My Aunt goes to all of the PTL games

[Cydkar]

My aunt hasn't missed a PTL game in about 20 years. Here were some of her general observations:

1. Woodbury is really getting better. Cole has made him his "project" and is helping him improve.
2. May is healthy and looking very aggressive.
3. Gesell is going to be a terrific point guard.
4. Olaseni has improved and will contribute.
5. Basabi seems happy and motivated.
6. This is the nicest, hardest working and most intelligent group of players she has seen at Iowa.
7. She predicts a winning season and we will be "in the mix" for the NCAA tourney.

Nothing earth-shattering here, but her observations about the team as a group were interesting.

She's a glutton for punishment. Some years (Lick) must have been brutal.

 

[UncleHawk]

Yes, Woodbury could end up being the next Brommer but we will always remember that Woodbury chose Iowa over North Carolina.

This is a comment to bookmark for posterity in over-reacting to the PTL stats. Woodbury is the highest-rated recruit at Iowa in what 10 years for a reason.

 

[RocknRollface]

The "overreaction" occurred with his recruiting, not with his average play in the PTL.

Disagree. There may have been over action when he committed but its nothing compared to the opposite swing when he struggled the first few ptl games.

For every 1 person expecting good things from him there are probably 20 that think he is going to be a stiff and allot of it is based on the first couple ptl games.

Its a very similar scenario to the way people reacted to White the previous year.

 

[MisterLucky]

That also seemed peculiar to me. Of course, if you can't trust some guy's second hand account of some other guy's mood one night, what can you trust?

It seems to me that Basabe wears his emotions on his sleeve(?). It has become obvious that when he is happy, he plays better.

 

[BasketballMan]

Disagree. There may have been over action when he committed but its nothing compared to the opposite swing when he struggled the first few ptl games.

For every 1 person expecting good things from him there are probably 20 that think he is going to be a stiff and allot of it is based on the first couple ptl games.

Its a very similar scenario to the way people reacted to White the previous year.

To compare how people reacted to White last year vs this year with Woodbury is night vs day. White had little if any expectations attached to his name when he arrived. Woodbury? Complete opposite. You would have thought we just landed the second coming of Shaq with all the fanfare / nonsense / hype. Not to mention, the skill set of White vs Woodbury is also night vs day. No comparison. Two totally different players. Fact is White indeed struggled the first couple of PTL games last year, whereas Woodbury arguably has yet to play much above average in any PTL game to date. Thru 5 games, he's under 10 points. Less than 50% shooting. And I believe less than 40% from the line. One would have expected alot more given all the hype, and I don't wanna hear the excuse "it's a guard's league". If you can play. You can play. Period. I'm not suggesting he's going to be a "stiff", however, I'm also not so sure he's gonna be all that many thought he would be. It's going to be interesting to see how Fran utilizes him.

 

[MisterLucky]

I think Woodbury is going to be a stud. It may not be as a freshman, but he has the ability, and more importantly, the drive to excel in this league.

 

[RocknRollface]

To compare how people reacted to White last year vs this year with Woodbury is night vs day. White had little if any expectations attached to his name when he arrived. Woodbury? Complete opposite. You would have thought we just landed the second coming of Shaq with all the fanfare / nonsense / hype. Not to mention, the skill set of White vs Woodbury is also night vs day. No comparison. Two totally different players. Fact is White indeed struggled the first couple of PTL games last year, whereas Woodbury arguably has yet to play much above average in any PTL game to date. Thru 5 games, he's under 10 points. Less than 50% shooting. And I believe less than 40% from the line. One would have expected alot more given all the hype, and I don't wanna hear the excuse "it's a guard's league". If you can play. You can play. Period. I'm not suggesting he's going to be a "stiff", however, I'm also not so sure he's gonna be all that many thought he would be. It's going to be interesting to see how Fran utilizes him.

His last game he scored 20 points and shot %70 from the field. The last 3 games he shot around %65 percent from the field. Thats one hell of allot different than the first 3 games.

The reality is that people jumped to conclusions far too quickly in both instances.

The rest of what you wrote has nothing to do with that point one way or the other.

 

[sioux34]

I don't wanna hear the excuse "it's a guard's league". If you can play. You can play.

Hard for a big man to put up any numbers when he doesn't see the ball. This is a guards game, and that isn't an excuse, just a fact. That being said, his percentages from the field and the line must get better.

 

[dmShortSaledude]

I think Woodbury is going to be a stud. It may not be as a freshman, but he has the ability, and more importantly, the drive to excel in this league.

This. Woody will succeed. But it might not happen right away. We will see glimpses of what he can do this year. By his Junior & senior years he will be a star. Him and Gabe starting side by side will be as tough a match up as anyone in the country.

 

[ssckelley]

This is a comment to bookmark for posterity in over-reacting to the PTL stats. Woodbury is the highest-rated recruit at Iowa in what 10 years for a reason.

You must be new here, in no way do I think Woodbury will be the next Brommer. My point was that Woodbury coming to Iowa is already a win as we finally got a recruit away from Roy Williams.

PTL really is not a big mans league, I could care less what his stats looked like. I do know he made progress in those games and he went against good competition. There is no one more excited about this incoming freshman class than I am.

But I will be thrilled if you drag that post back out some day and rub it in my nose. That means Woodbury is doing well and hopefully Iowa is winning.