Who will (needs to) emerge

[FirstDownHawkeyes]

I think it is Ahmad Wagner. FM said he regrets not playing him vs ISU. The Hawks missed his energy on the court. They needed someone to step up, put a body on McKay and maybe get a put back. They needed that not in the last min but with 8-14 minutes to go. I think him on the court is key to moving this team forward. He is so athletic that small amounts of court time will lead to huge improvements.

 

[HawkeyeMHA]

In hindsight he could have been a boost vs Ronald McDonald.

 

[NEIChawk]

Each kid has 5 fouls to give, we needed a bigger body in there, McKay's a punk a$$ kid that can jump/'bound, that's why we needed someone to body the crap out of him...The B1G is not for the meek and mild, need to get tough

 

[WindsorHawk]

Uhl, Ellingson, Baer and Wagner will all get better as the season progresses. Uhl is clearly the 6th man and that probably won't change. I think Ellingson and Wagner are going to get noticeably better over the next few weeks...Wagner especially. And it won't surprise me if Williams or Flemming strings a few good practices together and goes from not really playing to getting meaningful playing time. I really believe the light will suddenly come on for someone when the calendar hits February.

 

[RocknRollface]

Im hoping as the season goes on Williams role will increase. I think hes got more to offer than what hes showing so far.

Along with that we need more Uhl and Wagner.

 

[kicker22]

I watched McKay play a lot while he was at Indian Hills against SCC. I may be wrong, but they seemed to play him well using quickness rather than strength and size. I think it was a mistake to stay with Woody and would have liked to have seen how Wagner would have done against him. IMO size means nothing when you can't keep up or stay in front of him.

 

[trj]

Come February of their final year May, Gatens, AW, Marble turned it on.....You will probably the need the same from Gessell and Woodbury. The stretch drive of the B1G season those 2 need to be playing the best basketball of their career.

 

[brozley]

Who needs to emerge? To be a really good team, two studs would be sent from God that could really play consistently well at this level. At least one would be a 1st round NBA draftee. Since that's not happening, sit back and enjoy these hard working boys doing their very best, hopefully getting their degrees and moving on with the rest of their lives. Go Hawks

Come February of their final year May, Gatens, AW, Marble turned it on.....You will probably the need the same from Gessell and Woodbury. The stretch drive of the B1G season those 2 need to be playing the best basketball of their career.

 

[ibahawkeye]

I guess I have 2 answers because I think what we need is way probably much more important than having somebody emerging and I guess when I think of emerging I think of a new player, not a 4th year starting senior PG.

What do we need: Mike Gesell to play better. His FG% is the lowest of his career and his turnovers are the highest. He is averaging the most minutes of his career but his scoring average is only .2 more than last year which was his lowest of all 4 years.


In terms of emerging... there are 2 guys. Ellingson and Wagner. Wagner's lack of contribution is on Fran. Fran needs to get him on the damn floor. Ellingson better hit his shots because he's Josh Ogelsby 2.0... if he's not hitting shots, he brings nothing. He's not a defender, rebounder... he provides 1 thing and the shots haven't been falling lately.

 

[PCHawk]

Come February of their final year May, Gatens, AW, Marble turned it on.....You will probably the need the same from Gessell and Woodbury. The stretch drive of the B1G season those 2 need to be playing the best basketball of their career.

If Uthoff and Jok keep playing like they are and Gesell and Woody play the best ball of their careers down the stretch, be will be a top 10 caliber team.

 

[mrolympia]

Big guy and point guard recruiting are major fails. I don't care if a center scores anything but garbage baskets and put back DUNKS but he should at least be an enforcer around the rim. This season, it's pretty obvious that point guard is a very important position, who is going to be "the guy" next year?

 

[BigD]

Big guy and point guard recruiting are major fails. I don't care if a center scores anything but garbage baskets and put back DUNKS but he should at least be an enforcer around the rim. This season, it's pretty obvious that point guard is a very important position, who is going to be "the guy" next year?

I agree and it's been a weak spot in recruiting. Off guard recruiting is adequate but Fran has yet to bring in a BIG FISH point guard and I am starting to wonder if it will ever happen. Over all Big Ten recruiting for Fran is a "C-" and being in the bottom tier of the Big Ten in recruiting is starting to get old. Iowa fans can be so loyal even to a fault. Just getting to the NCAA tournament and winning A GAME is a B1G improvement over the last two coaches but I would like to see us step up and take Wisconsin's place now that Bo is leaving.

 

[HawkeyetillIdie]

Hawks are going to take Wisconsin's place in both football and basketball. I can feel the tide turning with recruits like Bohannon and Cook choosing Iowa. What Fran needs to get is a team of multiple players who can create their own shots. The breakdowns occur when teams take away our set plays and we don't have anyone who can break down a defender off the dribble with the exception of maybe Uthoff. So what needs to emerge for us is a shot creator, I think Williams can become that guy, just not this year.

 

[PCHawk]

I agree and it's been a weak spot in recruiting. Off guard recruiting is adequate but Fran has yet to bring in a BIG FISH point guard and I am starting to wonder if it will ever happen. Over all Big Ten recruiting for Fran is a "C-" and being in the bottom tier of the Big Ten in recruiting is starting to get old. Iowa fans can be so loyal even to a fault. Just getting to the NCAA tournament and winning A GAME is a B1G improvement over the last two coaches but I would like to see us step up and take Wisconsin's place now that Bo is leaving.

If you go by rankings alone, I would agree his grade is a "C". But big picture you have to look at what his recruits really are once they get here. I would give him a B with an A effort.

So much is riding on how good this year's freshmen class is. It's the first class he signed since being out of the celler. If there are more White type players than Ingram type players, we're in good shape.