SteveGarvey
Well-Known Member
The next time I hear that Iowa has "so much talent", I think I'm going to lose it. The truth is, this team doesn't have great talent, relative to so many other teams in the B1G and nationwide. The truth is, this team overachieved through the first part of this season and first 12 games of conference play. They had a good vibe and their confidence through that period carried them to the heights it did, despite their relative lack of talent not because of it.
Fran squeezed all he could out of this team to that point, based on its talent because they believed they were better than they really were. However, that can only carry you so far until the lack of talent bears its ugly head.
Some may disagree with me but let's look at this team and break down the talent. Yes, Marble is talented but who do we have other than him that really causes concern from the other teams? We have one guy who is really considered a threat from behind the 3-pt. arc, Oglesby, and it seems that every other team in the B1G has 3 or 4 better versions of JO. How about I break down some of the other players?
Gessell, despite his poor game last night is a pretty decent point. But he's just OK, not great and his shooting is just average-slightly above average.
Clemmons can play some defense but he is a below-average shooter, with a slighly awkward release.
Jok has some potential but we don't really know how that's going to work out yet.
Uthoff showed some flashes last night but he's so thin and needs to get stronger. His shooting could be good overall but is a work in progress.
White does some things well but is a below average shooter and can get shut down.
Basabe can be a defensive presence but is a below average shooter.
Olaseni-has shown a lot of improvement but his offensive game is still a work in progress.
Woody has made marginal progress from last year but has a range of 8-10 feet and is a below average shooter.
McCabe busts his butt out there and actually played well last night but is limited offensively.
Northwestern, in truth, has better shooters than we do and, in some respects, more talent.
Really, Fran got all he could get out of this average-talented team and should be praised, not criticized. Yeah, it's up to him to bring in more talent, athleticism and shooting but Rome wasn't built in a day. This program was garbage before he took it over and the progress has been uneven but he's got a good chance of getting it done. His last few gets on the recruiting trail appear to have us going in the right direction.
Fran squeezed all he could out of this team to that point, based on its talent because they believed they were better than they really were. However, that can only carry you so far until the lack of talent bears its ugly head.
Some may disagree with me but let's look at this team and break down the talent. Yes, Marble is talented but who do we have other than him that really causes concern from the other teams? We have one guy who is really considered a threat from behind the 3-pt. arc, Oglesby, and it seems that every other team in the B1G has 3 or 4 better versions of JO. How about I break down some of the other players?
Gessell, despite his poor game last night is a pretty decent point. But he's just OK, not great and his shooting is just average-slightly above average.
Clemmons can play some defense but he is a below-average shooter, with a slighly awkward release.
Jok has some potential but we don't really know how that's going to work out yet.
Uthoff showed some flashes last night but he's so thin and needs to get stronger. His shooting could be good overall but is a work in progress.
White does some things well but is a below average shooter and can get shut down.
Basabe can be a defensive presence but is a below average shooter.
Olaseni-has shown a lot of improvement but his offensive game is still a work in progress.
Woody has made marginal progress from last year but has a range of 8-10 feet and is a below average shooter.
McCabe busts his butt out there and actually played well last night but is limited offensively.
Northwestern, in truth, has better shooters than we do and, in some respects, more talent.
Really, Fran got all he could get out of this average-talented team and should be praised, not criticized. Yeah, it's up to him to bring in more talent, athleticism and shooting but Rome wasn't built in a day. This program was garbage before he took it over and the progress has been uneven but he's got a good chance of getting it done. His last few gets on the recruiting trail appear to have us going in the right direction.
