*****Towson vs Iowa Game Thread*****

hawkod

All-Conference
Iowa Swarm member
Apr 5, 2007
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Towson somehow dictated the tone of the game by doubling Ava/Layla. We should be able to dominate them inside; they made us go with Mckenna as a 5 and play small. I know it's game 1 but not the greatest start. Coaches will be busy.
 

Hawk14

Senior
Jul 4, 2025
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For the second game in a row, I went to the game with my seventh grade granddaughter because my spouse is out of town. She is a rabid fan. Life is good.

I couldn't decide if this would be a 30 or 40 point blowout, so I was frustrated with the game. That said, Iowa generally starts every season slowly and builds to a climax when it matters. I can be patient, especially with this many new players. I see so much promise.

DISCLAIMER: There could be errors in any of the above, but it is close to correct. I often don't know what I am talking about. I feel right at home on this forum.
I would agree with this as the read and react offense is an offense that takes time to develop flow. Teams that stay the course with the R&R throughout the season are usually at their best at the end of the season, whatever that is. We need to not be too critical yet and stay patient.
 

Jonesy5960

Heisman
Feb 1, 2023
7,151
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This just isn’t the case at all if you listen to Jan’s press conference.
I think there's maybe something lacking in the communication of this offense because open shots were passed up in favor of an ill-conceived pass. Stremlow has looked like a completely different player in terms of offensive confidence than she did the second half of last year. She was wide open with the ball at the free throw line and looked like she had no idea what to do with it. In the presser after the game Jan mentioned not letting the players shoot until a number of ball reversals even if they're open. That's great for teaching the movement she wants to see, but in games players need to shoot wide open shots and post feed turnovers into double teams need to be a reason to sit for a few minutes to be coached up. This team has way too much talent to be committing 16 turnovers against the likes of Towson State..
 
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Hawk14

Senior
Jul 4, 2025
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I think there's maybe something lacking in the communication of this offense because open shots were passed up in favor of an ill-conceived pass. Stremlow has looked like a completely different player in terms of offensive confidence than she did the second half of last year. She was wide open with the ball at the free throw line and looked like she had no idea what to do with it. In the presser after the game Jan mentioned not letting the players shoot until a number of ball reversals even if they're open. That's great for teaching the movement she wants to see, but in games players need to shoot wide open shots and post feed turnovers into double teams need to be a reason to sit for a few minutes to be coached up. This team has way too much talent to be committing 16 turnovers against the likes of Towson State..
As I said in an earlier post, the read and react takes a considerable time to development efficiently. As mentioned by Jonesy, players seem to be passing up open looks. That’s a matter of becoming comfortable with “team” decision making. In structured, set play offenses the players know where their shots are to come from—so do the opponents. Therefore it’s easier to understand a “good team shot”. A good read and react offense is a thing of beauty, hard to guard, and fun to play. Why doesn’t everyone run the R&R? Because it takes a lot of patience to develop the right team chemistry and player confidence with decision making. It also takes a lot of trust in your players. The Hawkeyes are not there yet. Well we be? Stay tuned.
 
Jul 3, 2025
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Hawks finish 8-29 from 3. (28%).
I know it's only 1 game and 1 exhibition but Journey doesn't appear to have improved her 3pt shooting......she "wants" to play guard but I think she would get more court time as an undersized 4 and I'm totally good w/ that.

I remember the last 2 years Hannah wanted to shoot 3's and thankfully that experiment didn't last long. After she bricked a bunch of 3's the first 4-6 games, she kind of quit shooting after that. It will be interesting to see where and how much JH ends up playing - I KNOW she doesn't like sitting 1/2 the game, but I don't think she's better than the guards who are playing........tough place to be as a player and a coach.......
 

Jonesy5960

Heisman
Feb 1, 2023
7,151
14,869
113
I know it's only 1 game and 1 exhibition but Journey doesn't appear to have improved her 3pt shooting......she "wants" to play guard but I think she would get more court time as an undersized 4 and I'm totally good w/ that.

I remember the last 2 years Hannah wanted to shoot 3's and thankfully that experiment didn't last long. After she bricked a bunch of 3's the first 4-6 games, she kind of quit shooting after that. It will be interesting to see where and how much JH ends up playing - I KNOW she doesn't like sitting 1/2 the game, but I don't think she's better than the guards who are playing........tough place to be as a player and a coach.......
She's playing the 4 in this offense.
 

Kceasthawk@77

All-American
Feb 2, 2005
4,727
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I know it's only 1 game and 1 exhibition but Journey doesn't appear to have improved her 3pt shooting......she "wants" to play guard but I think she would get more court time as an undersized 4 and I'm totally good w/ that.

I remember the last 2 years Hannah wanted to shoot 3's and thankfully that experiment didn't last long. After she bricked a bunch of 3's the first 4-6 games, she kind of quit shooting after that. It will be interesting to see where and how much JH ends up playing - I KNOW she doesn't like sitting 1/2 the game, but I don't think she's better than the guards who are playing........tough place to be as a player and a coach.......
Didn't help that Dani started 1-7 from three either. She hits it like the Maryville game and this is another 40 some point blow out.
 

Hawksfor3

Heisman
Dec 5, 2016
9,311
10,240
113
I know it's only 1 game and 1 exhibition but Journey doesn't appear to have improved her 3pt shooting......she "wants" to play guard but I think she would get more court time as an undersized 4 and I'm totally good w/ that.
Last year, she averaged under one three/game. Last night, she took four attempts and hit one. With only one official game, the sample size is non-existent at this point. Give it, say, a block of five games and then assess. No player for Iowa shot the three well last night.
 

citizenHawk1

All-Conference
Jul 10, 2025
434
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Last year, she averaged under one three/game. Last night, she took four attempts and hit one. With only one official game, the sample size is non-existent at this point. Give it, say, a block of five games and then assess. No player for Iowa shot the three well last night.
Add to that, they were saying Stremlow has had the highest 3pt percentage in practice. Curious to see how this plays out for all of them.
 

citizenHawk1

All-Conference
Jul 10, 2025
434
1,090
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I think there's maybe something lacking in the communication of this offense because open shots were passed up in favor of an ill-conceived pass. Stremlow has looked like a completely different player in terms of offensive confidence than she did the second half of last year. She was wide open with the ball at the free throw line and looked like she had no idea what to do with it. In the presser after the game Jan mentioned not letting the players shoot until a number of ball reversals even if they're open. That's great for teaching the movement she wants to see, but in games players need to shoot wide open shots and post feed turnovers into double teams need to be a reason to sit for a few minutes to be coached up. This team has way too much talent to be committing 16 turnovers against the likes of Towson State..
Yes, all this. Strem wasn't the only one that had an open look from 8ft. and passed it into a worse situation. I think both Chat and McKenna did this as well. Have to believe they will see it in film, but it would be great if they were much further along going into the season. Seems like these early games with UConn and Vandy were simply written off as learning losses if the team needs 2 more months to figure it out, which seems wild. I guess we will see what the coaches can do to utilize the talent, and hopefully the team can shoot their way through it.

Some of the teams I watched yesterday seemed pretty polished for day one.
 

KurtWarner

All-Conference
Nov 30, 2025
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Yes, all this. Strem wasn't the only one that had an open look from 8ft. and passed it into a worse situation. I think both Chat and McKenna did this as well. Have to believe they will see it in film, but it would be great if they were much further along going into the season. Seems like these early games with UConn and Vandy were simply written off as learning losses if the team needs 2 more months to figure it out, which seems wild. I guess we will see what the coaches can do to utilize the talent, and hopefully the team can shoot their way through it.

Some of the teams I watched yesterday seemed pretty polished for day one.
I have a feeling they'll look a lot sharper next game. Every team has off nights. They looked like world beaters in the exhibition game. It’s easy to get frustrated when they play like they did last night but that's basketball...and pretty much every sport, you have off nights
 
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