Dom Uhl

[RobHowe]

I'm not ripping him just wondering what's going on

Not saying it was intentional, but your OP invited negativity. It insinuated that something was wrong with DU.

The board, overall, has a negative tone. Maybe that's just what people enjoy.

That's why it would be hard to ban everybody that rips players. People shouldn't get comfortable doing it, however. While we can't catch everyone, the ones we do see we'll deal with.

This is a general statement. I'm not singling you out. As I said, I'm not saying your OP was intentionally trying to draw out negativity.

 

[InGoodCo]

I was expecting further offensive development from Dom this season but it's been slow. It hasn't been from a lack of work. He's one of the first guys out to practice and shows up early before games to get shots up.

I disagree that he doesn't know what to do. He's often telling the young guys what to do. He's not a vocal guy in terms of leadership but the young guys do look up to him.

Cook and Pemsl are superior offensive players, for sure, but Uhl is a vastly better defensive player. And that matters. He saved us against Rutgers, who was eating the freshmen alive inside until Dom came in and protected the rim.

Williams barely played last season so it's not like he had a ton of experience compared to Bohannon. And Jordan has been much better than most people expected. But, again, recent opponents have exposed him on defense. He struggled to match up Lucas for Illinois. Jordan is a superior offensive player but Williams is on defense. And Fran played Williams with Bohannon the other night to get Jordan off playing the ball defensively.

We need role players. We have offensive firepower from a lot of places. Guys that know their roles and play them well have value. Guys also develop at different rates. As Fran said the other night, there's still a lot in the tank when it comes to Williams.

This is nice to read - and basically what a number of us have been going back and 4th with on with 56 for months. We need roll players, every team does. If they aren't all conference caliber by the time they are sophomore's they aren't misses. 56 has railed on Fran for his classes, which IMO, have been pretty great, and continue to get better. But it takes time to develop. Iowa is a developmental program as are most who aren't getting all 4 and 5 star kids every year. We lost a lot from last years team, but if the small snap shoot of what Fran has been able to do with developing players has shown us anything, we are in for some very good basketball over the next 3-seasons with this core.

 

[PCHawk]

I agree that Williams and Uhl have played the worst overall this year. It's crazy that with a team that goes 12 deep, we had our two players that have struggled the most starting at the beginning of the year. It really shows how much the team has evolved over the course of the year.

Another thing that's crazy is the 3rd "worst" player of the 12 is probably Kriener and all 3 of those guys played a huge role at different times to propel us to 3 different wins.

 

[1hawkeye1]

I haven't seen anyone on here ripping anyone. It's honest discussion about the relative weaknesses and strengths of certain players.

Whar ripping? Whar?

 

[MiniMoeHawk]

I haven't seen anyone on here ripping anyone. It's honest discussion about the relative weaknesses and strengths of certain players.

Whar ripping? Whar?

Pretty much every one of 56's posts about Jordan

 

[homes]

Not saying it was intentional, but your OP invited negativity. It insinuated that something was wrong with DU.

The board, overall, has a negative tone. Maybe that's just what people enjoy.

That's why it would be hard to ban everybody that rips players. People shouldn't get comfortable doing it, however. While we can't catch everyone, the ones we do see we'll deal with.

This is a general statement. I'm not singling you out. As I said, I'm not saying your OP was intentionally trying to draw out negativity.

Compared to the first half of last year, there is something wrong. Maybe not with him, but with his game. I'd say the staff thinks the same way, given his lack of minutes in most games. He is 9th in total minutes played. Being only one of two upperclassmen on the roster, I would expect him to have a larger role.

 

[RobHowe]

Compared to the first half of last year, there is something wrong. Maybe not with him, but with his game. I'd say the staff thinks the same way, given his lack of minutes in most games. He is 9th in total minutes played. Being only one of two upperclassmen on the roster, I would expect him to have a larger role.

He's a role player. As I said, I thought he might be more based on offensive growth. It hasn't happened yet. Maybe it never will.

Last year, he hit threes early on in the season. I think that was an aberration. He has a funky shot.

His strength is his ability to defend multiple positions in the front court. That's his role for now. Maybe it turns into more. We'll see.

It'd be great to have a roster full of stars that could do everything on the court, but that's not how it works.

 

[mopkins]

The main thing that bothers me with Dom is if you can't progress on offense, at least be disruptive. Look at Nicholas Baer. The dude just flat out hustles and makes plays. Baer is not the best player, he doesn't have the best size or skills, but he is disruptive, he hustles and he puts himself in a position to make an impact. I'll take those guys on my team all day.

Right now the team leader in rebounds is tied between Baer and Jok. Yes, a friggin shooting guard is leading the team in rebounds. If Dom isn't going to progress on offense, that's fine....but at least put on some muscle, be a disruptive defender, and grab every board that comes off the rim.

 

[WindsorHawk]

He's a role player. As I said, I thought he might be more based on offensive growth. It hasn't happened yet. Maybe it never will.

Last year, he hit threes early on in the season. I think that was an aberration. He has a funky shot.

His strength is his ability to defend multiple positions in the front court. That's his role for now. Maybe it turns into more. We'll see.

It'd be great to have a roster full of stars that could do everything on the court, but that's not how it works.

I don't really want a roster full of stars (like Kentucky). I would like 3 solid players in each class so the rebuilding years are few and far between.

Make the NCAA the majority of the time and contend for a top 5 conference finish (with the occasional championship) most years and I'm generally happy. Of course I also want a 2nd weekend or farther NCAA run to be a realistic possibility most years and/or an appearance in the BTT Championship game.

Some will say this is settling. My response to this is MSU, IN, WI, MD, PU, MI, OSU and the occasional random team. The first 4 teams on this list are good pretty much every year and get top tier recruits. The others are good most years.

So expecting to win the conference every year is unrealistic. This is the Big 10...lots of good basketball and big time home court advantages.

Edit - More on my Kentucky comment...I think Dean Oliver was a great Hawk. I loved watching him play and he barely got a taste of the NBA. Ricky Davis played 1 year at Iowa and played a long time in the NBA. I never really cared. There just wasn't much Iowa Hawkeye in his career...not enough for me to get attached. Of course this entire post is just my opinion.

 

[trj]

Has the body of a stretch 4 but his handles aren't great and he started his career shooting the 3 ball much better than he has the past 2 years.

I think he wants to play on the perimeter; be that point forward, I just don't think he has the skill set to do it. He is in a process of learning his role and accepting it.

 

[FirstDownHawkeyes]

Dom is so close to being a very very good player. He can handle it very well for his size, is a willing and good passer, can get to the rim, is long and athletic, is a decent 3 pt shooter for his size and is a good defender. I think he has a confidence problem and gets down on himself when he gets to the rim and misses the bunny. He gets stuck with the ball (a teammate puts him in a tough spot) late in the shot clock a lot. That's not great if you are struggling with confidence. I could see him turn it all around as a senior a la Eric May.

 

[trj]

Dom is so close to being a very very good player. He can handle it very well for his size, is a willing and good passer, can get to the rim, is long and athletic, is a decent 3 pt shooter for his size and is a good defender. I think he has a confidence problem and gets down on himself when he gets to the rim and misses the bunny. He gets stuck with the ball (a teammate puts him in a tough spot) late in the shot clock a lot. That's not great if you are struggling with confidence. I could see him turn it all around as a senior a la Eric May.

I was thinking the same thing, where everything clicks his final year. Whether it is the light bulb finally coming on or the realization his career is coming to an end and he decides to play "free". Either way I could see a May like Senior year. Not saying it is going to happen, but I could see it.

 

[Knight78]

Wrong sport. I see a beach volleyball stud. No shame there; beach volleyball is awesome.

Yeah, beach volleyball IS awesome!

 

[homes]

He's a role player. As I said, I thought he might be more based on offensive growth. It hasn't happened yet. Maybe it never will.

Last year, he hit threes early on in the season. I think that was an aberration. He has a funky shot.

His strength is his ability to defend multiple positions in the front court. That's his role for now. Maybe it turns into more. We'll see.

It'd be great to have a roster full of stars that could do everything on the court, but that's not how it works.

Who said anything about having a roster full of stars? Personally, before the season began, I thought his role would be/should have been more substantial. The fact that he's turned into a bit player is disappointing. I suppose if someone thought at the beginning of the year that he was going to be the type of role player who would log only the 9th most minutes on the team, then that someone would be fine with his play, and not subject him to critique. Clearly that's what he's become. Maybe he'll get better, that would be a good thing.

 

[homes]

So expecting to win the conference every year is unrealistic. This is the Big 10...lots of good basketball and big time home court advantages.

Iowa hasn't won a conference title, outright, since 1970, and last shared the title in 1979. I'm pretty sure no rational Iowa fan is expecting a conference championship on an annual basis or even close to that, but certainly one every 38-47 years isn't unreasonable. (Sorry, [the coach whose name shall not be mentioned], BTT titles aren't the same thing).

 

[RobHowe]

Who said anything about having a roster full of stars? Personally, before the season began, I thought his role would be/should have been more substantial. The fact that he's turned into a bit player is disappointing. I suppose if someone thought at the beginning of the year that he was going to be the type of role player who would log only the 9th most minutes on the team, then that someone would be fine with his play, and not subject him to critique. Clearly that's what he's become. Maybe he'll get better, that would be a good thing.

He's averaging 15.9 minutes a game, which are the seventh most on the team. The two guys right ahead of him are Moss at 16.8 minutes a game and Pemsl at 19.3. That's not a great deal more playing time.

Dom missed a few games with an injury, which also may have stalled progress.

 

[HawkeyeWalker]

I'd like to see Dom pull the trigger on open 3's more often. I thinks it's as much of a confidence thing as any. I think if he sees a few drop, it would help a ton.

Plus, his fake-then-shuffle move would get more bites. If he doesn't take a few open shots, noone bites on the fake.

Believe Dom, believe.

 

[revkev73]

Dom and CW both seem to lead the team with a lack of confidence...

Baer and JB seem to lead with confidence...

 

[homes]

He's averaging 15.9 minutes a game, which are the seventh most on the team. The two guys right ahead of him are Moss at 16.8 minutes a game and Pemsl at 19.3. That's not a great deal more playing time.

Dom missed a few games with an injury, which also may have stalled progress.

He's gone from a starter to a guy averaging just over 14 minutes a game in conference play. I don't know him, he's probably a great guy, and a great teammate, but his play has not been very consistent, I have no clue why, but it's a reasonable query. He's had some good games, but not nearly enough of them. Hence, his changed role from the start of the season. I hope he gets better, it would be welcomed, by me, but moreso by the team.

 

[Mademyaccount4u]

Not saying it was intentional, but your OP invited negativity. It insinuated that something was wrong with DU.

The board, overall, has a negative tone. Maybe that's just what people enjoy.

That's why it would be hard to ban everybody that rips players. People shouldn't get comfortable doing it, however. While we can't catch everyone, the ones we do see we'll deal with.

This is a general statement. I'm not singling you out. As I said, I'm not saying your OP was intentionally trying to draw out negativity.

I couldn't agree more. There are many times where I have to step back. I just can't understand how so many "fans" can have so much vitriol for players and coaches that have chosen to further their educations and careers at Iowa. And yet month after month there are people calling for coaches heads or hoping that players will transfer.

It really depresses me as a fan, as I like would like to use the board as a way to hold constructive discussions about the team or players versus I don't understand or like this thing, so we need to get rid of it or because the next person has to be better.

As for me with Dom, I like him. He chose to come to Iowa instead of staying out east. He has a huge upside and doesn't seem to just slack on the court. His form is a little odd, but he can hit the shots. Dom Uhl was a big reason Iowa went on their run last year. He had 10 points, if I remember, at MSU last year coming off the bench and played well in the other games. His problem, I think, is he wants to be a guard or small forward. If he would focus on getting rebounds and put-backs, he would have potential for the next level.