tweeterhawk
Well-Known Member
A question about next year's squad is who will fill Jarryd Cole's rather large shoes as the team leader. I'm not talking about the point guard or the official team "captain," necessarily, although it could certainly be that player.
Instead I'm thinking of the player who rallies the other four on the floor, who picks up a teammate who has just suffered a hard foul and tells them to calm down and moves them away, the one who gathers the other players together when free throws are given, the one who keeps things moving forward on and off the floor. Every successful team knows who the leader is -- the coach does, the other players do. Even good officials learn to spot each team's leader as a key part of man management and keeping the game flowing.
So who is Iowa's leader next year? Normally it would be a returning upperclassman; conventional wisdom would point to Matt Gatens. He will be a four-year player and has the most PT. But at least during games it's hard to tell how well he interacts with other members of the team. Brommer seems unlikely. It could be Cartwright. Basabe would be another possibility.
Instead I'm thinking of the player who rallies the other four on the floor, who picks up a teammate who has just suffered a hard foul and tells them to calm down and moves them away, the one who gathers the other players together when free throws are given, the one who keeps things moving forward on and off the floor. Every successful team knows who the leader is -- the coach does, the other players do. Even good officials learn to spot each team's leader as a key part of man management and keeping the game flowing.
So who is Iowa's leader next year? Normally it would be a returning upperclassman; conventional wisdom would point to Matt Gatens. He will be a four-year player and has the most PT. But at least during games it's hard to tell how well he interacts with other members of the team. Brommer seems unlikely. It could be Cartwright. Basabe would be another possibility.