Daniel Connolly Tells it like it is about Iowa

[Bone Dog]

I suspect he posted this before Clark's apparent injury.

 

[Bone Dog]

After the game, he posted this:

 

[cancontent]

I suspect he posted this before Clark's apparent injury.

Calling them frauds is a bit harsh. Questioning whether they are a true top 5 team is fair, based on their play to date. Heck Iowa fans are questioning the team's defence and effort on their fan board too.

The same questions are being asked about Tennessee based on their current performance to date. Not surprised the same is happening here after they squeaked out the win versus Drake and this game. At the same time, we're not even through a full month of basketball. Time will tell whether they're a real competitor or not.

 

[Zarathustra]

There is a very good coach at IOWA.... A week's time can be
an eternity in preparation time..... Do you really think that Caitlin Clark
and Cinzano will have (relatively) down games forever??
If the basketball gods choose to select this pairing (rather than
Oregon State or GOD FORBID DUKE) UCONN wins a exciting
game on National TV . GO Huskes.

 

[ScottCT]

It's not too harsh imo. What has Iowa done to warrant putting then in the top 5? They shouldn't have even been in the top 10.

 

[hoopsfan22]

Beat them by 30? Dan Connolly doesn't post here by chance does he?

 

[AmeriConn]

It's not too harsh imo. What has Iowa done to warrant putting then in the top 5? They shouldn't have even been in the top 10.

I find only one line too harsh.....Iowa are frauds. No qualms with the over ranking.

 

[Bone Dog]

Don't get me wrong. I like Lisa Bluder as a coach. She's built good teams over the years. But coaching D seems never to have been her emphasis. She's not alone in this. Brenda Friese's teams are similar.

And in case you're wondering, Clark did not have an off night: 27 pts 10 rebounds 7 assists. And her injury -- whatever it turns out to be -- occurred in the final few seconds of the game.

They have the athletes to play D. That's just not how this team is built.

 

[cancontent]

There is a very good coach at IOWA.... A week's time can be
an eternity in preparation time..... Do you really think that Caitlin Clark
and Cinzano will have (relatively) down games forever??
If the basketball gods choose to select this pairing (rather than
Oregon State or GOD FORBID DUKE) UCONN wins a exciting
game on National TV . GO Huskes.

With all due respect to triad, why is Duke such a concern? Just curious.

 

[Bone Dog]

With all due respect to triad, why is Duke such a concern? Just curious.

I don't exactly know, but there may be a few Celeste Taylor fans here -- like me.

 

[oldude]

T

It's not too harsh imo. What has Iowa done to warrant putting then in the top 5? They shouldn't have even been in the top 10.

i don’t know….Perhaps closing strong last season, winning the Big 10 Conference Tournament, having basically the entire team returning, including POY candidate Caitlin Clark might have had something to do with Iowa’s ranking.

Yes the Hawkeyes are “defensively challenged” and they were upset by an underrated Creighton team in the Big Dance. But on balance, Iowa’s preseason ranking at #5 seemed OK to me, and like every other preseason ranking, it means absolutely nothing once the games start.

 

[cancontent]

Don't get me wrong. I like Lisa Bluder as a coach. She's built good teams over the years. But coaching D seems never to have been her emphasis. She's not alone in this. Brenda Friese's teams are similar.

And in case you're wondering, Clark did not have an off night: 27 pts 10 rebounds 7 assists. And her injury -- whatever it turns out to be -- occurred in the final few seconds of the game.

They have the athletes to play D. That's just not how this team is built.

I think the "off night" comment was in reference to her actual shooting numbers. She was 6-17 FG 2-7 3FG 13-16 FT.

She did a good job drawing contact and getting to the free throw line. Heck, she was the best rebounder on the team last night. I was surprised to see Czinano with only 3 tallied for the night.

 

[cancontent]

I don't exactly know, but there may be a few Celeste Taylor fans here -- like me.

I am as well. It's going to be an interesting match up next week. Looking forward to it.

 

[EdSaid]

Two years ago Iowa was dead last among 350 some odd DI teams in opponent scoring. Last year they were in the bottom 10%. They were allowing 80 points per game.

Sure different strategies can work. My opinion defense wins championships, not an over powering offense with a weak defense. If I was hiring a coach, I would favor the coach with a strong team defense over a high opponent scoring average every time.

 

[triaddukefan]

Sounds a bit a bit personal. Dude sounds like some Iowa Hawkeye dumped him or something. No need to be that harsh.

 

[Bone Dog]

Two years ago Iowa was dead last among 350 some odd DI teams in opponent scoring. Last year they were in the bottom 10%. They were allowing 80 points per game.

Sure different strategies can work. My opinion defense wins championships, not an over powering offense with a weak defense. If I was hiring a coach, I would favor the coach with a strong team defense over a high opponent scoring average every time.

I'd agree with you, especially since I also think coaching team D tends to build a sustainable team culture, and even lends itself better to having a program that can last. Scoring well can give way to lots of individuals and not team cohesion, and then you get lots of transfers. But Lisa Bluder has managed to build a sustained program culture, which is always impressive. I think she's one of the best coaches in WCBB right now.