Hawks need a win Vs. the kitty cats!!!!!

[PCHawk]

Isn't Harding the guy we all looked back at coming as Fran finally getting the guard that has alluded him all these years? I remember a couple of years ago people talking about a guard coming in that would be THE GUY. If it wasn't him who was it?

If it was him back then that people were talking about, has he measured up? To me he just seems pretty average at best, if not just a tad below average. Who knows maybe next year he will come into his own. How many times have we heard that said about players?

I think years from now when Fran has been gone people will look back at Fran's inability to recruit and develop the big ten level of guards needed for a program to be able to compete at the highest level. He sure as hell did a good job at the Center and Forward positions.

I remember Dolph broadcasting a game a few years ago and this non-power five team had two really talented guards playing against us. Dolph stated "How is it this little school can have two very talented guards and Iowa cant get one?"

This has been a weak position for Fran in my opinion. It really has reared it's ugly head in March. The talented teams that do well in the tournament seemed to easily penetrate past our first line of defense (the Iowa perimeter) and then penetrate deep into the paint for layups or fouls. The teams with the purebred race horse's just seemed to easily out score us in the tournament with the quickness and elusiveness.

Dolph actually called our guard out by name. Daily. I was one of the guys leading the charge on Harding being the guy. He definitely hasn't lived up to what I thought/hoped so far. He shows signs tho and if he stays the next two years I still think he can end up getting there. I'm less confident on that now than I was a few months ago tho.

 

[rschneider]

Dolph actually called our guard out by name. Daily. I was one of the guys leading the charge on Harding being the guy. He definitely hasn't lived up to what I thought/hoped so far. He shows signs tho and if he stays the next two years I still think he can end up getting there. I'm less confident on that now than I was a few months ago tho.

I like Harding, but I don't think he was the elusive PG Fran was having a hard time signing. I think that was someone else.

Harding really just needs a couple of inches to his height. PGs in this league are tall.

 

[1980HAWKFAN]

I like Harding, but I don't think he was the elusive PG Fran was having a hard time signing. I think that was someone else.

Harding really just needs a couple of inches to his height. PGs in this league are tall.

I like Harding too. He's a good ball handler, can find the open guy, and I think keeps the turnovers to a minimum. On the downside, not a great defender, small compared to other league guards, has a tough time creating a jump shot off the dribble for himself. I haven't researched his stats as a point guard in the league , but I wouldn't be surprised to see him near the bottom compared to the other PGs in the Big Ten.

 

[PCHawk]

I like Harding, but I don't think he was the elusive PG Fran was having a hard time signing. I think that was someone else.

Harding really just needs a couple of inches to his height. PGs in this league are tall.

For the lost part that's true. But one of the best players in the league is almost identical to Harding in size tho so there are exceptions. I was optimistic that a guy who is capable of winning Mr Basketball in Illinois and leading a non Chicago team to a state title (something that is incredibly rare) could be that exception. Turns out I was almost certainly wrong on my hopes for his ceiling. But it's not decided 100% yet.

 

[MILHAWKEYE]

Braden Smith from Purdue is considered by many a very good point guard and he is only 6 ft.

 

[trj]

I was uncertain about Harding. I didn’t know what his ceiling was. A starter getting 25+ minutes a game or a role player getting 15. I thought him and Thelwell, battling it out, would give me an answer midway through this season and it didn’t. Obviously, Harding and Thelwell ended up playing heavy minutes together on the court, so we never got an answer.

Despite Harding’s quickness, he isn’t a good defender. You need a roster that can hide him on the defensive end and use his quickness getting steals in the passing lanes, playing off guys.

The comp is Braden Smith and you wonder can he get there. The shot isn’t great, but he is shooting 37% from 3. There is part of me that thinks he could be a starter on a GOOD ROSTER and give you 12 and 5(points/assist).