Improved areas in '16-'17

[NikeHawk21]

As we know this years roster is built a little bit differently than prior teams. Many have noted that we are going to be more athletic and have more length his year. Here are a couple areas I think this team can outperform last years squad.

1. Offensive Rebounding - I think with Cook and Wagner seeing big time minutes this year we can be a really good offensive rebounding team. Both of these guys are strong and athletic and much of their game is predicated on offensive rebounding. Woody was decent on the offensive glass but he didn't really do much with the ball once he got it. Both of those guys are going to be looking for putback dunks and and-one opportunities. I also think Uhl and Baer can be good offensive reboundiners.

2. 3 PT Shooting - I think with a healthy Jones, we can actually be a better three point shooting team this year. Losing JU will obviously hurt, but remember we will have 5 guys on the floor at times that can all shoot the three ball. Jok, Uhl, Baer, Moss, Ellingson, Bohannon, and Jones can all shoot the 3, not to mention that Williams and Cook may be capable as well.

3. Pressing and Zone defenses - Fran has liked to employ both presses and zones in the past to slow teams down or speed them up. I think with the size and athleticism we have both of these defenses will improve this season. Can you imagine a 1-2-1-1 press with Cook on top, Williams and Jok, Wagner roaming the middle and Uhl back deep? I imagine that could work.

 

[PCHawk]

The bench will be better and there will be more exciting, explosive plays.

 

[Hawk5656]

The bench will be better and there will be more exciting, explosive plays.

At least 3 of our bench players from last year will now be starting so how will our bench be better?

 

[Hawk5656]

As we know this years roster is built a little bit differently than prior teams. Many have noted that we are going to be more athletic and have more length his year. Here are a couple areas I think this team can outperform last years squad.

1. Offensive Rebounding - I think with Cook and Wagner seeing big time minutes this year we can be a really good offensive rebounding team. Both of these guys are strong and athletic and much of their game is predicated on offensive rebounding. Woody was decent on the offensive glass but he didn't really do much with the ball once he got it. Both of those guys are going to be looking for putback dunks and and-one opportunities. I also think Uhl and Baer can be good offensive reboundiners.

2. 3 PT Shooting - I think with a healthy Jones, we can actually be a better three point shooting team this year. Losing JU will obviously hurt, but remember we will have 5 guys on the floor at times that can all shoot the three ball. Jok, Uhl, Baer, Moss, Ellingson, Bohannon, and Jones can all shoot the 3, not to mention that Williams and Cook may be capable as well.

3. Pressing and Zone defenses - Fran has liked to employ both presses and zones in the past to slow teams down or speed them up. I think with the size and athleticism we have both of these defenses will improve this season. Can you imagine a 1-2-1-1 press with Cook on top, Williams and Jok, Wagner roaming the middle and Uhl back deep? I imagine that could work.

1 and 3 for sure, wait and see on 2 in my opinion

 

[UncleHawk]

At least 3 of our bench players from last year will now be starting so how will our bench be better?

There are such things as graduation and coaching and new classes in college BB. The cream of the 2015 class stayed and improved. The 2016 class is better. You don't believe this year's Wagner, Jones, Moss, Kriener, Pemsl, Bohannon are better than last year's Uhl, Baer, Ellingson?

 

[Hawk5656]

There are such things as graduation and coaching and new classes in college BB. The cream of the 2015 class stayed and improved. The 2016 class is better. You don't believe this year's Wagner, Jones, Moss, Kriener, Pemsl, Bohannon are better than last year's Uhl, Baer, Ellingson?

Uhl, Wagner and Baer are pretty good. I have no idea if the newcomers will be better than them

 

[NikeHawk21]

There are such things as graduation and coaching and new classes in college BB. The cream of the 2015 class stayed and improved. The 2016 class is better. You don't believe this year's Wagner, Jones, Moss, Kriener, Pemsl, Bohannon are better than last year's Uhl, Baer, Ellingson?

Don't worry about it, 5656 has no understanding of development from year to year. I hate to use UW as an example but this one really works here.

In 2012-2013 season UW went 12-6 and the Big 10 and got a 5 seed. That year Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker were bench players. They graduated senior starters Ryan Evans, Mike Bruesewitz, and Jared Beggren. The following year they replaced those three starters with previous years backups Dekker and Kaminsky, and a true freshman Nigel Hayes, they went on to win the Big 10 and make it to the final four. You see Dekker and Kaminsky were bench players one year and actually went on to be better players the following year than the guys who started over them the year before... amazing isn't it 5656?!?

Now I'm not saying Iowa has a 5 star that didn't start last year, a star Dekker was, or will have a player develop like Kaminsky, however the point remains, sometimes the new guys improve and can outperform the guys who graduate.

 

[Hawk5656]

Don't worry about it, 5656 has no understanding of development from year to year. I hate to use UW as an example but this one really works here.

In 2012-2013 season UW went 12-6 and the Big 10 and got a 5 seed. That year Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker were bench players. They graduated senior starters Ryan Evans, Mike Bruesewitz, and Jared Beggren. The following year they replaced those three starters with previous years backups Dekker and Kaminsky, and a true freshman Nigel Hayes, they went on to win the Big 10 and make it to the final four. You see Dekker and Kaminsky were bench players one year and actually went on to be better players the following year than the guys who started over them the year before... amazing isn't it 5656?!?

Now I'm not saying Iowa has a 5 star that didn't start last year, a star Dekker was, or will have a player develop like Kaminsky, however the point remains, sometimes the new guys improve and can outperform the guys who graduate.

Development? Let's say our starters are CW, Jok, Baer, Uhl and Cook. That means our bench is Jones who is coming off an injury, Wagner who will be better and a bunch of guys that haven't played at all. I'm not sure that's an upgrade from Baer, Uhl and Wagner last year. It could be but I don't know how we could lose 4 starters, not bring in a transfer, only bring in one top 100 recruit and say the bench is definitely going to be better than last season

 

[BGOLD]

We're more likely to finish games, and by that a season. I won't miss having one player try to take over a game in the last minute after being overly passive the first 39 minutes.

 

[NikeHawk21]

I think our bench will be Baer, Jones, Moss, Bohannon, maybe Ellingson &/or one of the Freshman.

I think our bench will be better this year primarily because they will be relied upon more. Our bench combo last year of Uhl, Baer, and Wagner last year combined for 40 minutes and less than 15 points, so yes I think this years bench will be better than that.

 

[BGOLD]

I think our bench will be Baer, Jones, Moss, Bohannon, maybe Ellingson &/or one of Freshman.

I think our bench will be better this year primarily because they will be relied upon more. Our bench combo last year of Uhl, Baer, and Wagner last year combined for 40 minutes and less than 15 points, so yes I think this years bench will be better than that.

Agreed, I'd expect Baer and Moss alone to eclipse that. Regarding Jones, I read an article recently (maybe on here) that was hopeful he could play 10 minutes a game this year off the bench. Does that seem low? I was thinking 15 minutes would be pretty modest if he's the shooter and rebounder he's as advertised.

 

[NikeHawk21]

Agreed, I'd expect Baer and Moss alone to eclipse that. Regarding Jones, I read an article recently (maybe on here) that was hopeful he could play 10 minutes a game this year off the bench. Does that seem low? I was thinking 15 minutes would be pretty modest if he's the shooter and rebounder he's as advertised.

I'd hope somewhere in the 15-18 minute range, but I suppose only Dale, his doctors, and Fran can really determine that.

 

[lightning1]

We have to replace 4 SR starters. While many want to point out we will be longer and more athletic, nobody seems to want to discuss the obvious loss in experience. In college basketball, experience is huge unless you are bringing in 5 * talent to replace it.

 

[BGOLD]

We have to replace 4 SR starters. While many want to point out we will be longer and more athletic, nobody seems to want to discuss the obvious loss in experience. In college basketball, experience is huge unless you are bringing in 5 * talent to replace it.

Not to knock last years seniors but they didn't exactly display that experience and senior leadership you expect and you're referring to. We continually experienced losing close games, blown leads, missed FT's down the stretch, falling apart toward the end of the season and just generally showed lack of composure for a senior laden group.

 

[BigD]

Not to knock last years seniors but they didn't exactly display that experience and senior leadership you expect and you're referring to. We continually experienced losing close games, blown leads, missed FT's down the stretch, falling apart toward the end of the season and just generally showed lack of composure for a senior laden group.

I think you both make good points. Obviously a player should get better with experience and maybe in some ways those guys all did on the defensive side of the court but not offensively.

It was disappointing to see the melt downs at the end of games especially the last half of the season. That is where they as seniors were suppose to step up pull the team together and win the close games. It never happened.

I am optimistic that we will see more offensive consistancy and more scoring from most of the players. It really is amazing that we won as many games as we did considering the lack of scoring from one of the guard positions and the center position. That's why I consistantly bring up the point guard position and how the lack of a quality B1G player at that position has been hurting the program.

I have no idea who, if anyone will step forward to run the team at the point guard position and be the offensive threat we need. I think Fran does a nice job at the forward positions but has been lacking at point guard and the center position as far as offensive output goes. Hopefully we have two players who will step forward and do really well at filling those positions. Honestly, I am skeptical about he point guard position but the law of averages have to be leaning our way. I believe that Moss was considered our top recruit in that class, but I haven't heard his name being mentioned much as far as performance goes so that has me concerned a little.

 

[lightning1]

Not to knock last years seniors but they didn't exactly display that experience and senior leadership you expect and you're referring to. We continually experienced losing close games, blown leads, missed FT's down the stretch, falling apart toward the end of the season and just generally showed lack of composure for a senior laden group.

And a lot of returning players that are expected to start, helped lose those close games. Turned the ball over late in games. Missed a bunch of wide open shots, etc. I'm hoping for a group that is more mentally tough than last year's group but there is no guarantee. The only thing that's guaranteed is that there will be considerably less experience on the floor.

 

[BGOLD]

And a lot of returning players that are expected to start, helped lose those close games. Turned the ball over late in games. Missed a bunch of wide open shots, etc. I'm hoping for a group that is more mentally tough than last year's group but there is no guarantee. The only thing that's guaranteed is that there will be considerably less experience on the floor.

Agreed that everyone played a part, but we graduated the bulk of the players whom played the biggest roles in it. We don't know what to expect this year (namely with our guards) and personally that's what excites me. Last year, minute left in a close game, we all knew who was going to take the shot (not the guy we want) and who would wind up at the FT line (not the guy we want) and very rarely did it ever work in our favor the past several years.
We may lose some games this year on the account of lack of experience, but I'd choose that over experiencing losing the same way repeatedly.

 

[Knight78]

Agreed, I'd expect Baer and Moss alone to eclipse that. Regarding Jones, I read an article recently (maybe on here) that was hopeful he could play 10 minutes a game this year off the bench. Does that seem low? I was thinking 15 minutes would be pretty modest if he's the shooter and rebounder he's as advertised.

Ten minutes a game may be all his reconstructed knee can handle at that level of competition. Remember that guys like Shaun Livingston are the exception and not the rule, and he was out of basketball completely for almost two years after his knee injury.

 

[atomicblue224]

So many variables but I can't wait for the season to start. May the Hawk eye god bless them Hawks with success this year!

 

[tksirius]

I'm keeping my expectations in check, but FTR I am predicting this team to be in the NCAA tournament.