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Thinking About Iowa

Hungry Jack

Well-Known Member
Gold Member
Nov 17, 2008
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the cotton fields and bus shelters
www.cbc.ca
And it's still annoying.

While the annoying McCaffery offspring have relocated to Butler (there is another high school McCaffery who is headed to Butler next year), there are is another annoying gene pool of smart basketball players on Francon's roster: the Sandforts. Payton has become a focal point of the Hawkeye offense, averaging 30 mpg and 15.6 ppg on 13 shots pg, though his FG% is off (40%) from last season. Younger brother Pryce has joined the rotation, averaging 21 mpg and 10 ppg on 7 attempts per game.

Those two are part of a 9-man rotation each getting more than 12 minutes per game.

Iowa is averaging 87 ppg against an easy early season slate. They played a pretty good Utah St team and scored only 69 points. It's worth noting that in that game, Payton Sandfort was awful (4 for 18), but diminutive G Brock Harding bagged 19 (3-6 from 3) and big F Owen Freeman had 18. Harding appears to be their best outside shooter (52% from 3), joined by Moorehead St transfer G Drew Thelwell (42% from 3). The aforementioned Freeman is averaging 17.5 ppg on 12 shots per game, but it's worth noting that he also has 2.5 turnovers in 25 mpg, and turned it over 4 times vs. Utah St. Freeman rarely shoots the 3, so it will be Matt's job to keep him in check.

The other guy who shoots a bit is G Josh Dix (17 mpg, 8 shots per game, 11.5 ppg). Pryce Sandfort (7 shots pg), Thelwell (6 shots), G Seydou Traore and F Ladji Dembele (5 shots) also get their share.

In short, Iowa likes to spread the shots and spread the minutes. Their roster is full of long (6'6"ish) guys who can shoot reasonably well (team is just under 50% FG), though they really struggled from 3 vs. USU (5-26). USU also destroyed Iowa on offensive rebounds (39%).

So, I am hopeful that Martinelli can rediscover his shooting touch against these guys, and Matt can keep Freeman in offensive chains. Nick should have a physical advantage inside against Iowa's wings. It would be a great time for Ty Berry to find his stroke.
 
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