I don't buy the short bench theory. There are and have been over the years, a lot of teams with short benches. They just don't look like the same team.One theory, put forth by someone in the other Iowa thread, was that Iowa has a very short bench, causing the starters to play extended minutes. That has lead to them being exhausted at this point in the season. They were short arming shots and failing to hustle for rebounds. If we were to play them now, we would take them 2/2 times. Too bad we got them while they were hot.
Uthoff is just in a shooting slump. Iowa looks fast, quick, strong and on their game. But when your best player is in a slump, it hurts. It's not like it's going to last much longer, just like in baseball, great players work out of their slumps.... water finds its level. Look for Uthoff to go "off" last game of season (which i believe is a road game in ann arbor) and in the Big Ten Tourney.One theory, put forth by someone in the other Iowa thread, was that Iowa has a very short bench, causing the starters to play extended minutes. That has lead to them being exhausted at this point in the season. They were short arming shots and failing to hustle for rebounds. If we were to play them now, we would take them 2/2 times. Too bad we got them while they were hot.
I am not sure who you are replying to, but I will respond anyway. I'll give you my 2 cents - exact;ly what this opinion is worth!
I am not sure who you are replying to, but I will respond anyway. I'll give you my 2 cents - exact;ly what this opinion is worth!
I know it seems it only happens to us, but its not true. I watched 6-7 games over the last two weeks (God! I've got to get a life). In all but 2, the team leading by a substantial margin had their opponent chew up the lead and close with them in the last few minutes. It happens regularly. Basketball is a game of runs.
When Nebraska went on their 12-2 run (IIRC) at the end of the first half, their all-BIG player, Shields, showed why he is all-BIG. How many all-BIG's guys do we have? It is not unreasonable to think he might try to dominate the play. He did but ran out of energy by mid-second half, or so. His supporting class was not up to the task of winning.
Disagree. They looked tentative, and did not pour in outside shots like they did during their peak. Jok couldn't hit from the outside, and Geseille (sp?) was pretty ineffective. Their center, ol' poke-eye, was getting out positioned and out hustled for rebounds. I would not call that "fast & strong". In fact, they all looked tired.
Agree. They seem listless and disengaged during much of the game, then they put on the afterburners to try and catch up.
Yes, but that is our MO. Iowa was very good most of the year, not half to half like Purdue
That's exactly the issue I have with many posters here. 4Purdue, please forgive me, but I will use this as an example. You think this half-to-half stuff is our MO? Please watch more than just Purdue. Most of college basketball looks like this, especially when there is as much parity in the college game as there is this year. Unless there is a blow-out, this is EVRYBODY's MO. It boils down to emotion, especially when teams are evenly matched on talent. 17-19 year old kids are all over the map emotionally. Nobody is consistent. We had a couple games we let down in the second half, but that does not make it our "MO".
I watch tons of college hoops, and yes it does happen, but with Purdue, not only has it happened, it happened fast and often. We blew a 10 point lead in 40 seconds of game clock.
Fran has to be the worst clock manager and the worst end game coach in Division 1. And yet, IU still came very close to blowing another game at the end. Two Tone just has that knack.
Plus let's also remember this is the first year with all the new rules and no two games will be called the same. I think these rules will take time for everyone to adjust to (officials included) and may be impacting things more than we think.
Thanks for the LOL!
Yes , you are right, and #2 is because of the refs. I've never seen such bad officiating. And bad officiating is due to bias toward IU & Michigan State. MSU because of IZZO and his intimidation factor, even though he is a midget, and IU because of the Bobby Knight factor still lingering. I think they think Bobby will suddenly appear and throw a chair if too many fouls are called on IU.
Thanks for the LOL!
Not taking anything away from IU's victory at Iowa, I don't think I have ever seen a team sink so fast as Iowa without an injury to a key starter. I saw Purdue do the same drop after Hummel got injured, but as far as I know, Iowa is not suffering with any injuries.
For a while durring the season, Utoff, Jok and company looked unbeatable, and were top 5 ranked. Then they have dropped to also rans. I know IU fans want to think it was their defense, but I think Iowa started to sink well before the IU game. Maybe IU just pushed the corpse into the hole.
