Will next year's team be better than this year's?

[tm3308]

I don't agree with Basabe. He is a freshmen and his production can very easily go up and should go up. I agree with Cartwright. He is what he is. A decent talent that brings it every game.

I think May has room to grow but that is all mental for him

This. Basabe is more than capable of putting up 20 and 10. The problem is that he'll put up 20 and 10, and then 8 and 5. When he gets consistent, he could easily be a 16 and 8 player (as early as next season).

Cartwright is a good player, probably not a lot of room for improvement, and like you said, May's problem is either not fixable (ball handling) or mental.

 

[HawkeyeMike23]

I think Pitt, Notre Dame, St Johns, Syracuse, and Louisville all have shots. And it really wouldn't surprise me if Georgetown, WV, or UConn got hot. They have good coaches.

Who do you have in the final four? I got Duke, Kansas, Notre Dame, and Pitt just from doing a quick glance at the latest bracketology. And I really don't like Pitt but I'm not sure of anybody in that region. I haven't been sold on Texas all year b/c I'm not a believer in Rick Barnes.

Chris Wright's injury pretty much ended G'town's chances otherwise I would agree that they had an outside shot. Syracuse is nothing more than an average team that loaded up on a weak nonconference schedule, I don't expect them to make it past the first weekend. West Virginia? Really? They are a terrible shooting team, they might squeek out win that's it. Louisville is pretty average away from the Yum! Center. UConn relies too much on one player, teams like that usually don't have a ton of success in getting to the final four. Pitt is pretty good, but they usually flame out early. And St John's, who knows. Hardy is nice, but can't see a team with zero NCAA experience going all the way to the final four. Notre Dame has been playing great but I think they rely too much on the 3, I think they'll go cold in at least one tourney game.

Right now, I would go with Duke, Kansas, Ohio St and Purdue. And I'm not real sold on Duke. Without Irving they are very beatable, they struggle to create shots against teams with good defensive guards.

It's definitely wide open this year though. A dark horse right now is UNC. They've been playing really well lately.

 

[BryceC]

It's definitely wide open this year though.

This is true to be sure. I'd go so far as to say this is a really, really down year for college basketball. It's been a down decade but I just don't think any of these teams in the top 10 are that good historically.

 

[hawkIhoops]

I don't agree with Basabe. He is a freshmen and his production can very easily go up and should go up. I agree with Cartwright. He is what he is. A decent talent that brings it every game.

I think May has room to grow but that is all mental for him

Agree. I am not sure why anyone would point to Cartwright and Basabe with respect to limited potential. They are not the problem. The problem rests on the shoulders of the other guys who can't make shots, are foul magnets or have lost confidence. If others (including recruits) can contribute next year, teams won't be able to sag in the paint and swarm Basabe and Cartwright won't have to be the default shooter late in the shot clock.

 

[tweeterhawk]

I like Fran and the style of play he has brought back to Iowa City. While I generally am an optimistic person, I'm looking at the returning roster and wondering where we're going to get five or six more wins:

Archie -- if he returns, very limited potential to contribute more than he has this year
Basabe -- best contributor but needs to avoid early fouls and to be consistent night after night; could add 4-6 points to ppg
Brommer -- potential to add 2-4 more points and two more rebounds per game, but will need major help in the paint to keep from leaving games early or fouling out; Cole's absence will be felt here the most
Cartwright -- having learned Fran's offense and becoming more familiar with the players around him, should cut down turnovers and increase assists, especially early in the season; doubtful will score more.
Gatens -- limited potential for growth; needs to have better picture of his role on the team, primarily as a pull-up shooter or taking wide open shots from beyond the arc, and avoid getting caught too far under the basket
Marble -- potential for additional scoring and rebounding, but needs to work on reducing turnovers, learning to play defense, learning where to be
May -- other than a few solid to great defensive performances, very erratic in a somewhat disappointing sophomore season; limited ability to handle the ball; most be more consistent in shot selection and positioning
McCabe -- could show increased production with seasoning; but needs to learn role, be more consistent as an outside shooter; if he isn't, will largely play a reserve role next year
Payne -- if he returns, will back up Cartwright, occasionally join him on the floor and play the No. 2 spot; questionable whether he will add much offensive production, however

 

[deanvogs]

I like Fran and the style of play he has brought back to Iowa City. While I generally am an optimistic person, I'm looking at the returning roster and wondering where we're going to get five or six more wins:

Archie -- if he returns, very limited potential to contribute more than he has this year
Basabe -- best contributor but needs to avoid early fouls and to be consistent night after night; could add 4-6 points to ppg
Brommer -- potential to add 2-4 more points and two more rebounds per game, but will need major help in the paint to keep from leaving games early or fouling out; Cole's absence will be felt here the most
Cartwright -- having learned Fran's offense and becoming more familiar with the players around him, should cut down turnovers and increase assists, especially early in the season; doubtful will score more.
Gatens -- limited potential for growth; needs to have better picture of his role on the team, primarily as a pull-up shooter or taking wide open shots from beyond the arc, and avoid getting caught too far under the basket
Marble -- potential for additional scoring and rebounding, but needs to work on reducing turnovers, learning to play defense, learning where to be
May -- other than a few solid to great defensive performances, very erratic in a somewhat disappointing sophomore season; limited ability to handle the ball; most be more consistent in shot selection and positioning
McCabe -- could show increased production with seasoning; but needs to learn role, be more consistent as an outside shooter; if he isn't, will largely play a reserve role next year
Payne -- if he returns, will back up Cartwright, occasionally join him on the floor and play the No. 2 spot; questionable whether he will add much offensive production, however

Maybe I'm just even MORE optimistic that even you!

Look at what you listed. That is 9, count em 9 players with experience! When is the last time the Hawks can say that? Add in Oglesby and White and all of a sudden we have depth that will allow Fran to play more of the style he wants...a get out and run, press, transition type of offense. We couldn't do that this year with concerns about depth, especially at PG.

If each player listed improves some, and since they are in an O that they actually like to run they will all be improved. Some will improve more than other obviously, (personally think Marble will be the most improved as far as from this year to next stats wise). Basabe will be stronger, more confident, will increase his stats for sure. Cartwright will cut down on TO, and continue to score and dish. Gatens will hopefully benefit with better looks when he has two guys on the floor with him that can create their own shots, and are actual scoring threats (Marble & Cartwright). Brommer should see an increase in PT, so hopefully that translates to more consistency. May, McCabe, and Payne all coming off the bench will be huge also. All guys with experience, that at times will be able to give much needed bench points.

All in all, I think we will see more of Fran's true style of play when he has more options, and doesn't have to worry about exhausting his team. I think we can get to .500 next year, and if things click, and if we get some real contributions form Ogelsby, White, and 2 other recruits (ala Cartwright or Basabe) we could possibly see NIT or the NCAA.

BTW I really enjoy being a optimist!

 

[Hawksel]

I'd say Iowa will be better next year. How much better? Ask me again in a few months. They lose one player in Cole, and if Fran signs two more players this Spring as is expected that will mean Iowa will gain a net of four players in total to the team, counting the return of Cully Payne. Who knows how good these recruits will end up being, but I have a hard time thinking that the loss of Jarryd Cole, while I agree it will be significant, will be equal to the gain of these players.

Also, you'd have to be pretty pessimistic to think that none of Iowa's players will improve in the off season, considering that three freshman and a junior college transfer saw significant time for the first time this year, and Gatens, Archie and Payne all suffered with significant injuries to various degrees. The only thing that gives me pause is that the season will probably hinge in some way on Andrew Brommer finally putting all the pieces together, which it still remains to be seen if he can do. If it clicks for him and Iowa adds another good big this Spring I think they can be very good.

I'd say it would be reasonable to expect 9 or 10 non conference wins (they had seven this year, after all, and really should have beat Long Beach State, Wake Forest and Iowa State) and maybe four to six wins in the conference. That equals 14-15 wins. I'd also expect improvement in most statistical categories, and a feeling of optimism from fans.

 

[CAARHawk]

Iowa loses a player whom they currently don't have a B10 quality starter to step in for. Until they fix that problem, they will struggle.

 

[HawkeyeMike23]

Iowa loses a player whom they currently don't have a B10 quality starter to step in for. Until they fix that problem, they will struggle.

You could say the same for every team who's losing a starter.

 

[CAARHawk]

You could say the same for every team who's losing a starter.

This is not even close to being true. Other teams have young promising players that are getting ready to step into a starting role, or guys that have almost played starting minutes already, or top positional recruits.

Iowa has a guy who has been in the program for three years and has not been able to even come remotely close to showing the consistency to be a starter in this conference. They have another guy who will be a senior who really hasn't even showed the ability to be a successful backup. They have no current recruit at the specific position to step in the next year.

Beyond that, they are sorely lacking at players from other positions who could step into that spot.

Seriously, it wouldn't be easy across all of the major conferences to find a situation such as Iowa's in the post at any one position.

 

[SheagleHawk]

Maybe I'm just even MORE optimistic that even you!

Look at what you listed. That is 9, count em 9 players with experience! When is the last time the Hawks can say that? Add in Oglesby and White and all of a sudden we have depth that will allow Fran to play more of the style he wants...a get out and run, press, transition type of offense. We couldn't do that this year with concerns about depth, especially at PG.

If each player listed improves some, and since they are in an O that they actually like to run they will all be improved. Some will improve more than other obviously, (personally think Marble will be the most improved as far as from this year to next stats wise). Basabe will be stronger, more confident, will increase his stats for sure. Cartwright will cut down on TO, and continue to score and dish. Gatens will hopefully benefit with better looks when he has two guys on the floor with him that can create their own shots, and are actual scoring threats (Marble & Cartwright). Brommer should see an increase in PT, so hopefully that translates to more consistency. May, McCabe, and Payne all coming off the bench will be huge also. All guys with experience, that at times will be able to give much needed bench points.

All in all, I think we will see more of Fran's true style of play when he has more options, and doesn't have to worry about exhausting his team. I think we can get to .500 next year, and if things click, and if we get some real contributions form Ogelsby, White, and 2 other recruits (ala Cartwright or Basabe) we could possibly see NIT or the NCAA.

BTW I really enjoy being a optimist!

Gatens has had great looks ALL year. So many more than last, and yet his 3pt % is mediocre at best. I think many on here tend to exaggerate Matt's talents for whatever reason.

 

[deanvogs]

Gatens has had great looks ALL year. So many more than last, and yet his 3pt % is mediocre at best. I think many on here tend to exaggerate Matt's talents for whatever reason.

We will have to agree to disagree then. I think teams have been in his hip pocket all year long. I didn't say anything about how great he is, just that I think his 3 pt % is improved next year.....