**Virginia Tech vs. Iowa Basketball - 11/10 - 6pm - FOX1**

[Lee Beevers]

Best player on the team is Cooper Koch who was a fran / legacy recruit.



And this is nothing to do with fairness / nepotism, it's about competitivness. The kid sucks. At least fran put his goo in a woman with a large frame.

I put my goo in your mom.

 

[TurdBurgler]

Not trying to defend the McCaffreys, my point is they had actual division 1 offers at least.

 

[The Dad]

Not trying to defend the McCaffreys, my point is they had actual division 1 offers at least.

That is a key distinction, imo. We hated them but they were at least considered legitimate D1 prospects coming out of HS.

Peyton is Little Lick.

 

[Shawneemicks]

Beth should have never let this situation become possible. It should have been made clear during the hiring process that the program has been burnt repeatedly by this and she simply wasn’t going to agree to letting Ben’s kids play at Iowa. That’s the lions share of blame.
The rest falls on Ben & his staff, they should have been telling him no as well.

 

[Shawneemicks]

Now the UI is going to be stuck with his kids playing more minutes than earned for the next, what, 6-7 years?
Beth no longer has a big dick

 

[BBK]

Personally, I don’t want my ferry sinking. Floating is great.

Your dad is my favourite ferry ride

 

[Captain Willard]

I feel like Ben is using his kid to eat up early season minutes and you'll see Thompson and Harris with fresh legs once the mid conference season hits. Sage didn't really emerge until the end of season last year.
I believe that Ben is a tourney coach that uses the season to prepare for it. I don't think he cares about seeding or conference titles. At least not in year 2.
I think Beth could have prevented this. But perhaps Ben is coaching at UNC or wherever if she does and then everyone is pissed that she let an Elite 8 coach leave after one season. She's paid to make those decisions, but that is still a tough one.
The cat was let out of the bag once Iowa made an exception and let Sam Alford coach at Iowa. That cat ain't ever going back in. Accept it, and be happy at least this Iowa coach seems to have some skills.

 

[Fletch]

I feel like Ben is using his kid to eat up early season minutes and you'll see Thompson and Harris with fresh legs once the mid conference season hits. Sage didn't really emerge until the end of season last year.
I believe that Ben is a tourney coach that uses the season to prepare for it. I don't think he cares about seeding or conference titles. At least not in year 2.
I think Beth could have prevented this. But perhaps Ben is coaching at UNC or wherever if she does and then everyone is pissed that she let an Elite 8 coach leave after one season. She's paid to make those decisions, but that is still a tough one.
The cat was let out of the bag once Iowa made an exception and let Sam Alford coach at Iowa. That cat ain't ever going back in. Accept it, and be happy at least this Iowa coach seems to have some skills.

I don’t think this makes any sense. They’re inexperienced and now is the time you get them some experience…before you start facing the meat grinder of the schedule.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

Then why is he also playing Koch 45 minutes in the same game

 

[Fletch]

Sage also wasn’t buried on the bench like Thompson and Harris…he was in the regular rotation

 

[douglasbader]

I feel like Ben is using his kid to eat up early season minutes and you'll see Thompson and Harris with fresh legs once the mid conference season hits. Sage didn't really emerge until the end of season last year.

This is the silliest thing I have ever heard.

 

[Revolver]

I do think they’ll both be more involved in the rotation once Big Ten play starts, though.

 

[Fritz Fequiere]

One thing they have to have to figure out is if Jirak is ready to play in the big ten. If he's not (and I'm starting to wonder), then Cam will be play more of the 5 and Thompson will get in the game more.

 

[Captain Willard]

This is the silliest thing I have ever heard.

Seriously? On this site? Now that's the silliest thing I've ever heard.

I'm not justifying anything. I don't remotely agree with it. I just think that is what Ben is doing. He wants to save Thompson and Harris' legs for the 2nd half of the season.
I don't think you'll see lil Ben on the floor much once we hit mid conference season. He'll slowly merge Thompson and Harris into the rotation, and he'll run with his tournament roster from that point on. He doesn't want Thompson and Harris to have the much hated dead legs at the end of the season.
I could be completely wrong. But it is completely possible.

 

[douglasbader]

Seriously? On this site? Now that's the silliest thing I've ever heard.

I'm not justifying anything. I don't remotely agree with it. I just think that is what Ben is doing. He wants to save Thompson and Harris' legs for the 2nd half of the season.
I don't think you'll see lil Ben on the floor much once we hit mid conference season. He'll slowly merge Thompson and Harris into the rotation, and he'll run with his tournament roster from that point on. He doesn't want Thompson and Harris to have the much hated dead legs at the end of the season.
I could be completely wrong. But it is completely possible.

You're wrong. If that insane theory was the case he would be playing Joey, not his midget son.

 

[Revolver]

A loss doesn’t mean as much in the early season in basketball as it does it football. Let’s hope this is akin to Kirk fucking around with the quarterback situation in years back and getting it right after an ugly loss.

I really think the key will be what happens going forward after we have seen it cost us.

 

[Captain Willard]

You're wrong. If that insane theory was the case he would be playing Joey, not his midget son.

Except he lives with his son, he's been coaching his son his whole life, and his son knows his offense inside and out(from a design standpoint at least). So he decided to use him.
Once again, I don't agree with it.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

A loss doesn’t mean as much in the early season in basketball as it does it football. Let’s hope this is akin to Kirk fucking around with the quarterback situation in years back and getting it right after an ugly loss.

I really think the key will be what happens going forward after we have seen it cost us.

I think most of us are annoyed at how we lost and what it signifies moving forward than that we actually lost.

 

[Revolver]

I think most of us are annoyed at how we lost and what it signifies moving forward than that we actually lost.

Oh, I agree. I’m just saying that hopefully losing like that this early makes them realize the issue early enough and that it doesn’t fester like we have seen with the football program in the past.

 

[CleteyColgate]

Not trying to defend the McCaffreys, my point is they had actual division 1 offers at least.

What were the offers?

 

[Greg Obrecht]

So Ben is not giving the inexperienced guys playing time in order to save them for later in the season when their record may be bad enough to miss tournament altogether. Makes sense.

 

[Lee Beevers]

Except he lives with his son, he's been coaching his son his whole life, and his son knows his offense inside and out(from a design standpoint at least). So he decided to use him.
Once again, I don't agree with it.

Are you a very retarded man, sir?

 

[Greg Obrecht]

He’s on par with us, @Lee Beevers

 

[Lee Beevers]

He’s on par with us, @Lee Beevers

I’ve got Doug bader claiming Michigan is beating Oregon and Ohio state in football, and Ol’ Capn Willy claiming he’s not playing inexperienced players to save them for later in the season. @The Dad is probably menapausing all over his lovely estate in Ankeny right now with such anger.

 

[Greg Obrecht]

I’m glad we are saving Harris and Thompson for the NIT E8 run.

 

[shoot-the-three]

I don't think McCollum is worried about saving anyone's legs, but agree that he will slowly work guys into the rotation. Who knows if that will be Thompson or Harris. I do know that if your defense and effort are bad your ass is going to be on bench.

As far as his son playing and making recruiting a quality PG harder, Coleman looks like he is going to be pretty good. As frustrating as the nepotism is at Iowa, I am ecstatic to have a good coach that values defense and not turning the ball over. I still have PTSD from watching Fran for so long.

 

[Fritz Fequiere]

Captain Willard, a true haloman assumes the worst about everyone's intentions at all times in and all situations. There's probably a kernel of truth in your thinking but you're going to get shouted down here by the dougs and lwades.

For example it's entirely plausible to me that lil Ben is a better right now than the 6'8 red-headed guard, and that Thompson isn't playing because he isn't yet practicing to the standard big Ben has set for him. McCollum has already mentioned he thinks he'll be an all big-ten player. I agree he's probably thinking long-term with him and is trying to work out some bad habits before he's regularly in the rotation.

But no, Captain Willard, you can't think like that on halo because there are some real misanthropes here that are going to see the worst in everybody. They get off on it. It fuels their online life.

 

[douglasbader]

Captain Willard, a true haloman assumes the worst about everyone's intentions at all times in and all situations. There's probably a kernel of truth in your thinking but you're going to get shouted down here by the dougs and lwades.

For example it's entirely plausible to me that lil Ben is a better right now than the 6'8 red-headed guard, and that Thompson isn't playing because he isn't yet practicing to the standard big Ben has set for him. McCollum has already mentioned he thinks he'll be an all big-ten player. I agree he's probably thinking long-term with him and is trying to work out some bad habits before he's regularly in the rotation.

But no, Captain Willard, you can't think like that on halo because there are some real misanthropes here that are going to see the worst in everybody. They get off on it. It fuels their online life.

You're a fucking Wisconsin fan and a worse gambler than Greg. Who give a flying fuck what you think.

 

[Fritz Fequiere]

You're a fucking Wisconsin fan and a worse gambler than Greg. Who give a flying fuck what you think.

I'm 16-7 right now, Doug. Sixteen and seven.

 

[Lee Beevers]

Captain Willard, a true haloman assumes the worst about everyone's intentions at all times in and all situations. There's probably a kernel of truth in your thinking but you're going to get shouted down here by the dougs and lwades.

For example it's entirely plausible to me that lil Ben is a better right now than the 6'8 red-headed guard, and that Thompson isn't playing because he isn't yet practicing to the standard big Ben has set for him. McCollum has already mentioned he thinks he'll be an all big-ten player. I agree he's probably thinking long-term with him and is trying to work out some bad habits before he's regularly in the rotation.

But no, Captain Willard, you can't think like that on halo because there are some real misanthropes here that are going to see the worst in everybody. They get off on it. It fuels their online life.

Have you considered killing yourself?

 

[douglasbader]

I'm 16-7 right now, Doug. Sixteen and seven.

lol, nope.

 

[JR Hawks]

My two working theories:

1. As shoot the three said, Ben isn't going to play kids that can't defend or bring consistent effort. Based on everything we've heard, Trey Thompson isn't passing the defense test. Brendan Hausen had the same issue last year and never played despite the NIL commitment and success at KSU. Unless Thompson gets his shit together on defense or we get really desperate on offense, he may ride the bench all year and then transfer out. I don't think Ben gives a shit that he was a 4 star recruit. I'd prefer he get a chance, but hard to get too upset at Ben for being a defense absolutist after Fran.

2. Ben has always been clear about liking Peyton's defense, which has been based on practice and, I assume, high school/AAU. Neither of which exposed him to athletic guards like Virginia Tech. So perhaps some limitations were exposed on Tuesday. At his press availability later in the week, he said the tape showed the big were terrible in pick and roll and leaving the guards exposed. So who knows. But over time, Ben's not going to get away with playing Peyton for defense and Peyton not providing that defense.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

Peyton saw plenty of athletic guards in both high school and AAU, and the result was the same. Which, given our historical lack of athletic guards, was why people were concerned about him playing at this level. He doesn’t have the size and his quickness is even worse.

He’s trying to justify playing his kid, nothing more. Hopefully he will be “injured” before too long, similar to Patrick.

 

[Captain Willard]

So Ben is not giving the inexperienced guys playing time in order to save them for later in the season when their record may be bad enough to miss tournament altogether. Makes sense.

In this theory, it's about sacrificing experience for fresh bodies and especially legs around tournament time. I don't like that approach personally. I think that simply increasing minutes periodically throughout the season is the way to go. And perhaps that is what will happen sooner than later. But I also understand how brutal the Big Ten season is now compared to a decade ago. You factor in the coast to coast traveling and how talented the teams are in this league now, maybe this is how Ben feels he can compete in March. He needs the freshest team possible. But he doesn't have Stirtz to eat up minutes this season. So he adapted to this alledged scheme.

You are correct that having this approach brings in the chance at missing the tournament altogether. But again, maybe he isn't interested in first round exits and truly believes this is the only way to make a deep run in March. Second weekend of the tournament or BUST. Who knows?

It doesn't really matter. It's a theory I am interested in because I don't believe McCollum all of a sudden became a complete moron who isn't interested in winning championships. I'm going to give him the benefit of the entire season to see what happens. That is my gift to him for the Elite 8 run. If his son is still playing significant minutes once Feb rolls around, or he hasn't made significant strides, then it will be known that this theory was bullshit and then I will begin freaking out. But none of you can discount it yet. It sounds silly to you, but maybe that's the entire point.

See ya in February.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

Man, I hope we have fresh legs in February and March when we missed the fucking tournament because we didn’t win any bubble games.

 

[Uff Da]

My two working theories:

1. As shoot the three said, Ben isn't going to play kids that can't defend or bring consistent effort. Based on everything we've heard, Trey Thompson isn't passing the defense test. Brendan Hausen had the same issue last year and never played despite the NIL commitment and success at KSU. Unless Thompson gets his shit together on defense or we get really desperate on offense, he may ride the bench all year and then transfer out. I don't think Ben gives a shit that he was a 4 star recruit. I'd prefer he get a chance, but hard to get too upset at Ben for being a defense absolutist after Fran.

2. Ben has always been clear about liking Peyton's defense, which has been based on practice and, I assume, high school/AAU. Neither of which exposed him to athletic guards like Virginia Tech. So perhaps some limitations were exposed on Tuesday. At his press availability later in the week, he said the tape showed the big were terrible in pick and roll and leaving the guards exposed. So who knows. But over time, Ben's not going to get away with playing Peyton for defense and Peyton not providing that defense.

what do you mean he would not get away with it?

 

[CleteyColgate]

I think what he believes is that Ben McCollum should be fired one season after going to the Elite 8 for playing his son. That is the only rational response

 

[JR Hawks]

what do you mean he would not get away with it?

Ben said his calling card is defense. If his defense sucks and the team loses, the fanbase is going to grumble. If the losses were to really start to stack up, a conversation with the AD may occur.

That doesn't align me with those currently freaking out. We're three games removed from the Elite 8, lost our best player, are early in the season, and just lost in overtime to what may be an NCAA tournament team. Give Ben the benefit of the doubt.