. You better shoot an insanely high percentage from midrange and play terrific 3 pt defense. Gonna need more possessions

Gotta have guys that can shoot that mid-range really well, IF you are wanting them to shoot those.... Otherwise, the analytics will say to shoot layups or 3s.

It's probably outdated for todays game and I don't remember who said it, but a REALLY good mid-range game is like getting a layup WHENEVER you want.

Those Stirtz mid-range shots feel like layups when I'm watching.

 

[Titanhawk]

Might be conceding we don’t have the offensive pieces? Lol. I’m with you though, I’ll take it.

Nobody looks to shoot with more than 5 seconds on the clock, Nobody really works inside. Even when Stirtz doesn't have the ball they're all looking to pass it to him next and not much else, most of the time.

 

[Jonesy5960]

BM went with the defensive lineup and when he put Cam in under 7 he was there for 2 stops right away and we locked them down rest of the way. Too much watching waiting for stirtz to do something. Wish we would’ve gone to the hoop or inside when up 5 but didn’t matter with the way we guarded them.

BM is the anti-Fran.

 

[r_desihawk]

BM is the anti-Fran.

agree. on a related note similarities with KF is equally striking...it's like the same entity coaches both bb and fb

 

[Palmerhawk]

I keep thinking about a comp for Ben ....Ben Johnson,Bears coach.
Both are young tacticians who are obsessed with details and execution.
Both are tough taskmasters who demand dedication to the craft.
Both are culture guys who have standards

 

[ComradeKirk]

The problem is that now if you play that outdated mid range game you have little margin for error. You better shoot an insanely high percentage from midrange and play terrific 3 pt defense. Gonna need more possessions

Absolutely. The NBA only wants the non stars to be 3 and D guys, so kids aren't developing any mid range game. Hopefully with BMCs system we can carve out a niche for those future 3 and D guys.

 

[ComradeKirk]

BM is the anti-Fran.

Genuinely cathartic being the sh!thouse team on the other end of beating the "better" finesse team.

 

[iahawkeyes17]

BM is the anti-Fran.

against top 10 team with Fran they’d have 52 at half not for the game.

 

[bansheexyz]

As someone else mentioned, anyone not named Stirtz refuses to take an open shot from 12-14 feet - especially Koch, but others too.. Several times guys in the cornet get the ball, fake and get defender out of position and drive in 6-8 feet where they are open - AND NOT SHOOT. I don't know if Ben is telling them to not shoot or they are all gun shy.

omg lol I just posted this in another thread. Anyone not named Stirtz are allergic to midrange jumpers.

 

[DukeSlater]

Yeah Nebraska is doing what other teams have done. Literally giving up open shots 5-15 feet from the basket. Encouraging Iowa to shoot them.

BM is holding this thing together with voodoo magic. Watching this roster compared to most rosters in the B10…it’s startling.

Frankly, I wasn't impressed with Nebraska. They don't seem especially athletic to me. They're the worst rebounding team in the Big Ten. I don't know how they've won so many games. We'll see how things go when Iowa finishes in Lincoln, but I like the Hawkeyes in that one too.

 

[DukeSlater]

I'm not sure there's anything Morris will shut up about. I think he gets paid by the word. Often times, he's not adding any color, he's just describing the play that I just watched.

Yes. And he's just as bad at officiating as the refs are. Wanted to hear the Iowa crowd, but had to mute it at times just to survive the Morris onslaught of BS.