My thoughts on Woodbury after seeing him play

It sounds like people are expecting too much from Woodbury next season. It seems like he needs to work on conditioning, strength and aggressiveness. All common problems for a freshman. Those expecting Woodbury to start next season are probably a bit too optimistic. Even White didn't begin the season as a starter. He'll probably get 10 to 15 minutes off the bench to start the season and increase to 15 to 20 towards the end of the season.

McCabe is actually a serviceable center. Sure he's short for a center but so was Jarryd Cole. He did a decent job guarding Meyers in the second half. Kyle Meyer could end up getting more minutes than Woodbury at the C position next season if he plays more aggressively. Hopefully good competition will motivate everyone to compete hard when they get in the game.
 
DuffMan said:
lohaus has no eligibility left, and I don't think either of his kids hit 6-8.

woody will not be a consistent shot blocker. defensively be will be closer to jared reiner than Erik Hansen.
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He doesn't have to be a good shot blocker. He can just stand straight up and gobble up defensive rebounds-- much like Reiner did. I remember people hated on Reiner so much for not going for the blocks, but I think iowa could have used a Jared Reiner type a lot the last five years. It's too bad he got hurt toward the end of his senior year when he was finally pulling it all together. I digress.

Reiner is also probably a really good comparison for Woodbury because Reiner came in so highly touted and took flak from fans for not dominating.

I think Woodbury's presence on defense is another area where Basabe will be helped by him. Basabe is one of those quick jumpers that gets a lot of his blocks off of players he's not guarding, and Woodbury will make opposing players move out of their comfort zones to shoot around the tree. I think this will benefit, White, too.

I also agree that Woodbury may not even start right away next year, but could be more like Brommer could have been if he had been more consistent this year. I do think he'll be a huge upgrade in games against teams like Minnesota and Illinois where size advantages have dictated the games so much. Iowa has been able to get around that with Minnesota this year, but Illinois we'll see.

Of all the freshmen coming in next year, I think it's a virtual lock that the freshmen point guards will play the most, and have the most immediate impact. Over time, this will probably even out more.
 
I agree with Jon, you're not going to get a good analysis of his game watching him get triple teamed, so it is unreasonable to take this game and extrapolate into next year in college.

If all else fails and you guys are creeping toward the ledge, remember this: Roy Williams thought he was good enough for UNC, that's good enough for me.
 
The best competition you'll see Woodbury play against in Iowa HS basketball is coming Friday. Ankeny's 6-8 big man, Ted Friedman (who currently has offers from Drake and UNI and is likely to receive multiple BCS-level offers by the end of the summer), is probably the best junior in the state. He has the ability to pull Woodbury away from the basket defensively and make him earn it (even in a one-on-one setting) offensively. Woodbury got the best of the matchup at last year's state tournament, going for 22 and 15, but Friedman was in serious foul trouble, playing just 3 of the first 28 minutes in Ankeny's 17 point win. If you get a chance to get to Wells Fargo to see Friday's game, hopefully you will see a great matchup between two very talented post players.
 
Hawksel said:
DuffMan said:
lohaus has no eligibility left, and I don't think either of his kids hit 6-8.woody will not be a consistent shot blocker. defensively be will be closer to jared reiner than Erik Hansen.
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He doesn't have to be a good shot blocker. He can just stand straight up and gobble up defensive rebounds-- much like Reiner did. I remember people hated on Reiner so much for not going for the blocks, but I think iowa could have used a Jared Reiner type a lot the last five years. It's too bad he got hurt toward the end of his senior year when he was finally pulling it all together. I digress.Reiner is also probably a really good comparison for Woodbury because Reiner came in so highly touted and took flak from fans for not dominating.I think Woodbury's presence on defense is another area where Basabe will be helped by him. Basabe is one of those quick jumpers that gets a lot of his blocks off of players he's not guarding, and Woodbury will make opposing players move out of their comfort zones to shoot around the tree. I think this will benefit, White, too.I also agree that Woodbury may not even start right away next year, but could be more like Brommer could have been if he had been more consistent this year. I do think he'll be a huge upgrade in games against teams like Minnesota and Illinois where size advantages have dictated the games so much. Iowa has been able to get around that with Minnesota this year, but Illinois we'll see.Of all the freshmen coming in next year, I think it's a virtual lock that the freshmen point guards will play the most, and have the most immediate impact. Over time, this will probably even out more.
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I never said he had to be a shot blocker, and I never said being like Jared Reiner was a bad thing or a slam. Jared led the conference in rebounding his Sr year. If woody does that at any time in his career thats a good thing.

Also....

Meyers is not a center, nor will he play center. He's more of a three than a give, and will split time between the 3 and 4.

Our 5's next year will be Gabe, Woody, and in a pinch McCabe.
 
It's MEYER not MEYERS. And you're right, Kyle Meyer is not a 5. H's a 4 with some serious ball skills. I will be surprised if Woody doesn't start next year. But if he doesn't, he will get plenty of minutes.
 
DuffMan said:
I never said he had to be a shot blocker, and I never said being like Jared Reiner was a bad thing or a slam. Jared led the conference in rebounding his Sr year. If woody does that at any time in his career thats a good thing.

Also....

Meyers is not a center, nor will he play center. He's more of a three than a give, and will split time between the 3 and 4.

Our 5's next year will be Gabe, Woody, and in a pinch McCabe.
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Duff, I tend to agree with most of your posts, but after watching Meyer in person a few times, he has a long way to go to play as a 3 in the Big10. I'm sure someone can find a comment from McCaffery or another coach that talks about Meyer possibly at the 3, but I just don't see it. JMO
 
I am viewing Iowa's front court as a collective...Basabe/White/McCabe...all of them are four's, all can run. Don't necc have to have a five in there for the sake of a five. I think those three can each get 30mpg..not going to be a lot of minutes for Woodbury/Olaseni/Meyer to split up, in an ideal growth world as it relates to the first three.
 
EddyP said:
Right now I just don't see it. I've seen him play several times. He's a pretty good shooter, has decent size, and is fairly athletic. People say he isn't 100% so ask me next year I guess. Fran is still apparently recruiting him though and he knows a hell of a lot more than I do.
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KU hasn't backed off. Patella surgery takes a full year to heal. That won't be until sometime in June.
 
sportstalent said:
Here is what I got out of this thread so far... Fear Nasty Wood and Dirty Jok Now, I couldn't pass that up, I really couldn't... Anyway, Eddy I appreciate an honest analysis, as you always give and it still sounds like Iowa got themselves a player.Also, has anyone seen the Morgan kid at IC-West play, is he for real?
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You didn't see that the word "junk" can have more than a couple of definitions within the same conversion?

I didn't get to see game firsthand, but a friend who did, said Woodbury will be very athletic once under iowa program with a much bigger build. That he is often double and tripled. He said that the ankeny matchup will be very interesting and fun to watch, but win or lose, iowa wins.
 
OO44 said:
KU hasn't backed off. Patella surgery takes a full year to heal. That won't be until sometime in June.
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This. Jok can still end up being something special. I know at one point, his AAU coach said he was more advanced than Harrison Barnes was at the same age. I know that doesn't always say much, since some guys peak early and others are late bloomers. But Barnes was no late bloomer.
 
From what I saw, he does have a LOT OF WORK to do to play in the BIG. I see him as a contributor by his Junior year. He needs to put on 40 pounds at least.
 
I wasn't concerned about his offense because I knew they were going to collapse on him and use junk defenses. I am concerned about his defense and rebounding, especially the first three quarters. He should have dominated and I thought he not impressive. Interior defense and rebounding is where Iowa is so weak and he is not going to be the answer next year although he'll help.

With that said he is 7'1", can run fine, and could develop into a fine player. Just don't expect all big ten next year. Plan on going on Friday to get a second look.
 
jacknicholson said:
I like Nasty.....

Would love to see a Nasty Adam Woodbury.....

Eddie Horton was Nasty. Announcers used to say, Ed Horton with a Man's Rebound.....
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Ed Horton was beyond nasty--no way Woody gets to Ed Horton nasty, but if he can get to 1/10 Ed Horton nasty, he will still be a bad ***.

Ed Horton was kind of like Teen Wolf on steroids with rabies.
 
He wil be a post presence and that is a start. If he can work on a couple of post moves with a jump hook, recognize when the double team is coming and kick it out, then crash the glass, I would be satisifed with that. Defensively, stay down on pump fakes, box out, use his length to influence shots....again, I would be satisfied with that. Post players probably have the most adjustments to make because of how physical the play is in the big ten.
 
Some of the early hype on Jok was that he was going to grow to be about 6'10". If rosters are to be judged it appears he is sort of leveling off. That also may be an indication.

The injury history can't be helping him either. It seems like the story on him for 3 years has been, man, he would be so awesome if it weren't for the injuries. That may be true but we haven't seen it yet.
 
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