Iowa basketball has improved over last year

[homes]

Agree or disagree?

(hint: the answer, at this point, is disagree).

Since this year's team is essentially the same as last year, do you fault Mccaffery for the lack of development?

Iowa has no presence in the middle up to now and has had spotty point guard play - a lousy combination, so yes, they've missed Cole somewhat, but I'm not certain it would have amounted to another definite win. Cartwright has not played all that well this year, when he has played. It looks like Basabe is starting to come out of his funk. If Cartwright can get healthy and start playing better, and get Marble to the wing and Basabe down low so he can either shoot or find Gatens/Oglesby for a three, then have Brommer/McCabe hitting the opposite side board hard (just stay out of the way of the rest of the offense and pick up some garbage points), they can win some games. The rest are role players for now.

I recall people were generally impressed with how much better the team got over the year last year, so no, I can't blame Fran for this. I imagine they will improve as the season gets along this year as well. I just think our expectations before the season started, mine included, were higher than they should have been. If they can settle down, avoid those 8 - 10 minute stretches where the games get away from them (the subs have got to learn to just hold serve), they can be more competitive from this point forward.

 

[Hillcrest1981]

Unathletic, non talented group of ragtag, no good, underachieving, pickup game talent. Actually, I think a pickup game of football players would beat our current basketball team. We have always had the same problem with Iowa basketball-the inablilty to recruit quality players. Now we have to give Mac a chance with his first decent recruiting class, I will grant him that. They just look uninspired. I guess that goes back to the coach. But think back a couple years when we were watching little Lick playing pg. Now that was a low!

 

[twinhawkfans]

Maybe its just the eye test, but it would be one thing if Cole was a shot blocker or altered shots. That wasn't Cole. Why is missing Cole that big of a deal???

He was physical, and could rebound consistently, we have neither of those this year.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

Unathletic, non talented group of ragtag, no good, underachieving, pickup game talent. Actually, I think a pickup game of football players would beat our current basketball team. We have always had the same problem with Iowa basketball-the inablilty to recruit quality players. Now we have to give Mac a chance with his first decent recruiting class, I will grant him that. They just look uninspired. I guess that goes back to the coach. But think back a couple years when we were watching little Lick playing pg. Now that was a low!

George Raveling didn't have any problem recruiting talent to Iowa. It can be done at Iowa provided you have a coach THAT CAN ACTUALLY RECRUIT. Lick sure has heck didn't fit that description. The current roster is a pretty simple reflection of that fact.

The jury is still out on Fran but early indications are that he will be a significantly better recruiter than Lick was (thank goodness). This next class is one of the best we've seen in a while - I would guess probably since the Brunner & Horner class.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

He was physical, and could rebound consistently, we have neither of those this year.

Cole wasn't all-world, but he was easily our best option in the paint last year. Problem is, Fran didn't add any big guys that can fill that hole, so we're stuck with Brommer & Archie. Yikes.

That all changes next year once Woodbury & Meyer are on campus. If not experienced, at least they will hopefully be far more skilled than what we have now.

 

[herbyhawk]

you mean you still doubt his ability to recruit
my god aTop 20 class with one in the top 50 another in the top 100 get real
on the roster
Basabe from NY
White from Ohio
Olaseni Europe by way of Kansas
Oglesbe from Iowa
Marble from Michigan {he still had to convince hi to stay will his comittment}
Cartwright from California {kid was also in a JUCO in California}
McCabe from Iowa{same as Marble had to convice him to stay}

coming in
Woodbury Iowa Top50 and finally a highly ranked instate kid turned down UNC and Roy
Meyer from Georgia
Ingram from Indiana
Clemmons from Michigan {Michigan ranking have him as the #1 pg and #7 statewide}
Gesell from Nebraska top 100, 2 time Gatorade player of the year in Neb. possible will get it for the 3rd year in a row and Mr. Basketball {and before you dismiss Neb, not even Andre Woolridge of Nebraska did not get awarded the Gatorade player of the year 2 time and he was a top 50 player and he did pretty good for Mr. Davis

i would say that is one H@ll of a job in his 2nd year on the job
that's 3 in state kids
2 from Michigan
1 from NY
1 from Ohio
1 from Indiana
1 from Georgia
1 from California
1 from Nebraska
1 from Europe

i retyped where they were from so the people that don't comprehend the 1st time gets a 2nd look
that's called recruiting outside Iowa
other than them not all being McD AA. I will say its quite the start

 

[sportstalent]

Indiana is about to get absolutely destroyed by UK...just saying let's evaluate after season.

Good call Farce. Today was an example of a team playing at home, but they have a good veteran mix of players with one really good freshman.

All the focus on Kentucky's freshman and how great they are, well, the lost, so if you want to hinge IU's season on this game, then they are going to be tough at home and will be able to play with anyone.

The other thing is that IU had a buch of role players and then injuries...sound familiar?

Now they have a full roster, still lost Creek, again, but they can absorb that so long as Watford and Zeller remain healthy for the season. Also, they have a full bench that doesn't kill them when they go in the game...something maybe Iowa is missing as well?

We will see where they are at the end of the season, but Zeller has made a huge difference on that team, he can play inside while Watford does his thing outside and off the dribble. That combination is going to beat a lot of teams this year. Zeller plays hard on every possession, has talent and rarely stops moving, I am hoping that Woodbury or Meyer can play that way as a freshman for Iowa next season.