Style of Play

[UNIhoops]

Next year... Just wondering if anyone thinks UNI will will fast break more, and look for a shot before the clock runs down to seven seconds? I would say we r a lot more athletic. I don't see very many teams being able to keep up with Colemen, Koch, Reed, Brown, Josten, or Kwadzo. I also think it would give us a chance to get a (big) lead and then pound it into Jordan. I just think with the 150+ plays we never have a chance (time) to blow a team out, the plays seemed good when UNI wasn't as athletic or talented, but now that we have Colemen and Jordan in the post, I don't think a set play is needed to get them a open shot.

Do you guys think the style to play will change?

[Matt Trump]

We saw some more running this year, but each gameplan is going to be directed at specific teams in the conference.

But, regardless, the offense will always be based on set plays, slowing down the game, and playing tough D.

[joecooll6]

But, regardless, the offense will always be based on set plays, slowing down the game, and playing tough D.

Given the type of players we usually recruit, this is the best option for us IMO.

[Blue42]

There's a point where playing a deliberate style by running set plays can deteriorate into burning up the shot clock and rushing bad shots at the buzzer, or just plain turning the ball over.

I think we found ourselves in that position too often this year. I'm all for set plays...to create shots. Not to burn the clock.

[BCPanther]

What do Ben Jacobsen, Greg McDermott, Kyle Green, and Rich Glas all have in common?

They believe that set plays and a controled tempo are the best ways to win games. I agree, you really have to play that way in the Valley. The defense played in the league is too good to expect to be able to play a somewhat uptempo pace, there are no easy buckets...

[Matt Trump]

Not to mention that the "athletes" needed to play up tempo won't be coming here.

Basketball is a guards game and UNI didn't have the play out them them that they needed to run their set plays effectively against the pressure defense played in the conference

[Matt Trump]

fyi, ISU fans are complaining that GMacs style of play is too boring. Leave it to them to find something to complain about.

[BCPanther]

How can ISU fans complain about his style?? They used to have to sit through the "Ultimate Thug and Mug Team" when Tim Floyd was in town...

PS- Does anybody else remember the video of Kenny Pratt running through downtown Des Moines in his minor league basketball uniform after the cops came to arrest him?? It still makes me laugh and it was like 6 years ago...

[Matt Trump]

How can ISU fans complain about his style??

They can complain about anything. Its what they do best. I've never seen such a reactive fan base.

[joecooll6]

Agreed, Bret Meyer is a prime example. Before last season it was all about Meyer-Blythe for two more years! It didnt matter that they were replacing 9 defensive starters and their defense wasnt that good to begin with, Meyer will light up the scoreboard! Now, Meyer "sucks" and they all want a redshirt freshman to start. Doesnt make sense.

[SteinPizza]

There's a point where playing a deliberate style by running set plays can deteriorate into burning up the shot clock and rushing bad shots at the buzzer, or just plain turning the ball over.

I think we found ourselves in that position too often this year. I'm all for set plays...to create shots. Not to burn the clock.

Totally agreed. It wasn't just this year, I seem to remember a lot of forced, bad shots at the end of the shot clock during GMac's tenure. They were usually taken by Benny, although probably not his fault, but the fault of the offense as a whole. Hopefully next year Brown, Reed, and Josten will be able to create a bit with time running out.

[#1 Panther]

i don't know about changing our style of play, but i do know one thing. we will be a lot more athletic. especially in our guard court, and we all know how much trouble our guards had with pressure this year and in previous years.

[UNIAlum95]

Totally agreed. It wasn't just this year, I seem to remember a lot of forced, bad shots at the end of the shot clock during GMac's tenure. They were usually taken by Benny, although probably not his fault, but the fault of the offense as a whole. Hopefully next year Brown, Reed, and Josten will be able to create a bit with time running out.

I think with Reed can create his own shots. Hopefully Brown and Kwadzo will continue to develop, we will have a couple of players that can create their own shots. JJ could improve here to as he showed he could be affective with the pull up jumper. That gives UNI four players with the ball handling ability to create on their own. Granted, there is much work needed here, but I think they all have the ability to move with the ball.

[Khan4Cats]

The thing about our guards is that we have never really had a "true" point guard in our system. It has always been somewhat of a committee approach. We had Foster, Benny, Crawford, Brooks, Pete Schmidt, even J-Lit to some extent bringing the ball up court and setting the offense for the last several years. This year was one of the first where Brooks was asked to almost exlusively bring the ball up and set the offense for most of the season. Towards the end of the year, especially once KA began starting, I know noticed a lot more of the shared responsibilities again with Brooks, KA, and Josten all taking turns setting the O. What has always seemed frustrating is that when teams do pressure us, it forces us to get into sets later and limits the number of options within our sets. That is why Creighton has had success against us, and to some extent Drake and Bradley consistently.
Having Reed as a driving, pull-up type shooter will benefit us next year, Josten has shown some of that ability, as did KA towards the end of the year but not long enough to develop confidence, Brown got gunshy after Drake when he was constantly called for travelling. If Dunham is strong enough he gives us another option, though I see him as a Klayton Korver type big guard to shoot over the top of smaller guards, not so much as a driver. I would have liked to have seen more from Jones to see if he could develop those skills as well. The only guard we have coming back that I don't think could do this is Viet, but he can just camp at the arc while others drive and dish, he could still be a threat.

[UNIAlum95]

The thing about our guards is that we have never really had a "true" point guard in our system. It has always been somewhat of a committee approach. We had Foster, Benny, Crawford, Brooks, Pete Schmidt, even J-Lit to some extent bringing the ball up court and setting the offense for the last several years. This year was one of the first where Brooks was asked to almost exlusively bring the ball up and set the offense for most of the season. Towards the end of the year, especially once KA began starting, I know noticed a lot more of the shared responsibilities again with Brooks, KA, and Josten all taking turns setting the O. What has always seemed frustrating is that when teams do pressure us, it forces us to get into sets later and limits the number of options within our sets. That is why Creighton has had success against us, and to some extent Drake and Bradley consistently.
Having Reed as a driving, pull-up type shooter will benefit us next year, Josten has shown some of that ability, as did KA towards the end of the year but not long enough to develop confidence, Brown got gunshy after Drake when he was constantly called for travelling. If Dunham is strong enough he gives us another option, though I see him as a Klayton Korver type big guard to shoot over the top of smaller guards, not so much as a driver. I would have liked to have seen more from Jones to see if he could develop those skills as well. The only guard we have coming back that I don't think could do this is Viet, but he can just camp at the arc while others drive and dish, he could still be a threat.

Yep I think so to all around. Viet will be a Ryan Paulson type of player for us, a zone buster. He can get some minutes especially if he works on his defense and footwork. We all know he can shoot and he doesn't need to dribble the ball. We just need him to not be a liability on the defensive end of the court.