Coach confirms that Aaron White is not a 3

[hawk2012]

There has been a debate raging on these boards about what positions certain players will play next season. The biggest debate seems to be over whether White is a 3 or 4 and a smaller debate over whether Marble is a 1 2 or 3. I think Fran basically gave us the answers today: "My hope is that Devyn doesn’t have to play as much point or any for that matter." If Gesell or Clemmons can handle it they will. Obviously if there are injuries or freshman struggles than Marble will play at PG as necessary.

He also made clear that Woodbury and Olaseni are centers and Josh is a shooting guard. This was pretty obvious to everyone. The more interesting discussion came in regards to McCabe, White and Meyer: "I think you look at Basabe and White and Zach McCabe, they’re pretty much post players. I think we could see Zach or Aaron play some three. "

I think Fran is making it pretty clear that neither of these players will start at the 3. Marble is the 3, but Zach or Aaron could spell him when we needs to take a break or situationally depending on the lineup. Fran also noted that Meyer is a 4 with the skills of a 3: "He’s got three man skills. He’s a big strong kid. He’s every bit of 6’9″ plus, and he’s 225 pounds now. But his skill set is so good. He’s got three man skills. He’s more of a pick and pop four."

I think Fran feels the same way about White. He'd prefer to play his big man in the post and create a speed and agility mismatch than play them on the wing and create a height mismatch. Based on these comments and this year's lineup, I think its pretty fair to say that next year will look something like this in order of playtime at the positions.

PG: Gesell/Clemmons/Marble
SG: Ogelsby/Ingram/Gesell
SF: Marble/White/McCabe
PF: White/Basabe/McCabe/Meyer
C: McCabe/Woodbury*/Meyer/Olaseni

*McCabe v. Woodbury is the toughest battle and could change during the season. SG/SF is clearly where we are weakest which is why Fran is looking at adding someone at that position: " At this point in time, what are the chances of you signing a player here in the late period? COACH McCAFFERY: Decent. ... Pretty much on the wing."

 

[Foval21]

i think meyer will be more likely to play some 3 than mccabe (i know fran listed mccabe as sometimes playing 3 but i think meyer will be more athletic to play there and keep mccabe as a true post) and we do have may returning to back up the 3. though he has struggled this year he could be a solid role player if he can get healthy. ogelsby has played the 3 some this year too. dont think olesani will play anymore than this yr because of the talent at the 4 & 5.

 

[BasketballMan]

If I remember correctly, at some point earlier in the year Fran also made comments about Gabe being the best rebounder on the team, Josh the best shooter he's ever seen in his life, etc. etc. How's that panned out? It's a bit of a stretch to say where kids will be playing next year given kids like White, Basabe, McCabe, etc will be working feverishly on their games over the summer in an attempt to improve. Not to mention, we have no clue how the incoming freshmen will adapt, develop, etc. To say Fran gave the world answers today is insane.

 

[CAARHawk]

Fran wants to find a Wing, because he knows it's really just Marble out there and he is more long than athletic. Think Fran wants an assassin ballet out there.

 

[JonDMiller]

I would have thought the White aspects rather obvious, because he cannot take guards off the dribble..He and McCabe have success off the dribble because some fours can't stick with them.

Iowa needs to recruit another 3..I know they are looking at some Juco's

 

[hawkIhoops]

@basketball man.... You raise some good points. The Olaseni offer reamains a bit of a mystery to me. If he was too raw to play on a team that basically got nothing from the 5 spot all season, that is a bit disconcerting. As you stated above, McCaffrey sang his praises from day one as a great rebounder and we clearly needed help in that department all season. Not sure where his minutes come from when Meyer and Woodbury arrive + Basabe, White and Mccabe.

Oglesby played better than I expected, but I am not convinced he is more than a 3 point specialist given the incoming talent at the guard spot. Probably assume the role of Gatens curling off screens for pull up jumpers.

 

[JonDMiller]

@basketball man.... You raise some good points. The Olaseni offer reamains a bit of a mystery to me. If he was too raw to play on a team that basically got nothing from the 5 spot all season, that is a bit disconcerting. As you stated above, McCaffrey sang his praises from day one as a great rebounder and we clearly needed help in that department all season. Not sure where his minutes come from when Meyer and Woodbury arrive + Basabe, White and Mccabe.

Oglesby played better than I expected, but I am not convinced he is more than a 3 point specialist given the incoming talent at the guard spot. Probably assume the role of Gatens curling off screens for pull up jumpers.

True big men take the longest to develop of any player in hoops. What Gabe can do is run the floor extremely well..he is also very long. Those are things you can't teach up. You can help a player develop an offensive game. If Gabe can give Iowa quality minutes as a junior and senior, that would be great.

Look at a guy like Ryan Bowen. Avgs around 5 a game his first two years, then 11, then 15. He could run and was a longish sort of player. It's waaaaay to early to write the book on Olaseni. Iowa is still going to be a program that takes a chance here and there. Given Aaron White's lack of high major offers, Iowa took a chance on him and it's paid off immensely.

I will say this about Fran; he does talk very bullishly about his players, perhaps too much. He elevates the expectations perhaps a big too much with some of that hyperbole. Maybe he does it to motivate his players, sort of a one man good cop/bad cop bit as he gets into them in practice and such.

 

[Section136]

But herby said that White could hang with most 3's in the conference and anybody who says any different is just a White hater.

 

[EddyP]

True big men take the longest to develop of any player in hoops. What Gabe can do is run the floor extremely well..he is also very long. Those are things you can't teach up. You can help a player develop an offensive game. If Gabe can give Iowa quality minutes as a junior and senior, that would be great.

Look at a guy like Ryan Bowen. Avgs around 5 a game his first two years, then 11, then 15. He could run and was a longish sort of player. It's waaaaay to early to write the book on Olaseni. Iowa is still going to be a program that takes a chance here and there. Given Aaron White's lack of high major offers, Iowa took a chance on him and it's paid off immensely.

I will say this about Fran; he does talk very bullishly about his players, perhaps too much. He elevates the expectations perhaps a big too much with some of that hyperbole. Maybe he does it to motivate his players, sort of a one man good cop/bad cop bit as he gets into them in practice and such.

I think it had a negative effect in Ogelsby's case for sure. Saying he's the best shooter you've ever coached is too much pressure to put on a freshman. I have no doubt that is what he believes but probably best not to say it. But I think that is Fran, he's very honest and says what he thinks.

 

[ColumbusHawk]

But herby said that White could hang with most 3's in the conference and anybody who says any different is just a White hater.

Obviously, Fran doesn't know what he is talking about. He better watch out puttin' down White that way.

Just insert name & that would be Herby's response.

 

[olivecourt]

I think it had a negative effect in Ogelsby's case for sure. Saying he's the best shooter you've ever coached is too much pressure to put on a freshman. I have no doubt that is what he believes but probably best not to say it. But I think that is Fran, he's very honest and says what he thinks.

If you can't take the "pressure" of a coach who believes in you, what are you going to to do when you miss a couple on the road in East Lansing?

Look, I think the attention paid to press conferences is pretty ridiculous. But it does seem important when a coach is trying to develop a program, and I appreciate that every time Fran has a choice between raising expectations and lowering them, he sets the standard high. There comes a point when you have to let players know that they are capable of much, much more than even they think they might be.

All that being said, I think Josh had a fine freshman year and is set up for much more success next year, especially if one of the recruits turns out to be a good point guard.

 

[Wassabbe]

True big men take the longest to develop of any player in hoops. What Gabe can do is run the floor extremely well..he is also very long. Those are things you can't teach up. You can help a player develop an offensive game. If Gabe can give Iowa quality minutes as a junior and senior, that would be great.

Look at a guy like Ryan Bowen. Avgs around 5 a game his first two years, then 11, then 15. He could run and was a longish sort of player. It's waaaaay to early to write the book on Olaseni. Iowa is still going to be a program that takes a chance here and there. Given Aaron White's lack of high major offers, Iowa took a chance on him and it's paid off immensely.

I will say this about Fran; he does talk very bullishly about his players, perhaps too much. He elevates the expectations perhaps a big too much with some of that hyperbole. Maybe he does it to motivate his players, sort of a one man good cop/bad cop bit as he gets into them in practice and such.

5 is higher than 1.4 ppg on 80 minutes. Plus Ryan Bowen played on a team that won 21 and 23 games his first two years so him scoring 5 PPG on those teams is much much different than Olaseni scoring 1.4 on a team with no center and currently a game over .500. Not a valid comparison

With that said, you can't teach length and Olaseni has it. He may never be a stud but in a couple years he could be a solid guy to come off the bench for defense

 

[EddyP]

If you can't take the "pressure" of a coach who believes in you, what are you going to to do when you miss a couple on the road in East Lansing?

Look, I think the attention paid to press conferences is pretty ridiculous. But it does seem important when a coach is trying to develop a program, and I appreciate that every time Fran has a choice between raising expectations and lowering them, he sets the standard high. There comes a point when you have to let players know that they are capable of much, much more than even they think they might be.

All that being said, I think Josh had a fine freshman year and is set up for much more success next year, especially if one of the recruits turns out to be a good point guard.

I think he had a fine season too but to me he looks hesitant to shoot a lot of times. All I am saying is I think you can say he is a great shooter without taking it a step further and saying he is the best you've ever coached.

 

[tm3308]

If I remember correctly, at some point earlier in the year Fran also made comments about Gabe being the best rebounder on the team, Josh the best shooter he's ever seen in his life, etc. etc. How's that panned out? It's a bit of a stretch to say where kids will be playing next year given kids like White, Basabe, McCabe, etc will be working feverishly on their games over the summer in an attempt to improve. Not to mention, we have no clue how the incoming freshmen will adapt, develop, etc. To say Fran gave the world answers today is insane.

It's not difficult to see that Josh is in fact a very good shooter. There was something just a little off most of the time this year; he had a lot of shots rim out, he wasn't just throwing up bricks all year. That indicates that he does have a pretty good stroke, and that it's likely he will come around.

 

[ameshawkeye]

It's not difficult to see that Josh is in fact a very good shooter. There was something just a little off most of the time this year; he had a lot of shots rim out, he wasn't just throwing up bricks all year. That indicates that he does have a pretty good stroke, and that it's likely he will come around.

He does have a good stroke. I think there's a lot to be said about adjusting to shooting in the face of pressure more often at this level as opposed to more wide open looks in HS. He should improve next year. Shooting 34% from 3 or so as a freshman isn't bad at all.

 

[SirJamaLot]

I think he had a fine season too but to me he looks hesitant to shoot a lot of times. All I am saying is I think you can say he is a great shooter without taking it a step further and saying he is the best you've ever coached.

Fran is a lot smarter than people give him credit, he knows he has to recruit talent to win in the Big Ten, high school kids love praise, Fran knows exactly what he is doing!

 

[ColumbusHawk]

It's not difficult to see that Josh is in fact a very good shooter. There was something just a little off most of the time this year; he had a lot of shots rim out, he wasn't just throwing up bricks all year. That indicates that he does have a pretty good stroke, and that it's likely he will come around.

I agree.

He seemed to have rushed many of his shots. I think the problem was that he had trouble adjusting to the speed of the game. The adjustment from high school to college basketball is tremendous. The players are just so much bigger, faster & stronger.

With one year under his belt, I expect big improvement in his shooting next year.

 

[SirJamaLot]

5 is higher than 1.4 ppg on 80 minutes. Plus Ryan Bowen played on a team that won 21 and 23 games his first two years so him scoring 5 PPG on those teams is much much different than Olaseni scoring 1.4 on a team with no center and currently a game over .500. Not a valid comparison

With that said, you can't teach length and Olaseni has it. He may never be a stud but in a couple years he could be a solid guy to come off the bench for defense

Olaseni is definately a project but he is aggressive,athletic, and long. Actually it will be up to him if he wants to play a lot of minutes in the Big Ten, Fran is setting up some serious competition in the low post: Baasbe, McCabe, White, Woodbury, Meyer, and Olaseni, improve or lose your spot, should be fun to watch over the next couple of years, to me Baasbe is the wild card if he can figure out a way to be more consistent.

 

[herbyhawk]

i guess Fran recruited 3 players 6'10 or taller just to sit them so White can play center, if he plays big he plays the 4, not questioning Fran, but last spring after the April signing period he called him a 3, who knows maybe he grew some more, some said he was 6'8 and 3/4 and growing, but until the fall lineups are announced I will stick with the lineup of
PG Gesell
SG Marble
F White
F Basabe
C Woodbury
but i feel it could be a lineup of this if Basabe and McCabe don't get their act together on fouls or other items.
PG 6'2 Gesell
SG 6'5 Oglesby
SF 6'7 Marble
PF 6'8 White
C 7'1 Woodbury
either way there is solid height across the lineup

 

[Section136]

i guess Fran recruited 3 players 6'10 or taller just to sit them so White can play center, if he plays big he plays the 4, not questioning Fran, but last spring after the April signing period he called him a 3, who knows maybe he grew some more, some said he was 6'8 and 3/4 and growing, but until the fall lineups are announced I will stick with the lineup of
PG Gesell
SG Marble
F White
F Basabe
C Woodbury
but i feel it could be a lineup of this if Basabe and McCabe don't get their act together on fouls or other items.
PG 6'2 Gesell
SG 6'5 Oglesby
SF 6'7 Marble
PF 6'8 White
C 7'1 Woodbury
either way there is solid height across the lineup

Give us a link where Fran called White a 3. Thats all you have to do herby. Quit pulling comments out of you arse if you have no proof to back them up.