Baer, The Bettendorf Bomber

[LuteHawk]

Congrats to Nick Baer for his great shooting against UMKC
today. This walk-on red shirt hit 4 out of 5 from beyond the
3 point line as he scored a game high 14 points. He is a
graduate of Bettendorf High School just east of Davenport.
I hope this guy can be a big part of our bench this season.

 

[unoHawkeye]

Reminds me A LOT of Uthoff when he came into Iowa, except Baer is a lot less tentative shooting now than JU was then. Could be a little quicker/stronger defensively, but that'll come

 

[DanL53]

I don't think you have to hope too much...Baer is a winner. One of those stories that makes following college basketball so fun.

 

[stomper90]

Just hope we don't have to give up a scholly and can keep him on as is. It's been said before and I'll repeat.. he is the type of player UNI gets who KILLS the Hawks.

 

[Mohawkeye]

Love this kid. Needs to be playing more.

 

[mstp1992]

I'm pretty sure his dad posts on here periodically. Hope he's seeing all the praise for Nick.
I was high on Baer from the get-go and surprised he didn't get more offers. Could use another 10 lbs or so, but he certainly possesses a lot of intangibles.

 

[hawk-i bob]

Just hope we don't have to give up a scholly and can keep him on as is. It's been said before and I'll repeat.. he is the type of player UNI gets who KILLS the Hawks.

Baer wont leave Iowa if he doesn't get a scholly but I believe he will get one at some point & deserves one

 

[C/Seahawk]

Just hope we don't have to give up a scholly and can keep him on as is. It's been said before and I'll repeat.. he is the type of player UNI gets who KILLS the Hawks.

If this kid keeps improving and he his minutes continue to increase, which you have to believe will be the case based on this role already, he deserves to be on scholarship by the time he is a junior.

 

[IllQChawk]

Reminds me A LOT of Uthoff when he came into Iowa, except Baer is a lot less tentative shooting now than JU was then. Could be a little quicker/stronger defensively, but that'll come

The kid just doesn't pass the eye test.....wink, wink....only kidding, hope he is placed on scholarship by his junior year....

 

[LuteHawk]

This is one of those heart-warming rags to riches stories
that make walk-ons increase in importance. Nick Baer
according to Coach Fran has a high basketball IQ. He
knows where to be on the floor at all times. The Hawks
need a 3 point sharp shooter who has ice in his veins.

 

[nattybumpo]

People like to compare Uthoff to Ryan Bowen, which I've never quite agreed with. But Baer reminds me a lot of Bowen. A little shorter, a little thicker, but very similar game. Similar movement even.

 

[perryhawk]

He reminds me of a Tom Davis type player...you might not think he looks the part but he's more skilled and more athletic than you thought. ..plus he really is a competitor.

 

[hooper56]

People like to compare Uthoff to Ryan Bowen, which I've never quite agreed with. But Baer reminds me a lot of Bowen. A little shorter, a little thicker, but very similar game. Similar movement even.

What you say is true but I might even compare him more to Bullard who also had that great 3 point shot. Probably he is a combo of Bullard/Bowen which is of course fantastic.

 

[hawkfan55]

Of course, he's a bit shorter than Bowen and a lot shorter than Bullard.

 

[hawk-i bob]

Lets also credit Fran & Kirk Speraw for seeing in Baer what some others did not. They had an in...in that it was his dream to play for the Hawkeyes. Same token they could have not pursued him. They recruited him just like they would anyone else.

I can remember going to a Bettendorf game , a Wisc assistant was at the game...I sat right behind him. He didn't open his notebook up once. Seems he didn't pass the eye test I guess

Not going to get carried away either. I don't know how well he will do come B1G time...one thing is for sure..no one is going to convince the kid he can't help his team.

 

[e720718998]

I like the kid he reminds me of what could be a better Jim Bartles with more rebounding potential.

 

[jela955]

If anyone transfers after this season (I don't want this to happen) I hope he gets the open scholly. His play already is deserving of it.

 

[MACE]

Just looked on Quickstats. He had zero three pointers for the year as a senior .....hard to believe.

 

[ZumaHawk]

Baer has been playing very well and I love it. Congrats to him. I also saw when he came out of a timeout after making 4 3's he had a smile on his face. Now, that is good to see at any level of basketball. Go Hawks!!

 

[BGHAWK]

Reminds me A LOT of Uthoff when he came into Iowa, except Baer is a lot less tentative shooting now than JU was then. Could be a little quicker/stronger defensively, but that'll come

He also doesn't shoot fall away jumpers, like JU does and JO did.

 

[EduNeerHawk]

Lets also credit Fran & Kirk Speraw for seeing in Baer what some others did not. They had an in...in that it was his dream to play for the Hawkeyes. Same token they could have not pursued him. They recruited him just like they would anyone else.

I can remember going to a Bettendorf game , a Wisc assistant was at the game...I sat right behind him. He didn't open his notebook up once. Seems he didn't pass the eye test I guess

Not going to get carried away either. I don't know how well he will do come B1G time...one thing is for sure..no one is going to convince the kid he can't help his team.

Yes....need to credit Fran and Kirk. Baer's already a special player. He's made eight of his 14 3-point attempts (.571) this season against some very good competition. Like Bowen in a lot of ways he navigates up and down the floor and the way he gets rebounds, he just figures a way to be around the ball and makes plays but he is a far better 3 point shooter than Ryan was in his early career....

A ways to go yet for Baer but man is his upside sitting today a bit off the charts.

 

[goodbyebobby]

I like the kid he reminds me of what could be a better Jim Bartles with more rebounding potential.

I think Bartels and Jaymes as well.

 

[AZmess]

I like the kid he reminds me of what could be a better Jim Bartles with more rebounding potential.

He's not nearly as athletic as Bartels was. I like the way he's been playing and I think he has a nice upside but there's a reason he was asked to walk-on.

 

[StormHawk42]

Yeah there was a reason he walked on but if he stays in the 7th/8th man role during B1G play (which is when we'll really know how valuable he is), he deserves a scholly if one were to open up.

 

[LuteHawk]

Coach Fran has a bench of Uhl, Essington, Wagner
and Baer. Jones will be out for the year. So we are
talking about a 9 man rotation in the Big Ten games.

Bottom Line: The Coach trusts Baer to do the right
things when he is in the game.

 

[hawk-i bob]

He's not nearly as athletic as Bartels was. I like the way he's been playing and I think he has a nice upside but there's a reason he was asked to walk-on.

There was a reason he was offered to walk on. You are seeing the reason why. The offer was made over a year ago. I don't think anyone at that time (even the people close to him)...thought he would be playing the same amount of minutes as Ellingson & more than 3 true scholly freshman 15 mths later.

That's really the story.

Considering the unfortunate injury to Dale Jones we are lucky to have Baer on the team..doesn't matter if a player who played 20 years ago was more athletic or not.

 

[hexumhawk]

He is just a good all around player. Takes what is there and doesn't force it while staying within his limitations. Reminds me a little of Ryan Bowen.

 

[iCRUNCH]

 

[cleotishaywood]

People like to compare Uthoff to Ryan Bowen, which I've never quite agreed with. But Baer reminds me a lot of Bowen. A little shorter, a little thicker, but very similar game. Similar movement even.

Reminds me of Wade Lookingbill.

 

[mstp1992]

Reminds me of Wade Lookingbill.

Lookingbill was a solid player for the Hawks. Baer's a bit taller, but if he has a career like him as a good role player off the bench for 4 years I think that would be fine.