Some player thoughts

[ArvadaHawk]

Totally agree on Gesell. We're at our best when he's playing well, because he's creating opportunities for teammates with great passing AND taking pressure off Marble/White by dropping in points of his own. By the time he's a senior, Mike is going to be something special.

Yeah, the schlub Mike Kelly actually described it pretty well, yesterday. He said Gesell is really good and 2 dribbles and pushing it up court and he gets to the rack. I wish MG's shot had a bit more arch on it as I think he front rims too many shots due to his low trajectory. But, MG sure is doing a helluva job running the offense.

 

[doclee]

Its interesting that Gesell has never backed off saying that he wants to be a point guard, even though he has stated that he is willing to play wherever Fran wants him. He never really had a home at PG last year, but this year its seems that Fran has settled Gesell into that position. This is not to say that Marble will never be there. Also, its interesting that this year Gesell has shown the ability to stay with some very quick PG's defensively and he has shown the ability to blow by people with some regularity. Also, last year when he went to the rim, his shot was often blocked. That has really improved this year. He just looks stronger, more "chiseled", and certainly more confident. I think he is in for a really nice career at Iowa.
BTW: He is reportedly a really nice kid and a fine student.

 

[loesshillshawk]

Gesell is the most under-rated player in the conference.

This and I think one of the bet on ball defenders in the league too. He really has some nice wheels...he is fast with the ball in his hands too (coach speak)

 

[HawkPrdatr40]

What part do you strongly disagree with exactly? That you don't like production out of our center position?

Are you saying you would like Gabe to take the majority of Woodbury's minutes or the other way around? I say play the hot hand.

IMO Team seems to play better with Gabe on the court, I also think Gabe is the better center at this point and far more productive. I wouldn't be against giving Gabe more of Woody's minutes.

 

[BigD]

With Iowa's depth, we have 2 fists. No other team in the league can say that. That is why I believe that Fran's most important task each game is to figure out how we can force up tempo and run, run, run, run and then run some more. The good teams that can, will try to slow it down against us to keep our second fist on the bench.

This is the thugs of MSU coming to town. Use two fist and kick em in the nuts if the officials are't looking. Lol, just kidding but it's the thought that counts.

 

[Foval21]

IMO Team seems to play better with Gabe on the court, I also think Gabe is the better center at this point and far more productive. I wouldn't be against giving Gabe more of Woody's minutes.

I know some don't put a lot into the +/- stat but I think for these two it is telling. Woody and gabe have the same which tells me they are pretty good compliments as each does things the other doesn't do as well yet with either on the court we are a +7 pts (7.4 for woody and 7.3 for gabe). In conference it is different. With gabe we have a -2 and with woody we have a +4.7. So in conference it actually looks like the team plays better with woody.

 

[Billso]

I look at it this way: Our center position had 23 points and 16 rebounds. Woody played great defense and passed well. Gabe played solid defense and ran the floor well. I don't care who plays how many minutes, as long as we get that kind of contribution out of that position.

"I'll always remember this as the night that Michael Jordan and I combined for 70 points" -- Stacey King

 

[HawkIPA]

IMO Team seems to play better with Gabe on the court, I also think Gabe is the better center at this point and far more productive. I wouldn't be against giving Gabe more of Woody's minutes.

There were stretches at the beginning of the year that it seemed like the 2nd unit was playing a lot better than the 1st as a whole. That doesnt mean you shake up the starting lineup. This Iowa team is playing great ball and I like the change of pace a lot of our back ups bring when they get in the game. The Hawks are sitting at 16-4, why mess with anything?

Gabe's defense has been pretty close to horrible since B1G play started. Woody is by far the best post defender Iowa has.

 

[Lazersharpe]

Gabe is a energy guy. He does not have a post moves and does not create his own scoring chances. If his hustle and energy is not up, his production will suffer. Woody has more post moves. Woody is in better postion most of the time on D as well. You want to have Gabe come of the bench and spark a team if the starting unit is not clicking. Do not mess with something if it is working.

 

[brozley]

With Iowa's depth, we have 2 fists. No other team in the league can say that. That is why I believe that Fran's most important task each game is to figure out how we can force up tempo and run, run, run, run and then run some more. The good teams that can, will try to slow it down against us to keep our second fist on the bench.

I think the rotation hurts the players at times as they are not able to find a rythem and when they do do, it's time for their sub to take their place. I thought that was the cas Sat. With White, McCabe and AC. It's nice to break a sweat before getting yanked.

 

[Foval21]

I think the rotation hurts the players at times as they are not able to find a rythem and when they do do, it's time for their sub to take their place. I thought that was the cas Sat. With White, McCabe and AC. It's nice to break a sweat before getting yanked.

We are really playing a 9 man rotation (not the 11 from earlier). White is getting 30 min per big 10 game so he rotation isn't hurting him. He just has limits in the half court that allow teams to take him out of the game. McCabe is going for 17 min in big 10 games so that is more than last yr. clemmons is not playing well and is not actually in the 9 man rotation. In big 10 games he is averaging 8.5 min. This is because gesell has shown himself to be better at both ends of the court. Since oglesby has been back clemmons min have gone down as marble took over the back up pg role to give min to our top 3 pt shooter at the 2 spot.

9 man rotation
gesesll at the pg
Marble at the sg and back up pg
white at sf and back up pf
basabe at the pf and back up at c
woody at c
uthoff at back up sf/pf
mccabe at back up sf/pf
olaseni at back up c
ogelsby at back up sg

out of rotation - clemmons, jok (got time against weak teams but they are not regularly getting much time in the big 10, which I expected the rotation to tighten to 9 or even 8).

never in rotation - Meyer, stokes, denning, ukah

 

[1hawkeye1]

When Gesell is on, as he has been pretty much all season, he is better at the PG. But we are fortunate that Dev can take that position when needed.

 

[volhawk50]

We are really playing a 9 man rotation (not the 11 from earlier). White is getting 30 min per big 10 game so he rotation isn't hurting him. He just has limits in the half court that allow teams to take him out of the game. McCabe is going for 17 min in big 10 games so that is more than last yr. clemmons is not playing well and is not actually in the 9 man rotation. In big 10 games he is averaging 8.5 min. This is because gesell has shown himself to be better at both ends of the court. Since oglesby has been back clemmons min have gone down as marble took over the back up pg role to give min to our top 3 pt shooter at the 2 spot.

9 man rotation
gesesll at the pg
Marble at the sg and back up pg
white at sf and back up pf
basabe at the pf and back up at c
woody at c
uthoff at back up sf/pf
mccabe at back up sf/pf
olaseni at back up c
ogelsby at back up sg

out of rotation - clemmons, jok (got time against weak teams but they are not regularly getting much time in the big 10, which I expected the rotation to tighten to 9 or even 8).

never in rotation - Meyer, stokes, denning, ukah

This is true, the first substitution typically has brought in those last 4 and moved RDM to point.