Couldn't disagree more on his Pemsl take. Where's Pemsls potential exactly? He can't shoot outside 10 feet. He don't even try to. He has gotten better at free throws but beyond that he is exactly who he is. He's a 6-8 pts a game guy and 4 to 6 rebounds a game guy. He's not any good at defense. He's too small to defend centers and most power forwards now that he's dropped like 20 lbs. He can't run the break he's no threat in the open court. He does have some crafty moves around the basket but we can't get him in those positions enough to matter.
Baer. He's not nearly as good on D as his reputation suggests. On the ball he get's beat a lot on dribble drives and when he's guarding someone off the ball he sags off too far gambling. Gives up lots of open jumpers to the guy he's guarding because of it. He is good at gambling and coming off his guy to double someone elses and get the occasional block and deflection/steal. But he's not a Scottie Pippen type defender not even close.
Garza has done awesome. He's not a finished product but holy crap compare what he's doing to what Woodbury did his freshman year or any former center that played a lot their first year. He'll get stronger and better in time. He's too skilled not to. He plays with the most effort of anyone out there regardless of time and score of the games.
Nunge I think is oozing potential. He's really long and just needs more PT. He's a true freshman that's 3 years away from playing his best basketball. Redshirting him would have suited him really well but we couldn't do that. Not every kid that comes in is ready to be a stud day 1. That don't mean you throw in the towel on him. It is important they find a consistent role for him though. He seems a tad lost out there at times. I'd like to see them post him up now and then. Often he has 6'6 guys or shorter guarding him because of our lineup. Take advantage of it. He's the only guy that played well against OSU so hopefully that's a confidence booster
Wagner should be having his 2nd off season of playing football.. He's got no future in hoops. He could get in the NFL however with his size and athleticism. But it's his career to waste not mine. But he's been a waste of a scholarship for Fran,
Same for Ellingson. He's had like 5 good games in 3 years. Hardly worth it. I'm afraid that kid from KY they have coming in next year will be Ellingson part 2. For whatever reason Fran likes that type of one dimensional player that can shoot but can't dribble/create or play D.
Dom Uhl... nothing to say there besides he makes himself the 3rd upper classman that is a total non factor and waste of scholarship.
JBo and Cook are our two best players and it's not even close. They could be way better and more consistent with their games if they just had a better surrounding cast. Don't need to nit pick at their games a whole lot. Yes they aren't perfect have their deficiencies but for the most part they've held up their end of bargain.
First, kudos for the reference to one of my all-time favorite comedies.
My take:
Baer. As much as I love him, he doesn't have the skill set of Pippen or Greene, but I get your point. He needs to be the glue guy. The one that makes the big rebound or assist or shot at just the right time; a guy that gets under the skin of opposing coaches. The problem is that he already is that guy on this squad, but with an absence of consistency. How can he be more consistent? I don't have the answer there.
Bohannon. His position debate is getting a bit overplayed. He's got a mix of 1 skills and 2 skills along with some physical deficits. I'm not sure it matters what it says on paper. What he needs more than anything is a backcourt mate that can divert attention from him and make his life easier. His defensive liabilities are a gift from God. Not much can be changed there.
Cook. Two things: playing under control offensively, and understanding stance and footwork defensively. He has to want to be a great defensive player as much as he wants to be great offensively.
Dailey. Just needs reps. Probably not a real high ceiling, but a decent role player. I'd like to see Fran run some motion off screens with him inside, much like he did with Marble. Could be untapped potential there.
Ellingson. I agree that he needs to stay positive. His role should be the savvy sniper that will occasionally flash to the basket. Fran can't force him to play out of position.
Garza. Weight room. Defensive fundamentals. Weight room, and more weight room. There's a high ceiling there. Fran should have him watch about 20 hours of Kevin McHale tape.
Kriener. I think he's a bit under-appreciated. Needs to play with more thinking and less emotion.
Moss. There's not an aspect of his game that doesn't need work. Time will tell, but I just don't think he can be what Fran envisions, especially consistently.
Nunge. I'd be worried about a transfer here. Great size/skill combo, but the light needs to come on. He has star potential but I'm not sure he knows it. Seems overwhelmed right now.
Pemsl. I'm not sure I see the potential you do here. To me, he's probably about as good as he's going to get. Poor athlete but makes up for it with good post moves. Terrible defensively on the perimeter.
Wagner. Another "failure to develop" upperclassman for Fran. He might as well be working on blocking and catching for his NFL promo tape at this point.
Garza cannot jump. He cannot jump. He cannot jump. He is Woody light.
Garza cannot jump. He cannot jump. He cannot jump. He is Woody light. He cannot jump.
J Bo has very few pt guard skills. He just doesn't.
Cook is hindered on D because of the limitations of his supporting cast. His D is not a problem with a decent D coach.
Kreiner just isn't D1. Pem has good post moves? Seriously? He moves and then what?
Based on observation the style of offense that McCaffery wants to play this season and future seasons does not work with the current roster. In turn that is contributing to the defensive break downs. It could be attributed to a number of factors with the current roster but mostly it comes down to asking the current players to fit into an offensive system they cannot succeed with given deficiencies with the guard play.
The juniors and seniors on the team never developed. Baer and Wagner can give you some good minutes but Iowa needed more from this group. Unfortunately it can't be fixed. Fortunately some of the teams at the top of the conference will be graduating a number of players and some will opt for the NBA draft. There is some hope with improving guard play and current players hitting the weight room.
I remain optimistic.
I saw Garza dunk with two hands last game. He's dunked more this year then Woody did his whole career just about. Is Garza going to be the next Tyler Cook in regards to his leaping ability? No he's not. It's something he can work on and get better at. He reminds me of a young Acie Earl. He wasn't an athletic marvel either but he could play basketball. Granted he was a ton better at blocking shots then Garza is so far but if Garza works at it he can be a damn good player.
JBo is going to smash assist records at Iowa. Iowa's had some really good ones. BJ was damn good obviously but he also had Roy Marble, Kevin Gamble, Ed Horton etc etc to pass to that were really good as well. JBo is going to pass him pretty easily in that regard. So if passing and shooting 3s aren't considered pt skills I don't know what is.