First Basketball Magazine

[Tierney]

I get what you're saying, predicting this team is pretty much all speculation at this point, that's why it is so interesting. As for Uhl he averaged 6 pts last year in roughly 17 minutes of play time, while taking a back seat to JU, Jok, and Clemmons. I don't think it's too unreasonable to think with more minutes he will be in that 8-10 PPG range. Everyone says Uhl was so up and down last year but raves about Baer, he had his struggles too, producung off the bench on a consistent basis is very tough to do IMO.

I think Uhl is a good player, but I don't know if he will be a major offensive force. He didn't exactly tear it up in the prime time league. I do think Iowa will have a lot of scorers though.

 

[NikeHawk21]

I think Uhl is a good player, but I don't know if he will be a major offensive force. He didn't exactly tear it up in the prime time league. I do think Iowa will have a lot of scorers though.

In my estimation 8-10 PPG for a starter who plays a majority of the game is not a major offensive force, a contributor but definitely a tertiary option.

 

[dlbrandt]

Pretty much look for Iowa to regress which isnt a surprise with 4 starters gone.

I don't see it. I'm not saying they will win the BIG, but each year is new and cannot be accurately predicted. The 4 departed seniors did alot for Iowa Bball and their experience will be missed, but alot of talent is on the team. Gessell and Clemmons were hit and miss last year I think their replacements can be as good if not better. While I appreciate Uthoff(definitely talented), I think he had a Debbie Downer affect at times on the team. Woody's replacements will need to get experienced fast but talent and athleticism can make up for alot.

 

[Tierney]

I don't see it. I'm not saying they will win the BIG, but each year is new and cannot be accurately predicted. The 4 departed seniors did alot for Iowa Bball and their experience will be missed, but alot of talent is on the team. Gessell and Clemmons were hit and miss last year I think their replacements can be as good if not better. While I appreciate Uthoff(definitely talented), I think he had a Debbie Downer affect at times on the team. Woody's replacements will need to get experienced fast but talent and athleticism can make up for alot.

I agree with everything you have to say. Iowa has some experience in both the front and back courts so it isn't completely devoid of experience. The coaches can work with the players in the summer now, and they will know how to utilize and develop the talent they have. One of the biggest factors is going to be the Iowa coaching staff, and I think they are pretty good at what they do.

 

[BigD]

I hope I’m wrong because what I think and what I hope for are usually always different with Iowa hoops. I think they’ll struggle scoring. Teams will focus on Jok and he’s not a good enough ball handler to create for himself all that well. (hopefully he’s improved at that and I’m wrong)

The PG spot will be huge I sure hope Williams can be a threat shooting the ball unlike MG was most of his tenure. Then there’s Bohanan and how much will he figure in?

Cook looks like the real deal but he’ll be a frosh so he could be a 8 pt and 4 rb guy or as good as 15/10. (I don’t think he’ll avg a double double I just think the potential is there and Iowa will be a team to be wrecking with if he is and I’m wrong)

Does anyone really know which Dom Uhl will be playing most of the year? He showed flashes here and there and then at times struggled. His length and skills has what he’s capable of being pretty high. But I’m not going to predict a huge year till he shows more.

Wagner I think will struggle down low at times against some of the bigger bangers. He’ll get the tough assignments at the defensive end and how much he’ll be asked to contribute at the offensive end is up in the air. He better avg over 6 rbs a game or more and make hustle plays. How much that adds up to is anyones guess game to game. I think he’ll be a good player down the road and playing with/practicing against Cook will only help him.

Now Baer is an X factor. Some think he may crack the starting lineup and some don’t. I’m not sure how the coaches will use him. Safe to say he’ll play a ton though. I loved what he brought off the bench last yr and it seems like a role that team needed. This year with a mostly new cast of key players it’s anyones guess on if he’ll be better suited to be starting or remain off the bench.

I think this team is going to be athletic and how well they defend/rebound and then transition to O and get quick open looks is going to show how well they sink or swim. I think the half court O will be their bugaboo much like last yr and can they stop anyone else from scoring?... I have a tough time predicting a place in the league cause I’m not up on the other teams so much yet. I know Iowa’s not the only one going through a bit of an overhaul. I don’t think Iowa will be in top 5 I’ll say that much. I think their ceiling may be around 6-8 maybe… Heck if I know but I can’t wait to see what this group can do.

I thought this was a pretty good analysis. This year's team has some pretty good athletes but there is nothing like experience and we just lost a huge amount of experience.

I also am not sure what the other programs in our comference will be bringing back. I think we will struggle a lot this upcoming season because of the lack of experience. Iowa in the past has depended heavily on experience to be competitive, especially since Fran has been here. He just hasn't had the type of players that can step in and be impact players early on in their careers. White, was an exception to that rule, but in general his younger players seem to struggle.

The top returning player of course is Joc and he has been a very streaky type player. If he has an off night, and I am sure he will have them, it will be very difficult to win. I did like the way Cook looked in the PTL but that league is known as the no defense league. At this point it difficult to know what kind of impact he will have, but at first glance n the PTL he has looked like one of the best freshmen we have had since Fran has been here. White was fun to watch on the break away but in his freshman and sophmore years he struggled in the half court offense because of a lack of strength. This is where Cook may exceed White as Cook looks more stronger and agressive around the basket. Having said that though I am basing this on how he looked in the NO DEFENSE PTL league.

It will be interesting to watch for which players develop this season and step up and be leaders. I expect many bumpy and tough roads during the process, but it should be fun and entertaining to watch. If Joc had an exceptional year and Cook can be as good as advertised then maybe this team could surprise. The X factor guy will likely need to be someone at the guard position who can also bring some scoring ability on a consistent basis. There is no way Joc and Cook can carry this team alone especially when we get to conference play.

I am hoping for the best as usual but I am trying to be tempered and realistic in my expectations in one of if not the best conference in college basketball.

 

[Husky28]

I thought this was a pretty good analysis. This year's team has some pretty good athletes but there is nothing like experience and we just lost a huge amount of experience.

I also am not sure what the other programs in our comference will be bringing back. I think we will struggle a lot this upcoming season because of the lack of experience. Iowa in the past has depended heavily on experience to be competitive, especially since Fran has been here. He just hasn't had the type of players that can step in and be impact players early on in their careers. White, was an exception to that rule, but in general his younger players seem to struggle.

The top returning player of course is Joc and he has been a very streaky type player. If he has an off night, and I am sure he will have them, it will be very difficult to win. I did like the way Cook looked in the PTL but that league is known as the no defense league. At this point it difficult to know what kind of impact he will have, but at first glance n the PTL he has looked like one of the best freshmen we have had since Fran has been here. White was fun to watch on the break away but in his freshman and sophmore years he struggled in the half court offense because of a lack of strength. This is where Cook may exceed White as Cook looks more stronger and agressive around the basket. Having said that though I am basing this on how he looked in the NO DEFENSE PTL league.

It will be interesting to watch for which players develop this season and step up and be leaders. I expect many bumpy and tough roads during the process, but it should be fun and entertaining to watch. If Joc had an exceptional year and Cook can be as good as advertised then maybe this team could surprise. The X factor guy will likely need to be someone at the guard position who can also bring some scoring ability on a consistent basis. There is no way Joc and Cook can carry this team alone especially when we get to conference play.

I am hoping for the best as usual but I am trying to be tempered and realistic in my expectations in one of if not the best conference in college basketball.

I agree with the lack of experience is going to be the hardest part to overcome... The grind in the B1G is very difficult and tough on new players - no matter how athletic. Most newcomers under estimate the competition and find themselves struggling about half way through the conference schedule.

 

[Stanzi]

As good as Uthoff was he consistently disappeared at the end of close games which forced Gesell to handle the ball which never led to a good outcome.

I don't know how good or not so good Iowa will be this season but a whole new rotation will be refreshing to see. We essentially lost five three-year starters. I'm anxious to watch them play.

 

[NikeHawk21]

Everyone says Uhl was so up and down last year... producing off the bench on a consistent basis is very tough to do IMO.

Q. Dom Uhl has shown you stretches of really good play. Is it fair to say he’s got to play on a more consistent level for your team to get where you want to go?
FRAN McCAFFERY: I think that’s a fair statement, and I think he understands that. I also think sometimes you need consistent play and time to play the consistent way that you’re talking about. If you think about the last two years, while he was an integral part of everything that we did, some games he would play 26 minutes, 18, sometimes he would play nine, and that’s not easy, and I think I certainly recognize that.

Hmmm, sounds familiar.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

I just read Fran's press conference transcript. I think we are going to compete for a Big 10 title this year. Man, he gets me hyped up and he loves his players. I have to tell you though...Iowa can put five guys on the floor with serious chops off the dribble. Some big is going to have guard Uhl, Wagner, Baer, or Cook off the dribble. Iowa can also put 5 guys on the floor that can consistently shoot the three...Jok, Uhl, Baer, Dale Jones, Bohannan, and even Cook (consistency may be an issue with cook though). This is an interesting team. We should be really freaking good defensively as this is the most athletic team we have had in a long time. I'm excited about watching them develop.

 

[mopkins]

This season should be a fun one. Maybe not a successful one, but with 4 starters leaving there should be plenty of players competing for those open spots in the starting rotation. Competition is never a bad thing.

The defense is going to be the main concern. Clemmons will be sorely missed in that department

Iowa has some brutal early games...Seton Hall, virginia, notre dame, Iowa state, UNI...I dont expect them to win many of those, but this team should be fun to watch

 

[Hawk5656]

This season should be a fun one. Maybe not a successful one, but with 4 starters leaving there should be plenty of players competing for those open spots in the starting rotation. Competition is never a bad thing.

The defense is going to be the main concern. Clemmons will be sorely missed in that department

Iowa has some brutal early games...Seton Hall, virginia, notre dame, Iowa state, UNI...I dont expect them to win many of those, but this team should be fun to watch

I know Clemmons and MG got a lot of flack on here because they weren't 12 and 6 type of guys but I fear we're going to find out very early how good they were as perimeter defenders

 

[Tierney]

I enjoyed watching Clemmons and Gesell, but Iowa will be fine defensively. As a team they are going to be pretty disruptive.

 

[Hawk5656]

I enjoyed watching Clemmons and Gesell, but Iowa will be fine defensively. As a team they are going to be pretty disruptive.

I'm not sure how you could know that