*Game 10, Iowa*

[uni1988]

I agree with C150. I think Fran will run up the score... 88 - 60... and Fran can say this is another reason not to play NIU. ( Yes it is UNI... but I don't think Fran knows that or cares ) I HATE the Hawkeyes.

[UNIdad]

The fact that Iowa and Iowa State won't be playing UNI and Drake anymore really grinds my gears. What a bunch of sissies. But that's the way it is nowadays. Instead of knuckling up and getting better, you just take your ball and go home to play such powerhouses as UMKC, Alabama State, Western Carolina, Savannah State, Bryant, Texas Southern, Omaha, NDSU, Southern and Eastern Illinois. God forbid you play a game you could possibly lose. The deck is so crazily stacked against mid-majors these days it is crazy.

I know attendance would be underwhelming, but I would love to see us pair up with Drake to continue to do doubleheaders at the Well in the future. It is a great chance for DM based alums to see the team.

I don't hate the idea of playing USD and SDSU, two years in DSM, one year in Sioux Falls. Or SDSU and NDSU with a DM/Sioux Falls/DM/Fargo pattern (although I think USD has a better basketball program.....or at least will in general moving forward). Or just bring in random opponents every year and play a doubleheader with Drake at the Well. You could even make it a day-long thing and invite a couple Iowa Conference teams to play games in the morning. Sort of a state of Iowa college basketball showcase with the UNI game as the main event. Maybe you have Upper Iowa play a quality midwestern D2 opponent and invite the defending Iowa Conference champion for a high profile D3 game, then have Drake play someone, then UNI. Or involve Grinnell's crazy offensive show. Or bring in like Grand View or a good NAIA team. Or you could involve the women's teams. Maybe you could get a school with some local alumni involved (Creighton, Nebraska, Minnesota, etc) even if we don't play them every time. Just spitballing.

But, regardless, it would be great if we could continue to play in the Well regularly.

I wish there was some sponsor who cared enough about the state to hold a few in-state rivalry games each year (with the money coming from TV revenue, not ticket sales, so the smaller hosting venue could be used).

[Coondawg]

We're going to need to play some zone to have any chance at all on Saturday. We have no one to stop Cook and Garza, and we'll need to find a way to protect Luke. Our only chance is to make Iowa beat us from long range.

[95UNIGRAD]

This is the least confident I've probably ever been going into a game against Iowa, so obviously we'll shoot 60% from three and win.

[DecadePanther]

Long time reader, first time poster on here. This game will be huge for us in terms of where this season ends up. Don't get me wrong, I completely understand that our real season is that second weekend in March in St. Louis at this point, but this one could provide a huge boost to our confidence moving forward.

Iowa has a clear advantage inside with Cook. I don't believe we have anyone on the roster currently who can guard him and keep him contained. We could put Trae or Pickford on him to go smaller and use their quickness, but can they stop him from scoring down low? We could try to put Luke or Biggie on him but I don't think either can stay in front of him. I almost see this playing out similarly to when Iowa State visited UNI in the McLeod Center with Craig Brackens (sp?). He ate us alive inside but we limited the guards to keep us in the game. I think the same has to be done with Cook. Let him get his and try to stop everyone else from having a big day. If we double down Iowa has the shooters to make us pay.

UNI is in a bit of an identity crisis at the moment. We know what we have in A.J. but the rest of the roster (including the upperclassmen) need to get it figured out. Pickford is starting to get back to where he was although he still has a ways to go to be 100%. Trae is still trying to find his groove. McDonnell has been serviceable but his game is not down low. He needs to be out top moving around as a stretch four. Lohaus has disappeared for much of the year, we'll certainly need him to step it back up and get some buckets.

I'd love to see us go with a starting five of AJ, Berhow, Pickford, Isaiah and Dahl to see how it goes. Bring Wentzien, Lohaus, Haldeman, Biggie and McDonnell off the bench. I'd start Dahl on Cook but leave Dahl right around the rim and force Cook to take mid-range jumpers. If he gets a couple at the rim so be it but I believe it'll make it much tougher on him going over Dahl vs McDonnell. For UNI I believe this one comes down entirely to shot selection. Isaiah needs to give up on trying to be a three point shooter and go to the rim. A.J. needs to test it early and often, and if he's hot keep launching. If not he needs to find a way to get to the rim and shoot some free throws. He's nearly automatic at the charity stripe, we have to take advantage of that. Pickford needs to keep crashing and get some cheap put backs like he normally does, same with Trae. The rest of the guys need to be ready to shoot when those guys drive it. If we can knock down a couple early and get some confidence we'll be fine. If not it could be more of the same struggles we've seen.

I'm hopeful we can come out of this one on top but I wouldn't be placing any of my own money on it at this point. Someone has to step up and get it going. Ideally it'd be Isaiah or Lohaus that gets us going as upperclassmen, but we will see. I'll be in attendance and rocking the purple! Let's go CATS!!!!

[SteinPizza]

Iowa has a clear advantage inside with Cook. I don't believe we have anyone on the roster currently who can guard him and keep him contained. We could put Trae or Pickford on him to go smaller and use their quickness, but can they stop him from scoring down low? We could try to put Luke or Biggie on him but I don't think either can stay in front of him. I almost see this playing out similarly to when Iowa State visited UNI in the McLeod Center with Craig Brackens (sp?). He ate us alive inside but we limited the guards to keep us in the game. I think the same has to be done with Cook. Let him get his and try to stop everyone else from having a big day. If we double down Iowa has the shooters to make us pay.
!!

Interesting comparison to Brackens. That’s a name I haven’t heard for awhile. Cook is an absolute beast this year. You can tell he’s worked really hard getting himself ready for the next level. We don’t have anyone on the roster with that mix of skills, but few do.

It it seems like UNI’s offense is overly dependent on the three again this year. So, we’ll have to shoot a healthy percentage there to stay in the game. It would really help if Iowa reverted back to playing the crap three point defense they were known for under Fran. This year their D has been really solid so far.

[orangetennis]

If I don't have BTN is there any other way to view this game?

[in_the_stands]

If you can link to a cable subscription that includes the BTN, you can watch via the BTN2Go app. Or if you want to try Playstation Vue or YouTubeTV, they have BTN.

https://flixed.io/how-to-watch-big-ten-network-without-cable/

[Wxcpanther]

Interesting comparison to Brackens. That’s a name I haven’t heard for awhile. Cook is an absolute beast this year. You can tell he’s worked really hard getting himself ready for the next level. We don’t have anyone on the roster with that mix of skills, but few do.

It it seems like UNI’s offense is overly dependent on the three again this year. So, we’ll have to shoot a healthy percentage there to stay in the game. It would really help if Iowa reverted back to playing the crap three point defense they were known for under Fran. This year their D has been really solid so far.

Don’t let the media fool you, their defense has not been any better. They’re actually allowing 10 points more per game and shooting percentages/ fouls per game are all up as well. ISU had a lot of good looks last week at CHA, just couldn’t ge them to go in. If there was ever a game for UNI to get it’s offense figured out and start hitting open shots, it’s this one.

[in_the_stands]

Agreed. If our jumpers aren't going in, it *won't* be because there were Iowa defenders all over our shooters.

[DodgerHawki]

Don’t let the media fool you, their defense has not been any better. They’re actually allowing 10 points more per game and shooting percentages/ fouls per game are all up as well. ISU had a lot of good looks last week at CHA, just couldn’t ge them to go in. If there was ever a game for UNI to get it’s offense figured out and start hitting open shots, it’s this one.

Iowa's defense is quite a bit better this year, although I would not put it in the good category. Last year Iowa was a miserable 242 in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency (KenPom), while this year they are 97th in the country in adjusted DE. Hawks are allowing just under 100 points per 100 possessions, last year that number was over 108 points per 100 possessions. Iowa's defense is ahead of only Illinois in the Big 10.

So Iowa has gone from "truly dreadful" and one of the worst P5 defensive teams in the country to mediocre defensively. Still not good, but better than the dumpster fire of last year. UNI is worse than Iowa from a defensive efficiency standpoint, so the opportunity is going to be there for points to be scored on both sides. Iowa beat Iowa State because Cook was dominant and Iowa shot 50% from 3. Cook can dominate on many nights, but Iowa is not going to shoot 50% from 3-point land very often. If UNI makes some shots early, it will be a dogfight the whole way and Panthers could easily win.

[in_the_stands]

Per Fran's presser today, Holterhaus has been playing well for us

[KL31NY]

Also from the presser (link: https://bit.ly/2RXei4j)

Q. Do you ever see home and away, Drake and UNI coming back, or is it just too hard now?
COACH McCAFFERY: I don't really think about it. Down the road, I wouldn't say it's not a possibility. I wouldn't say no. I wouldn't say yes.

[BCPanther]

Also from the presser (link: https://bit.ly/2RXei4j)

Q. Do you ever see home and away, Drake and UNI coming back, or is it just too hard now?
COACH McCAFFERY: I don't really think about it. Down the road, I wouldn't say it's not a possibility. I wouldn't say no. I wouldn't say yes.

Cute answer. Fran ain't never playing UNI or Drake again by choice.

[Wxcpanther]

Iowa's defense is quite a bit better this year, although I would not put it in the good category. Last year Iowa was a miserable 242 in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency (KenPom), while this year they are 97th in the country in adjusted DE. Hawks are allowing just under 100 points per 100 possessions, last year that number was over 108 points per 100 possessions. Iowa's defense is ahead of only Illinois in the Big 10.

So Iowa has gone from "truly dreadful" and one of the worst P5 defensive teams in the country to mediocre defensively. Still not good, but better than the dumpster fire of last year. UNI is worse than Iowa from a defensive efficiency standpoint, so the opportunity is going to be there for points to be scored on both sides. Iowa beat Iowa State because Cook was dominant and Iowa shot 50% from 3. Cook can dominate on many nights, but Iowa is not going to shoot 50% from 3-point land very often. If UNI makes some shots early, it will be a dogfight the whole way and Panthers could easily win.

That's where their defense was rated at the end of last year, but compared to nonconference play a year ago they're giving up 10 points more per game, fouls are up, and field goal percentage is up. They've played a slightly tougher SOS, but 10 points a game for an "improved defense" is a lot