This Year's Iowa team and the 86-87 Iowa team?

Jon, I thought Gamble was the best player on the team by the end of that season. Marble got way more hype, but Gamble seemed like the better all-around and more valuable player. Without looking, I'm guessing Gamble shot a better percentage. I also recall (a bit of a jump here admittedly) that he moved the ball better than Marble and was a more consistent team defender (Marble went for the steals).

I think I even read some quotes in the past year or two from Close in which he said the staff thought Gamble was their best player that season. He was such a complete player.

Amazing group of perimeter players on that roster. Two of any of the 5 (Marble, Gamble, Jones, Moe and Armstrong) would have started on almost every Iowa squad of the past 15 years.
 


SwirlinLingerie said:
Jon, I thought Gamble was the best player on the team by the end of that season. Marble got way more hype, but Gamble seemed like the better all-around and more valuable player. Without looking, I'm guessing Gamble shot a better percentage. I also recall (a bit of a jump here admittedly) that he moved the ball better than Marble and was a more consistent team defender (Marble went for the steals).

I think I even read some quotes in the past year or two from Close in which he said the staff thought Gamble was their best player that season. He was such a complete player.

Amazing group of perimeter players on that roster. Two of any of the 5 (Marble, Gamble, Jones, Moe and Armstrong) would have started on almost every Iowa squad of the past 15 years.
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I think Gamble was best player.
 


Anyone saying this year's team can't duplicate 86-87 because of what the current players did last season better check their facts. Here are the scoring averages of four 86-87 Hawks the previous year (85-86).

Jeff Moe = 6.0
Brad Lohaus = 3.6
Kevin Gamble = 2.6
B.J. Armstrong = 2.9

Players do get better. Last year is not this year.
 


I agree on Gamble, and obviously he had a more successful NBA career than Marble. It would still be neat to see Gamble back on the sideline coaching in some capacity at Iowa.
 


WindsorHawk said:
Anyone saying this year's team can't duplicate 86-87 because of what the current players did last season better check their facts. Here are the scoring averages of four 86-87 Hawks the previous year (85-86).

Jeff Moe = 6.0
Brad Lohaus = 3.6
Kevin Gamble = 2.6
B.J. Armstrong = 2.9

Players do get better. Last year is not this year.
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Here are the 86-87 scoring averages for these same 4 players...in case some don't want to refer back to Jon's original post.

Moe = 11.1
Lohaus = 11.3
Gamble = 11.9
Armstrong = 12.4

Note that Lohaus and Gamble were seniors and didn't exactly set the world on fire as juniors. Both played a long time in the NBA. It's possible to play on a deep team, average a modest 11-12 points a game and still get some NBA love.

I know times change, etc. The point I'm making is scoring averages will be down on teams which truly have deep talent and multiple scoring options. It doesn't mean the guys aren't good or couldn't play at (insert name of favorite reference school here).
 












Jon, you did a great job on this one! Iowa this season will have its most complete team is well, forever. Iowa has missed legit size for years and now has a bunch of it to go along with the depth. It isn't just the starters, all the bigs can play, save Meyer as he hasn't hit the floor yet. The backcourt is where the real depth issues begin to separate themselves, Iowa has depth, but Oglesby has to improve and people are placing a lot of hope on Jok.
Where I think Iowa gets their biggest jump for productivity is Gesell, I thought he played the best of the season when he came back from being hurt, sometimes taking a step back and seeing things is not bad, but also having to focus more on skill rather than ability because you aren't 100% helps as well. I think all categories improve for Mike this season and he has a great season.
Iowa doesn't have a Gamble type player and that is something that has been lacking. Athletic shooter who can play some defense, he was so overlooked I think at that time although people who really paid attention knew just how good he was. It is like the Trey Burke/Jared Sullinger thing, who got more pub, but who is really a better player?
In time, Iowa is going to get some players in the Gamble mode.

Overall, I think both teams at their time are easily the deepest teams in the Big Ten. The difference though, is that Iowa had some legit stars heading into that season, who is going to be Iowa's star this year, or will they need one with all the depth that they have. I don't see a whole lot of separation between guys until you get to 10+ on the depth chart. The one thing I like is that depth and competition in practice can really turn into success on the court.
 


JonDMiller said:
The 86-87 team did not have 7 or 8 guys ready for the NBA at that time. That roster wound up having that many guys who saw the NBA. This is the deepest Iowa bench, comprised of players who can contribute at the Big Ten level, since the 86-87 team. The 05-06 team had depth, too. I think the depth at the end of this year's rotation is better than Seth Gorney, Carlton Reed and Alex Thompson.
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No doubt. I'd take Olaseni, Uthoff or Basabe before any Forward/Center off of the 05-06' bench. Brunner would be a nice option for this team as would Haluska. It would be really nice to see a Haluska type 2G next to Marble in the back court.
 


05-06' roster and stats.
PlayerClassPosHtSummary
Greg BrunnerSRF6-714.1 Pts, 9.2 Reb, 1.8 Ast
Tony FreemanFRG6-13.4 Pts, 1.3 Reb, 1.6 Ast
Seth GorneySOC7-01.2 Pts, 1.0 Reb, 0.1 Ast
Adam HaluskaJRG6-513.9 Pts, 4.7 Reb, 2.3 Ast
Erek HansenSRC6-116.7 Pts, 4.0 Reb, 0.3 Ast
Mike HendersonJRG6-27.6 Pts, 3.9 Reb, 2.0 Ast
Jeff HornerSRG6-313.6 Pts, 4.1 Reb, 5.6 Ast
Ryan KennedyFR0.0 Pts, 1.0 Reb, 0.0 Ast
Carlton ReedSOG6-41.8 Pts, 0.9 Reb, 0.5 Ast
Doug ThomasSO4.6 Pts, 4.6 Reb, 0.4 Ast
Alex ThompsonSOF6-102.0 Pts, 2.3 Reb, 0.8 Ast
Brett WesselsFRG6-30.5 Pts, 0.2 Reb, 0.7 Ast
Justin WieckSRF6-60.2 Pts, 0.5 Reb, 0.2 Ast
 


atomicblue224 said:
Wow! Times really flies since that time! I'm so already pumped for this year basketball team!
Go Hawks!
( Blame my english on my professor,:))
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In my opinion we were the best team in the country that year and maybe among one of the best teams in college basketball. I still have all the tournament games on videotape and occasionally every few years watch them.....

As I have mentioned before, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer title for the article about the UNLV game said: Did the best team lose? The sportswriter, I think his last name was Kelley said that the difference in the game was an unknown foul called on Kevin Gamble early in the second half. He had to sit most of the second half and they kept hitting threes and getting the long rebounds......

This team could be very similar in a lot of ways to that team, my favorite Iowa team ever. The possibilities are very large for this to be one of the best Iowa teams. Team chemistry, experience and superior team play where the pass is as important as the shot.....

I can't wait either, Atomic....

:rolleyes:
 




jacknicholson said:
In my opinion we were the best team in the country that year and maybe among one of the best teams in college basketball. I still have all the tournament games on videotape and occasionally every few years watch them.....

As I have mentioned before, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer title for the article about the UNLV game said: Did the best team lose? The sportswriter, I think his last name was Kelley said that the difference in the game was an unknown foul called on Kevin Gamble early in the second half. He had to sit most of the second half and they kept hitting threes and getting the long rebounds......

This team could be very similar in a lot of ways to that team, my favorite Iowa team ever. The possibilities are very large for this to be one of the best Iowa teams. Team chemistry, experience and superior team play where the pass is as important as the shot.....

I can't wait either, Atomic....

:rolleyes:
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I have no doubt we win if not for the phantom foul...and I so wanted Indiana again after the ball off Lohaus' face incident. We still had a chance at the end if that pass doesn't...

That was my favorite team as well...and I like this year's Iowa team as much as any in between. I can't say more than any in between because I really liked the Armstrong, Horton, Marble and Bullard team. I believe Ray Thompson was also on that team. My wife and I still make jokes about Marble saying "That was me!" when trying to determine who should go to the line in the win at North Carolina...pretty sure that was the same year but I'm getting older and that was over 20 years ago.
 


I think it was the same year at North Carolina. It was a rough foul and the team was concerned about Ed getting carried away and he winked at them while on the foul line. That was a satisfying victory.

In Seattle the pass to Lohaus was almost there, he was open and it was a good play. Billy Cunningham said it was a very good play but the pass was just off enough. We came close. That was maybe the last time we have a legitimate chance to play for the national championship. However, I have a lot of confidence in Fran, and a good year and a win or two in the tournament will capture the attention of the 4 star and perhaps some 5 star recruits who will want to play Fran style ball.....

:rolleyes:
 


jacknicholson said:
I think it was the same year at North Carolina. It was a rough foul and the team was concerned about Ed getting carried away and he winked at them while on the foul line. That was a satisfying victory.

In Seattle the pass to Lohaus was almost there, he was open and it was a good play. Billy Cunningham said it was a very good play but the pass was just off enough. We came close. That was maybe the last time we have a legitimate chance to play for the national championship. However, I have a lot of confidence in Fran, and a good year and a win or two in the tournament will capture the attention of the 4 star and perhaps some 5 star recruits who will want to play Fran style ball.....

:rolleyes:
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It was inches from a great pass/play at the end...so close!
 


Who ever said 05-06 is way off. That team was very heavy on the starters.

87 is way to far back though.

92-93 was as deep as this years team and better (with Street). 10 guys averaged double digit minutes.

98-99 also had 11 solid contributors and is very comparable to this years team IMO.
 
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