Any chance at NCAA without JBo?

[ssckelley]

I didn’t think they had much of a shot with JBo. Big Ten is gonna be brutal and this team is defensively challenged, especially on the perimeter when JBo is on the court.

I think they have a better shot without JBo. All he gives you is an occasional 3 pointer and leadership. I prefer Toussaint at the point anyway.

 

[Zstatman]

B1G road wins will likely determine the regular season champ.

 

[NikeHawk21]

Assuming everyone is back next year, Iowa should have a stacked and dangerous team. However, there is zero depth behind Garza at all. That's why the Xavier Foster thing kind of shocked me. Fran has no heir apparent at center coming in either next year which is scary. Maybe Garza can be a 2 time all american and Fran can use that to pull in a top big man. He's going to need to.

Nunge is 7’ and assuming his rehab goes well I think could really excel as a backup 5. Honestly he’s more of a 5 than 4 Iowa was just forced to play him at 4.

Also this Ogundele kid they are bringing in looks to have plenty of size and could provide some minutes if Nunge isn’t back.

 

[NikeHawk21]

As an aside I think there is a real possibility that Jbo actually comes off the bench next year. I know how crazy that sounds but I think Toussaint is going to keep getting better and better, and unfortunately I think him and Jbo are too short to both start together. I could see.

Toussaint / Jbo / Ulis
Fredrick / Jbo / Perkins (RS?) or Ulis
Wieskamp / McCaffery / McCaffery
McCaffery / McCaffery / Nunge
Garza / Nunge / Ogundele

 

[NikeHawk21]

Yes and IMO I think we will see rather early on though how much this team misses Bohannon. Chemistry is what I will be looking for and how Fran adjusts to life without JBO. I expect Iowa to beat Cincinnati and Kennesaw State and sit 10-3.

Then the most crucial stretch for me will be the 1st 5 Big Ten games in January.

@PennState
@Nebraska
Maryland
@Northwestern
Michigan

I’m definitely not chalking that Cincy game up as a win. Iowa’s played well lately but always possible for a stinker game following the long break for finals. Some of Cincy’s guys probably looking for revenge.

I do like that Joe T will get more minutes for this one because I don’t think he will have any issue handling the pressure a team like Cincy typically uses.

Lastly that game @ Penn State is at the Palestra, whatever that means, I guess after seeing what Penn State did to Maryland at the Bryce Jordan I’m okay with this being at a different venue.

 

[revkev73]

We'll miss the free throw shooting at the end of the games to salt wins away and the threat to shoot the threes but then our defense will improve so all in all, it will mean a slight decline in effectiveness but we can still make it.

His free throws, and especially late under pressure, are tough to replace, for sure. We have had too much gagging on such opportunities to ice a game away over the years, even by our "good" FT shooters.

Hope he comes back strong next year! That will be nice!

 

[NikeHawk21]

I’m not worried about late game free throws. I guarantee Fredrick with more attempts will be an 80+% guy at the line. Connor has been solid. Wieskamp is too good of shooter to miss many.

 

[NikeHawk21]

I’ve said this a few times but I’ll continue to say it. Pmac is a big piece here. If he can get healthy and give us 10-15 minutes a game for the rest of the year it could be a huge boost for this team. It would mean we don’t need to increase Evelyn or Pemsl’s role much at all. During the Minnesota game the broadcasters made it seem like he was working back, but who knows what they really know. There is a lot of layers there and other factors obviously, but I continue to be intrigued by the thought of Pat returning.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Yes, .......IF THEY PLAY DEFENSE!

 

[MelroseHawkins]

I’ve said this a few times but I’ll continue to say it. Pmac is a big piece here. If he can get healthy and give us 10-15 minutes a game for the rest of the year it could be a huge boost for this team. It would mean we don’t need to increase Evelyn or Pemsl’s role much at all. During the Minnesota game the broadcasters made it seem like he was working back, but who knows what they really know. There is a lot of layers there and other factors obviously, but I continue to be intrigued by the thought of Pat returning.

I like your optimism, but he's still a wide-eyed freshman who hasn't had any game experience in the past several games against good competition. He's had very little game time. Not sure he's that big of piece this year.

Also, if he hasn't been in the last how many games, I don't see him playing this year. Plus, if you just throw a new player into the mix/rotation, how is that going to turn out? I realize Iowa is getting thin and needs warm bodies, but how would throwing a player that has not been gelling with team going to work for team ball.

 

[mopkins]

Nunge is 7’ and assuming his rehab goes well I think could really excel as a backup 5. Honestly he’s more of a 5 than 4 Iowa was just forced to play him at 4.

Also this Ogundele kid they are bringing in looks to have plenty of size and could provide some minutes if Nunge isn’t back.

I actually forgot about the ogundele kid already. He did seem to have some size to him.

 

[mopkins]

I’ve said this a few times but I’ll continue to say it. Pmac is a big piece here. If he can get healthy and give us 10-15 minutes a game for the rest of the year it could be a huge boost for this team. It would mean we don’t need to increase Evelyn or Pemsl’s role much at all. During the Minnesota game the broadcasters made it seem like he was working back, but who knows what they really know. There is a lot of layers there and other factors obviously, but I continue to be intrigued by the thought of Pat returning.

I hope you're right but I just don't know. He was already severely undersized, how much worse will it be when he finally comes back? Small sample size, but so far what we've seen from his was not great. Not to mention he hasn't played a competitive game since November 11th as we enter Big Ten play

 

[PCHawk]

One thing's for sure, Fran is probably going to get worse at knowing how to win close games again...

 

[NikeHawk21]

I like your optimism, but he's still a wide-eyed freshman who hasn't had any game experience in the past several games against good competition. He's had very little game time. Not sure he's that big of piece this year.

Also, if he hasn't been in the last how many games, I don't see him playing this year. Plus, if you just throw a new player into the mix/rotation, how is that going to turn out? I realize Iowa is getting thin and needs warm bodies, but how would throwing a player that has not been gelling with team going to work for team ball.

With Bohannon going out Iowa is going to have to adapt and vary the style in which they play either way.

10-15 minutes is hardly a major role. Reports out of camp were that Pat was playing very well. Wieskamp and Garza spoke highly of him at B1G media days. Again I’m not saying he’s going to be asked to do a lot. Provide some energy off the bench, use his length and athleticism to effect the game. If he throws in the occasional bucket that’s great.

It is hardly a stretch to expect Pat to provide better minutes than we are getting from Pemsl and Evelyn right now.

 

[deanvogs]

I'm gonna say there is a 0% chance that this team with Fran as head coach can make the NCAA Tournament without Jordan. I flat out guarantee that they won't make the NCAA's now!





PS, I only say this because every time I doubt Fran or the team, they prove me wrong. You're Welcome.

 

[NikeHawk21]

I hope you're right but I just don't know. He was already severely undersized, how much worse will it be when he finally comes back? Small sample size, but so far what we've seen from his was not great. Not to mention he hasn't played a competitive game since November 11th as we enter Big Ten play

Are you under the impression that he’s losing weight right now? That could be I have no idea I just haven’t heard that.

Again I’m talking about if he’s healthy and can handle it, and feels it’s the right decision for him.

What this comes down to is who would I rather see spot minutes go to between Evelyn, Pemsl, and Till. I don’t think it’s a stretch at all to think Pat can play better than those guys. He was a consensus top 100 recruit, and some of the other players on the team have spoken fairly highly of him in the past.

 

[mopkins]

Are you under the impression that he’s losing weight right now? That could be I have no idea I just haven’t heard that.

Again I’m talking about if he’s healthy and can handle it, and feels it’s the right decision for him.

What this comes down to is who would I rather see spot minutes go to between Evelyn, Pemsl, and Till. I don’t think it’s a stretch at all to think Pat can play better than those guys. He was a consensus top 100 recruit, and some of the other players on the team have spoken fairly highly of him in the past.

Dont quote me on this but I thought I heard/read that one of the after effects of his cancer that is keeping him off the court is that he hasn't been able to hold down food.

 

[Zstatman]

As an aside I think there is a real possibility that Jbo actually comes off the bench next year. I know how crazy that sounds but I think Toussaint is going to keep getting better and better, and unfortunately I think him and Jbo are too short to both start together. I could see.

Toussaint / Jbo / Ulis
Fredrick / Jbo / Perkins (RS?) or Ulis
Wieskamp / McCaffery / McCaffery
McCaffery / McCaffery / Nunge
Garza / Nunge / Ogundele

It seems a bit early to be looking at next year but since you are, you forgot Pemsl and the Murray kids.As we've pondered not all might come back but I think JBo will.

I don't think it's totally out of the question that JBo come off the bench next year. I can't imagine how tough it would be to come back after two hip surgeries, one on each. He'll likely need new hips at some point but, hopefully, that will be years off. But the grind after two will have to be tough, so tough that fewer minutes at chosen times might be in the cards.

The good news in all this is that there should be a bunch of good ballpalyers working and competing hard which should make for a good, exciting team.

 

[NikeHawk21]

It seems a bit early to be looking at next year but since you are, you forgot Pemsl and the Murray kids.As we've pondered not all might come back but I think JBo will.

I don't think it's totally out of the question that JBo come off the bench next year. I can't imagine how tough it would be to come back after two hip surgeries, one on each. He'll likely need new hips at some point but, hopefully, that will be years off. But the grind after two will have to be tough, so tough that fewer minutes at chosen times might be in the cards.

The good news in all this is that there should be a bunch of good ballpalyers working and competing hard which should make for a good, exciting team.

I’m under the impression that Pemsl grad transfers and Murray’s will redshirt.

 

[HawkPrdatr40]

I'm gonna say there is a 0% chance that this team with Fran as head coach can make the NCAA Tournament without Jordan. I flat out guarantee that they won't make the NCAA's now!





PS, I only say this because every time I doubt Fran or the team, they prove me wrong. You're Welcome.

Its only fitting that I agree with this, because I know some who just can't wait for me to eat crow on Fran!