Basbabe or Tyler Smith?

[RADMAN]

Reading comments like this make me think a lot of people have forgot how good Smith was. He was far from just high flying dunks. Take away his dunks and he would still be a good ball player. He was a good ball handler, excellent passer, had a real nice midrange game, especially for a freshman. He was a streaky outside shooter but his play making ability made up for that.

It's a tough choice to make though, I'm very excited for Basabe's future but I think I'd lean with Smith because having a guy who can get his own shot and create for others can make the whole team better.

Tyler was a great player with a lot of upside. Basabe is called upon to do more right now. He is playing about a third less minutes than Tyler did as a freshman and so his scoring is close. I think that Basabe will end up the year as a better player than Tyler and thats not taking anything away from Tyler. Basabe has the ability to dominate from a SF position and his confidence and ability to score grows with each game. How cool would it be to have both Basabe and Smith as freshman forwards? Hard to compare the two though because of the styles and surrounding players.

 

[Hawkeye34]

Not a knock on Basabe, but Tyler Smith was better than Basabe as a freshmen. The reason was that extra year in prep school. He was one of the best freshman to come through Iowa in the last 10-15 years.

I'd take Smith because that's what this team needs, a slasher/scorer, someone who can take over the game.

Basabe is also one of the best freshman to come through Iowa in the last 10-15 years. Basabe makes it look easy sometimes, so it doesn't seem like he is as dynamic. Tim Duncan is that kind of player also, fundamentally sound and productive. Obviously Basabe is not Tim Duncan, but just using that style of play for comparison purposes.

 

[thejumper5]

I think the more important question is, "Who was the better JuCo point guard? Chauncey Leslie or Bryce Cartwright."

 

[TChawk]

Smith and really not even that close.

 

[sportstalent]

Basabe for one simple reason:
Everybody and I mean everybody, except Andrew Francis and Fran McCaffery completely missed on this kid. Who didn't want Tyler Smith? Melsahn has things to work on, like assist to turnover ratio and better his mid range game, but he has gotten better each game, good or bad. I agree that Iowa needs a player like Smith, but Iowa needed a star, no matter what position and they have one with Basabe.

 

[ICHAWK]

Basabe for one simple reason:
Everybody and I mean everybody, except Andrew Francis and Fran McCaffery completely missed on this kid. Who didn't want Tyler Smith? Melsahn has things to work on, like assist to turnover ratio and better his mid range game, but he has gotten better each game, good or bad. I agree that Iowa needs a player like Smith, but Iowa needed a star, no matter what position and they have one with Basabe.

What do you mean? He had like 7 offers and 3 from Big East/Big 10 teams.... I like that Francis and Fran had a good bond with him but you make it sound like no one offered him.

 

[sportstalent]

What do you mean? He had like 7 offers and 3 from Big East/Big 10 teams.... I like that Francis and Fran had a good bond with him but you make it sound like no one offered him.

Clarification: Iowa was the first 'Major' school to offer him and the rest offered after Basabe began to play well on his AAU team...again after Iowa. His best offers came from A-10 schools before he signed with Sienna. Boston College and Providence went after him after Iowa.
Before his AAU season he was a no star recruit on Rivals...he ended up a 3-star player on Rivals by the time he signed with Iowa. It definitely played to Iowa's advantage that he had such a good relationship with both coaches.

 

[PatrickAdamovicz]

I take Basabe. More upside than Smith. Upside that I think you'll see him fulfill.