McCollum

Aug 11, 2023
159
260
62
Sure, use a zone like Fran and see how that works out…. Some stiff (like a Connor) would light us up with 10 3s and then everyone would have something else to biatch about. Ben rarely (RARELY) has used a zone, so don’t get your hopes up.
 

DukeSlater

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2023
1,757
4,010
113
Love this guy. One thing that bothers me. Hawks keep getting beat by a guard up the middle. Need to use a zone. He is stuck in man defense only. Reminds of obvious kf philosophy depending too much depending on defense to win a game only
Here's the thing: Ben agrees with me (and with arithmetic) that 2 is less than 3. So if the other team is going to score, Ben prefers they score only two points instead of three. It all makes sense to me (and to arithmetic).

And beyond those basic facts, Ben has studied the game as it's played all over the world. He's not just stubborn like KF. Based on Ben's analysis of basketball, man-to-man is the best defense. He may not always have the most talent to play it at the highest level, but he knows what strategy makes the most sense for the talent he does have. You can believe Ben never does anything on a whim. He may be as knowledgable on basketball as anyone on the planet. That doesn't mean he's always right, but it does mean he does everything for a reason, a reason that he's studied and tested over and over and over. I'm good with that.
 
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Hawkeye1984

Senior
Jul 29, 2022
281
508
63
Here's the thing: Ben agrees with me (and with arithmetic) that 2 is less than 3. So if the other team is going to score, Ben prefers they score only two points instead of three. It all makes sense to me (and to arithmetic).

And beyond those basic facts, Ben has studied the game as it's played all over the world. He's not just stubborn like KF. Based on Ben's analysis of basketball, man-to-man is the best defense. He may not always have the most talent to play it at the highest level, but he knows what strategy makes the most sense for the talent he does have. You can believe Ben never does anything on a whim. He may be as knowledgable on basketball as anyone on the planet. That doesn't mean he's always right, but it does mean he does everything for a reason, a reason that he's studied and tested over and over and over. I'm good with that.
This!!!!!! You have to play to win.
 

Anon1751457816

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
799
1,521
93
Here's the thing: Ben agrees with me (and with arithmetic) that 2 is less than 3. So if the other team is going to score, Ben prefers they score only two points instead of three. It all makes sense to me (and to arithmetic).

And beyond those basic facts, Ben has studied the game as it's played all over the world. He's not just stubborn like KF. Based on Ben's analysis of basketball, man-to-man is the best defense. He may not always have the most talent to play it at the highest level, but he knows what strategy makes the most sense for the talent he does have. You can believe Ben never does anything on a whim. He may be as knowledgable on basketball as anyone on the planet. That doesn't mean he's always right, but it does mean he does everything for a reason, a reason that he's studied and tested over and over and over. I'm good with that.
You got to probability adjust that ****, bruh
 
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eyesofhawk

All-Conference
Apr 17, 2011
1,842
2,113
113
Love this guy. One thing that bothers me. Hawks keep getting beat by a guard up the middle. Need to use a zone. He is stuck in man defense only. Reminds of obvious kf philosophy depending too much depending on defense to win a game only
Depending on a defense that keeps getting beat up the middle?

You've delegitimized you own complaint
 

eyesofhawk

All-Conference
Apr 17, 2011
1,842
2,113
113
Here's the thing: Ben agrees with me (and with arithmetic) that 2 is less than 3. So if the other team is going to score, Ben prefers they score only two points instead of three. It all makes sense to me (and to arithmetic).

And beyond those basic facts, Ben has studied the game as it's played all over the world. He's not just stubborn like KF. Based on Ben's analysis of basketball, man-to-man is the best defense. He may not always have the most talent to play it at the highest level, but he knows what strategy makes the most sense for the talent he does have. You can believe Ben never does anything on a whim. He may be as knowledgable on basketball as anyone on the planet. That doesn't mean he's always right, but it does mean he does everything for a reason, a reason that he's studied and tested over and over and over. I'm good with that.
1. Your "arithmetic" is WAY oversimplified.

2. Iowa allows teams to shoot certain 3's that most teams do not.

3. Your implication that KF does things because he is stubborn, rather than it being sound strategy is laughable
 
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1inamillion

Senior
Oct 1, 2001
567
968
93
Sure, use a zone like Fran and see how that works out…. Some stiff (like a Connor) would light us up with 10 3s and then everyone would have something else to biatch about. Ben rarely (RARELY) has used a zone, so don’t get your hopes up.
When the point guard gets 19 straight points off the dribble, you may want to adjust for a few plays and then go back to man defense.
 

The_Joker13_rivals

All-Conference
Oct 9, 2013
581
1,487
92
1. Your "arithmetic" is WAY oversimplified.

2. Iowa allows teams to shoot certain 3's that most teams do not.

3. Your implication that KF does things because he is stubborn, rather than it being sound strategy is laughable
3. Explain the Iowa offense prior to Lester and installing his ******** son into a role that was a laughing stock of a failure for 6 years.
 
Aug 11, 2023
159
260
62
When the point guard gets 19 straight points off the dribble, you may want to adjust for a few plays and then go back to man defense.
So glad you know more than Ben, and his whole coaching staff !!!
Damn; call him up on his call-in show and let him know how dumb they all are! lololololll
 

eyesofhawk

All-Conference
Apr 17, 2011
1,842
2,113
113
3. Explain the Iowa offense prior to Lester and installing his ******** son into a role that was a laughing stock of a failure for 6 years.
You mean KF's winningest stretch at Iowa?

Seems pretty self-explanatory.

What you're asking to be explained has been done so many times, and is also pretty irrelevant
 

eyesofhawk

All-Conference
Apr 17, 2011
1,842
2,113
113
How bout favor m2m but adjusting when needed?
In Ben's eyes the zone hasn't been "needed", or desired.

For one thing, Ben has very minimally played big lineups. That can make rebounding out of a zone challenging

Great m2m D's are developed over time by teams that are all-in with their approach. NIL/portal will make it increasingly hard for teams to gel into becoming a great D. We will see less and less great defenses built.

For Iowa to be knocking on the door of being a great D, is a position you glady accept, even if it means not spending one minute practicing/playing zone
 

iahawkeyes17

All-Conference
Apr 22, 2014
602
1,588
83
give me a M2M stubborn coach over a zone stubborn coach every day and twice on Sunday.
Iowa zone under Fran was so frustrating. Rotations were usually step behind and if moved property corner 3s were always there. Lot of times we were just at the mercy if team was having an off or on night from deep. I don’t miss seeing all the wide open 3s that we saw under Fran’s team zone D. I’ll take Ben and his man D any day of the week after what we saw last decade. It’s refreshing to see a team play solid fundamental D.
 
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IllQChawk

Senior
May 29, 2001
357
860
93
Love this guy. One thing that bothers me. Hawks keep getting beat by a guard up the middle. Need to use a zone. He is stuck in man defense only. Reminds of obvious kf philosophy depending too much depending on defense to win a game only
You complain that our coach doesn't play zone, do you understand that coach Ben has only played zone 1 game in all the years he's been a head coach and that was to prove a point, he's won 82% of the games he's coached, and that bothers you. You also realize he doesn't double team players for the same reason he doesn't like 3 pointers chucked up late in games. Whatever he's doing I'd say keep on doing what he's doing.
 

1inamillion

Senior
Oct 1, 2001
567
968
93
You complain that our coach doesn't play zone, do you understand that coach Ben has only played zone 1 game in all the years he's been a head coach and that was to prove a point, he's won 82% of the games he's coached, and that bothers you. You also realize he doesn't double team players for the same reason he doesn't like 3 pointers chucked up late in games. Whatever he's doing I'd say keep on doing what he's doing.
I like McCollum 's approach more than everyone dating back to ralf Miller in the late 60s. I'm just saying blowing a lead of 17 points because the point guard keeps beating our guy off the dribble, calls for a plan b. If you were coaching, would you have a plan b?
 

TailgateTom

All-Conference
Oct 6, 2003
3,721
1,761
113
Tom Davis drove me nuts when he stayed in zone when teams torched us from the 3 like unlv and we did not make the final 4. I think a plan b is needed at times.
They did, and went to plan C even. McCollum has won 82% of his games and 4 National titles. He’s currently won 84% of his games at the Div 1 level. I’m confident he understands what’s best for the athletes he’s recruited for the system he knows to be most effective.
 

1inamillion

Senior
Oct 1, 2001
567
968
93
They did, and went to plan C even. McCollum has won 82% of his games and 4 National titles. He’s currently won 84% of his games at the Div 1 level. I’m confident he understands what’s best for the athletes he’s recruited for the system he knows to be most effective.
So am I. Sometimes adjusting is not a bad idea.
 
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Ozzie89

All-Conference
Dec 14, 2006
102,759
3,997
113
Iowa zone under Fran was so frustrating. Rotations were usually step behind and if moved property corner 3s were always there. Lot of times we were just at the mercy if team was having an off or on night from deep. I don’t miss seeing all the wide open 3s that we saw under Fran’s team zone D. I’ll take Ben and his man D any day of the week after what we saw last decade. It’s refreshing to see a team play solid fundamental D.

Fran’s zone was complete trash, but so was man so pick your poison. Zones are effective if you’re active and disciplined in it, Iowa was pretty much the opposite of that under Fran. Ben plays man and doesn’t like zone, fine by me, he’s won a **** ton of games😂
 
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RuggieC

Senior
Mar 30, 2014
375
774
93
Love this guy. One thing that bothers me. Hawks keep getting beat by a guard up the middle. Need to use a zone. He is stuck in man defense only. Reminds of obvious kf philosophy depending too much depending on defense to win a game only
Understand what you are saying but my belief and HOPE is that Ben is establishing a style of play that as recruiting improves with the types of players he wants AND can get, we have a team that is 8-9 deep built to play defense AND score 80 points a game.
NOTHING against any guys on the roster but this level of play almost every game is a step up and they are doing a pretty damn good job. We get a bunch of these guys back next year, add some studs to it (one redshirting right now) and the next year will hopefully spell improvement. I like what Ben is doing. Believe in what you want to do and drive it. I just have a feeling that a few more years out we are going to be loving what is going on.

Also...look what happened at ISU after year one of a new coach and then where he has taken them. Takes the right coach. Landing a few of the right pieces every year and playing defense not at the expense of offense, but complimentary.
 

RuggieC

Senior
Mar 30, 2014
375
774
93
btw I am not saying there are not times to PLAY a zone vs man-2-man for a few minutes. I just like the mentality of being able to get a bit physical and bodying up on guys.
 

T_Woods

All-Conference
Dec 29, 2022
1,040
2,005
113
Zone defense can be effective if a team is extremely well trained in it, I.e. they play and practice zone 95% of the time and their coaches have a deep understanding and knowledge base of teaching it.

Same could be said about m2m to some degree.

but if a team is planning to play like 50/50 zone & m2m .. they might be good at one , maybe decent at the other but it will be hard for the team to truly master one style over the other.
 

doughuddl2_rivals

All-Conference
Sep 5, 2009
835
1,183
93
btw I am not saying there are not times to PLAY a zone vs man-2-man for a few minutes. I just like the mentality of being able to get a bit physical and bodying up on guys.
Yeah giving up the bucket and the "and 1" foul shoot is always better cuz you bodied him.
 

RuggieC

Senior
Mar 30, 2014
375
774
93
Yeah giving up the bucket and the "and 1" foul shoot is always better cuz you bodied him.
I guess you missed what I was saying. I am talking about having the ability to body up in man to man away from the basket and not allowing the easy drive to begin with. But go ahead and be a smart ***...'cause that is you. If you want to have discourse then great. If you want to be a small dick sitting on your couch then continue on junior.
 
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doughuddl2_rivals

All-Conference
Sep 5, 2009
835
1,183
93
I guess you missed what I was saying. I am talking about having the ability to body up in man to man away from the basket and not allowing the easy drive to begin with. But go ahead and be a smart ***...'cause that is you. If you want to have discourse then great. If you want to be a small dick sitting on your couch then continue on junior.

When yah got nothing back, throw insults. 😆

You can't body someone when you can't guard them and the blow by. Iowa has no tall rim protectors once they get past you.

Iowa tried 3 different players to guard him per coach. He had a night.

Tell us from the couch how you would of done it. 😆
 

iahawkeyes17

All-Conference
Apr 22, 2014
602
1,588
83
Fran’s zone was complete trash, but so was man so pick your poison. Zones are effective if you’re active and disciplined in it, Iowa was pretty much the opposite of that under Fran. Ben plays man and doesn’t like zone, fine by me, he’s won a **** ton of games😂
You are so right. Minus a select few watching other teams guards blow past us is why we played so much zone. Another thing with zone is you got to be able to rebound out of it. That was something Dr toms teams did well when they played zone.
 
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