Gatens isn't a great Hawk?

TecmoSuperHawk said:
Gatens was solid his first 3 years, but I can't think of another Hawkeye in my lifetime that has stepped it up to a completely other level his Senior year. He has been outstanding and you can tell its hit home that this is his last go around and he wants to play in some tournament in March.
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How old are you? I am impressed that you can use a computer and weren't around for Huluska's senior year. Must be a youngin.
 


IAJay said:
How old are you? I am impressed that you can use a computer and weren't around for Huluska's senior year. Must be a youngin.
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The difference with Haluska is that the talent was always plain as day. But when you're also on the floor with Horner, Brunner, and Pierce (for awhile), your numbers won't be superstar-caliber. Gatens hasn't had that kind of a cast around him, and never appeared to be the kind of player who could go off like this, until this season.

In short: Haluska's jump in production was more a product of finally being handed the keys to the Ferrari. Gatens has been showcasing aspects of his game this year that not many knew he had (defense, rebounding, etc.).
 


tm3308 said:
The difference with Haluska is that the talent was always plain as day. But when you're also on the floor with Horner, Brunner, and Pierce (for awhile), your numbers won't be superstar-caliber. Gatens hasn't had that kind of a cast around him, and never appeared to be the kind of player who could go off like this, until this season.

In short: Haluska's jump in production was more a product of finally being handed the keys to the Ferrari. Gatens has been showcasing aspects of his game this year that not many knew he had (defense, rebounding, etc.).
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I hear what you are saying, but imo Haluska's jump to the most productive player in the league is about as good of a jump as one can make. Gatens has always been the best player on bad teams and this year isn't much different.
 


HawkForce said:
We're goin to win the BTT
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You cant possibly be this big of a jerk in real life, can you? Do you just enjoy being miserable? Don't remember you being so caustic before basketball season, or is this your developed Internet persona now?
 


CAARHawk said:
Define Great. Because there are some things about Matt that are commendable, but as the supposed leader of the team he has fallen short of being the guy who can build team unity. He isn't the kind of player who can put the team on his back, and he does a lot with what he has, but is limited athletically. I think people feel bad for the hometown kid we wished could play on a better team. But great players make teams better and they make other players want to play with them. This just has not been the case with Matt.Also, great players don't need other great players around them to put up great numbers and to get all conference recognition. They need that for wins, but you don't see GREAT players put up average numbers just because you don't have another scorer in college basketball. Also, Matt doesn't draw double teams. Teams basically play him straight up and he puts up extremely pedestrian numbers for a guy who started for four years. He is not in the top ten in scoring, rebounding, shooting percentage, or assists. Sorry, but there is just nothing but sentimentality that would lead anyone to consider Matt a Hawkeye Great. He is a hometown kid that was a decent contributor during one of the worst eras of the history of the program. It is appropriate to feel bad for him. It would have been nice if he was a contributor on a much better team. But going beyond that is just hyperbole.
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Congratz, ur the biggest horses arse on Hawkeye nation.
 


DuffMan said:
Congratz, ur the biggest horses arse on Hawkeye nation.
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CAARHawk: MIA

It must suck not being able to hit the boards after your supposed "favorite team" wins a game, because you said something incredibly stupid...he could at least be happy enough to eat some crow and get it over with...it's not like the board's going to forget because he "gives it a day or two"...
 


HawkeyeShane said:
CAARHawk: MIA

It must suck not being able to hit the boards after your supposed "favorite team" wins a game, because you said something incredibly stupid...he could at least be happy enough to eat some crow and get it over with...it's not like the board's going to forget because he "gives it a day or two"...
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It is interesting Shane.....It was a big bowl of crow he had to eat so maybe he doesn't feel good.
 


I think you have to separate "perfect state" vs. reality with respect to Gatens. With more talent around him, Gatens would be seen in a much more favorable light even with the same or inferior numbers because he would be part of a winning team.


As we all know, Gatens has had little / no help during his 4 years, which, IMO, makes his contributions that much more significant. He could have left, pouted, gone out every night and jacked up shots to get his numbers, played lazy D, etc. I know some have been critical that he can't create on his own / draw doubleteams, but that's never really been his game and without strong PG play and another scoerer around him, he hasn't had the best supporting cast.
 




Gatens may not be the greatest player to wear the gold and black, but he is a very good player and we will certainly miss him next year.

And yes, a great HAWKEYE.
 


IAJay said:
How old are you? I am impressed that you can use a computer and weren't around for Huluska's senior year. Must be a youngin.
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Biggest improvement Junior to Senior year, in my lifetime, was none other than.... Les Jepsen. That is fact.
 


LG210 said:
Biggest improvement Junior to Senior year, in my lifetime, was none other than.... Les Jepsen. That is fact.
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I concur. Jepsen couldn't stay out of his own way until his senior year. It even seemed the same way the first part of that season as well, and then all of the sudden one game, a light came on, and the guy ended up getting drafted.

I don't remember much before his senior season, but I've season others say that Brad Lohaus really blossomed his senior year as well.
 


He just starting to heat up for the Big Ten Tournament. Keep dropping bombs like that and we could make a run. You the man Matty Ice.
 




GoHawks24 said:
I think whoever wasn't giving him his well-deserved props the other day in that thread look like fools.
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Matt has been given a lot of crap by people on this board. Funny to see all the people now praising him.

Good solid player who has given his all for 4 years. I hope Iowa gets SOME sort of post season tourney. He deserves it.
 






83Hawk said:
It has been more than one person.....and it has occurred over more than one season.
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So, if I understand you correctly, your beef is that 100% of the people have not been 100% behind Gatens 100% of the time?

I like Matt, but he certainly has never been above criticism at times. Willing to be he's more critical of himself.
 


To Ghost's point, Gatens, until this season, has not been what I would consider a clutch player. He got a lot of his points early in games (some blowouts) or from the line and faded late in games. (my biggest critique) No doubt fatigue, drawing good defenders, inconsistent PG play and no other scoring options contributed to his late game struggles. Last year he hurt his hand, had to adjust to a new system, new PG, etc., so hard to compare this year and last. You can see it on his face that he wants the ball at crunch time and that is what leaders exemplify.
 


GhostofBTT said:
So, if I understand you correctly, your beef is that 100% of the people have not been 100% behind Gatens 100% of the time?

I like Matt, but he certainly has never been above criticism at times. Willing to be he's more critical of himself.
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No, you don't understand me correctly.
 


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