How is he doing?
Ben and the Recruiting
- Thread starter Hawkeye News
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TritonHawkeye
Well-Known Member
Better than I expected for season 1. I like what he has done thus far.
Chickenlounge
Well-Known Member
Wouldn't "Hawkeye News" know how he's doing? 
InGoodCo
Well-Known Member
I found this on SI in regards to Iowa and this upcoming season. I feel like a lot of people have been selling that BM has not done well, mostly because he's brought a lot of Drake players Iowa fans don't feel like would be good enough to play at the B1G level. I think that's yet to be seen, as a lot of these players, had they wanted to transfer elsewhere, would be considered pretty decent, because they were pretty good at Drake...but since they came to Iowa and followed their coach here, they are just Drake left overs that probably aren't good enough to do much at the UofI.
Oh and he got a couple of transfers, one from a smaller school who isn't a true 5, one who probably isn't quite as good as Payton Sandfort.
We also got a kid that was probably going to UNI, so he's not good enough, and we also got a kid that Purdue, KY and other bigger schools wanted, but he reclassified and graduated a year early and probably isn't good enough to play either, remember Riley Mulvey?
Does that sum it up?
National media are much higher on the Hawks. ESPN and CBS had them both in their field of 64 this offseason and most believe Iowa has one of the best portal classes in the country. A lot to be seen still and I feel like no one is really going to know what to expect until we see it on the floor.
https://www.si.com/college-basketba...ortal-rankings-top-class-hauls-best-team-fits
Oh and he got a couple of transfers, one from a smaller school who isn't a true 5, one who probably isn't quite as good as Payton Sandfort.
We also got a kid that was probably going to UNI, so he's not good enough, and we also got a kid that Purdue, KY and other bigger schools wanted, but he reclassified and graduated a year early and probably isn't good enough to play either, remember Riley Mulvey?
Does that sum it up?
National media are much higher on the Hawks. ESPN and CBS had them both in their field of 64 this offseason and most believe Iowa has one of the best portal classes in the country. A lot to be seen still and I feel like no one is really going to know what to expect until we see it on the floor.
https://www.si.com/college-basketba...ortal-rankings-top-class-hauls-best-team-fits
NorthKCHawk
Well-Known Member
InGood, I don't know where you are getting your fan information from, but it sure isn't this Board or any rationale Hawk fan I have encountered. Most everyone I know has been thrilled with the roster BM has put together and believes this will be a very tough team in year 1. I have barely heard one negative word about BM or Iowa MBB since the hire. IMHO, the honeymoon phase between fan and coach McCollum is very much going on right now.
You gotta find better Hawk fan friends, dude!!
SwirlinLingerie
Well-Known Member
I'm at the point where I think it'll be a disappointing year if Iowa doesn't have one of it's better seasons of the past 25 years.
This team is built to win, right now.
This team is built to win, right now.
InGoodCo
Well-Known Member
My main Hawkeye feed is Twitter. This board hardly discusses anything. I definitely agree that Iowa fans are in the honeymoon phase. I met BM this summer, great guy. That said, fans overall are not expecting much year one with what we have, which IMO seems short sighted.
I'm not sure what to expect. For a couple reasons. It's yr 1 obviously and with the roster being totally flipped it's just tough to know what's fair. The other reason is I'm not up on what all the other BIG schools have done this off season very much. I know Indiana is in a similar boat but as far as who all else has any significant returning starters I'm thinking Purdue probably does and they'll probably be good. Beyond that MSU had a kid go pro early and that's about all I know. Just seems too early to know much yet. Maybe it's more obvious then I think cause I'm behind on keeping up with things. I'm hopeful Iowa will be top half of the league and get in the dance. That would be a great start if they can do that.
NorthKCHawk
Well-Known Member
I agree that this season has a wide margin of possible outcomes. There is too much talent on that roster for it not to be a good team. Does it take some time to gel in the early part of the season costing us some needed wins against lesser opponents? Does Ben struggle to find the right line-ups and rotations with so many new pieces? Does the grind of the conference slate wear on guys who most of them have not been through a power 5 conference slog? If so, this could be a bubble team.
On the flipside, you have one of the best PGs in the country who knows the system like the back of his hand. You have a really good shooting guard and some decent back up options. I dare say we are loaded at the 3 and 4 spots with a lot of interchangeable parts, some of which can probably play a stretch 5. You have a coach that is a proven winner and wildly overachieved his first and only season at Drake. Do the Hawks come out firing and push for Top 25 consideration by the start of the conference slate, top end of the conference finish, and a highish seed in the dance? Maybe.
That's my floor and ceiling right now.
On the flipside, you have one of the best PGs in the country who knows the system like the back of his hand. You have a really good shooting guard and some decent back up options. I dare say we are loaded at the 3 and 4 spots with a lot of interchangeable parts, some of which can probably play a stretch 5. You have a coach that is a proven winner and wildly overachieved his first and only season at Drake. Do the Hawks come out firing and push for Top 25 consideration by the start of the conference slate, top end of the conference finish, and a highish seed in the dance? Maybe.
That's my floor and ceiling right now.
SwirlinLingerie
Well-Known Member
I think people also have to rethink the typical circumstances around "Year 1" and having new pieces.
There is so much roster turnover in college basketball these days. With six players who have played together multiple years and with the same coach, is it possible Iowa actually has more continuity going than most other teams? Those pieces were together last year - just had a different jersey on.
There is so much roster turnover in college basketball these days. With six players who have played together multiple years and with the same coach, is it possible Iowa actually has more continuity going than most other teams? Those pieces were together last year - just had a different jersey on.
InGoodCo
Well-Known Member
Right and I think that kind of stuff is as valuable as anything, half the team already knew the new coaches system, routines, workout schedules....basically the culture and it's already instilled in half the roster, making the transition that much smoother, that much quicker. I think the sentiment I shared is that a lot of fans just don't see Iowa fairing very well athletically with the rest of the league and having a roster filled with mostly kids who didn't have many or any scholarships at the Power 5/6 level. While most fans seem optimistic and want to have a wait and see approach, a lot of concern over whether a bunch of kids who were converted to a D2 school out of HS can do in the B1G. I think it's a valid concern, IMO, I just think that overall, this is GOOD for Iowa in the grand scheme of things. I think "most" think that Iowa's roster last season was MUCH more talented then the one we're going to field next season.
thedukeofearl
Well-Known Member
Beautiful word, Seldom Seen
thedukeofearl
Well-Known Member
The Hawks have basically last year's Drake team
Which went 30-4 last season and made it to the second round
They are conditioned and used to Winning and they have the winning attitude
And Ben simply doesn't like to lose
I am extremely positive about these guys
Win Baby Win
Which went 30-4 last season and made it to the second round
They are conditioned and used to Winning and they have the winning attitude
And Ben simply doesn't like to lose
I am extremely positive about these guys
Win Baby Win
BigD
Well-Known Member
At this point we are just guessing how this is going to work out. They haven't even had a practice scrimmage with another team.
The point guard is for real and that is REALLY GOING TO BE HUGE.
I once watched a college basketball team that had just average players but had a really, really good point guard. That team was lead by that point guard, Ronnie Lester, who took Iowa to a final four. If Ronnie hadn't gotten hurt during the tournament, we might be talking about Iowa's last college basketball National Championship.
So having said that I can see Iowa finishing in the 3rd, 4th, or 5th place in the B1G regular season.
SwirlinLingerie
Well-Known Member
Made it to the second round and hung with an extremely athletic and talented Texas Tech, who had uber athletic and eventual national champ Florida on the ropes...down double digits with 5 or 6 minutes to go to the Final Four.The Hawks have basically last year's Drake team
Which went 30-4 last season and made it to the second round
They are conditioned and used to Winning and they have the winning attitude
And Ben simply doesn't like to lose
I am extremely positive about these guys
Win Baby Win
I'm not sure Texas Tech loses to any other team besides Florida in that one.
And I think Drake would have possibly knocked out some 2 or 3 seeds other than Texas Tech in that game.
That Drake team was legit.
Hawkboys
Well-Known Member
With a couple of roster improvements
No doubt. starting lineup wise I think we'll have these guys 1-5 starting with the 3 spot kinda up for grabs to me yet. 3 of those spots could be non Drake guys. 2 for sure.
Stirtz
Hausen
Koch/Banks/Thompson The battle for mins amongst those 3 will be interesting.
AF
Manyawu
InGoodCo
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I think Cooper Koch is going to be too good to keep off the court.
I think Ben would like for one of them to separate themselves to make the decision easy. Maybe Koch already kinda has so far. I know it's early but if a guy is better sometimes it's just that obvious.
