lol its not about height, timing and feel for the game are much more important, looks like he had 42 blocks for the regular season at 1.4 a game
Evan Brauns
- Thread starter Fran-Con-2
- Start date
At this point, I could see Josh stay and Mulvey go to a LM/MM and hope for some minutes.
And even if they bring in a big or two, he'd still get as many minutes as he got at Belmont as a backup.
Brauns sure looks like a very capable center, but not a difference maker. If he comes as basically a trade for one of the other centers leaving, he definitely looks like an upgrade at this point in their careers. Brauns has good size and moves pretty well, but I would love to see a more athletic experienced big man also get added with the scholarship Kris will vacate. I care less about offensive skills, and more about controlling the interior on the defensive end.
Even Brauns summary:
I'd love to get an impact center in the portal, but at the very least Brauns provides depth and a veteran presence in the frontcourt. I expect Owen Freeman to play a lot next year, and perhaps even start at center. However, it's tough to count on a freshman to play more than 15-20 minutes a game at center. If our center position is a platoon of Brauns and Freeman, I think that is good enough to not be a weakness in the Big Ten, but not good enough to be an advantage.
- Recruitment.
- Class of 2020, listed as 6' 9" 210 lbs
- Offers from several mid-majors, no power conference teams
- Teammates with Patrick at Iowa City West. Brauns averaged 16 points and 7 rebounds as a senior, compared to Patrick's 25 points and 8 rebounds as a senior the year before.
- At Belmont.
- Bulked up to 240 lbs.
- General Stats:
- Minutes: 21.2
- PPG: 7.0
- REB: 5.3
- BLK: 1.4
- FG%: 58.3%
- FT%: 68.9%
- 3P%: 0% (0-7)
- Advanced Stats:
- ORtg: 121.1
- % of Possessions Used: 17.1%
- O-REB%: 11.2%
- D-REB%: 18.2%
- BLK%: 6.5%
- Comparison to Rebraca.
- 6' 9" 230 lbs
- Current Year Advanced Stats:
- ORtg: 118.9
- % of Possessions Used: 21.3%
- O-REB%: 9.8%
- D-REB%: 17.7%
- BLK%: 3.0%
I'd love to get an impact center in the portal, but at the very least Brauns provides depth and a veteran presence in the frontcourt. I expect Owen Freeman to play a lot next year, and perhaps even start at center. However, it's tough to count on a freshman to play more than 15-20 minutes a game at center. If our center position is a platoon of Brauns and Freeman, I think that is good enough to not be a weakness in the Big Ten, but not good enough to be an advantage.
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Have no idea where the Swarm (NIL) sits right now, but they originally planned on paying ALL men's and womens BB and FB players (that agreed to participate) a monthly sum. I think it was some where between $1000 - 2000. If he gets that, then he can easily pay his tuition. Of course there are other benefits a scholarship player gets, but it wouldn't be like he got nothing.
He was only playing 20 minutes a game in a perimeter oriented offense, so there’s that too. But I’m really excited about his shot blocking and defense. We don’t need a scoring center. I don’t think teams that depend on scoring centers do well in the NCAAs.
Better athleticism than what I was expecting after watching his clips. Has good feet and gets off the floor quick and looks to finish at the rim. Needs to probably develop some better post moves and a more consistent jumper.
What were Even's stats?
Does he also have a COVID year available?
Very close to the name of the girl friend of a famous and evil man. That said I saw it spelled "Even" on here.
100% agree with this...with maybe the caveat that the Hawks are looking for another post that gets the first one and he only gets one if there's enough after they fill the other slots.....maybe?
With the Hawk Central headline "Huge turnover expected for Iowa Basketball" (or something close to that) there just might be enough to accommodate all the needs that this team needs.....A good starting post player, some more perimeter fire power, and maybe a mature lead guard that can provide scoring as well?
I'm usually an optimist. And though it's been a downer for this year...Eastern Ill loss, 0-3 to start the B10, losing twice to Wisconsin...etc......just think if this 19 win season is now the bench mark for an off/bad season. Maybe we look back in 5 years and see a number of years after this with win totals in the around the mid 20's and some NACC Tournament success?
If this roster has the holes filled the right way I think that's possible. Our program maybe has to evolve into one that still develops players and is successful in the portal(Mr. Obvious)....net gains every year, because we're going to lose some we don't want to....we just have to get more that we do want/need.
I love basketball recruiting....and as much as I dislike the transfer portal situation.....this takes "recruiting" to a whole new level.
I am not a fan of the wholesale purchase of recruits and transfers as we now move forward.
But I am old enough to remember when free agency became the new order in pro sports. A lot of media and fans predicted doom for the league's.
What happened? The off-seasons became all about hot-stove activity, bringing more attention to their leagues year around and raising fan interest.
This new era of college recruiting 365 days/year probably will have somewhat of a similar effect in college game. Coaches will hate it and it might push older coaches out.
Kind of depends on what you're calling "production." Rebraca scored 16.8 PPG his last year at North Dakota, and scored 5.8 PPG his first year at Iowa. The biggest factors to that were (1) a decrease in minutes per game from 32 to 21, and (2) his role at North Dakota vs. Iowa, going from a 28.1% usage rate at North Dakota to 14.6% his first year at Iowa. So if you define production as a scoring volume per game basis, yeah you will find a lot of production decrease going from mid-major to P6.
But if you breakdown production by efficiency and per-possession basis, Rebraca's ORtg (i.e., offensive efficiency) increased at Iowa, while his rebounding and block rates were relatively in line with what they were at North Dakota.
Making minutes played equal:
Rebraca at N Dakota 2021: 21 points per 40 minutes
Rebraca at Iowa 2022: 11 points per 40 minutes
Rebraca at Iowa 2023: 18 points per 40 minutes
That is a similar first year drop for the majority of mid-major transfers to P6 programs.
That's not best case scenario, that's worst case scenario.
Id be happy trading post scoring for defense and rebounding.
I'd bet a lot of money that the Hawks won't lose a game in the NACC tourney going forward
Yes, and that's why I listed two variables for the drop and not just one. Filip's role at North Dakota was to be a scorer - his usage rate was 28.1%, which was an even bigger role than what Kris had for Iowa this year. When Filip went to Iowa, he no longer needed to be a primary or even secondary scorer his first year, and his usage rate dropped to 14.6%. Filip actually scored more efficiently at Iowa than he did at North Dakota - largely as a result of him being asked to assume a more limited role.
Filip's rebounding and shot blocking production didn't significantly differ from what it was at North Dakota. I'd expect the same for Brauns. Moreover, given that Brauns's role at Belmont was not a primary or secondary scorer, I don't think his points per 40 minutes would be significantly different at Iowa than it was at Belmont. Most of his points are going to be from dump off passes near the rim or offensive rebounds.
Also a function of going from being a 1/2 option to a 4/5 option on offense in Rebraca's first year.
With Josh now leaving, Brauns looks like a good add. I guess if you're hoping for Hunter Dickenson then Brauns is a disappointment. But Hawks need size and more rim protection in the middle - I think they found that. His film looks good, but it is a highlight reel.
Not to mention, a local kid excited to play in IC. Works for me.
Not to mention, a local kid excited to play in IC. Works for me.
I agree, he looks very athletic, he will help for sure.
Well that's good to know, it certainly explains his fairly anemic statistical output, including the rebound average.
We need a true PG that can penetrate, pass and create his shot. Get in the NIL and land one!!!
Bowen and Nimmers look like the part to be honest. Couple that with Perkins and Dix and our backcourt just might be good. Sandforts and Pat at the 3/4 positions, let's find a really nice center type.
When discussing next years team and the individual players.....I suspect that Josh Dix could take a significant step forward. Here is my thinking on why this will hopefully be the case:
1) Normal freshman to soph jump due to experience being part of the program.
2) A now significant amount of time away from the terrible injury, allowing more confidence.
3) Physical strength and growth.....full speed off season work as comparted to the months of less than full speed due to recovery, prior to this last season.
4) He's a guy who hasn't demonstrated his full level of athleticism and explosiveness that can now do that.
5) Fran had confidence in his decision making....played him during important stretches of games and he made very few mistakes....which I think is a big-big deal for Fran and playing time considerations.
6) Versatility......not that he is a PG (he's not) but he can provide minutes there. He can also play both the 2G or the SF with his height, length, and athleticism......so, I think he will see a lot more minutes.
IF he is able to get decent consistency on his 3 point shot........I see him being a much bigger part of the rotation next year.
**Braun....it appears to me that the kid is a steal.....even if he only plays limited minutes in a back up off the bench role (give the starter some time to rest or limit foul trouble problems) he would have exceeded either Riley or Josh O this year based on what we see in his highlight video. Add Freeman and hopefully a starting level center and even if none of them individually match Rebraca's production....collectively I think we could see a step up in the post position. NOW we have to get a starting level post player.
1) Normal freshman to soph jump due to experience being part of the program.
2) A now significant amount of time away from the terrible injury, allowing more confidence.
3) Physical strength and growth.....full speed off season work as comparted to the months of less than full speed due to recovery, prior to this last season.
4) He's a guy who hasn't demonstrated his full level of athleticism and explosiveness that can now do that.
5) Fran had confidence in his decision making....played him during important stretches of games and he made very few mistakes....which I think is a big-big deal for Fran and playing time considerations.
6) Versatility......not that he is a PG (he's not) but he can provide minutes there. He can also play both the 2G or the SF with his height, length, and athleticism......so, I think he will see a lot more minutes.
IF he is able to get decent consistency on his 3 point shot........I see him being a much bigger part of the rotation next year.
**Braun....it appears to me that the kid is a steal.....even if he only plays limited minutes in a back up off the bench role (give the starter some time to rest or limit foul trouble problems) he would have exceeded either Riley or Josh O this year based on what we see in his highlight video. Add Freeman and hopefully a starting level center and even if none of them individually match Rebraca's production....collectively I think we could see a step up in the post position. NOW we have to get a starting level post player.
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Go all in on landing a big fish at the 5 and we are in really good shape for next year as the PG/SG positions will work themselves out and there is talent there.
Thanks for putting these data together! I agree that they are quite promising. It's true that Rebraca's shot blocking rate didn't change when he transferred from North Dakota to Iowa. However, his shot blocking rate was low in both locations. For Brauns, his shot blocking rate was high at Belmont and the question is whether it will remain high at Iowa. Rebraca isn't a perfect comp for that but it's probably the best we have. Importantly, even if his block % falls to 5%, that will still be quite helpful to us. Nunge's career block % is 4.8% (and was 5.6% and 4% in his two years seeing major minutes at Xavier). I watched a lot of Xavier and he was a major defensive presence for them at 5%. Garza's block rate was 5.2% in his Senior year and our rim protection and two point defense were pretty good that year. So even if his block % takes a hit with the jump in competition, it could still be an improvement over what we had defensively with Rebraca.
With the five incoming players (including Braun), and the off chance that Nimmers gets a scholarship, how many roster spots does that leave open?
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Agree, if Bowen stays then I feel pretty good about our guards next year. I think Dix can have a similar year to what Payton had this year, being an offensive and defensive spark off the bench. Who knows, Brock Harding might surprise us.
I also like Brauns and if we can get another center that would be great, but honestly I'd go for the best available player regardless of position. I think centers are like RBs in the NFL, its easy to find a decent one and they are highly interchangeable. They rarely make a big difference in the overall performance of the team. The best centers in the NCAA the past few years haven't done squat in the tournament, as we know too well: Garza, Cockburn, DIckenson.
We currently have 2 confirmed rides available (Ulis, Josh O) with 1 more ride almost certainly available when Murray moves onto the NBA/G-League for a total of 3 rides. Those 3 rides excludes Braun and Nimmers.
Personally, I'm hoping Mulvey moves on too = 4 rides for one quality guard and one quality big + Braun and Nimmers.
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I wasn't excited when hearing our first portal target was a player from Iowa City. Actually my thought was WTF!!! But after seeing videos there is enough athleticism and skill for me to hold back my critisim of him until we actually see him play for the Hawks...
Word is Brauns may be a paid walk-on so pretty good deal if true but will probably depend on who else is available.
That’s what I’ve heard as well.
Braun reminds me of how fans hype the back up QB,
not realizing that there is a reason they are a backup
or in this case a 7 pts/game high water market in a low water Ohio Valley Conference.
