With May's Big-Ten All-Freshman Team Selection...

storminspank

storminspank

Justin VanLaere
Iowa has back to back guys (May and Gatens) making the All-Frosh team.

It shows the youth, but also gives you a little hope for progress down the road.
 
While this is a nice recognition, I do think the award is a little misleading. May was given the award, not necessarily because he is one of the Top 5 freshman but in large part because he had a lot more opportunity to play that other freshman. Same for Gatens.
 
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ibahawkeye said:
They key will be to see these young guys get better with the experience.
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In all honesty I think we've seen the best Gatens has to offer unless we suddenly developes some athletic ability. I have high hopes for May and I think he needs to demand the ball.
 
HawkIreign said:
In all honesty I think we've seen the best Gatens has to offer unless we suddenly developes some athletic ability. I have high hopes for May and I think he needs to demand the ball.
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What is May going to do with ball after he demands it? He hasn't shown any ability to beat his man off the dribble. May can only get to the rim when he has an open crease. I think he would be best served attacking the rim if was already moving off cuts or off-ball screens, and got the ball while cutting. But our offense doesn't really do that.
 
drew003 said:
What is May going to do with ball after he demands it? He hasn't shown any ability to beat his man off the dribble. May can only get to the rim when he has an open crease. I think he would be best served attacking the rim if was already moving off cuts or off-ball screens, and got the ball while cutting. But our offense doesn't really do that.
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He has 3 more years to develop, how bout we not slot him as a player after one season.
 
drew003 said:
While this is a nice recognition, I do think the award is a little misleading. May was given the award, not necessarily because he is one of the Top 5 freshman but in large part because he had a lot more opportunity to play that other freshman. Same for Gatens.
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While I completely agree with you on the opportunity comment and knowing that this was a rather weak freshman class, May is still going to be a good Hawk. Few people are born with his natural athleticism and even if he can't add the dribble drive or a consistent three point shot to his repertoire he will still be an above average player because of his hops and defensive ability. May was a very good catch by Lick.
 
I think all Frosh awards tend to be a bit misleading. I think looking at those awards to gauge hope for the future is nuts. Coaches in this league have a tendency to figure out their weaknesses after that first year. So it's really their productivity in their second year that I look for when I start thinking about hope for the future.
Still, I love May and think he has the opportunity to be a great Hawk.
 
IAJay said:
While I completely agree with you on the opportunity comment and knowing that this was a rather weak freshman class, May is still going to be a good Hawk. Few people are born with his natural athleticism and even if he can't add the dribble drive or a consistent three point shot to his repertoire he will still be an above average player because of his hops and defensive ability. May was a very good catch by Lick.
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I totally agree that May is a great athlete. As I stated in my first post in response to this thread...

It all depends on the ability to develop these players. With May's athletic ability, he could really develop into something special or he could be the guy who has hops and can play good defense.
 
I didn't mean to come off as overly pessimistic about May. I agree that he will be a good player for us, if for no other reason than his strength, size, and athleticism will allow to him to contribute. I also think its likely he develops of pretty consistent 3-ball. He has show nice form and progress during this year, and history has shown shooting is something that can be improve during a college career.

I think history has also show most players don't improve their handles a ton in college. By this age, most kids either have break-you-down skills or not. Kelly had them as freshman (just didn't know how to use them) and Gatens didn't (and never will). I guess I feel a lot of people hope May will develop these skills, but I just don't think it is possible.

May should pattern his game after Haluska, a guy who couldn't break his man down, but had good athleticism, a nice mid-range game, and could attack when he had a seem. Haluska had the advantage of a motion offense and off-ball screens to get him the ball while moving, something our drive-n-kick offense doesn't afford.
 
drew003 said:
What is May going to do with ball after he demands it? He hasn't shown any ability to beat his man off the dribble. May can only get to the rim when he has an open crease. I think he would be best served attacking the rim if was already moving off cuts or off-ball screens, and got the ball while cutting. But our offense doesn't really do that.
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[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56yjWpHzhaQ&feature=related"]YouTube- Eric may dunk vs minnesota[/ame]
 
I like May's potential, but any honors for this team right now feel like putting a ribbon on a pig. It might look nice, but it's still a stinking pig.

The next positive news that would matter to me about this team (short of a win or two in the BTT, but I'm trying to be realistic here) would be signing a quality juco guard.
 
storminspank said:
Nice.
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Well, to be honest he has not done it consistently enough to make Iowa a good offensive unit.

Congrats to Eric but I could care less about individual awards. I personally want wins.......

Iowa needs someone who can CONSISTENTLY dribble drive. I said after last season this was needed and was told that Gatens was the answer because he would be a year older, more experienced and would be the dribble drive option. I was also told Tucker was going to step into that role. Then I was told Cully Payne would step in and maybe Eric May. I am still waiting for someone who can dribble drive consistently.

I honestly think Eric May should be utilized better. I see no reason why he should be jacking up 3 point shots with his 29% 3 point shooting percentage. He is not a great dribble drive guy but someone as strong/long as him should be drawing a lot of fouls and at least getting to the foul line a bunch. I just don't know why he takes so many 3 point shots. He would be great on a team where he could just fill the lane on fast breaks and finish since he is an above the rim player. However they are trying to turn him into a jump shooter completely not utilizing his athletic ability.
 
drew003 said:
I didn't mean to come off as overly pessimistic about May. I agree that he will be a good player for us, if for no other reason than his strength, size, and athleticism will allow to him to contribute. I also think its likely he develops of pretty consistent 3-ball. He has show nice form and progress during this year, and history has shown shooting is something that can be improve during a college career.

I think history has also show most players don't improve their handles a ton in college. By this age, most kids either have break-you-down skills or not. Kelly had them as freshman (just didn't know how to use them) and Gatens didn't (and never will). I guess I feel a lot of people hope May will develop these skills, but I just don't think it is possible.

May should pattern his game after Haluska, a guy who couldn't break his man down, but had good athleticism, a nice mid-range game, and could attack when he had a seem. Haluska had the advantage of a motion offense and off-ball screens to get him the ball while moving, something our drive-n-kick offense doesn't afford.
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This is a true comment. I like May's tools,but not sure he will really improve his handle well enough to be a breakdown guy...maybe a straight line to the hoop guy like Adam,tho. Still no left hand either.
Kelly is still the only guy that has come in under lick(SA's commit) who has good handle with both hands...really a shame.
 
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