MBB: Iowa

[SaveFerris]

Tonight against Iowa is a big test. Like us, they shoot a lot of 3s and do it efficiently. They also have just as much length as we do especially on the wing. Payton Sandfort is 6'8" and Josh Dix is 6'6". Dix went 8-10 from the field and 5-6 from 3 in their last game at home against South Dakota. Both teams still considered a bit suspect on defense. Game is @ 5:30 pacific on B1G Network.

The Coug SI writer has a preview on tonight's game (although they think the Watts are brothers):

Cougars MBB Battles Iowa in First Real Test of 2024 (5:30 PST, B1G Network)

Tonight, Washington State takes on the Iowa Hawkeyes at the John Deere Quad Cities Hoops Classic in Moline, Illinois in the Cougars' first real test of the youn

www.si.com

Iowa site ($) did a pretty extensive preview:

Preview: Iowa vs. Washington State in John Deere Quad Cities Hoops Showdown

Previewing the Hawkeyes' matchup against Washington State on Friday night in the John Deere Quad Cities Hoops Showdown.

247sports.com

 

[SaveFerris]

Wynott apparently ready to go. Marcus Wilson has looked pretty solid. Pretty good defense for a true frosh & knocked down 2 3s last time out.

 

[Rich Lewis]

Iowa is bringing a defensive game they haven't seen so far this year.

 

[SaveFerris]

ND Okafor erases an Iowa bucket leads to 2 on the other end.

 

[Observer11]

Early observation but this team might be better than last season.

 

[Coug1990]

Wynott is in.

 

[Coug1990]

Six point lead didn't last long. Impressed with the Coug defense so far.

 

[Coug1990]

I really love the way the Cougs are playing defense. They are playing hard. They have their hands up. Their moving their feet.

 

[Coug1990]

Not going to say which one is better, as I'll wait for that until later in the season until I see him more. But Calmese is faster than Rice.

 

[kougkurt]

Lots of scorers on this team

 

[Coug1990]

That was a dive.

 

[Coug1990]

I am not liking how the refs are calling this game. More than twice as many calls against the Cougars.

 

[SaveFerris]

That was a dive.

The dive on Calmese's 1st foul was even worse.

Iowa on a 10-2 run.

 

[Rich Lewis]

Turnovers Turnovers Turnovers!

 

[Coug1990]

The dive on Calmese's 1st foul was even worse.

Iowa on a 10-2 run.

I agree. If you notice, they are grabbing our guys when they are in the low post. Kind of like how a cornerback will grab the receiver all during the route on every play daring the ref to call it.

 

[SaveFerris]

You put 2 teams that have averaged 90 per game and you get 2 teams on pace to score under 70.

11 turnovers, 3-13 from 3. Got to get better in the 2nd half.

 

[Coug1990]

I hope Coward begins to play like he can. Iowa is a good team and this never was going to be easy. If you had asked before the game, I would have given the edge to Iowa based on it is basically a home game for them and they have a team that has been together. So I will take the lead and be happy.

 

[SaveFerris]

I hope Coward begins to play like he can. Iowa is a good team and this never was going to be easy. If you had asked before the game, I would have given the edge to Iowa based on it is basically a home game for them and they have a team that has been together. So I will take the lead and be happy.

With their issues at the line, I feel like we should be up more. LWatts early and Calmese late have carried us. Yeah, need to get Coward going.

 

[SaveFerris]

Mystery call on Erikstrup for his 4th.

 

[Coug1990]

That call was BS. As I said, do not like how they are calling this game.

 

[SaveFerris]

They can't do anything with Calmese. Need someone else to come along.

 

[Coug1990]

With their issues at the line, I feel like we should be up more. LWatts early and Calmese late have carried us. Yeah, need to get Coward going.

We usually get to the line a lot. We are not getting any calls inside. When you play a very good team, I think the game has a way of staying close.

 

[Coug1990]

They can't do anything with Calmese. Need someone else to come along.

I hope Coward starts playing like we know he can.

 

[Coug1990]

Calmese has already scored more points this season than he did the entire year with the uw last season.

 

[Observer11]

Turnovers.

 

[kougkurt]

Clean things up. Fun game

 

[SaveFerris]

Turnovers.

and a lot of bad turnovers. The line was a killer. We go 9-12. They went 18-27. Couldn't buy a 3 (18%).

 

[Coug1990]

and a lot of bad turnovers. The line was a killer. We go 9-12. They went 18-27. Couldn't buy a 3 (18%).

There was quite a bit of home cooking there. I didn't expect the Cougs to win this game, but I was hopeful. They need to clean up when a team throws a press against them and defensive inbounds plays underneath basket. Plus, Coward needs to play like we know he can. If that happens, we will beat most teams we play.

 

[mikalalas]

Turnovers.

PATHETIC 3 POINT SHOOTING. ONLY ABOUT 4 3 POINTERS MADE OUT OF ABOUT 24 TO 27 TO 30 3 POINT SHOTS. THAT'S ABOUT 13% FROM 3 POINT RANGE.

Terrible 3 point shooting, shot selection was the difference in game.

WSU had about 15 turnovers. 10 to 13 turnovers is considered a average game. WSU had 3,4,5 more turnovers then a average game should have. Since teams average about 1 point per turnover, that means that WSU having 3,4,5,6 more turnovers then what a normal game should have is about 3,4,5,6 points more to opponent. 3,4,5,6 less points to opponent is less then the 8 point lead opponent won by, because of that, while turnovers certainly contributed to the loss, the terribly bad 3 point shooting, shot selection was a bigger factor in the loss.

Also Iowa is a QUAD 1 NCAA TOURNAMENT TEAM, that WSU played on the road. Iowa FORCES A LOT OF TURNOVERS ON EVERYBODY THEY PLAY.

WSU PLAYED A EXTREMELY TOUGH QUAD 1 NCAA TOURNAMENT IOWA TEAM ON THE ROAD, HARD, CLOSE, TOUGH, AND IF 3'S HAD GOTTEN MADE, WSU WOULD HAVE WON.

THE OFFICIATING WAS ALSO PRETTY BAD.

ALSO WSU HAD A NEW COACH, WHOLE NEW TEAM, AND IF WSU HAD PLAYED IOWA LATER ON IN NONCON, OR AT END OF YEAR, OR AT HOME, WHEN WSU WOULD HAVE DEVELOPED, JELLED BETTER CHEMISTRY, ETC, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A WIN, INSTEAD OF A LOSS.

Given those things, I'm ok with a QUALITY LOSS VS a QUAD 1 NCAA TOURNEY IOWA EARLY IN THE NON CON SEASON, BEFORE WSU ABLE TO FULLY JELL, ETC.

 

[SaveFerris]

There was quite a bit of home cooking there. I didn't expect the Cougs to win this game, but I was hopeful. They need to clean up when a team throws a press against them and defensive inbounds plays underneath basket. Plus, Coward needs to play like we know he can. If that happens, we will beat most teams we play.

Home cooking for sure, but like you said we provided them too much help they didn’t need. The turnovers all game, and down the stretch were brutal.

 

[7ICoug]

Cougars need to add the 1-2-2 Diamond press to there game as they will see it for the rest of the year. Didn't handle the press at all. That is the same press Mark Few has used for 20 odd years.

Interesting as I watched the game and sure saw us making nearly every foul that we made. My Gosh, Dane barrels over a guy and starts complaining about no foul--riduculous.

I Watts looked simply awful. 1 for 10 is horrible. Coward if he is going to be a pro had better start producing on the offensive end of the game. I like his defense and his boarding but his offense is lacking at this point. The staff needs to get him going with some plays for him and that is that.

You never win games with 18 turnovers. Home cooking or can you say poor shooting, poor handling of the press.

 

[Observer11]

My only fear from last night is Calmese suddenly turns into Bonton and nobody else on the floor touches the ball.

 

[Coug1990]

My only fear from last night is Calmese suddenly turns into Bonton and nobody else on the floor touches the ball.

I don't think you have to worry. The differences are Riley's offense versus Smith's offense. Passing and moving is a part of Riley's offense. Also, this team has so much more talent than the teams the two years Bonton was on the team. Bonton gets a lot of flack, but those two teams either had little talent or were extremely green.