Hubbard?

Yep, I made this point a couple months ago. I love the idea of Cartwright, Basabe and Hubbard playing in hostile environments next season.

The best part about it is that these guys all seem like good kids, too. Read Hubbard's quotes and what people say about him. There is a level of maturity and perspective that is beyond most college kids.

With Hubbard, potentially, I think the team will have a moxie and chemistry that will help tremendously with recruiting.
 
Melsahn, Cartwright and Hubbard could give this team a little Bad News Bears meets The Longest Yard vibe.

They'd be a great underdog story.
 
This isn't meant as a shot at anyone, either, but we need a team beyond the Zach McCabes and Eric Mays and Matt Gatens. Those guys can have roles. But if I had been an out of state recruit the past couple years, two things would have struck me.

One, we have no shot in the Big Ten with these guys. I want to play right away, but it's not gonna be fun getting our brains beat in every night. I can't imagine what it will be like playing with these guys in Champaign and East Lansing. We can't even put up a serious fight.

And two, these guys' backgrounds are a little too similar. Grew up in mid-size Iowa cities, marginal Big Ten players, etc.

Getting a kid from Compton and another kid from New York was a huge breakthrough. This isn't totally a black/white thing either. It's about having a mix of experiences and backgrounds and playing styles and coming together as a team. Plus, those two guys played to WIN when Iowa went on the road this year.

We've seen it's been tough to add to this mix with this recruiting class. I think picking up Hubbard could make so many other kids envision a more positive experience at Iowa as well.

It's fun to play with guys who can win.
 
He's an ex con....I don't want anything to do with him. We're not ISU, and if we take Hubbard....NONE of us have any right to talk....come on Fran.
 
HawkForce said:
He's an ex con....I don't want anything to do with him. We're not ISU, and if we take Hubbard....NONE of us have any right to talk....come on Fran.
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This was my attitude originally but now I think we take him if he wants us. Obviously, we need a talent infusion to jump start this program and it's worth the roll of the dice to get it going.
 
SteveGarvey said:
This was my attitude originally but now I think we take him if he wants us. Obviously, we need a talent infusion to jump start this program and it's worth the roll of the dice to get it going.
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Ik we need talent no denying it....but this is a HUGE gamble....look what Pierce did to Alford....none of us know how Fran would handle something like that (I tend to think alot better than Alfy)....

But with all the bad news: arrests, drugs, assault, Paula's, alcohol....following the Iowa athletics program the last couple of years and we offer an ex-con??

It's no wonder some people compare us to the U....
 
HawkForce said:
Ik we need talent no denying it....but this is a HUGE gamble....look what Pierce did to Alford....none of us know how Fran would handle something like that (I tend to think alot better than Alfy)....

But with all the bad news: arrests, drugs, assault, Paula's, alcohol....following the Iowa athletics program the last couple of years and we offer an ex-con??

It's no wonder some people compare us to the U....
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It's only a gamble if he makes a mistake and is not properly disciplined. I think this was more of the issue with the Alford era. Pierce's crime was much more heinous in comparison.

I used heinous in a sentence..
 
The dude is 25, the problems that most athletes have are when they are 20 and 21 when they are just starting to experiment with bars, crazy parties, fights, etc. This dude has lived through an experience that most of us can't even imagine. I'm gonna bet he is grown and won't screw up this chance if he gets it.
 
Ihawk209 said:
It's only a gamble if he makes a mistake and is not properly disciplined. I think this was more of the issue with the Alford era. Pierce's crime was much more heinous in comparison.

I used heinous in a sentence..
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Wrong. It's only a PROBLEM if he makes a mistake. It is a gamble if we bring him in at all. Gambling is all about taking risks. By bringing him in, we risk having him slip up. I think we're in a position where we need to bring him in. But it IS a gamble.
 
Looking at Hubbard's recent track record and what the adults surrounding him say about him make me think he's far less of a gamble than a lot of 18 year olds we're considering. This doesn't seem like a guy you'd have to worry about passing out in a downtown alley.

What impresses me about Fran is that he knows it's an issue he'll have to constantly talk about and address with the media. It'd be far easier to not recruit the kid.

But I think he knows he's a good kid who put a horrible act behind him years ago, and is a far different person today. Fran trusts his own instincts enough to extend the kid a scholarship offer, even if it means constantly addressing a crime a member of his team committed eight years ago (or at the time the current freshmen were in 5th graders).
 
HawkForce said:
Ik we need talent no denying it....but this is a HUGE gamble....look what Pierce did to Alford....none of us know how Fran would handle something like that (I tend to think alot better than Alfy)....

But with all the bad news: arrests, drugs, assault, Paula's, alcohol....following the Iowa athletics program the last couple of years and we offer an ex-con??

It's no wonder some people compare us to the U....
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alford did it to alford. Pierce was just the icing on the cake for most.
 
For Iowa to have any chance to get out of the bottom tier of the Big Ten, they are going to need to take a chance to land a difference-making player. I have absolutely no problem taking the chance with Anthony Hubbard (we'll see if it works out).
 
HawkForce said:
He's an ex con....I don't want anything to do with him. We're not ISU, and if we take Hubbard....NONE of us have any right to talk....come on Fran.
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I haven't said a word about Hoiberg's recruiting.

I say if Hubbard has game, bring him in. If there are off-court issues, then I'll trust Fran to cross that bridge when (or if) we get there and deal with it accordingly. I don't see any reason not to take a chance on a talented player given how bad we've been in recent years and how much trouble we are having getting commitments. We don't have the luxury of being picky.
 
I would encourage the staff to take Hubbard even if this Iowa team were a consistent contender. I believe in second chances as long as a just penalty has been handed out and the individual is doing everything right since.

In this case, I believe both to be true.
 
1977Hawkeye said:
I haven't said a word about Hoiberg's recruiting.

I say if Hubbard has game, bring him in. If there are off-court issues, then I'll trust Fran to cross that bridge when (or if) we get there and deal with it accordingly. I don't see any reason not to take a chance on a talented player given how bad we've been in recent years and how much trouble we are having getting commitments. We don't have the luxury of being picky.
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The only thing I've said about Hoiberg's recruiting is that it's a gamble. But sometimes you need to gamble. Just like Iowa probably needs to if they want to win quick.

I have no problem with Hubbard coming to Iowa. Unfortunately, I don't see it happening.
 
HawkeyeRyno said:
Glover is visiting UCLA this weekend. He is a Cali kid and Bruin fan so I'd imagine he would accept if offered. Just saying what was said by Scott Dochterman.
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First, he was never set to visit UCLA this weekend. They were looking at possibly going to his school for a workout. That is all in the past though as UCLA has said he wouldn't get through admissions. He is going to visit Iowa but it won't be this weekend
 
After 5 years in jail and how old he is I guarantee you this kid is extremely jaded and taking advantage of his second opportunity. When i was 18/19 (hell even 20) I was drinking a lot, smoking a lot, and skipping a lot of classes because I was always so tired and wasn't paying for my school. Now at 24, I have to work full time to pay for my school and you know what? I take it extremely serious now. Give Anthony a break. 25 is a lot more mature than 18/19.
 
p.s. a person with the username AnthonyHubbard posted this on the rivals message board
"Let it be known that I read posts from this site daily, and due to you overwhelming support, I will be playing basketball at The University of Iowa next year." assuming this is not some sick joke, welcome Mr. Hubbard to the UofI
 
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