*****Iowa vs UCLA 🏆 Game Thread*****

[LetsGoHawks83]

Man, we really needed the seniors to play like seniors but Hannah and Kylie have been just terrible. 0-6 with 5 turnovers is a recipe for what saw that first half.

Happens when your seniors aren't in elite players, but are playing against ELITE players.

Switch the strategy to outside in. Let Strem, Chit, and even Deal start firing 3s.

Guaranteed higher points per possession than forcing it in the paint for turnovers, blocks, and bricks off the backboard. Completely outmatched in the paint.

 

[DukeSlater]

Disheartening to see how far Hawks are from being able to compete at that level.

And yet UCLA only beat Michigan by THREE and Ohio State by TEN, two teams Iowa has decimated.

 

[IowaCityLit]

Not many teams "like UCLA".

Always gonna be 3-4 teams “like UCLA.”

Iowa not as close as I’d like to being one of them.

 

[HawkFan10]

Better things to do than watch this garbage today what a joke Jan!

 

[LetsGoHawks83]

Yup. Iowa is Michigan's kryptonite, and UCLA is Iowa's. I really thought Iowa would come out with some swagger, but instead they came out timid, and this is the result. The game was over almost before it began. Oh well. Try to learn something and try to make sure you don't play timid in the NCAA. Make a run there, and this game means nothing.

UCLA is most teams kryptonite.... They've lost one game.

They win 99 out of 100 games..... Even playing in Carver for all 100

 

[IowaCityLit]

Matched up on the unanimous big 10 player/defender of the year, highly likely she will be the national player of the year.

Pay attention. LB has not guarded Ava for a good portion of this game. UCLA great defensive gameplan.

 

[Whtnhawk]

Always gonna be 3-4 teams “like UCLA.”

Iowa not as close as I’d like to being one of them.

It's true. There are maybe 4 elite teams and then a big fall off in women's basketball.

 

[DukeSlater]

Now UCLA can't miss...

UCLA was 1-9 from three in the first half vs. Ohio State yesterday. They've hit five or six in the first half today, of course.

 

[Scott559]

I fully understand the frustration with the turnovers trying to force it inside, On the flip side, Iowa doesn’t have the ability to cause much in the way of defensive breakdowns because they don’t have the ability to break down UCLA off the dribble. IMO that is the next evolution needed in roster building.

 

[stillh8unlv]

Some days just aren't your days so I don't wanna be all doom and gloom, but like others have said, there is just a massive drop off after the top 2-3 teams in WCBB.

I don't think there's ever been a "Cinderella" in the women's tournament, and I'm not just talking an NC State over Phi Slamma Jamma Houston in the 83 championship, I'm talking like a first or second round upset of a top seed. It just doesn't happen, and I don't see it happening this year either.

 

[IowaCityLit]

And yet UCLA only beat Michigan by THREE and Ohio State by TEN, two teams Iowa has decimated.

Coaching and prep is part of it. I really worry JJ is a one dimensional, one-trick pony offensively. Which can work until elite teams are involved.

 

[MVPFAN]

We don't shoot well vs high end teams, obviously forcing inside is a losing proposition in this one but they are not hitting well outside either. Steulke is not great trying to score in tall traffic, not at all high percentage strategy. UCLA has the inside defense to neutralize our usual main option. They need to find open jumpers and hit them and then get drives or post plays as available.

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

Disappointing. Forcing the post. Does JJ have anything else in the playbook?

Kind looks bad when the coach said yesterday that they'd have a couple of wrinkles to add this time, and one of the players said the coaches had been working on the scout for a rematch since the last time we played them. REALLY? I guess it just shows it still comes down to execution, because whatever the plan was, they must have left it at the hotel....

 

[IowaCityLit]

Pay attention. LB has not guarded Ava for a good portion of this game. UCLA great defensive gameplan.

Ava had 8 pts on 4-11 shooting against UConn.

 

[Jonesy5960]

Happens when your seniors aren't in elite players, but are playing against ELITE players.

Switch the strategy to outside in. Let Strem, Chit, and even Deal start firing 3s.

Guaranteed higher points per possession than forcing it in the paint for turnovers, blocks, and bricks off the backboard. Completely outmatched in the paint.

Kylie has struggled mightily on the offensive end in a lot of games. This isn't new for her. Hannah has played much better, but she needs to settle down. Need to run Ava at the high post to keep Betts away from the basket.

 

[ajdl]

Thus is ugly

 

[pablow]

Coaching and prep is part of it. I really worry JJ is a one dimensional, one-trick pony offensively. Which can work until elite teams are involved.

Jan is a great coach. If anything, Jan may be over-coaching this game.

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

So many bad passes. And why is Heiden sitting?

That's an outstanding question I've brought up before. My only guess is she's more sick then they're letting on with some kind of respiratory issue. She's sitting over there again and NO she's not in foul trouble. Or is she being saved for the next game in 12-13 days?

 

[ajdl]

Kylie just needs to me done today

 

[Hawkeye1984]

How embarrassing this is for the program..Jan Jensen the Zen Master.

 

[LetsGoHawks83]

Back to forcing it to the post.

That'll work eventually

 

[IowaCityLit]

Jan is a great coach. If anything, Jan may be over-coaching this game.

Overcoaching?

OSU gameplan was much better but JJ is all in on the half-court pound the post offense.

 

[QChawks]

Take the butt kicking stay healthy and wait for your name to be called

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

Can we please get Ava back in?

I'm telling you somethings not right with her health..

 

[Anon1681859870]

Back to forcing it to the post.

That'll work eventually

Yes, when UCLA has their backups to the backups in.

 

[DTP2]

At what point do you learn to stop doing the same stupid mistakes?

 

[Franisdaman]

it would be disrespectful if UCLA clears their bench

 

[Jonesy5960]

Unbelievable. Iowa just asleep defensively.

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

Better for sure, but UCLA shooting 60%. Can't last tho'.

I bet it does. They're that good at guard

 

[IowaCityLit]

Ava might not be 100 percent. But she can’t be effective in this game regardless. Just not athletic enough against UCLa size.

 

[Whtnhawk]

I ain't watching anymore of this.

See you in the Dance.

 

[IaHawks03]

Bring the bench in. Maybe they'll give effort on defense.

 

[Hawkeye1984]

Iowa is a #2 seed? Nah, I don’t think so. We should have interviewed for the job after Lisa. Big mistake by the AD.

 

[DTP2]

Everyone on their team can shoot. We are lucky if one player is hot from outside.

 

[AFM22]

Iowa is a #2 seed? Nah, I don’t think so. We should have interviewed for the job after Lisa. Big mistake by the AD.

 

[MAXIMUSHAWKEYE]

 

[Burghawk87]

Disheartening to see how far Hawks are from being able to compete at that level.

Minus CC they've never been able to compete at that level. And in both championship games they were also outmatched. So it's pretty much same as it ever was.

 

[Jonesy5960]

UCLA was 1-9 from three in the first half vs. Ohio State yesterday. They've hit five or six in the first half today, of course.

They're wide open attempts.

 

[Scott559]

I'm telling you somethings not right with her health..

Yeah I wonder if her illness has been a respiratory issue.

 

[Hawkeye1984]

Minus CC they've never been able to compete at that level. And in both championship games they were also outmatched. So it's pretty much same as it ever was.

100% disagree with this. Kate and Gabby are massive upgrades over what we have now. Also for Jan to let this programs momentum fizzle out after CC is a tragedy of epic proportions. I will stick to my guns on this. She was and is the wrong hire.