IowaLawWasRight
Well-Known Member
To those who have bee more focused on football this time of year, below is a little update. We are 11-2 (0-2 in the Big 10) and the non-conference portion is complete. No one would have guessed that the Hawks would have spent the past 6 weeks ranked in the Top 25, so the season has been a success thus far. Unfortunately, the Big 10 is the best conference in college basketball and the defense has started to show signs of 2017's non-existent self. Winning just 9 of the final 18 Big 10 games will almost assuredly land the Hawks in the big dance. So let's see how we got to this point:
1. Most Valuable Player - Tyler Cook. Without a doubt, Cook has been the heart and soul of this team. He's averaging 31 minutes per game, with 17 pts and 8 rebounds (slightly up from 15 pts 7 boards last year). He seems to improved his game a bit, especially when it comes to getting to the free throw line. Is he ready to declare for the NBA draft this time around? Probably not, unless they give bonus points for dunking ability. He still misses way too many open short range jumpers, but he's a terrific college player. Probably 2nd team all-Big 10 at this point. If he sticks around next year, the team will be loaded.
2. Top Newcomer - Joe Wieskamp. Joe is the highest rated recruit Fran has ever landed, and he's proving to be one of the top 5 freshmen in the Big 10. His 11 points and 5 boards are nearly identical the numbers Jess Settles put up his freshmen year (10 points and 5 boards) when he was named Big 10 freshmen of the year. I can see Wieskamp having a similar career (minus the back problems).
3. Hustle Award - Luka Garza. Garza is a Chris Street-esque hustle player. While his 13 points and 5 rebounds are not an improvement over last year (12 points and 6 rebounds), he definitely seems to be more of a leader out there. Garza gives us the much needed physicality to hold our own and not get randyed in the big and physical Big 10. We just need him to stay healthy, as there is little depth at his position.
4. Most Surprising - Conner McCaffery. McCaffery came in this year under the radar after playing in a few games last year and not making much of an impact. Recruiting services listed him as a 4 **** recruit (and an even better baseball player), making him one of the highest rated recruits in the McCaffery era. While he hasn't lived up to the mythical 4**** hype just yet, his toughness, 7 points and 3 assists per game have been huge on a team that even Gary Dolphin acknowledged has lacked a serviceable point guard for years. McCaffery will never have the quickness of an elite Big 10 point guard, but he can be a floor general that makes the headsy plays, takes charges, and protects the ball. His 12% shooting from behind the arc will need to improve.
5. Most Disappointing - Isaiah Moss. At the beginning of 2017, he averaged 18 points in the Cayman Islands Classic. He went on to score 32 points against Minnesota and thought highly enough of his game to declare for the NBA draft as a sophomore. After coming back this season, most fans expected him to step up his game and be a consistent scoring threat. Instead, he's averaging just 8 points and 2 assists per game. His 43% shooting is second to last on the team, which is not what you want from your "sharp shooter." If Moss could step up his game and score the 15 points per game that he's capable of, this team can make a run in the NCAA tournament. Without Moss, the team is limited to whatever Cook & Garza can do down low.
6. Most Underrated - Ryan Kriener. I have always liked Kriener's game. While he, more than anyone, could have benefited from a redshirt during his career, he makes the most of his limited playing time with a sweet touch from outside and a solid rebounding presence. He's only getting 11 minutes per game (despite two other big guys redshirting and a 3rd with an injury), but still tallying 4 points and 3 rebounds per game, while being tied for the team lead in blocked shots.
7. Most Stanley-esque - Jordan Bohannon. J-Bo is having a decent season. He's quiet, works hard, stays out of trouble, and does all of the things that a coach likes. Like Nate Stanley, his 10 points and 3 assists on the stat sheet are a bit misleading. In blow out wins against inferior opponents, Bohannon seems to shoot lights out, padding his stats with 17 points against Bryant and 18 points in a 50 point win against Savannah State. In crunch time, against top opponents, he has tensed up this year and can't seem to find his shot. He shot 39% as a freshmen, 42% as a sophomore, he's hitting just 35% this year. Even his free throw percentage has declined. There aren't any more cupcakes on the schedule, so Bohannon is going to have to figure things out and get back on track.
8. 6th Man of the Year - Nicholas Baer. Who else but the 2017 Big 10 Sixth Man of the Year. Baer is sneaky good. Quietly coming off the bench and hitting big 3s at a time when the Hawks need it the most. Stealing the ball with his long, gangly arms. His 1.2 steals per game leads the Hawks by a long shot, and his 4.7 rebounds per game ranks him 3rd on the team.
1. Most Valuable Player - Tyler Cook. Without a doubt, Cook has been the heart and soul of this team. He's averaging 31 minutes per game, with 17 pts and 8 rebounds (slightly up from 15 pts 7 boards last year). He seems to improved his game a bit, especially when it comes to getting to the free throw line. Is he ready to declare for the NBA draft this time around? Probably not, unless they give bonus points for dunking ability. He still misses way too many open short range jumpers, but he's a terrific college player. Probably 2nd team all-Big 10 at this point. If he sticks around next year, the team will be loaded.
2. Top Newcomer - Joe Wieskamp. Joe is the highest rated recruit Fran has ever landed, and he's proving to be one of the top 5 freshmen in the Big 10. His 11 points and 5 boards are nearly identical the numbers Jess Settles put up his freshmen year (10 points and 5 boards) when he was named Big 10 freshmen of the year. I can see Wieskamp having a similar career (minus the back problems).
3. Hustle Award - Luka Garza. Garza is a Chris Street-esque hustle player. While his 13 points and 5 rebounds are not an improvement over last year (12 points and 6 rebounds), he definitely seems to be more of a leader out there. Garza gives us the much needed physicality to hold our own and not get randyed in the big and physical Big 10. We just need him to stay healthy, as there is little depth at his position.
4. Most Surprising - Conner McCaffery. McCaffery came in this year under the radar after playing in a few games last year and not making much of an impact. Recruiting services listed him as a 4 **** recruit (and an even better baseball player), making him one of the highest rated recruits in the McCaffery era. While he hasn't lived up to the mythical 4**** hype just yet, his toughness, 7 points and 3 assists per game have been huge on a team that even Gary Dolphin acknowledged has lacked a serviceable point guard for years. McCaffery will never have the quickness of an elite Big 10 point guard, but he can be a floor general that makes the headsy plays, takes charges, and protects the ball. His 12% shooting from behind the arc will need to improve.
5. Most Disappointing - Isaiah Moss. At the beginning of 2017, he averaged 18 points in the Cayman Islands Classic. He went on to score 32 points against Minnesota and thought highly enough of his game to declare for the NBA draft as a sophomore. After coming back this season, most fans expected him to step up his game and be a consistent scoring threat. Instead, he's averaging just 8 points and 2 assists per game. His 43% shooting is second to last on the team, which is not what you want from your "sharp shooter." If Moss could step up his game and score the 15 points per game that he's capable of, this team can make a run in the NCAA tournament. Without Moss, the team is limited to whatever Cook & Garza can do down low.
6. Most Underrated - Ryan Kriener. I have always liked Kriener's game. While he, more than anyone, could have benefited from a redshirt during his career, he makes the most of his limited playing time with a sweet touch from outside and a solid rebounding presence. He's only getting 11 minutes per game (despite two other big guys redshirting and a 3rd with an injury), but still tallying 4 points and 3 rebounds per game, while being tied for the team lead in blocked shots.
7. Most Stanley-esque - Jordan Bohannon. J-Bo is having a decent season. He's quiet, works hard, stays out of trouble, and does all of the things that a coach likes. Like Nate Stanley, his 10 points and 3 assists on the stat sheet are a bit misleading. In blow out wins against inferior opponents, Bohannon seems to shoot lights out, padding his stats with 17 points against Bryant and 18 points in a 50 point win against Savannah State. In crunch time, against top opponents, he has tensed up this year and can't seem to find his shot. He shot 39% as a freshmen, 42% as a sophomore, he's hitting just 35% this year. Even his free throw percentage has declined. There aren't any more cupcakes on the schedule, so Bohannon is going to have to figure things out and get back on track.
8. 6th Man of the Year - Nicholas Baer. Who else but the 2017 Big 10 Sixth Man of the Year. Baer is sneaky good. Quietly coming off the bench and hitting big 3s at a time when the Hawks need it the most. Stealing the ball with his long, gangly arms. His 1.2 steals per game leads the Hawks by a long shot, and his 4.7 rebounds per game ranks him 3rd on the team.
