Media Day Notebook: Iowa Aims for Improved Defense

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Iowa’s protection improved final season, however coach Fran McCaffery thinks it may be even higher this season.

The Hawkeyes went 26-10 season with a staff that struggled at instances to cease opponents.

The numbers instructed the story.

• Iowa surrendered 71.2 factors per sport, rating thirteenth within the Huge Ten and 233rd nationally.

• The Hawkeyes ranked 144th in opponents’ 3-point discipline aim share (.329) and 199th in field-goal share protection (.437).

• Iowa did lead the Huge Ten, and ranked fortieth nationally, with 264 steals. The Hawkeyes ranked seventh in turnover margin at plus 4.4.

These numbers, McCaffery stated, ought to enhance, nevertheless it comes right down to rebounding as properly.

“We’ve the power to do this,” he stated at Wednesday’s media day. “We will put strain on the ball. We could be within the passing lane. While you begin taking a look at defensive numbers, it comes right down to rebounding as a result of in case you’re giving up second pictures, sometimes that is a high-percentage shot. It is an offensive rebound kick-out, open 3, it is an offensive rebound put-back that is a high-percentage shot.

“The capturing percentages towards your staff and effectiveness by way of level manufacturing are going to go down. However in case you restrict them to 1, and we put strain on the ball and we get our protection again, we will get all people beneath the ball and talk, switching, not switching, how we’re taking part in, ball screens, all that stuff is nice, however you must get the rebound.”

Iowa had a plus-1.4 rebound margin final season, and McCaffery thinks that despite the fact that the Hawkeyes could be undersized towards sure lineups, he has gamers who can get rebounds.

Amongst his three key returning forwards — Filip Rebraca, Kris Murray and Patrick McCaffery — Fran McCaffery has 465 rebounds getting back from final season.

“Everyone desires to play small as of late. It is OK to play small as a result of you are going to shoot loads of 3s, you are going to drive the ball,” McCaffery stated. “However are you able to rebound successfully night-in and night-out. That is the problem.

“Payton Sandfort is a very good rebounder. Tony Perkins is a very good rebounder. Connor McCaffery is a very good rebounder. Filip Rebraca is a very good rebounder, Kris. Patrick was strong, he is received to get just a little bit higher, and he has been. He is actually targeted on that.”

It’ll additionally assist, too, if the Hawkeyes can enhance defensively. .

“I say this on a regular basis — we will run on makes, however we might choose to run on misses,” McCaffery stated.

POST PRESENCE: Iowa’s lineup may have loads of versatility, however there will likely be a time when the Hawkeyes want dimension and power at middle.

McCaffery is assured he has that in Josh Ogundele and Riley Mulvey, though Ogundele, together with his expertise, is probably going the main selection.

Ogundele, at 6-foot-10 and 275 kilos, has been utilized in sure conditions, particularly towards a number of the Huge Ten’s greatest facilities like Purdue’s Zach Edey and Kofi Cockburn.

“Properly, it may be actually essential towards sure groups. It will not be as essential towards different groups. However as you understand, you go searching our league, there’s some fairly imposing ‘5’ males. Not solely by way of expertise however bodily dimension. You take a look at Edey and (Michigan’s Hunter) Dickinson particularly, these guys. There’s simply various guys which can be a handful.

“I assumed Josh final yr after we wanted him to step up in these conditions produced properly, whether or not it was towards Kofi, whether or not it was towards Edey, he was good. Riley has received to get there.”

NIL: McCaffery understands that faculty basketball gamers are benefiting from the power to make cash off their title, picture and likeness.

However he additionally doesn’t need to get right into a bidding warfare for gamers.

“I believe now we have to proceed to work exhausting and be aggressive within the NIL market, which now we have been,” he stated. “I have been very energetic myself in that area. It is all new for each one in all us. However I need my guys to know that I am on the market preventing for them to assist them be able to revenue from what’s, I believe, a very good rule, the NIL, in order that our guys do revenue from their title, picture and likeness.

“I’ve stated this earlier than publicly and I am going to say it once more in the present day. I am not going to offer a bunch of cash to a highschool child that I am not giving to one of many guys that is already performed for me. I am not going to do this. That might be silly over the lengthy haul. Possibly we’ll lose a man or two. But when we get to the purpose the place we’re paying our guys a considerable sum of money after which we will supply the identical cash to that different man, OK, we’ll do it then.”