A little credit to one of Spanky's mancrushes ;-)

F

FreddyBrown

Moderator
As one who has been and remains something of a skeptic of Cully Payne as a fulltime starting Big Ten PG, his performance in some of the recent games is worthy of praise--perhaps most of all for something he hasn't done. I don't know whether it was on the telecast or something I've read since, but someone pointed out that when a lot of freshman would be "hitting the wall" at this point in the season (and we may have others at Iowa who are), Cully Payne not only keeps going balls-to-the-wall, but he actually seems to be getting better in some respects. Those respects include FT shooting and passing into the post off the pick & roll, particularly with the bounce pass.

I thought it was very good game prep by Kelser to point out that Cully's really an 80% FT shooter masquerading as a 59% shooter, and will probably be back closer to 80 next season.

He still needs to improve his outside shooting, his finish at the hoop (though he did finally manage to put one in very nicely yesterday), his ATO ratio, and most of all his defense, but the kind of grit and toughness he is still showing is potentially a very big element in the future success of his team.

I'd still rather see Cully coming off the bench to support a quicker, more athletic PG, or playing alongside one at times. However, I'm not sure he's ever going to have that opportunity. He will, at minimum, have more and better ballhandlers around him starting next season and more offensive threats to go to, and both of those things should make him a better player.
 
I am also pleased with how Cully has managed to stay out there on the floor the whole season despite the bumps and bruises and the broken vertabrae...maybe he was just lucky,or more durable than most frosh pgs,but whatever if he can handle the rigors as a frosh it might mean he can stay healthy enough over the next 3 years to continue to guide this team upward.

I think he has proven a bit better than I expected coming into the season,which was vital considering in the preseason many were touting Tucker as our answer at pg.
I agree that I would like a more athletic,quicker guy to share that position with him,tho. Look at Minny...when they had Nolen, they worked with Nolen,Joseph,Westbrook and Cobbs all getting some minutes at pg...so another pg does not mean Cully sits a great deal,just that we expand a very thin rotation at the guard spots. I still feel like we only have one real guard on the team right now..Cully is it. We need a rotation,with Cully,Brust,New juco,and Marble or Gatens or May for next year...a legit combo guard would suffice, just a good ballhandler who can penetrate,dish and shoot...find him,Lick!
 
I think the main thing Cully can do is improve his defense. He needs to get stronger which will help him a lot. Hopefully he won't have to play 38 minutes a game next year.
 
I like Cully a lot. I think he has the potential to be a very good PG. Most of all I think he has the makings of a winnng starting D1 PG. The experienced he gained will serve him well next year and having more weapons around him should also help.

I agree that he needs to improve his defense and his shot and continue to hit the gym.
 
The thing that I really like about Cully is the grit and guts he brings to the court. I can see him being the leader of the team when he is a JR, and SR a kind of in your face, I am working my a$$ off, so you Fr, and So dam*ed well better too.

Also with a kid like him that isn't getting by on just being athletic, he will get much better as the years go on. He gets by on guts and experience, and you can see his inexperience at times this year. Next year, and certainly his Jr, Sr years he will have the experience, he will learn to finish and get the foul at the rim, etc...
 
Cully is serviceable...we need a playmaker at that spot. I love his effort and his ability to play all season long. He is a hawkeye but I would hope he comes off the bench sometime soon....as this would mean a quicker more athletic guy starting.
 
As I have said, Cully is more than adequate, the only difference is I have been saying it all year. Tough as nails and alot has been asked of him this year. I don't think he is a backup however. On the other hand, he needs someone to back him up other than John Lickliter.
 
As someone who has railed on him all season, I have to give him credit. He was making his free throws and looked good doing it. That's a huge plus for him as a PG and one of my major beefs with him all season.
 
Cully is a good manager of the game, it's what this team needs. He's built in the mold of Jeff Horner. Not as good of a shooter, not as good of a passer... yet... but he is that sort of player. Run the team, distribute the ball, do what you can to help out.

I think he's going to have a very productive four years here at Iowa.
 
I think adding an additional ball handler would do wonders for Cully. Hopefully Lick can address this need in the offseason.
I've been pleasantly surprised with Cully. He is definitely one of my favorite players on this team.
 
These threads from game to game are amazing. We beat a destroyed team in the Hoosiers. Now everyone is throwing praises. The Hawks are out of the cellar for now. Improvement versus above par competition..no. You can tell players to watch out for the Hawks or they can bite you but the truth is they don't believe it. The only team that looked like they tried hard vs. us was NW in game two. It's been a year and if it's fifty fifty on improvement, well, get ready for the same next year. This lineup ain't gonna cut it. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck....
 
Tough, no excuses player, how can you not like him? This year will best serve him on what to work on in the off season, so if he uses that motivation and works hard on his game, he has good room to improve. His right hand, a drive/pull up jumper, strength, and a better understanding of what it expected of him (from the experience gained in playing this year). I think the addition of a top flight guard to challenge him would be good, and if he would get beat out, so be it, but he would have many minutes to play as he is too good to not play. I wouldnt be surprised if a top guard came in and Payne worked much harder to win the spot(thus a win/win for the Hawks) and actually would win it, grit/determination/guts do matter.
 
Just wait and see the posts after the Wisc game. They'll turn as fast as they showed up. I'm looking at the bigger games. Without winning those there never will be a season. This has nothing to do with liking anyone. If you are only able to get the ball to open players on the wing then don't cry when they shoot 20% from three and get spanked by 20.
 
storminspank said:
Cully is a good manager of the game, it's what this team needs. He's built in the mold of Jeff Horner. Not as good of a shooter, not as good of a passer... yet... but he is that sort of player. Run the team, distribute the ball, do what you can to help out.

I think he's going to have a very productive four years here at Iowa.
Click to expand...
Cully will improve in alot of ways if he can get some help at the guard position.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Share this page

Top