The Type of Team We Have Trouble With

[Gunnerclone]

....isn't UVA...

I'm hearing a lot about UVA's physicality and how ISU doesn't deal well with physical teams; however I don't see UVA anywhere close to the top of the offensive rebounding rankings. I feel like the talking heads in IA are having a hard time distinguishing between a "physical team" and teams that are all out attack on the offensive glass (like WVU & Baylor).

Teams that crash the offensive glass are the teams that beat ISU up. I consider UVA a "physical" team in the same sense as KU with good size at every position.

 

[Cyclonepride]

I agree that KU is the better comparison, though I see KU as slightly tougher on offense and Virginia tougher on defense.

 

[Clonefan94]

Everything I've heard on them is they send three or 4 guys back on D as soon as the shot goes up, to prevent easy transition buckets. doesn't sound like they hit the offensive glass at all. I haven't seen them play though, so that's just what I have read about them.

 

[digZ]

Everything I've heard on them is they send three or 4 guys back on D as soon as the shot goes up, to prevent easy transition buckets. doesn't sound like they hit the offensive glass at all. I haven't seen them play though, so that's just what I have read about them.

Tempo adjusted stats peg them as an average offensive rebounding team. You're correct this is by design more so than personnel issues. Their defense is predicated in having good position inside the arc, so they like to get back early on defense to prevent transition looks.

I also agree with OP, they are more similar to KU personnel and statistic wise(A team we've played favorably this season) than they are WVU or Baylor(teams that killed us this season).

KU is a bit more willing to run with us than UVa will be, so I guess we'll see how the game goes!

 

[Hoosfan13]

I'm a Virginia fan and yes when a shot goes up especially from the perimeter we tend to send guys back to prevent easy transition buckets and set up the D. We're more of an opportunistic offensive rebounding team, we will get them but we dont send alot of guys in crashing the boards.

 

[JY07]

Thank goodness they can't adjust their game plan for us and crash the boards more

 

[Jsievers24]

It's should be a good game. I also think that teams like Baylor and W.Va play with a higher intensity in the regular season and we have trouble matching that. I don't see a lack of motivation for our guys in this game.

 

[ISUCY23]

Thank goodness they can't adjust their game plan for us and crash the boards more

If they do, they'll set themselves up to give up transition buckets and risk upping the tempo of the game. I don't think they're going to try to do something they haven't done all year.

 

[heitclone]

Thank goodness they can't adjust their game plan for us and crash the boards more

they are extremely disciplined and well versed in their system. I expect adjustments but changing something this big would a surprise. Especially because they are playing a team who wants to get out and run. Changing how they get back on defense would seem counter productive, especially considering they base the entire game on the defensive the floor.

 

[NorthCyd]

Thank goodness they can't adjust their game plan for us and crash the boards more

Assuming this is total sarcasm, thats easier said then done. You don't just flip the plan this late in the season and expect your team to perform well. They crash the offensive glass and don't get the rebound we will have opportunities to run. Doubtful they will do that.

 

[Cyclonestate78]

Tempo adjusted stats peg them as an average offensive rebounding team. You're correct this is by design more so than personnel issues. Their defense is predicated in having good position inside the arc, so they like to get back early on defense to prevent transition looks.

I also agree with OP, they are more similar to KU personnel and statistic wise(A team we've played favorably this season) than they are WVU or Baylor(teams that killed us this season).

KU is a bit more willing to run with us than UVa will be, so I guess we'll see how the game goes!

They would be similar to KU if they didn't like to play games with the score in the 50's. ISU struggles against teams that want to push the tempo just as much as the Clones do. ISU has hung tough against all of those teams this year (KU, OU, WVU, Baylor, etc...) for the majority of the game until they get gassed late. I don't think Virginia presents the same issue. ISU has the players that Virginia will not want to see. 5 guys on the court that can attack the basket, at least 4 guys that can work them from deep, 5 guys that can beat you down the floor, 5 guys that can pass the ball and carve up a defense.

 

[Cycsk]

Their defense will have to be focused on not leaving Niang alone. If he can find the open guy early, it should open things up for him. And if he puts 30 on UVA, he is the player of the year!

 

[c.y.c.l.o.n.e.s]

We have played two teams (that I know of) that employ the pack line defense/grind it out offense this year. Texas A&M and UNI. Neither of those games went well for us. I'm sure that coach Prohm is well versed on how to attack these teams, but if not, I imagine he has been getting plenty of help from his old mentor Billy Kennedy.


Edit: When trying to pick a team that is most like Virginia, I would think that Texas A&M would be near the top of the list.

 

[iowastatefan1929]

We played well against texas a&m. We just got gassed at the end and kept getting called for travels that the announcers even admitted were questionable calls. McKay was also hurt that game even though he did play. Niang had a really good day but went cold toward the end. I remember A&M really stepping into drives better then most have all year.

 

[NorthCyd]

We have played two teams (that I know of) that employ the pack line defense/grind it out offense this year. Texas A&M and UNI. Neither of those games went well for us. I'm sure that coach Prohm is well versed on how to attack these teams, but if not, I imagine he has been getting plenty of help from his old mentor Billy Kennedy.


Edit: When trying to pick a team that is most like Virginia, I would think that Texas A&M would be near the top of the list.

Throw the UNI game out. Washpun was shooting out of his mind and Monte couldn't/wouldn't stay in front of him and stop his dribble penetration. Prohm finally made an adjustment and switched Nader on him and we just didn't have quite enough time to climb out of the huge hole we had dug ourselves. We had no business losing that game.

Can't speak to the Texas A&M game. I didn't see it. Only game I missed all year. Pretty tough situation and environment to walk in to in the middle of conference play. Not saying this style of ball isn't tough, but I agree with the OP that teams that really hit the offensive glass is our biggest weakness. The fact that we only lost at home to teams that ranked 1st and 3rd in offensive rebound rate speak pretty strongly to that.

 

[CycloneWarning]

We have played two teams (that I know of) that employ the pack line defense/grind it out offense this year. Texas A&M and UNI. Neither of those games went well for us. I'm sure that coach Prohm is well versed on how to attack these teams, but if not, I imagine he has been getting plenty of help from his old mentor Billy Kennedy.


Edit: When trying to pick a team that is most like Virginia, I would think that Texas A&M would be near the top of the list.

I would discount the UNI game since we shot a woeful 3/17 from three while they made an unreal 13/22.

But the ATM comparison is pretty good since they play a similar defense. They held our shooting percentage down and held us to 62 points. If we get to 70-72, I feel good about this game.

 

[ISU_phoria]

I haven't watched UVA play at all either, so this take (likes others) is based off of what I've heard/read - If Virginia does indeed get back on defense and really protects the middle & baseline, it seems as though if we push the ball on offense and send our shooters to open spots on the outside (and can make some shots), that might be a good way to approach the game and loosen up their D a little.

 

[mitten1975]

I looked at the games we played with Baylor and West Virginia during the season, and compared them with Baylor and West Virginia's first game losses in the NCAA and both teams had almost an average of 8-10 more fouls called against them in the NCAA than they had called against us during our season games against them. Also in our first two games in the NCAA tourney, we have been called on average -8 less fouls per game than was our average against Baylor and West Virginia. If you take the two that is at least a 16 foul swing, not even counting some of the traveling calls that I have seen this year. I think we play these teams in the NCAA tourney, we beat them. They call a completely different game in the NCAA tourney than they do in the big 12 and this works to the liability of teams like Baylor and West Virginia and helps us.

 

[andymhallman]

I looked at the games we played with Baylor and West Virginia during the season, and compared them with Baylor and West Virginia's first game losses in the NCAA and both teams had almost an average of 8-10 more fouls called against them in the NCAA than they had called against us during our season games against them. Also in our first two games in the NCAA tourney, we have been called on average -8 less fouls per game than was our average against Baylor and West Virginia. If you take the two that is at least a 16 foul swing, not even counting some of the traveling calls that I have seen this year. I think we play these teams in the NCAA tourney, we beat them. They call a completely different game in the NCAA tourney than they do in the big 12 and this works to the liability of teams like Baylor and West Virginia and helps us.

Hey mitten! That's a good observation. I felt the NCAA games have been called pretty well so far, and the officials seem to be erring on the side of swallowing their whistles. I've really noticed that they're letting a lot of questionable travel calls go, which is good for us since we've been called for a lot of phantom travels (especially Nader, poor Dooley!)

You have to keep in mind ISU commits the fewest fouls in the country and also shoots few free throws because we're not playing a style that forces the other team to foul. We're just not a physical team. That's why I would expect Baylor and West Virginia to get called for more fouls against other opponents, in the NCAA Tourney or not, but that disparity you point out is rather large!

 

[kucyclone]

Northern Iowa is the worst offensive rebounding team in the country, for what it's worth. And Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M all had pretty low offensive rebounding rates in their wins over ISU.

Isolating your analysis to one factor like this is silly.