Gatens

[BALDIES7980]

Matt does not have the all around game to be the #1 scorer. He really is probably best as a #3 option because he needs the space to shoot. I believe he would light things up in that role if we had the players to put him there.

 

[BALDIES7980]

Yeah, I do agree with that statement, before Gatens started shooting well, he was Iowa's best player. Basabe adds a ton of things that Iowa hasn't had for some time.



Couldn't say it any better, he is better than all the players that left, yet he stayed. Could it be because of family, don't care, he is still a Hawk and I have respect for that. Cole is one of my favorite players because of his effort and his willingness to stay at Iowa and want to get his degree from Iowa, that says a lot. Iowa may not be good overall, but it seems to me that the basketball program reminds me of the first year for football and I will not forget Colin Cole saying he was disappointed to leave when he said there were going to be so many good things for Iowa football in its future...Does Jarryd feel that same way, it would be interesting to hear his view.

I feel bad for Cole because he has been put in a no win situation since he arrived in IC.

 

[HerkyDog]

Gatens is critiqued so much because of his Dad.

Most Hawk fans that remember his father, remember a tough, physical, brawler who fought for everything he got on the court. We see his Son, with much, much more physical talent, being somewhat passive on the court.

While he is not as big as his old man, most of us yearn to see some of that old Gatens junk yard fighter in Matt, and it looks like we'll never see it. That's what is gnawing at folks, imo.

 

[briankaldenberg]

Matt is being forced to do things he's not made to do at the Big 10 level. Create on his own....

He would be great on another team where he could spot up and have others create for him.

He isn't the best player on this team though. Basabe is.

 

[blkngoldUofI]

IMHO, I believe Matt an Eric ned to work on taking that one power dribble and going up and taking the shot. To many times they have their guy on their hip right around the free throw line and never shoot the darn ball. Hitting a shot like that can open up the inside and the 3 point line. Matt surely gets my highest praises for staying the course and taking a lot of crap that a guy doesn't need.

If Matt could trade places with that Dibbler kid for tOSU I think he would be in an ideal situation.

 

[aaronzuriel]

If only some things would have gone differently.

Like Iowa would have ended UCLA's winning streak with Mike Gatens making his first start back in the earlier 70's in Chicago. (What a bus trip it was with a keg at the back of the bus and all of us fresh faced kids hoping to see Bill Walton and the Hawks with a win... not so much)

Fast Forward... Matt Gatens comes off the bench as the best 6th man in NCAA 2011 basketball. The best 6th man in America.

Alas he's a 4 year starter and either our best player or second best.

Results: Losing records and no NCAA tournaments.

 

[Auggie]

I didn't know I was flaming, btw, that is funny... Anyway, I am never amazed at how much Gatens is picked apart.
You have some valid points, but there are two players I don't worry about on Iowa's roster: Gatens and Basabe, you pretty much know what you are going to get out of them. They are the two consistent players, but when Gatens is off, he get picked apart and when Basabe is off, he is just a freshman.

Agree on Gatens, but Basabe is one of the most inconsistent players we have. Thats not a knock as he is a freshman and has shown a lot of promise. Check some of the box scores, he has had some games where he has been non-exisistent. Like I said he's a freshman and its hard not to like the overall performance thus far.

 

[sportstalent]

Agree on Gatens, but Basabe is one of the most inconsistent players we have. Thats not a knock as he is a freshman and has shown a lot of promise. Check some of the box scores, he has had some games where he has been non-exisistent. Like I said he's a freshman and its hard not to like the overall performance thus far.

To be fair, I think the games he has been non-existent, except for the first couple, he was sick. There were some games that he looked awful, like Illinios, but there are times when he has played like a freshman. Basabe will most likely be Iowa's clear cut best player next season as he adds more strength and continues to develop his outside game and ball-handling. Basabe is such a unique player for Iowa, I can't really compare him to some past Hawks yet because his game hasn't completely developed yet, but maybe us fans will simply be comparing players to Melsahn Basabe in 5 years. I think he is in the mold of a Duez Henderson, but much more athletic, if I am going to compare.

 

[SirJamaLot]

Any truth to the rumor that Gatens gave up on Lick when Lick got rid of Tucker (his closest friend on the team) and started playing little lick?

Matt is a good kid and teammate, stays out of trouble and is a nice shooter, actually he and cartwright make a nice backcourt, Matt is not a very good defender, rebounder, and struggles with the dribble, he is decent 3 point shooter but struggles to create shots for his teammates. He and Cole have gone thru 3 really long years and a lot of losses. it has to wear on him. he would be a nice role player on a more talented team.

 

[Sirhouseman]

At least Gatens is still a Hawk and hasn't jumped ship. I have more respect for Gatens and Cole because they are Hawks and didn't quit like so many previous players who left.

Yep yep.

 

[GravyJones]

-He does not rebound. He will get 2-3 a game that come his way but a player with his bulk and mis-match potential should be pulling down 5-7 a game with the occasional double.

I know full well the games aren't exactly the same, but there are only 4 shooting guards in the NBA who average 5-7 rebounds a game.

 

[ICbornNraised]

When I think of Gaten’s career and what it could have been, I compare it to Jason Bohannon. Remember Bohannon, from Marion. He could have come here, but no he chose Wisky, and it looks like the right decision. He has had a good career there. Matt could have easily gone elsewhere, be a roll player, and had a very good career as well. He chose to come to Iowa. Give the guy credit. He committed to Alford, played for Lick, and now stayed with Caff. I wouldn’t blame anyone for leaving that situation.

Will he hold the record for the most games lost all time as a Hawk?

 

[1977Hawkeye]

Gatens is without question one of our best players, if not the best, and we're better off with him than without. The only real part of his game I don't like that I think he can improve on is that it doesn't seem like he's learned yet that he can't drive in among the trees and get the ball up on the rim.. He gets stuffed nearly every time. The way I look at it, that really isn't all that much better than a turnover, because we are essentially not getting a shot when that happens.

I would like to see Gatens pull up more often and take the 10-12 foot jumper instead of trying to take it all the way to the rack. He has proven that he can pretty consistently make that mid-range jumper and I would like to see him utilize that more. Unless he has a clear path to the rim of course.

 

[tweeterhawk]

Gatens is without question one of our best players, if not the best, and we're better off with him than without. The only real part of his game I don't like that I think he can improve on is that it doesn't seem like he's learned yet that he can't drive in among the trees and get the ball up on the rim.. He gets stuffed nearly every time. The way I look at it, that really isn't all that much better than a turnover, because we are essentially not getting a shot when that happens.

I would like to see Gatens pull up more often and take the 10-12 foot jumper instead of trying to take it all the way to the rack. He has proven that he can pretty consistently make that mid-range jumper and I would like to see him utilize that more. Unless he has a clear path to the rim of course.

I think you are correct. He also has shown he can shoot 3's when unguarded, so if there are some curl sets or screens that can be set to get him open I think that's where he's far more effective. He simply can't drive the basket and expect to get the easy bucket (or the foul).

 

[smhawk]

Was anybody impressed with Gatens being able to get to the FT line more in the Indiana game? He seemed to do a better job going up stronger.

Also I think I saw a floater aimed to the top of the backboard work out for one of his close range shots.

He still looked pretty eager to try to put the ball up for a strong shot in lane with two bigs surrounding him, think it was after a rebound. He just needs to pass out of it when he is doubled like that under the hoop.

Hope the Indiana game's positives pass on over to PSU game tomorrow.

 

[HawkPhreek]

Here is something to think about to. Gatens is our number scoring option therefore drawing the number one defender. Gatens could have jumped shipped couple of times in his hawkeye career, but stayed the course. Let me know how many Hawkeyes have ever avg 12pts, 4 reb 2.5 asst. and a steal per game then get back to me.