99topdawg
Well-Known Member
From ESPN.com:
[h=1]Recruiting Q&A with Iowa coach Fran McCaffery[/h]8:31 AM ET
In his sixth year in Iowa City, McCaffery has methodically built a program from a team that finished 4-14 in the Big Ten the year before he arrived to one that can compete on the national stage, with a junior- and senior-dominated club leading the charge in 2015-16. The future looks bright for McCaffery’s program as well, with ESPN 100 power forward Tyler Cook and four-star point guard Jordan Bohannon highlighting the nation’s No. 28-ranked class for 2016.
Paul Biancardi sat down with McCaffery to discuss how success may have changed the recruiting climate around Iowa, how former ESPN 100 starsMike Gesell and Adam Woodbury have evolved, and what he looks for in his evaluation of prospects.
[h=3]Has this year's success changed the recruiting pitch in any way?[/h]It really hasn’t. Our message is always going to be the same. The thing I will say is if you watch us play, and you speak to my guys, I let my kids play around structure. I am always trying to build confidence. I trust my players and work to put them in position to be successful. We give them structure so we have a plan, and then I let them go. I want our team to play a fast-paced game on both ends of the floor. In order to do that you have to let them go, and they can’t be looking over their shoulder all the time.
Fran McCaffery has taken four different programs to the NCAA tournament. Jeffrey Becker/USA TODAY Sports
[h=3]Do you think more recruits are looking at your program and saying 'Hey, I can go to Iowa and compete for a national title?'[/h]I think that’s a legitimate possibility. We had a plan when we arrived, and have built this the right way. We have recruited talented kids with character, we put a few guys in the draft and will have another one this year with Jarrod Uthoff. I believe we have proven that if you come to Iowa you can win, get your degree and be drafted.
[h=3]How do you protect your backyard in recruiting? [note: The Hawkeyes have secured a commitment from Muscatine, Iowa’sJoe Wieskamp, the 20th-ranked played in the 2018 class, as well as Iowa’s top player for 2017 and the coach’s son, Connor McCaffery][/h]Now that we finally have got caught up, we can now try and get ahead on future classes. We have done a very good job with identifying underclassmen and inviting them up to see the facilities, for a football or basketball game, and practices in the fall. Identifying early and evaluating early in our backyard is important for us.
[h=3]Mike Gesell and Adam Woodbury are two former ESPN top 100 players who have stayed all four years and have a chance (along with fellow four-year letterman Anthony Clemmons, a former two-star recruit) to finish their careers on a very high note. What do you know about Gesell and Woodbury now that you didn't know when you were recruiting them as high school stars?[/h]Actually very little. They have done exactly what I thought they could do. Remember, I went to every game that they played in both summers [before they committed], and maxed out my recruiting days during the school year with them. I knew their games and their character inside and out. They both have high intellect for the game, are tough kids and great teammates. They are two guys I could trust to lead our team. I knew they were winners. They have both started since Day 1, they both have had spectacular careers, and I really did expect that. I really believed in those guys.
[h=3]This year's team has been so tough defensively ... has the success of the team on that end of the floor made you evaluate recruits any differently? Could you take a kid at this point who was limited defensively?[/h]I would take a guy who is limited defensively. I believe you can teach defense.Peter Jok is a great example, because he was Mr. Basketball in the state of Iowa not because of his defensive ability, but he has figured out the defensive end of the floor now and is an excellent defender. He has gotten stronger, he has gotten in great shape and watches a lot of film. He’s had to defend some outstanding players in the Big Ten in [Michigan State’s] Denzel Valentine, [Maryland’s] Rasheed Sulaimon and [Northwestern’s] Tre Demps. The thing about this league is if you don’t become a better defender, you get embarrassed.
[h=3]You played in the ACC and the Ivy League. You coached in the Big East as an assistant with Notre Dame and as a head coach in three mid-major leagues. But when you came here in 2010 you had no experience recruiting Iowa or the Big Ten. What was it about this place that made you want to come here and think you could be successful here?[/h]I was aware of the history and tradition of this program, which is pretty phenomenal, going back to the days of coaches such as Ralph Miller, Tom Davis and Lute Olson some of the best to ever coach the game. The great players of the past -- Freddie Brown, John Johnson, B.J Armstrong, Ronnie Lester and many more. I coached here as an opponent, have always been impressed with the fan base here, and I was a big fan of the Big Ten and had great respect for the coaches. This league has a strong history of coaches such as Jud Heathcote, Bobby Knight, to Gene Keady. We have so many great things here at Iowa, but all the other schools have tremendous resources as well, and talent in their state. This was a special opportunity with so much to offer, it has exceeded my expectations. It’s truly an incredible place.
[h=3]When you evaluate prospects, what are you looking for?[/h]I have to have character and I mean that sincerely with no ‘coach talk.’ We have no time for knuckleheads. The bottom line is if you have real character you will work hard and you will accept coaching, you are going to be a great teammate, and you will mentor young kids. We have a great group of kids here and we have worked hard to make sure of that. I expect my players to work hard. I always get a kick out of the guy who comes in and says, “Coach, I am working really hard and I should play more.†You should expect yourself to work hard. Next you have to perform. If you are going to play here for me, it’s required that you work hard, then you have to perform -- it’s a two-sided formula.
When it comes to skills, I look for guys who can shoot the ball and score the ball. I don’t get hung up on size. ‘In-between’ guys, if they are smart, tough and have character they will be good and can win games for you. I don’t get caught up in positions, I look for skill and ask myself is he a good player? As long as we don’t duplicate too many skill sets and have an overabundance of, say, shooting guards, we can recruit a team full of skill.
The other thing I really look at is rebounding because we run and play at a fast pace, so it will be a high-possession game, and if you are going to play at a fast pace you must rebound the ball.
[h=3]Describe your current team in one word as you head to the Big Ten conference tournament and the postseason.[/h]Smart.
[h=1]Recruiting Q&A with Iowa coach Fran McCaffery[/h]8:31 AM ET
-
Paul BiancardiBasketball Recruiting
- Email
- comment
In his sixth year in Iowa City, McCaffery has methodically built a program from a team that finished 4-14 in the Big Ten the year before he arrived to one that can compete on the national stage, with a junior- and senior-dominated club leading the charge in 2015-16. The future looks bright for McCaffery’s program as well, with ESPN 100 power forward Tyler Cook and four-star point guard Jordan Bohannon highlighting the nation’s No. 28-ranked class for 2016.
Paul Biancardi sat down with McCaffery to discuss how success may have changed the recruiting climate around Iowa, how former ESPN 100 starsMike Gesell and Adam Woodbury have evolved, and what he looks for in his evaluation of prospects.
[h=3]Has this year's success changed the recruiting pitch in any way?[/h]It really hasn’t. Our message is always going to be the same. The thing I will say is if you watch us play, and you speak to my guys, I let my kids play around structure. I am always trying to build confidence. I trust my players and work to put them in position to be successful. We give them structure so we have a plan, and then I let them go. I want our team to play a fast-paced game on both ends of the floor. In order to do that you have to let them go, and they can’t be looking over their shoulder all the time.
Fran McCaffery has taken four different programs to the NCAA tournament. Jeffrey Becker/USA TODAY Sports
[h=3]Do you think more recruits are looking at your program and saying 'Hey, I can go to Iowa and compete for a national title?'[/h]I think that’s a legitimate possibility. We had a plan when we arrived, and have built this the right way. We have recruited talented kids with character, we put a few guys in the draft and will have another one this year with Jarrod Uthoff. I believe we have proven that if you come to Iowa you can win, get your degree and be drafted.
[h=3]How do you protect your backyard in recruiting? [note: The Hawkeyes have secured a commitment from Muscatine, Iowa’sJoe Wieskamp, the 20th-ranked played in the 2018 class, as well as Iowa’s top player for 2017 and the coach’s son, Connor McCaffery][/h]Now that we finally have got caught up, we can now try and get ahead on future classes. We have done a very good job with identifying underclassmen and inviting them up to see the facilities, for a football or basketball game, and practices in the fall. Identifying early and evaluating early in our backyard is important for us.
[h=3]Mike Gesell and Adam Woodbury are two former ESPN top 100 players who have stayed all four years and have a chance (along with fellow four-year letterman Anthony Clemmons, a former two-star recruit) to finish their careers on a very high note. What do you know about Gesell and Woodbury now that you didn't know when you were recruiting them as high school stars?[/h]Actually very little. They have done exactly what I thought they could do. Remember, I went to every game that they played in both summers [before they committed], and maxed out my recruiting days during the school year with them. I knew their games and their character inside and out. They both have high intellect for the game, are tough kids and great teammates. They are two guys I could trust to lead our team. I knew they were winners. They have both started since Day 1, they both have had spectacular careers, and I really did expect that. I really believed in those guys.
[h=3]This year's team has been so tough defensively ... has the success of the team on that end of the floor made you evaluate recruits any differently? Could you take a kid at this point who was limited defensively?[/h]I would take a guy who is limited defensively. I believe you can teach defense.Peter Jok is a great example, because he was Mr. Basketball in the state of Iowa not because of his defensive ability, but he has figured out the defensive end of the floor now and is an excellent defender. He has gotten stronger, he has gotten in great shape and watches a lot of film. He’s had to defend some outstanding players in the Big Ten in [Michigan State’s] Denzel Valentine, [Maryland’s] Rasheed Sulaimon and [Northwestern’s] Tre Demps. The thing about this league is if you don’t become a better defender, you get embarrassed.
[h=3]You played in the ACC and the Ivy League. You coached in the Big East as an assistant with Notre Dame and as a head coach in three mid-major leagues. But when you came here in 2010 you had no experience recruiting Iowa or the Big Ten. What was it about this place that made you want to come here and think you could be successful here?[/h]I was aware of the history and tradition of this program, which is pretty phenomenal, going back to the days of coaches such as Ralph Miller, Tom Davis and Lute Olson some of the best to ever coach the game. The great players of the past -- Freddie Brown, John Johnson, B.J Armstrong, Ronnie Lester and many more. I coached here as an opponent, have always been impressed with the fan base here, and I was a big fan of the Big Ten and had great respect for the coaches. This league has a strong history of coaches such as Jud Heathcote, Bobby Knight, to Gene Keady. We have so many great things here at Iowa, but all the other schools have tremendous resources as well, and talent in their state. This was a special opportunity with so much to offer, it has exceeded my expectations. It’s truly an incredible place.
[h=3]When you evaluate prospects, what are you looking for?[/h]I have to have character and I mean that sincerely with no ‘coach talk.’ We have no time for knuckleheads. The bottom line is if you have real character you will work hard and you will accept coaching, you are going to be a great teammate, and you will mentor young kids. We have a great group of kids here and we have worked hard to make sure of that. I expect my players to work hard. I always get a kick out of the guy who comes in and says, “Coach, I am working really hard and I should play more.†You should expect yourself to work hard. Next you have to perform. If you are going to play here for me, it’s required that you work hard, then you have to perform -- it’s a two-sided formula.
When it comes to skills, I look for guys who can shoot the ball and score the ball. I don’t get hung up on size. ‘In-between’ guys, if they are smart, tough and have character they will be good and can win games for you. I don’t get caught up in positions, I look for skill and ask myself is he a good player? As long as we don’t duplicate too many skill sets and have an overabundance of, say, shooting guards, we can recruit a team full of skill.
The other thing I really look at is rebounding because we run and play at a fast pace, so it will be a high-possession game, and if you are going to play at a fast pace you must rebound the ball.
[h=3]Describe your current team in one word as you head to the Big Ten conference tournament and the postseason.[/h]Smart.
