I've concluded Melsahn may be our most valuable player after seeing the past 2 games

T

Tratzman

Active Member
I've suspected this might be the case during the year but seeing these past 2 games really confirmed it for me. He's the defensive glue that holds the team together. He blocks and alters shots, is a strong rebounder on both ends and is a consistent scorer down low, all while averaging only 20 minutes a game. We really missed his presence in the middle the past two games and likely would have won both had he been in there.

MELSAHN get well soon, buddy!
 
Re: I've concluded Melsahn may be our most valuable player after seeing the past 2 ga

Slimetime is huge on the glass with put backs/tip-ins. We really miss that down low.
 
Re: I've concluded Melsahn may be our most valuable player after seeing the past 2 ga

Physically, he's our strongest player, no doubt about it.
 
Re: I've concluded Melsahn may be our most valuable player after seeing the past 2 ga

Tratzman said:
I've suspected this might be the case during the year but seeing these past 2 games really confirmed it for me. He's the defensive glue that holds the team together. He blocks and alters shots, is a strong rebounder on both ends and is a consistent scorer down low, all while averaging only 20 minutes a game. We really missed his presence in the middle the past two games and likely would have won both had he been in there.

MELSAHN get well soon, buddy!
Click to expand...

Wait - Fran banned Twitter, but said nothing about msg boards right? Hmm...

Jk - most definitely this team needs him. And I think anyone who judges this strictly on his scoring is truely missing the point.
 
Re: I've concluded Melsahn may be our most valuable player after seeing the past 2 ga

I saw him as a freshman when hawks played at Drake, and he was great, super inside moves.
 
Re: I've concluded Melsahn may be our most valuable player after seeing the past 2 ga

Hard to argue, Mel is our best combo of interior O & D and has been every year he has been on the team.
He's a complete player he even has been making a nice pct. of mid range jumpers to go with his ability to finish well in traffic at the rim.
He and Marble were the two key recruits to start the resurgence, I'll remember that and miss his presence on the floor.
 
Re: I've concluded Melsahn may be our most valuable player after seeing the past 2 ga

Mainly basabe brings an attitude that is missing. He is an energy guy that plays tough. We have been missing that and olaseni had been bringing that off the bench giving us two of those guys but he seems to have hit a wall.
 
Re: I've concluded Melsahn may be our most valuable player after seeing the past 2 ga

Iowa has a lot more problems than just one healthy Melsahn can fix. For Iowa to be better, Iowa needs some quality recruits. Think of any position.. Iowa needs a quality recruit, there.

BTW, what happened to Gabe? Was he sick?
 
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Re: I've concluded Melsahn may be our most valuable player after seeing the past 2 ga

This team really misses the inside presence of the Black Amigo.
 
Re: I've concluded Melsahn may be our most valuable player after seeing the past 2 ga

Here's a suggestion to you, Fran. When you're deciding which players to recruit to Iowa, besides athletic ability, why don't you test their ability to perform under pressure? Why don't you ask each one to make 10 free throws while they have to go to the bathroom?.. just kidding. Or you could simulate other pressure situations in practice... Or transendental meditation. Hey I want you to maybe take some advice, here, so I'm not stating the obvious.
 
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Re: I've concluded Melsahn may be our most valuable player after seeing the past 2 ga

Tratzman said:
Physically, he's our strongest player, no doubt about it.
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Mel has been a big loss the last two games, when we needed to be at our best against good teams.

But does anybody remember the press conference after PSU, when Fran mentioned that not only Mel was suffering from the flu, but several teammates had flu-like symptoms as well?

As this team gets healthy again, we'll win some more games, get a lower seed than some would like, and, once we start playing the tourney, commentators and pundits will be talking about how Iowa is playing like they did earlier this season.
 
Re: I've concluded Melsahn may be our most valuable player after seeing the past 2 ga

I think marble and white are the most valuable.

I think Mel's contributions are significant, but not mandatory.

The problem is that McCabe last 2 games have been so poor. If only McCabe had performed at an Avg B1G reserve, Iowa would have won, but the combination of McCabes empty minutes and jokes empty minutes can't replace Mel's elite production.

Mel is complimentary, but can't be replaced with very poor production.
 
Re: I've concluded Melsahn may be our most valuable player after seeing the past 2 ga

Face it dude, you hate McCabe. What'd he do screw your girlfriend?
 
Re: I've concluded Melsahn may be our most valuable player after seeing the past 2 ga

Right now, I'd say Gabe is one of the most valuable Hawks,
 
Re: I've concluded Melsahn may be our most valuable player after seeing the past 2 ga

Gabe and Woody look lost at times without Basabe.
 
Re: I've concluded Melsahn may be our most valuable player after seeing the past 2 ga

All right, tell me what Basabe brings to the table.
 
Re: I've concluded Melsahn may be our most valuable player after seeing the past 2 ga

To say Iowa has lost 2 games and the one Iowa player missing from both games would have made the difference in both games is simplistic thinking. Think it over.
 
Re: I've concluded Melsahn may be our most valuable player after seeing the past 2 ga

HomerChampless said:
To say Iowa has lost 2 games and the one Iowa player missing from both games would have made the difference in both games is simplistic thinking. Think it over.
Click to expand...

Basabe was a starter, and probably Iowas most experienced athletic inside guy. Basketball is a team sport, and when you disrupt the continuity its going to effect everything. Iowa hasn't developed the depth of a Michigan yet. Even Minnesota replaced two inside guys with foul troubles with a pretty athletic big guy. I would of liked to see what Meyer could of done last night, but Fran isn't going to go with an inexperienced guy. Iowa has a lot of talented players, but they don't have a team full of possible all-stars.
 
Re: I've concluded Melsahn may be our most valuable player after seeing the past 2 ga

"... Iowa hasn't developed the depth of a Michigan yet. Even Minnesota replaced two inside guys with foul troubles with a pretty athletic big guy..."

Excellent point Tierney...

The difference in the game was sub Buggs coming off bench to 3-3 and 5-6 13pts in 19 min. Contrasting that with what Basabe performance is minus what Mel's replacements delivered was dramatic and significant.
 
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