What was Lickliter thinking?

[cyclone1975]

For the first time since Bradley, our guards weren't pressured far away from the rim. Iowa just seemed to hang back by the 3 point line. I understand that coaches have different defensive philosophies, but come one. That is probably why we had so few turnovers. I was very happy with our win, and even more happy that Lickliter was stupid enough not to pressure our guards. Hopefully other teams follow his lead.

And welcome back Jiri.

 

[ISUFan22]

Methinks they don't have the guards that can press.

 

[benjay]

pressing isn't as easy as 1-2-3. It takes a lot of practice and talent to press well and not give up easy baskets off the press.

 

[cybsball20]

They only had 4 guard/small forward types available for the game. They just didn't have the manpower available with 4 guys available for three spots.

 

[CYdTracked]

I have to agree with the theme that they don't have the gaurds to press all the time. Sometimes you have to play with your own limitations just like you won't see us pressing much either.

 

[83Clone]

They just flat out didn't have the bodies available. I have to think Lickliter wanted to start fouling us late in the game, but he didn't have any bodies to throw out there to use up fouls

 

[ISU4ME]

There is not one player on the Iowa team that you could say has the ability to be an all conference player during their career (Yes, even the Big 11).

I am feeling pretty good about the fact that Wesley and Brackins will be all first team Big 12 players by the time they graduate.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Kelly is my candidate to be my favorite Hawk to hate. Because I get the feeling that he will drain some big shots in his career. Noone else really impresses me on that roster.

 

[DaddyMac]

Yep - the overall sentiment here is correct. If you don't have the players, talent or experience to press, what you end up doing is giving up alot of layups.

 

[Splendid]

For the first time since Bradley, our guards weren't pressured far away from the rim. Iowa just seemed to hang back by the 3 point line. I understand that coaches have different defensive philosophies, but come one. That is probably why we had so few turnovers. I was very happy with our win, and even more happy that Lickliter was stupid enough not to pressure our guards. Hopefully other teams follow his lead.

And welcome back Jiri.

I thought and said the same thing that IU was not pressing our guards thus making Peterson look like an all american. Scarry thinking UNI and Drake have shut down guards and IU does not. Tony Freeman probably would have made a difference, but then Will Blaylock or Curtis Stinson would have made a difference for us.

 

[cyclone1975]

Glad someone agrees with me. I never said they should slap on the press. I thought they should have applied pressure on our guards as soon as they crossed the half-court line. They didn't, they sagged back and waited for BP or DG to come to them. That is much different than a press and it doesn't lead to easy lay-ups.

 

[GoState]

There is not one player on the Iowa team that you could say has the ability to be an all conference player during their career (Yes, even the Big 11).

I am feeling pretty good about the fact that Wesley and Brackins will be all first team Big 12 players by the time they graduate.

***********

Well, in all due respect, I think Lickliter focuses more on the team than the individual. I don't know the Butler teams of past well enough, but I do know that over the last 5 or so years, he's taken two teams to the Sweet 16; I doubt--again, I honestly don't know all their past players--but I doubt many of his players would have made All Big 10 or 12. I'll take good teams over good players. For example, it's great that Tinsely's having a nice NBA career, but it doesn't do much for our team right now.

PS--I think Mac's philosophy is pretty much the same.

 

[SplitIdentity]

I don't think Iowa's defense was the problem. You don't hold a team to 31% shooting very often, and when you do, it shows just how inexperienced you are if you can't come away with a win. Iowa had their chances, but home court proved to be the difference in this game. ISU and Iowa are very equal right now, as shown by their records, their struggles against "weaker" competition, and their inability to really carry momentum into taking control of a game.

Both teams will get better. Right now Iowa has very few players that would normally start on a D-I team. Kelly, Cole, Looby, and Freeman would all maybe start - but since two are freshmen, one is a senior, and the other is out injured, that doesn't do much for the team this year.

On the same token, ISU has had a lot of defections, injuries, and NCAA suspensions, and that doesn't help much with their situation either. I think if both squads were full, ISU would have won by 10-15 points easy, just like Iowa did last year when ISU was low on players and Iowa had a full team.

But I really like the way both teams are going. Both Lick and McDermott are great game coaches, and have taken low-talent teams to great heights.