Gatens: A Hawkeye Hero

ChosenChildren

ChosenChildren

Well-Known Member
Another great game from Gatens:

1. Fantastic defense on their best player.
2. Fabulous energy and clutch threes.
3. Plays 38 minutes.
4. Great leadership on the floor and stayed positive the whole game.

He is having a tremendous season. I am so happy for him - a great student, basketball player, and one of the all-time great Hawkeyes in my opinion.

I'm hoping for some type of post-season tourney for Iowa and Gatens. It is possible.
 
We will really miss him next year--great all round game, stabilizing force for a young team, symbolizes what is good about hawkeye athletics. Thank you Mr. Gatens!!
 
I haven't been able to see all the games, but there have been some really poor shooting games on 3s by the opponents Iowa has beaten. Has Matt been playing better perimeter D?
 
The box score does not do him justice. Matt played one of the better games I have seen a Hawkeye play the last 5 years. Clutch shots, under control, hustle plays and leadership.
 
Not real flashy, but just a great steady, stabilizing team player. A rock, and I'll wager a great teammate. As has been said, he will be missed next year.
 
Matt will be missed in many ways next year. But for this team to turn into what Fran envisions, they will need different kinds of perimeter players. Might have some growing pains on the backside, but we will see some benefits from the athleticism that will be in the backcourt next year.
 
now that he doesnt have to carry the offense he has developed at everything. and his scoring seems to be less forced and you look up and he has fifteen and you dont remember him taking many shots. i have actually found myself not thinking about his offense because his defense and rebounding have been so good.
 
Foval21 said:
now that he doesnt have to carry the offense he has developed at everything. and his scoring seems to be less forced and you look up and he has fifteen and you dont remember him taking many shots. i have actually found myself not thinking about his offense because his defense and rebounding have been so good.
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This.

I have always been vocal about Gatens not being "the man", but he has the skill set to be one hell of a pure shooter, he just needs to take what the defense gives him which is a lot easier when teams learn to respect us in the paint.
 
Hes playing better in all facets. Rebounding and defense have been great but most importantly he is finally hitting his open threes.

I do'nt think he is getting many more open threes than he ever has he is just hitting them allot more consistently than he has the last couple years.

Gattens, Ogelsby and McCabe need to hit their open shots for Iowa to have success. Those are the three guys who have the ability to be consistent out side shooters.
 
Matt is a Hawkeye Hero because he stuck it out and it is great to see him being rewarded for doing so. I love the smile on his face because it shows just how much he is enjoying his senior season. He will be able to look back and say he was a catalyst in the turnaround of Hawkeye basketball.

I realize he is a legacy but in today's "It's about me" world no one could have blamed him for walking (running) away.
 
ibahawkeye said:
I think oges may do pretty well filling the void as a three point threat but we will miss gatens' rebounding, defending, and leadership.
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Gatens is a guy who came in Big 10 ready as a freshmen from day 1. Gatens is a very strong guy with tremendous basketball IQ.

I did not think his ceiling was that high due to not having great athletic ability but I knew he would be very good as a 4 year player.

I hope Iowa can get enough wins to make the NIT tournament so Matt can experience post season play.
 
I was thinking pretty much what the OP wrote, but they beat me to it. ALthough not a great athlete, he is the kind of guy you want on your team, because he has the will to win. Not sure if he will ever get a chance in the pros, but if Fran turns things around in the next couple of years I am sure he will have only good words to say about Matt and the fact he enabled Frans vision to come to fruition. I also hope he at least gets to experience an NIT.
 
You really can't say enough about him today. He started off like 0-5 and I'm thinking oh boy here we go. Josh stepped up and made some shots when he wasn't hitting and then he got on track.
 
i will admit, i wrote him off after the last three seasons. Could never seem to hit a clutch shot when we needed him.
This season he has done everything we've needed from him and more. Defense, rebounding, and clutch shooting. Especially from 3.
I'm not sold on his leadership, but only because I don't think he is that kind of guy. And there's nothing wrong with that. Not everyone is. He contributes in other ways.
Congrats Matt Gatens. I salute you.
 
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