Things I think I know about this team 2.6.15

InGoodCo

InGoodCo

Well-Known Member
1. The Ceiling is higher than last years. It just is, this team can hurt you in many more ways than last year. It's a maturity thing. Does it mean they are a better team? I don't know, but to me, they seem more impressive at times than last years team ever was. They also seem to have a shorter memory...as in, they don't let bad games hang with them. Their also seems to be more unity, more chemistry. I just feel like this team hasn't peaked yet and its best basketball is ahead of it.

2. Mike Gesell is a good guard in the B1G. We can **** and moan about guard play all day but Mike has been solid this season. He's become a play maker. All the lamenting over "Fran can't recruit a PG and we'll only go as far as our guards will take us" OVER AND OVER AND OVER. Those statements are true as far as needing good guard play in college hoops, but you're letting that truth get in the way and missing out on what Mike is doing this season. MG is the guy, and I'm glad he's ours. His first two seasons, he was an underclassman....sometimes you gotta let guys develop. Its amazing how quickly Hawkeye Nation puts players on blast. Young players at that.. news flash hot shots, it's completely normal for a kid to take a few years to develop to his full potential in college sports.

3. Contrary to belief on here, Aaron White is very good at basketball. Outside game or not, he's one of the all time great Hawkeyes and his numbers reflect that. You can't hang him for making a living at the line, it's part of the game. We've only got him for a handful of games now, better enjoy him while we can.

4. Peter Jok is a SOPHOMORE, who didn't get a lot of minutes last season. It's shocking to a lot of Hawkeye fans that he's starting to play better? It shouldn't be. Players tend to get better when they get minutes. He's earned em and his stock is rising.

5. Fran can recruit. He has an eye for talent. He's made some questionable line up calls, and some in game coaching that seem fair to question him on. But seriously, last 2 weeks on this board has been discussing his replacement. He missed on some plan A's, but had nice back up options. Iowa will be lucky to keep Fran here long term, but with the recruiting of his son, I feel like Iowa might have got really lucky with this hire.

6. Iowa is going to be good at basketball for the foreseeable future. Does that mean NCAA every year and deep runs? Probably not, but it seems to me that Iowa is going to be in the mix for an at large every season.... ya know, like the last 4 seasons. You don't become ELITE over night, you don't even become ELITE over 5 seasons. It takes time, but Iowa seems to be on very solid footing in basketball. But NEXT year, oh man This years team loses White and Gabe.... right? well, Last year the sky was falling without Marble and Basabe. We're fine. Next year the sky will be falling without White, you can count on that narrative. All off season we'll hear about it. We'll be fine. We have a pretty respectable program right now and it's hard for a lot of people to enjoy it. Not me.

Go Hawks!
 
InGoodCo said:
1. The Ceiling is higher than last years. It just is, this team can hurt you in many more ways than last year. It's a maturity thing. Does it mean they are a better team? I don't know, but to me, they seem more impressive at times than last years team ever was. They also seem to have a shorter memory...as in, they don't let bad games hang with them. Their also seems to be more unity, more chemistry. I just feel like this team hasn't peaked yet and its best basketball is ahead of it.

2. Mike Gesell is a good guard in the B1G. We can **** and moan about guard play all day but Mike has been solid this season. He's become a play maker. All the lamenting over "Fran can't recruit a PG and we'll only go as far as our guards will take us" OVER AND OVER AND OVER. Those statements are true as far as needing good guard play in college hoops, but you're letting that truth get in the way and missing out on what Mike is doing this season. MG is the guy, and I'm glad he's ours. His first two seasons, he was an underclassman....sometimes you gotta let guys develop. Its amazing how quickly Hawkeye Nation puts players on blast. Young players at that.. news flash hot shots, it's completely normal for a kid to take a few years to develop to his full potential in college sports.

3. Contrary to belief on here, Aaron White is very good at basketball. Outside game or not, he's one of the all time great Hawkeyes and his numbers reflect that. You can't hang him for making a living at the line, it's part of the game. We've only got him for a handful of games now, better enjoy him while we can.

4. Peter Jok is a SOPHOMORE, who didn't get a lot of minutes last season. It's shocking to a lot of Hawkeye fans that he's starting to play better? It shouldn't be. Players tend to get better when they get minutes. He's earned em and his stock is rising.

5. Fran can recruit. He has an eye for talent. He's made some questionable line up calls, and some in game coaching that seem fair to question him on. But seriously, last 2 weeks on this board has been discussing his replacement. He missed on some plan A's, but had nice back up options. Iowa will be lucky to keep Fran here long term, but with the recruiting of his son, I feel like Iowa might have got really lucky with this hire.

6. Iowa is going to be good at basketball for the foreseeable future. Does that mean NCAA every year and deep runs? Probably not, but it seems to me that Iowa is going to be in the mix for an at large every season.... ya know, like the last 4 seasons. You don't become ELITE over night, you don't even become ELITE over 5 seasons. It takes time, but Iowa seems to be on very solid footing in basketball. But NEXT year, oh man This years team loses White and Gabe.... right? well, Last year the sky was falling without Marble and Basabe. We're fine. Next year the sky will be falling without White, you can count on that narrative. All off season we'll hear about it. We'll be fine. We have a pretty respectable program right now and it's hard for a lot of people to enjoy it. Not me.

Go Hawks!
Click to expand...

Agree with most of what you posted. But this is the kind of post after a big win that is the anti post to a big loss. We'll have to wait and see how the rest of the season pans out. If White had the shooting of Sam Dekker,he' be well a Sam Dekker..an NBA player. Gessell seems to finally figured out what he is really good at. Jok will only get better. Not going to worry about next year. You never know what could happen like injuries that can decimate your team.. I hope we see more of the team we saw last night. Wisconsin type offensive precision.
 
InGoodCo said:
1. The Ceiling is higher than last years. It just is, this team can hurt you in many more ways than last year. It's a maturity thing. Does it mean they are a better team? I don't know, but to me, they seem more impressive at times than last years team ever was. They also seem to have a shorter memory...as in, they don't let bad games hang with them. Their also seems to be more unity, more chemistry. I just feel like this team hasn't peaked yet and its best basketball is ahead of it.

2. Mike Gesell is a good guard in the B1G. We can **** and moan about guard play all day but Mike has been solid this season. He's become a play maker. All the lamenting over "Fran can't recruit a PG and we'll only go as far as our guards will take us" OVER AND OVER AND OVER. Those statements are true as far as needing good guard play in college hoops, but you're letting that truth get in the way and missing out on what Mike is doing this season. MG is the guy, and I'm glad he's ours. His first two seasons, he was an underclassman....sometimes you gotta let guys develop. Its amazing how quickly Hawkeye Nation puts players on blast. Young players at that.. news flash hot shots, it's completely normal for a kid to take a few years to develop to his full potential in college sports.

3. Contrary to belief on here, Aaron White is very good at basketball. Outside game or not, he's one of the all time great Hawkeyes and his numbers reflect that. You can't hang him for making a living at the line, it's part of the game. We've only got him for a handful of games now, better enjoy him while we can.

4. Peter Jok is a SOPHOMORE, who didn't get a lot of minutes last season. It's shocking to a lot of Hawkeye fans that he's starting to play better? It shouldn't be. Players tend to get better when they get minutes. He's earned em and his stock is rising.

5. Fran can recruit. He has an eye for talent. He's made some questionable line up calls, and some in game coaching that seem fair to question him on. But seriously, last 2 weeks on this board has been discussing his replacement. He missed on some plan A's, but had nice back up options. Iowa will be lucky to keep Fran here long term, but with the recruiting of his son, I feel like Iowa might have got really lucky with this hire.

6. Iowa is going to be good at basketball for the foreseeable future. Does that mean NCAA every year and deep runs? Probably not, but it seems to me that Iowa is going to be in the mix for an at large every season.... ya know, like the last 4 seasons. You don't become ELITE over night, you don't even become ELITE over 5 seasons. It takes time, but Iowa seems to be on very solid footing in basketball. But NEXT year, oh man This years team loses White and Gabe.... right? well, Last year the sky was falling without Marble and Basabe. We're fine. Next year the sky will be falling without White, you can count on that narrative. All off season we'll hear about it. We'll be fine. We have a pretty respectable program right now and it's hard for a lot of people to enjoy it. Not me.

Go Hawks!
Click to expand...


Agreed. Like I said in another post on here, Fran has completed the digging us out of the hole part of the turnaround. We're back to being a mid-level B10 team that has NCAA expectations every year. That's a significant achievement. We're going to be returning four starters from a team that has a real good shot to finish in the upper third in the B10 this year, we'll be good again next year and will have a lot of exciting new pieces to fill in around those returning guys. Fran's done a really solid job here, as he has everywhere he's been.
 
InGoodCo said:
1. The Ceiling is higher than last years. It just is, this team can hurt you in many more ways than last year. It's a maturity thing. Does it mean they are a better team? I don't know, but to me, they seem more impressive at times than last years team ever was. They also seem to have a shorter memory...as in, they don't let bad games hang with them. Their also seems to be more unity, more chemistry. I just feel like this team hasn't peaked yet and its best basketball is ahead of it.

2. Mike Gesell is a good guard in the B1G. We can **** and moan about guard play all day but Mike has been solid this season. He's become a play maker. All the lamenting over "Fran can't recruit a PG and we'll only go as far as our guards will take us" OVER AND OVER AND OVER. Those statements are true as far as needing good guard play in college hoops, but you're letting that truth get in the way and missing out on what Mike is doing this season. MG is the guy, and I'm glad he's ours. His first two seasons, he was an underclassman....sometimes you gotta let guys develop. Its amazing how quickly Hawkeye Nation puts players on blast. Young players at that.. news flash hot shots, it's completely normal for a kid to take a few years to develop to his full potential in college sports.

3. Contrary to belief on here, Aaron White is very good at basketball. Outside game or not, he's one of the all time great Hawkeyes and his numbers reflect that. You can't hang him for making a living at the line, it's part of the game. We've only got him for a handful of games now, better enjoy him while we can.

4. Peter Jok is a SOPHOMORE, who didn't get a lot of minutes last season. It's shocking to a lot of Hawkeye fans that he's starting to play better? It shouldn't be. Players tend to get better when they get minutes. He's earned em and his stock is rising.

5. Fran can recruit. He has an eye for talent. He's made some questionable line up calls, and some in game coaching that seem fair to question him on. But seriously, last 2 weeks on this board has been discussing his replacement. He missed on some plan A's, but had nice back up options. Iowa will be lucky to keep Fran here long term, but with the recruiting of his son, I feel like Iowa might have got really lucky with this hire.

6. Iowa is going to be good at basketball for the foreseeable future. Does that mean NCAA every year and deep runs? Probably not, but it seems to me that Iowa is going to be in the mix for an at large every season.... ya know, like the last 4 seasons. You don't become ELITE over night, you don't even become ELITE over 5 seasons. It takes time, but Iowa seems to be on very solid footing in basketball. But NEXT year, oh man This years team loses White and Gabe.... right? well, Last year the sky was falling without Marble and Basabe. We're fine. Next year the sky will be falling without White, you can count on that narrative. All off season we'll hear about it. We'll be fine. We have a pretty respectable program right now and it's hard for a lot of people to enjoy it. Not me.

Go Hawks!
Click to expand...


We are a middle of the pack Big 10 (14) Team. Am i glad that we are seeing some improvement overall? Yes, but I am pretty realistic about our NCAA goals/chances. After all, the goal needs to be NCAA 3/4 years given our past history. All in all, a great win last night. And yes, the guards ARE the key to any run we make/don't make this year. Michigan is an anomaly because they have NO big guys and have lots of injuries.
 
I will disagree about the ceiling on this year's team being higher, we played some great basketball last year that people forget because of the way the season finished. The UTEP game, the first half of the Villanova game, the last 25 mins of the Minnesota game in IC, the Michigan game in IC. We dominated good teams, this year's team hasn't shown the ability to play as well on both ends as last year's team did. Unfortunately, last year by the time the post season rolled around this team had found its floor, I think this year's squad will be playing at a much higher level come March.
 
I think last year's team had a higher ceiling. They had a chance to be a top 10 team and a 2 seed. This year's team was more like top 20 and 5 seed. This team still has an opportunity to finish close to their ceiling though. Last year's team fell apart and finished closer to their floor.
 
HawkeyeMike23 said:
I will disagree about the ceiling on this year's team being higher, we played some great basketball last year that people forget because of the way the season finished. The UTEP game, the first half of the Villanova game, the last 25 mins of the Minnesota game in IC, the Michigan game in IC. We dominated good teams, this year's team hasn't shown the ability to play as well on both ends as last year's team did. Unfortunately, last year by the time the post season rolled around this team had found its floor, I think this year's squad will be playing at a much higher level come March.
Click to expand...

Ha clearly I agree with you.
 
InGoodCo said:
1. The Ceiling is higher than last years. It just is, this team can hurt you in many more ways than last year. It's a maturity thing. Does it mean they are a better team? I don't know, but to me, they seem more impressive at times than last years team ever was. They also seem to have a shorter memory...as in, they don't let bad games hang with them. Their also seems to be more unity, more chemistry. I just feel like this team hasn't peaked yet and its best basketball is ahead of it.

2. Mike Gesell is a good guard in the B1G. We can **** and moan about guard play all day but Mike has been solid this season. He's become a play maker. All the lamenting over "Fran can't recruit a PG and we'll only go as far as our guards will take us" OVER AND OVER AND OVER. Those statements are true as far as needing good guard play in college hoops, but you're letting that truth get in the way and missing out on what Mike is doing this season. MG is the guy, and I'm glad he's ours. His first two seasons, he was an underclassman....sometimes you gotta let guys develop. Its amazing how quickly Hawkeye Nation puts players on blast. Young players at that.. news flash hot shots, it's completely normal for a kid to take a few years to develop to his full potential in college sports.

3. Contrary to belief on here, Aaron White is very good at basketball. Outside game or not, he's one of the all time great Hawkeyes and his numbers reflect that. You can't hang him for making a living at the line, it's part of the game. We've only got him for a handful of games now, better enjoy him while we can.

4. Peter Jok is a SOPHOMORE, who didn't get a lot of minutes last season. It's shocking to a lot of Hawkeye fans that he's starting to play better? It shouldn't be. Players tend to get better when they get minutes. He's earned em and his stock is rising.

5. Fran can recruit. He has an eye for talent. He's made some questionable line up calls, and some in game coaching that seem fair to question him on. But seriously, last 2 weeks on this board has been discussing his replacement. He missed on some plan A's, but had nice back up options. Iowa will be lucky to keep Fran here long term, but with the recruiting of his son, I feel like Iowa might have got really lucky with this hire.

6. Iowa is going to be good at basketball for the foreseeable future. Does that mean NCAA every year and deep runs? Probably not, but it seems to me that Iowa is going to be in the mix for an at large every season.... ya know, like the last 4 seasons. You don't become ELITE over night, you don't even become ELITE over 5 seasons. It takes time, but Iowa seems to be on very solid footing in basketball. But NEXT year, oh man This years team loses White and Gabe.... right? well, Last year the sky was falling without Marble and Basabe. We're fine. Next year the sky will be falling without White, you can count on that narrative. All off season we'll hear about it. We'll be fine. We have a pretty respectable program right now and it's hard for a lot of people to enjoy it. Not me.

Go Hawks!
Click to expand...

Last years team has a higher ceiling, but this team might accomplish more.

Mike G. has stepped up his play, and if he continues this arch, we will get a great full year out of him is Sr. year.

Spot on for AW and Jok

Fran has been recruiting OK at best. He can spot talent, but he needs to close on players like Burke, Ulis, EC Mathews, Chasson Randle. This team would be a whole different level right now with one of them on the squad.

Iowa is out of the cellar, and is a middle of the pack B1G team, so great job by Fran so far. Finish of the year strong, and win a game or two in the NCAA and build on that again next year with the new recruits coming in.
 
ryno said:
We are a middle of the pack Big 10 (14) Team. Am i glad that we are seeing some improvement overall? Yes, but I am pretty realistic about our NCAA goals/chances. After all, the goal needs to be NCAA 3/4 years given our past history. All in all, a great win last night. And yes, the guards ARE the key to any run we make/don't make this year. Michigan is an anomaly because they have NO big guys and have lots of injuries.
Click to expand...

We are a middle of the pack team after finishing the hardest part of our schedule. The last half is as easy as the first was hard. We have a very good chance to finish in the top 4.
 
1 - Marble took a lot of shots. Those shots are spread out among the rest of the team...allowing everyone the opportunity to improve/grow. And Uthoff has a year of college ball under his belt and is playing with confidence. He's a match up nightmare for opposing teams. Our front court will be a problem for the vast majority of the teams we face...conference play and post season.

2 - Gesell is a good point guard. And Clemmons does a nice job of spelling him. But I think a switch flipped in the 2nd half of the Purdue game. He is now playing with confidence. Combine talent with confidence and Gesell becomes a very good point guard.

3 - White is probably going to be 2nd team all conference and finish in the career top 10 of multiple statistical categories for Iowa. We don't need 2 technical fouls out of him moving forward...don't anticipate we will see even one the rest of the season.

4 - I've known Jok for years. The only concern I ever had was that he could stay healthy. If he stays healthy (looking promising) he's going to be special. He's progressing nicely. He and Uthoff are the guys other teams really can't guard it they are playing at their best. These 2 guys more than anyone will dictate our ceiling this season IMO.

5 - Fran knows what he's doing and he's not going anywhere. The starters were really clicking last night and he played them all heavier minutes than in the past. Good decision!

6 - The team has improved every year since Fran arrived. And I think that will continue to be the case after this season ends...looking back. I'm not worried about next year. We lose 2 really good players but Uhl is only scratching the surface and other pieces will fall into place when all is said and done.
 
I see others have posted on the ceiling comment. Here's my take. Last year's season is over. That team made it into the NCAA tournament and lost in the 1st round...extenuating circumstances considering Fran's family situation.

I don't think there really is any reason for "speculation" on what last year's team could do. They played their season. That team went 20-13 overall and 9-9 in conference play. They lost in the 1st round of the BTT and the 1st round of the NCAA Tournament.

If this year's team exceeds what last year's team did then they are the better team...or at least had the better season. At the end of the day it's about wins and losses and post season success when comparing any 2 teams IMO.
 
WindsorHawk said:
I see others have posted on the ceiling comment. Here's my take. Last year's season is over. That team made it into the NCAA tournament and lost in the 1st round...extenuating circumstances considering Fran's family situation.

I don't think there really is any reason for "speculation" on what last year's team could do. They played their season. That team went 20-13 overall and 9-9 in conference play. They lost in the 1st round of the BTT and the 1st round of the NCAA Tournament.

If this year's team exceeds what last year's team did then they are the better team...or at least had the better season. At the end of the day it's about wins and losses and post season success when comparing any 2 teams IMO.
Click to expand...

It's not "speculation". They played at a much higher level at times than this team has shown the ability to. We had a 1st team All B10 player in the backcourt. We don't have anything close to that at the guard position this year.
 
ryno said:
We are a middle of the pack Big 10 (14) Team. Am i glad that we are seeing some improvement overall? Yes, but I am pretty realistic about our NCAA goals/chances. After all, the goal needs to be NCAA 3/4 years given our past history. All in all, a great win last night. And yes, the guards ARE the key to any run we make/don't make this year. Michigan is an anomaly because they have NO big guys and have lots of injuries.
Click to expand...

Michigan had those same guys and inuries when they took MSU to OT on the road in their last game.
 
HawkeyeMike23 said:
It's not "speculation". They played at a much higher level at times than this team has shown the ability to. We had a 1st team All B10 player in the backcourt. We don't have anything close to that at the guard position this year.
Click to expand...

I agree it's not speculation. The season's over. The record is what it is. I'm not knocking Marble and nowhere did I say we have a better guard on this year's team. Everyone has a right to their own opinion. I'm not suggesting I'm right and you or anyone else is wrong. For me it will come down to what last year's team did compared to what this year's team does.
 
InGoodCo said:
6. Iowa is going to be good at basketball for the foreseeable future. Does that mean NCAA every year and deep runs? Probably not, but it seems to me that Iowa is going to be in the mix for an at large every season.... ya know, like the last 4 seasons. You don't become ELITE over night, you don't even become ELITE over 5 seasons. It takes time, but Iowa seems to be on very solid footing in basketball. But NEXT year, oh man This years team loses White and Gabe.... right? well, Last year the sky was falling without Marble and Basabe. We're fine. Next year the sky will be falling without White, you can count on that narrative. All off season we'll hear about it. We'll be fine. We have a pretty respectable program right now and it's hard for a lot of people to enjoy it. Not me.

Go Hawks!
Click to expand...

I love this team, and I love Coach McCaffery. I have a lot of faith in them, never faltering.

Football team and football coach? Not so much.
 
The next 9 games are all winnable. Will we win them all? Of course not. But this could be a very good season, ending in a bid to the Big Dance.

Come on Hawks, make it happen
 
Good points. One thing I know about this team is it is a half court defensive team. None of the Hawks are good at stopping dribble penetration, and when the defense extends, it exposes this weakness even more. Against Michigan, there were no full or half court presses. Occasionally, after made baskets, pt. guards would give token pressure in the back court but the other four would be back setting up. Unless the Hawks are behind late in the game, I think the half court defense is better suited for our personnel.
 
Great post, OP. Especially the points on Gesell and McCaffery. People who question his recruiting or coaching don't understand either.

ryno, the Michigan game is an anomaly? Haha, what are you talking about?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Share this page

Top