Big Ten Record Predications

[storminspank]

Predictions or Predications? They are different things. j/k

 

[storminspank]

Preseason I thought 5 wins. Iowa is actually outperforming so far (from the eye-test, not W/L) overall this year. Iowa should be able to hang 4-6 wins. Matt getting healthy will help. More concerning to me is, where has Eric May gone? Payne injury hurts Iowa, esp with depth, so Marble will have to grow up fast.

 

[tweeterhawk]

4-5 wins.

 

[sportstalent]

What is your definition of "bad"? I don't think there is a starter on this team that would start for MSU, OSU, Minne, Purdue, Illinois, or Wisconsin. We certainly need more talented players to finish in the upper half of the conference. If we are comparing our players to those top half Big 10 teams, then yes they are bad. We are painfully behind most of the teams in this conference as far as talent....and in order to catch up before 5 years go by we need to pull in MORE talent than they do in these next few recruiting classes. That means on average 2 top 100 recruits and a top 150 every year. I'm not sure that is realistic....the rebuilding may take longer than most hope.

My definition of "bad" is most likely a lot different than yours. I believe we have one maybe two players that could start for Minn, Purdue, Illini or Wis. The only reason being is that we have three quality upperclassmen and it isn't the youngsters fault they are young, with the transfers out that destroyed depth and forcing the youth to grow up quickly. The 2010 class is good, the best class we have had is some time, including the classes that didn't transfer. The staff is going to teach this team how to play the way they want, something the previous staff didn't do well. The three freshman are players that are having to develop now at a much faster pace than the top teams freshman. Look at a player like Derrick Nix, who was a Mr. Basketball and four star recruit, who is not good. Adrien Payne a 5-star recruit that has done nothing this season. Marble/McCabe/Basabe has shown more than either of these players have in their time. JD Weatherspoon/Jordan Seibert are two more that were more highly regarded and have shown nothing. Yes, they are in totally different situations, but Iowa's freshman have shown more. We can debate this all day, but Iowa has talent, not enough right now and have some definite needs and the top most are a PG and a slashing wing-type player, with the second not as major as the first. Iowa does need a C, but it isn't as big of a need as another player like Basabe that can play C, for now. Iowa's big problem still is depth at key positions, this year has been great because the staff lets them play. The thing that is bothering me the most about this season, is where has May gone since Gatens has came back? I don't buy into the "have" to have Top 100 players to be successful, the kind of players Fran has brought in already and the two that are to come next year are pieces to the puzzle. Losing the amount of players Iowa has in the last three years took away any experience Iowa had. Only Cole leaves this year and the foundation will still be at Iowa, something we haven't been used too. Give this team a year under the staff and the addition of two to four players for next year and Iowa has experience and depth. Iowa will have a legitimate shot at the NCAA tournament at best and should be a shoe-in for the NIT. The Big Ten will loose a ton of experience this year, yes the top 4 teams will still be darn good, but Iowa with a year under Coach Fran and a complete team will have a chance to win 8 to 10 games in the Big Ten. Do the Top 150 players help rebuild faster, yes, but the rebuilding process will not take 5 years.
Fire Away

 

[Husky28]

Preseason I thought 5 wins. Iowa is actually outperforming so far (from the eye-test, not W/L) overall this year. Iowa should be able to hang 4-6 wins. Matt getting healthy will help. More concerning to me is, where has Eric May gone? Payne injury hurts Iowa, esp with depth, so Marble will have to grow up fast.

I think May is having to expend a lot of energy guarding the other teams best perimeter player. Plus, he isn't sneaking up on teams like he did last year. Last year he was able to play on raw speed... this year, he's getting the other team's better defenders (thus the reason Gatens is getting the open looks he's getting - hopefully he can keep capitalizing) and having to learn to play college ball (how to get open and such) and not get by with raw talent.

Also, if I recall... last year, he defended a lot more power forwards and his speed was harder for them to defend... because of Basabe, I think now he's on the faster small forwards. At least that seems to be what's happening...

 

[SirJamaLot]

My definition of "bad" is most likely a lot different than yours. I believe we have one maybe two players that could start for Minn, Purdue, Illini or Wis. The only reason being is that we have three quality upperclassmen and it isn't the youngsters fault they are young, with the transfers out that destroyed depth and forcing the youth to grow up quickly. The 2010 class is good, the best class we have had is some time, including the classes that didn't transfer. The staff is going to teach this team how to play the way they want, something the previous staff didn't do well. The three freshman are players that are having to develop now at a much faster pace than the top teams freshman. Look at a player like Derrick Nix, who was a Mr. Basketball and four star recruit, who is not good. Adrien Payne a 5-star recruit that has done nothing this season. Marble/McCabe/Basabe has shown more than either of these players have in their time. JD Weatherspoon/Jordan Seibert are two more that were more highly regarded and have shown nothing. Yes, they are in totally different situations, but Iowa's freshman have shown more. We can debate this all day, but Iowa has talent, not enough right now and have some definite needs and the top most are a PG and a slashing wing-type player, with the second not as major as the first. Iowa does need a C, but it isn't as big of a need as another player like Basabe that can play C, for now. Iowa's big problem still is depth at key positions, this year has been great because the staff lets them play. The thing that is bothering me the most about this season, is where has May gone since Gatens has came back? I don't buy into the "have" to have Top 100 players to be successful, the kind of players Fran has brought in already and the two that are to come next year are pieces to the puzzle. Losing the amount of players Iowa has in the last three years took away any experience Iowa had. Only Cole leaves this year and the foundation will still be at Iowa, something we haven't been used too. Give this team a year under the staff and the addition of two to four players for next year and Iowa has experience and depth. Iowa will have a legitimate shot at the NCAA tournament at best and should be a shoe-in for the NIT. The Big Ten will loose a ton of experience this year, yes the top 4 teams will still be darn good, but Iowa with a year under Coach Fran and a complete team will have a chance to win 8 to 10 games in the Big Ten. Do the Top 150 players help rebuild faster, yes, but the rebuilding process will not take 5 years.
Fire Away

I like your optimism but we dont have players that could start for ILL., MN. or other upper Big Ten teams, I hope im wrong but we are probably10,11,or 12th in talent in the Big Ten. I am encouraged by the play of Gatens, great to see him step up his play, May is a a great athlete who works hard but has very limited bb skills and instincts compared to Big Ten type players. Cole is a warrior but struggles in the Big Ten against players who are bigger and more athletic. We are who we are but we have a coaching staff determined to turn this around and I have a ton of faith in them, I just hope Hawkeye fans are patient this year becuase it could be a really brutal Big Ten season. Hope im wrong.

 

[tm3308]

Qualifying players as "bad" because they wouldn't start for top 15 teams? Come on. We may not have anyone who would start for Illinois, Minnesota, MSU, OSU, or Purdue. But you could say that about at least half of the teams in the country, a good chunk of whom make the NCAA tournament. We have some players who would start for mid-level tournament teams (your 8-13 seeds). That's obviously not going to be enough, but it's a good start. And with the freshmen, who knows? By the time they're done, or even by the end of the year, they could be totally different players than they are right now.

 

[sportstalent]

I like your optimism but we dont have players that could start for ILL., MN. or other upper Big Ten teams, I hope im wrong but we are probably10,11,or 12th in talent in the Big Ten. I am encouraged by the play of Gatens, great to see him step up his play, May is a a great athlete who works hard but has very limited bb skills and instincts compared to Big Ten type players. Cole is a warrior but struggles in the Big Ten against players who are bigger and more athletic. We are who we are but we have a coaching staff determined to turn this around and I have a ton of faith in them, I just hope Hawkeye fans are patient this year becuase it could be a really brutal Big Ten season. Hope im wrong.

I don't disagree with that, we don't have players that would start for the top 4 or 5 teams. I guess, I just don't get caught up in that because it isn't fair to the Iowa players, be objective. Player development is what the coaches are responsible for. Iowa's whole team is not the same it was at the beginning of the season. May will continue to get better, he has the tools, just needs to get his confidence back. I also think Iowa needs to find ways to get May the ball where he can use his athleticism to get open or set screens for because he has a good shot. I agree with your assessment of Cole, he plays as hard as anyone that has walked through the doors of CHA. I am glad that you do have a ton of faith in this coaching staff because they are the right staff to turn this around. Take a look in year one, the freshman and Cartwright, even with the injuries. I also agree that it will be a brutal BT season, the league is tough and if people have a problem with low wins...get a clue. With the graduations that will happen after this season, Iowa will have a shot to go to the postseason.

Qualifying players as "bad" because they wouldn't start for top 15 teams? Come on. We may not have anyone who would start for Illinois, Minnesota, MSU, OSU, or Purdue. But you could say that about at least half of the teams in the country, a good chunk of whom make the NCAA tournament. We have some players who would start for mid-level tournament teams (your 8-13 seeds). That's obviously not going to be enough, but it's a good start. And with the freshmen, who knows? By the time they're done, or even by the end of the year, they could be totally different players than they are right now.

I 100% agree. It isn't fair to the current players to judge them against other teams individual players. At the end of the day it is a team sport. This freshman class is one of the most productive in the BT so far, I would say that OSU, because of Sullinger and Craft and Michigan's freshman are more productive (Hardaway Jr, Morgan, Horford, Christian, Smotrcyz). That is something very positive and keep looking for updates on Oglesby and White, they will add good value to the team next year.