possible lineup this fall

I agree with Herby that May could bounce back,if healthy and really contribute,especially on defense,which the Hawks need.

And I am coming around a bit on White playing the 3. I think it will be a matchup situation,but with guys like Branden Dawson, I think White could guard him.
Now,IU will probably go with Ferrell,Hulls,and Olidipo,which would be a problem for Aaron to guard Olidipo,so he might have to slide down to guard Watford,with a May on Olidipo...Fran will have more options to match up next year. I see a lot of power forwards like DeShaun Thomas who like to go to the arc and shoot,and Aaron is better suited to guard them than Mel. If McGary(6'10'' 250lbs) is at power forward for Michigan, Aaron would be better off guarding small forward Glenn Robinson III,with Mel on McGary and Woody on Morgan. At Minny, if Mbakwe returns,and Rod Williams returns to small forward,with Eliason at center...have white out there on Williams,with Mel on Mbakwe,and Woody on Eliason. At wisky,if they go with Bergrenn,Evans and Brueswitz/Dekker...have our three bigs out there.
At NW- They go with one big,probably the TCU transfer or the frosh, then 4 shooters, we have to go small with Woody, White and May...the league will be full of challenging frontlines next year.
 
ssckelley said:
Like I said before I cannot see McCabe losing his starting job without a fight. I think May would be the most likely to lose his starting job much like he did this year. But a healthy May will be difficult to remove from the lineup as well, especially considering the is the only senior.

Again it is going to be interesting to see who wins these battles. It has been quite a while since we have seen Iowa have this many options where players could start at multiple positions. We could see the rotation go 12 or 13 players deep.
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I like McCabe, he can do some nice things on offense but he is a horrible option at center on defense.

Basabe started last year at center and when Fran took him out of the lineup to get his head out of his *** he had basically no other option than McCabe.

If Woodbury is not going to start at the 5 then it should be Basabe assuming he wants to play this year.

McCabe is almost too small to play the 4, he has no business playing the 5.

I dont see the 5 position as Zachs to lose, just like I don't see the pg position as Marbles, they were both there as emergency options. They don't belong at those positions.

If Meyer or Olaseni are not ready to go, we really only have one viable option at center IMO.

Every position should be up for grabs on a team that went one game over 500.
 
I agree with everything you said, my lineup is based on today going into fall practices. I think it would be unfair for Fran to yank the starter roll from McCabe just because we have a 4* recruit coming in. I think he is going to make all the players earn their positions which is a nice luxury to have, one we have not had in quite a while. Also keep in mind with the uptempo game there will be plenty of minutes to go around as Fran will keep players fresh. I expect the rotation to go 10 to 12 deep and would not be surprised to see a player or 2 use a redshirt.

It would be nice to ease the freshman into the system without putting the pressure on them expecting them to produce and start right out of the gate. Which is why I would not be surprised to see Marble start the season starting the point and eventually move to the wing. It is all going to depend on how quickly Gesell and Clemmons can develop and learn the system. We may see a number of different lineups being used next fall.
 
herbyhawk said:
yes in the middle of the season he suffered a groin pull and never fully recovered, injuries affect a players ability escpecially when it in the groin
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A piece of advice for you then. Don't expel a bunch of energy on a player who has been hurt for two straight years with the same injury. There has not been a groin injury in the history of the world that takes 20 months to heal.
 
OatesStache said:
Was he hurt his sophomore season too?
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He gets hurt every year and it always seems to coincide with his worst stretches of games durning the season...not implying anything other than when has had streteches of terrible games he is normally hurt.
I think May has a lot of issues, but durability has been a big issue.
Pretty much every aspect of his game is flawed and it is running out of time for him to change that.
 
When you write about the fall, I would assume you are writing about the beginning of the season. As a coach, this changes everything. It has been hit on a bit in this thread, but probably not enough: Coach Fran is not going to just give Woodbury the job.

Now, from a talent, position, skill perspective it may become obvious quickly that Woodbury should start, but I just don't see it happening by game #1. There are egos to consider; there is work ethic to consider; there is the concept of loyalty to consider; there is the idea of earning your spot to consider.

Fran has basically said himself that Gessel will most like start because there is no incumbent for him to compete against; he has also said this situation is very different for Woodbury because of McCabe and Basabe.

So where does that leave us?

I think the answer can be found in the previous season. We can all recall us clamoring for May to be benched (and Basabe along with him). As an outsider looking in, with really only the games themselves to consider, it seemed obvious change needed to be made. Elements, however, outside of the fan perspective probably made the change a slow one: May is/was a captain for team (it was kind of sad seeing him shake hands at the center court for the BTT knowing he would barely play); he obviously is a high character guy; he PLAYS DEFENSE (which was something Fran was trying to build)...and probably a list of 20 other small but important team factors that have to be considered.

It was only after it became painfully, painfully obvious (before Indiana game #1 or after?) that a change was made. It wasn't that Fran wasn't aware that players like White were excelling, but those kinds of switches can cause teams to go "sideways."

With all of that being written, I would assume the day #1 starters are as follows:
1. Gesell backed up by Clemmons
2. Josh 2.0
3. Marble
4. White
5. McCabe

Looks kind of familar, doesn't it? Well, it's the exact starting lineup (minus positions) we had last year towards the end (not the very end) of the season with the exception of Gesell for Gatens. That's day 1.

As the season progresses, however, I hope that McCabe slides back. From a talent prospective, especially on defense that has to happen if we want to make the dance. I'm hoping that by the start of the B1G season the lineup shifts a little bit into a few different scenarios:
1. Gessel or Clemmons
2. Marble backed by Josh 2.0; possibly Gessel
3. White pushed to wing and slow on the perimeter. This is OK, because now our frontline backs him with shotblockers because...
4. Basabe: Playing on the 2nd team with Woodbury, Basabe now draws players his own size. He plays more like he did last season registering over 1 block per contest and leading the team with over 6 rebounds per game in the preseason. His average is close to his freshmen numbers, but not better.
5. Woodbury: Yeah, he isn't ranked as high as that Illinois center, but he isn't the same guy. Woody can't jump; Woody doesn't look like he was carved from granite by Zeus. But, I'll tell you what, the guy knows basketball. He knows how to play. He doesn't get by because he is tall. He gets by because he is tall and is good. He'll foul plenty early. Too much to start. But he'll learn. He clog the middle. He'll finish with reverse layups (not dunks) around the rim. He'll run the floor just as well as Basabe or McCabe (but not White). It will become obvious to Hawks that Basabe and Woodbury must anchor the middle.

Again, it will become painfully obvious. And, Fran probably won't do a thing. It will probably take an injury, a frustrating loss, or something we don't even see with the cameras rolling for that change to take place.

I would not look for Ingram or Meyer to sniff the starting lineup. I would be surprised based on small comments from the coaches if Meyer plays much. Ingram will play and we will love his toughness.

One thing is for sure, it will be an exciting year! (But let's keep those expectations in check, still! ;) )
 
Fran isn't going to just hand anyone playing time, but it will not surprise me to see Woodbury start at the 5-spot.
He has two weaknesses in his game...lower body strength and he is fould prone, both can be somewhat corrected by the time the season starts.
With the depth that Iowa will have it will not surprise me to see multiple lineups on the floor, no matter who starts.
I don't see Woodbury as limited as some may think, he will struggle with athletic big men who are stronger than him, but I don't see a lot of those out there outside of Payne at MSU and Williams at OSU.
Woodbury is a very smart player and that alone gives him the advantage over McCabe as Zach makes a lot of really poor choices. McCabe coming off the bench will benefit him more than anything.
It will be an intersting fall to see who ends up starting, but Iowa has a logjam of post players and I think two end up being redshirted (Meyer/Olaseni). If Iowa's bigs stay out of foul trouble Woodbury/McCabe/Basabe/White will be just fine depthwise.
 
another thing to consider it is not a sad thing to have capable scorers coming off the bench, as there were multiple times where Iowa's bench got outscored, to have people coming off the bench that can score will only help in Fran's uptempo game plan. this team will put up points and stay fresh all game long.
 
sportstalent said:
Fran isn't going to just hand anyone playing time, but it will not surprise me to see Woodbury start at the 5-spot.
He has two weaknesses in his game...lower body strength and he is fould prone, both can be somewhat corrected by the time the season starts.
With the depth that Iowa will have it will not surprise me to see multiple lineups on the floor, no matter who starts.
I don't see Woodbury as limited as some may think, he will struggle with athletic big men who are stronger than him, but I don't see a lot of those out there outside of Payne at MSU and Williams at OSU.
Woodbury is a very smart player and that alone gives him the advantage over McCabe as Zach makes a lot of really poor choices. McCabe coming off the bench will benefit him more than anything.
It will be an intersting fall to see who ends up starting, but Iowa has a logjam of post players and I think two end up being redshirted (Meyer/Olaseni). If Iowa's bigs stay out of foul trouble Woodbury/McCabe/Basabe/White will be just fine depthwise.
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Two big men redshirting is to many. That leaves only four to play. There will be times when a fifth is needed considering everyone but White can be foul prone.

It will have to come down to Meyer or Gabe. It would be great if Gabe made some big strides in the off season because another 5 is need allot more than another 4, a position where there is already a log jam. It also balances out the classes much better to redshirt Meyer.

That being said I am almost positive Meyer will be allot more advanced that GO and if thats the case Fran may not redshirt either.
 
RocknRollface said:
Two big men redshirting is to many. That leaves only four to play. There will be times when a fifth is needed considering everyone but White can be foul prone.

It will have to come down to Meyer or Gabe. It would be great if Gabe made some big strides in the off season because another 5 is need allot more than another 4, a position where there is already a log jam. It also balances out the classes much better to redshirt Meyer.

That being said I am almost positive Meyer will be allot more advanced that GO and if thats the case Fran may not redshirt either.
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I making that prediction based on that I really think Basabe is going to come ready to play. He fouled out of some games as a freshman, but wasn't in foul trouble in a lot of games.

Iowa had six big men last season, but rarely used five in a game...just sayin'.
 
i hope Olaseni takes that next step to be a major force in the middle and i am not saying he has to score, if he could get 8-9 rpg and alter shots, his pounts will come via the garbage route on put backs alley oop type dunks and FT's, then Fran can get Woodbury, White type minutes, so he can get used to the next level, Woodbury is not the flashy type, this is why i was surprised to see his stats that showed he had a dbl dbl.
? sporttalent how much of that being foul prone came from over the back type calls going for rebound over shorter players or was it from his not using his feet properly on Defense?
 
imported_Tmoney12 said:
http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/conferences/big-ten/leaders/trb-per-g-player-season.html

On my phone so pry won't work. At least have some realistic expectations.
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not a expectation. and for center to get those rb are not that hard but if you wish i make the 7-8 again as the starter, if Basabe at 6'7 can get 6.8 rpg as a freshmen no reason to hope Olaseni at 6'10 can't as a sophamore not sure what to hope for
 
herbyhawk said:
i hope Olaseni takes that next step to be a major force in the middle and i am not saying he has to score, if he could get 8-9 rpg and alter shots, his pounts will come via the garbage route on put backs alley oop type dunks and FT's, then Fran can get Woodbury, White type minutes, so he can get used to the next level, Woodbury is not the flashy type, this is why i was surprised to see his stats that showed he had a dbl dbl.
? sporttalent how much of that being foul prone came from over the back type calls going for rebound over shorter players or was it from his not using his feet properly on Defense?
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herby- 3 players averaged 8 RPG or more in the B1G this past season. Draymond Green, Jared Sullinger and Meyers Leonard.

You say some stupid stuff. Just because Gabe is 2-3 inches taller than Basabe, and Basabe averaged 6-7 RPG as a freshman doesnt make it a given that Olaseni can grab that many boards.
 
Section136 said:
herby- 3 players averaged 8 RPG or more in the B1G this past season. Draymond Green, Jared Sullinger and Meyers Leonard.

You say some stupid stuff. Just because Gabe is 2-3 inches taller than Basabe, and Basabe averaged 6-7 RPG as a freshman doesnt make it a given that Olaseni can grab that many boards.
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What's wrong with hoping that a guy who wasn't good enough to play this year to come in next year and put up Jared Sullinger numbers?
 
OatesStache said:
What's wrong with hoping that a guy who wasn't good enough to play this year to come in next year and put up Jared Sullinger numbers?
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Its kind of disturbing because herby predicted Gabe to get 9-11 RPG as a true freshman and now he has tempered his expectations to 6-8 for Olaseni in his sophomore season.

It is pretty obvious that herby has no faith in Fran as a coach.
 
Section136 said:
Its kind of disturbing because herby predicted Gabe to get 9-11 RPG as a true freshman and now he has tempered his expectations to 6-8 for Olaseni in his sophomore season.

It is pretty obvious that herby has no faith in Fran as a coach.
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Oh great, now you've given Herby the opportunity to come crying with his "cant i give my opinonne" rant.

I have been holding out for his "If you take 10 of Iowa's losses and turn them into wins, then we went 27-6 this year, won the Big 10, Eric May is the #1 draft pick, and Fran is declared emperor of the Midwest" rant.

His alternate histories crack me up. Much better than his crack pot predictions.
 
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