**Iowa Men's Basketball vs. MSU - 12/2/25 - 6 PM Peacock and YTTV (NBCSN)**

[KitKatApples]

Suck my cock

I don't know if that's much more fun to watch

 

[douglasbader]

I'm very surprised at the lack of ball movement from this team and not just last night. Wasn't that supposed to be one of Ben's big things?

That and rebounding have been the two biggest disappointments so far.

Same. I knew the pace would be ultra slow, but I thought from the videos posted that the offense would be 30 seconds of constant moving and cutting forcing the defense to actually defend for 30 seconds and then attack when they make a mistake and can't keep up. There was one clip where we even jokingly said "that much movement and passing is almost too much".

Instead the offense seems to be walk the ball up the court for 10 seconds, dribble and lightly pass the ball around on top for another 15 seconds and finally try to get off a desperation shot in the last 5 seconds.

 

[AZmessDAWG]

He mentioned the offense in post game about how it’s been off since Ole Miss.

Easy to run your offense when your opponent isnt being physical and just allows you to run your stuff.

He’ll make the adjustments but the biggest thing I see is getting paint touches. Either actual post feeds or wings driving.

 

[AZmessDAWG]

Same. I knew the pace would be ultra slow, but I thought from the videos posted that the offense would be 30 seconds of constant moving and cutting forcing the defense to actually defend for 30 seconds and then attack when they make a mistake and can't keep up.

Instead the offense seems to be walk the ball up the court for 10 seconds, dribble and lightly pass the ball around on top for another 15 seconds and finally try to get off a desperation shot in the last 5 seconds.

Would you shut the fuck up

 

[Fletch]

Easy to run your offense when your opponent isnt being physical and just allows you to run your stuff.

He’ll make the adjustments but the biggest thing I see is getting paint touches. Either actual post feeds or wings driving.

Agreed. The ball has been sticking way too much up top.

 

[douglasbader]

Easy to run your offense when your opponent isnt being physical and just allows you to run your stuff.

He’ll make the adjustments but the biggest thing I see is getting paint touches. Either actual post feeds or wings driving.

Would you shut the fuck up

But isn't that sort of the point? Easy to run this offense when your opponent is 90% MVC or worse teams that lack size, talent and physicality.

The offense looks brilliant in those cases. It looked brilliant so far against the first 5 teams they played this year that are all MVC or worse teams that lack size, talent and physicality.

Then the last 3 games they have played much more talented teams than those first teams and the offense has looked pretty terrible. They were able to beat Ole Miss and Grand Canyon and that is great, but then it ran into Michigan State and imploded.

To your point, he will make adjustments and other teams imploded against Michigan State already this year, but it's ok to point out that Iowa lacks size and the system will need to be adjusted heavily to compete against top teams in the Big Ten.

 

[AZmessDAWG]

Had a bad first half. It happens.

 

[HiawathaHawk]

The rebounding was atrocious last night but has been very good since the first game. The margin last night was concerning but MSU is a top 5-10 team in the country on the glass. That and the post defense are going to be issues all year.

The offense will figure it out at least functionally . Ben talked about how Ole Miss switched everything so Iowa went iso with a Stirtz and matchup matchup hunting and it worked but messed up their rhythm. He said last night it was inept, one high ball screen then stagnant and stuck.

He’ll get it fixed. They’ll still be a scorer or two and interior defender short but I believe what he said last night. They got their asses kicked and it will be good for them. We’ve had several good teams get completely blitzed up there like that and being the first road game made it even more likely. They’re playing extremely well right now and have done that to good teams on neutral courts.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

Physically gifted teams can make every pass and cut a challenge. We will be fine.

 

[Verbal]

I haven't seen every Big Ten team play yet, but it seems like Purdue, Michigan and Michigan State are probably a cut above everyone else. I don't think there's any other team in the Big Ten that Iowa can't at least be competitive with. A .500 record in conference is a very reasonable expectation. Iowa State on the road next week is a likely loss, but the rest of the non-conference should be smooth sailing. 10-1 in the non-conference, plus 10-10 in the Douche should be plenty good enough for a tournament bid, which is all anyone could have reasonably wanted in year 1.

 

[HiawathaHawk]

Physically gifted teams can make every pass and cut a challenge. We will be fine.

Ole Miss is plenty physically gifted Cletey.

 

[Thomas Wolsey]

Torvik has MSU as #6 in the country with the 3rd best defense. Last night sucked, ball movement and rebounding and playing through contact need to improve but Iowa can still win a bunch of douche games.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

Ole Miss is plenty physically gifted Cletey.

yeah and when we played them they had played what 3 games together?

 

[Fletch]

Ole Miss is plenty physically gifted Cletey.

The Ole Miss win is looking less impressive by the day, however.

 

[OlePeep]

One glaring thing that's bothered me is the use of Koch on the wing. I lack schematic expertise, but in many sets he plays that role where they just stick a guy in the corner and for most of the clock he's not involved in the offense. I had hoped he'd draw out bigger players and have the ability to get past them and to the lane if not the basket. He did finally start doing that late in the game w/ some success, and as perhaps our 2nd most gifted player I'd like to see him do more than sit that corner role or be limited to setting high screens and ball-pressure relief. He spends 75% of his touches passing the ball instantly back to Stirtz

 

[Uff Da]

A 58 possession game is usually going to suck to watch, even if your team wins.

How many possessions in the Duke Florida game and the UConn Kansas game? or North Carolina Kentucky?

 

[AZmessDAWG]

DYOFR

 

[KitKatApples]

Told his bitch ass

 

[eclone]

How many possessions in the Duke Florida game and the UConn Kansas game? or North Carolina Kentucky?

Duke/Florida 65
UCONN/KU 62
UNC/UK 64

Under 60 is a grind of a game. The Criminal averaged 58/57/61 possessions his three years. The first two years of Otzelberger at ISU were 64 and 66 and could be miserable to watch, but ISU hasn't had a game as low as 58 since February, 2022. After his first 5 years at a slower pace in the low-mid 60s, Fran averaged between 68-72 the last 10 years.
Drake was at 59 last year and the 364th slowest team in the country. Iowa is at 64 this year and is the 359th slowest team. Does slow = bad teams? Definitely not, good tough defense and a methodical offense can work. But it can also be a less than pleasant game to watch.

 

[Debit One]

Duke/Florida 65
UCONN/KU 62
UNC/UK 64

Under 60 is a grind of a game. The Criminal averaged 58/57/61 possessions his three years. The first two years of Otzelberger at ISU were 64 and 66 and could be miserable to watch, but ISU hasn't had a game as low as 58 since February, 2022. After his first 5 years at a slower pace in the low-mid 60s, Fran averaged between 68-72 the last 10 years.
Drake was at 59 last year and the 364th slowest team in the country. Iowa is at 64 this year and is the 359th slowest team. Does slow = bad teams? Definitely not, good tough defense and a methodical offense can work. But it can also be a less than pleasant game to watch.

Ferentz + McCollum is almost certainly the most grinding pair of FB/BB coaches at one school.

Every game is a root canal.

 

[eclone]

Duke/Florida 65
UCONN/KU 62
UNC/UK 64

Under 60 is a grind of a game. The Criminal averaged 58/57/61 possessions his three years. The first two years of Otzelberger at ISU were 64 and 66 and could be miserable to watch, but ISU hasn't had a game as low as 58 since February, 2022. After his first 5 years at a slower pace in the low-mid 60s, Fran averaged between 68-72 the last 10 years.
Drake was at 59 last year and the 364th slowest team in the country. Iowa is at 64 this year and is the 359th slowest team. Does slow = bad teams? Definitely not, good tough defense and a methodical offense can work. But it can also be a less than pleasant game to watch.

Every one of the 15 years Tony Bennett was at Virginia his tempo was between 58.0 and 61.7 He won a ton of games including a national championship. Slow can work. Bo Ryan was similar at Wisconsin.

 

[Shawneemicks]

Every one of the 15 years Tony Bennett was at Virginia his tempo was between 58.0 and 61.7 He won a ton of games including a national championship. Slow can work. Bo Ryan was similar at Wisconsin.

These coaches should be banned from ever touching a basketball again

 

[douglasbader]

Duke/Florida 65
UCONN/KU 62
UNC/UK 64

Under 60 is a grind of a game. The Criminal averaged 58/57/61 possessions his three years. The first two years of Otzelberger at ISU were 64 and 66 and could be miserable to watch, but ISU hasn't had a game as low as 58 since February, 2022. After his first 5 years at a slower pace in the low-mid 60s, Fran averaged between 68-72 the last 10 years.
Drake was at 59 last year and the 364th slowest team in the country. Iowa is at 64 this year and is the 359th slowest team. Does slow = bad teams? Definitely not, good tough defense and a methodical offense can work. But it can also be a less than pleasant game to watch.

This sums everything up perfectly. If it gets us Tony Bennett, Bo Ryan or even a step down in like results, I'm fine with it. If not, then the eye bleeding pace is going to wear on the enthusiasm to tune in for a .500 conference team.

 

[HiawathaHawk]

The Xavier game was 70, Ole Miss was 64. Maybe we let it play out a little bit.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

The Xavier game was 70, Ole Miss was 64. Maybe we let it play out a little bit.

maybe you should start a new internet where everything plays out before expressing an opinion.

 

[douglasbader]

The Xavier game was 70, Ole Miss was 64. Maybe we let it play out a little bit.

Yep, adjustments will be made.

 

[LifelongHawk]

Mock drafts have Stirtz going mid 1st, 15th or so.

Didn't look like it last night.

 

[HiawathaHawk]

maybe you should start a new internet where everything plays out before expressing an opinion.

There’s a good chance this was an outlier game in a few different areas. I’m not saying there shouldn’t be opinions on what they did or what happened.

 

[AZmessDAWG]

Mock drafts have Stirtz going mid 1st, 15th or so.

Didn't look like it last night.

When you’re the only guy that can score and the whole defense is geared to stop you, unless you’re MJ, that’s bound to happen.

JFC Iowa basketball “fans.”

 

[AZmessDAWG]

This sums everything up perfectly. If it gets us Tony Bennett, Bo Ryan or even a step down in like results, I'm fine with it. If not, then the eye bleeding pace is going to wear on the enthusiasm to tune in for a .500 conference team.

It was one game. One game.

 

[6deuce]

Mock drafts have Stirtz going mid 1st, 15th or so.

Didn't look like it last night.

He's a great facilitator, but he is almost all Iowa has from a scoring standpoint. He won't need to be that guy on an NBA squad.

 

[6deuce]

scooped by da dawg!!

 

[Fletch]

It was one game. One game.

Not sure you are aware but getting buttfucked once every 12 years is unacceptable. Scrap the entire thing.

Yeah it was ugly to watch. They need to get the ball moving again. They will.

 

[LifelongHawk]

He's a great facilitator, but he is almost all Iowa has from a scoring standpoint. He won't need to be that guy on an NBA squad.

That's fair, he does have a world class pocket pass.

Remains to be seen if he is picked in the first, be awesome as it would bode well for the season.

His draft projection was the reason I had hope in the Breslin/Izzo house of horrors. Albeit hope that cost several units on the money line.

 

[BBK]

Everyone needs to clam down!!!

 

[Brownzy]

I saw 10 situations where Fran would have been T'd the fuck up if he was acting like Izzo and the refs just sat there and took it. Amazing the guy is completely bulletproof.

 

[HiawathaHawk]

I saw 10 situations where Fran would have been T'd the fuck up if he was acting like Izzo and the refs just sat there and took it. Amazing the guy is completely bulletproof.

That first 12 minutes was outrageous. I don’t know what it would take for him to get a tech.

 

[6deuce]

I saw 10 situations where Fran would have been T'd the fuck up if he was acting like Izzo and the refs just sat there and took it. Amazing the guy is completely bulletproof.

That first 12 minutes was outrageous. I don’t know what it would take for him to get a tech.

It really is amazing. The refs have all the control to put a stop to it and just don't. Faggots all of them.

 

[AZmessDAWG]

I mean it’s really more of what you say, not how you say it. He just looks like a douche when he’s yelling at refs that we just automatically assume it’s worthy of a T.

That and he’s a legend than has more rope than the average coach or hated like Fran.

 

[BBK]

I mean it’s really more of what you say, not how you say it. He just looks like a douche when he’s yelling at refs that we just automatically assume it’s worthy of a T.

That and he’s a legend than has more rope than the average coach or hated like Fran.

You ever do any barkin' at the officials, DaDAWG?

 

[KitKatApples]

Nope, because that dawgs GOT BITE!

 

[Thomas Wolsey]

Nope, because that dawgs GOT BITE!

 

[Brownzy]

I mean it’s really more of what you say, not how you say it. He just looks like a douche when he’s yelling at refs that we just automatically assume it’s worthy of a T.

That and he’s a legend than has more rope than the average coach or hated like Fran.

I really hope Fran just kept telling the refs what he did to their mothers last night. That would make me feel better at least

 

[cloudhawk]

This is the reason I dont watch Basketball with you guys- you always overreact. Not like football.

 

[Shawneemicks]

Fran had timeshares to dangle but I guess that didn’t matter

 

[AZmessDAWG]

You ever do any barkin' at the officials, DaDAWG?

Yep. I’m a spaz.

 

[douglasbader]

It was one game. One game.

No shit, and I didn't write them off at all and even said they will adjust.

But holy fucking shit any legitimate fair criticism at this point is being treated as hate. OMG someone dares say that the system they run might not work like they plan when they get down to bigger and better teams and they might have to adjust the walk it up and burn 30 seconds to compete in games like this is not crazy to say.

I mean, I posted before the game (after watching the last 2 games prior) that the literal exact fucking thing that ended up happening last night might happen and you would think I was asking for him to be fired and declaring they will finish last in the Big Ten.

And quite frankly, fuck off. The style was eye bleedingly boring as fuck. It's ok to admit it. Just like it's ok to admit that Fran's run and gun no defense style was boring as fuck. It's ok to say it. Every single one of us has absolutely roasted Bo Ryan and Tony Bennett teams that played equally as slow. All of you. Now we can't say that? Lol.

 

[Thomas Wolsey]

No shit, and I didn't write them off at all and even said they will adjust.

But holy fucking shit any legitimate fair criticism at this point is being treated as hate. OMG someone dares say that the system they run might not work like they plan when they get down to bigger and better teams and they might have to adjust the walk it up and burn 30 seconds to compete in games like this is not crazy to say.

I mean, I posted before the game (after watching the last 2 games prior) that the literal exact fucking thing that ended up happening last night might happen and you would think I was asking for him to be fired and declaring they will finish last in the Big Ten.

And quite frankly, fuck off. The style was eye bleedingly boring as fuck. It's ok to admit it. Just like it's ok to admit that Fran's run and gun no defense style was boring as fuck. It's ok to say it. Every single one of us has absolutely roasted Bo Ryan and Tony Bennett teams that played equally as slow. All of you. Now we can't say that? Lol.

 

[AZmessDAWG]

No shit, and I didn't write them off at all and even said they will adjust.

But holy fucking shit any legitimate fair criticism at this point is being treated as hate. OMG someone dares say that the system they run might not work like they plan when they get down to bigger and better teams and they might have to adjust the walk it up and burn 30 seconds to compete in games like this is not crazy to say.

I mean, I posted before the game (after watching the last 2 games prior) that the literal exact fucking thing that ended up happening last night might happen and you would think I was asking for him to be fired and declaring they will finish last in the Big Ten.

And quite frankly, fuck off. The style was eye bleedingly boring as fuck. It's ok to admit it. Just like it's ok to admit that Fran's run and gun no defense style was boring as fuck. It's ok to say it. Every single one of us has absolutely roasted Bo Ryan and Tony Bennett teams that played equally as slow. All of you. Now we can't say that? Lol.

We come from different worlds. Your job focuses on entertainment. I completely get why that’s a factor for you.

I view it differently. I give zero fucks what it looks like. All I care abt is the “W”.

 

[Thomas Wolsey]

We come from different worlds. Your job focuses on entertainment. I completely get why that’s a factor for you.

I view it differently. I give zero fucks what it looks like. All I care abt is the “W”.