Joey Range, excellent call.IIRC the U of I had slightly higher academic standards than NCAA and Big Ten and several other Big 10 teams did one of which was of course jNW. Fry bumped heads with the UI Prez once in awhile about this but Thompson was a major major casualty of this. I do not think there was anything but this as people thought anyone thought he had scholastic problems. And of course he was declared ineligible right before the tournament which must have been a mid-semester check on grades.
We finished 12-16, 4-14 in the B1G, in the 1989-90 season, which was quite a comedown for Mr. Davis in his fourth season. But look at what could have been
PG Brian Garner (academic casualty)
G Rodell Davis (two major knee injuries, only began contributing late in the season after two in a half years of recovery)
SF Ray Thompson (academic casualty, was averaging 19.5 ppg at the time of his departure)
PF Michael Ingram (destroyed his knee early in 1988-89 season in blowout win, part time starter in final season)
C Les Jepsen (did have solid senior season, Acie Earl backed him up)
You could have gone even more athletic and substituted Matt Bullard, who had knee issues of his own, or a young Acie Earl. James Moses and Wade Lookingbill, who were thrust into starting roles they weren't ready for, could have added depth to the rotation off the bench. You could have had yourself a hell of a team.
Some good picks, Joey Range and Ray Thompson for sure.
For me though its Connie Hawkins, my dad use to take me to the old courts in the fieldhouse and armory and watch him scrimmage, I had never seen anything like him and as an 11 year old this left a lasting impression.
No you don't hate it. You've disliked my ass since I started posting on here.I hate to be the one to say this, but if you think Ingram and Garner would have been anything better than average players, and that is being generous, you really don’t know much about basketball.
No you don't hate it. You've disliked my ass since I started posting on here.
A healthy Ingram would have been able to showcase his athletic ability in Mr. Davis's system and was certainly better than Jay Webb or Brig Tubbs or anyone else we had available that season at that position.
Garner, on athletic ability alone, would have been an upgrade over Troy Skinner, despite his many limitations.
I saw those teams play too.
Ingram red shirted in his 1987-88 transfer year but frequently went up against Ed Horton in practice and Horton mentioned back then how much it helped improve his game.Agreed. Ingram had a big ten body - but hard to do a lot on one leg.
Garner was like Kevin Smith version 1 - Quick as hell, but raw offensively. I remember seeing Garner air ball a free throw. Not short, but wide right. Ugly. But he may have been able to develop into a more reliable PG option once he learned to play in control.
If I recall, Garner transferred to Oral Roberts along with Ray Thompson.
Rodell Davis. Two major knee injuries ruined his first two and a half years and he would have been valuable guarding NC State's Rodney Monroe after Ray Thompson was declared ineligible on the eve of the 1989 NCAA tournament.
He finally got some playing time late in his third season, which was pretty much a lost cause for Iowa, and quietly was the team's third leading scorer in conference play.
He fought back to be about seventy percent of what he could have been in his fourth year and was a steadying force on a team that played mostly sophomores and freshmen.
His final year was 1991-92 and as younger players like Val Barnes and Kevin Smith and James Winters came on he gradually slid farther and farther down the rotation. He was playing little by the end of the year. His knees were shot.
I have never seen another Iowa player with his skill set. Clay Hargrave comes closest to mind. At 6'3 he had a knack of scoring and rebounding inside and could guard the perimeter well. Knee brace and all he could also occasionally deliver a highlight reel dunk. A healthy Rodell Davis combined with an eligible Ray Thompson would have been a devistating double dose of athleticism on the wings for Mr. Davis.
Hands down for me was Ray Thompson. Completely changed the dynamic of the team and could have been a huge seller for upcoming recruits. The guy was an absolute stud in a very loaded conference. By him staying he could have changed the complexion of Iowa BBall for the next decade. He is the only guy I can think of that I remember as a sure fire NBA lottery pick.
can’t remember all of the issues revolving around his ineligibility but I remember it was BS
Probably Tree Henry, maybe not that much as a Hawkeye, but being a true friend and being there for Kenny Arnold during his health problems.
No you don't hate it. You've disliked my ass since I started posting on here.
A healthy Ingram would have been able to showcase his athletic ability in Mr. Davis's system and was certainly better than Jay Webb or Brig Tubbs or anyone else we had available that season at that position.
Garner, on athletic ability alone, would have been an upgrade over Troy Skinner, despite his many limitations.
I saw those teams play too.
I was the poster who pointed out Garner's deficiencies, twice in this thread alone. But had kept his head on straight he would have been a nice drive and dish compliment to a team that had Thompson and James Moses and would soon have Acie Earl and Chris Street. He also had the potential to be an outstanding defensive point guard.Are you one of those people that imagines a slight or an insult where none exists? I don’t recall ever seeing your name before responding to this thread? For you to think I have disliked you since you first posted here is ludicrous.
As for Garner, I could be wrong. But I don’t think so. For Ingram and Garner, being better than Jay Webb/Brig Tubbs or Troy Skinner doesn’t mean they were anything above below average. As one poster pointed out, Garner couldn’t shoot or harness his speed, and evidently he thought he was a better passer than he was. Since Ingram wasn’t healthy, and apparently partied to much to contribute, I guess I don’t feel the need to debate how either of them would have changed the trajectory of Iowa basketball.
What were Garner’s stats at Oral Roberts? I can’t seem to find them. Ingram was never a factor for Iowa so I guess I don’t see any reason to discuss him as someone that might have made a difference in the season you referenced.
DING, DING, DING, DING, DING, DING DING!!!!!!! We have a winner!!!!!
Does Ronnie Lester count?
Connie Hawkins would have to be toward the top of this list too. He was Dr. J before there was a Dr. J.Agreed. I remember Connie Hawkins. I once watched him chase down a loose ball going out of bounds. Obvious the ball is moving away from him quickly, but he reached out with one hand and grabbed it like a baseball. No cupping or scooping...he grabbed it straight hand palm out. I've never seen anyone do that?
He was an athletic freak.