Fran Desparetly needs people to transfer

[HawkLogic]

Baer and Moss play the same position and Baer is playing better, he deserves the minutes. Should Fran bench Jok? Unfortunately, Ihawk is trolling this morning, and some of you eat up his idiotic statements. If a college player can't play 30 minutes a game without getting tired, then good luck in the NBA. Jesus, running Jok into the ground? Monte is playing 39 minutes a game for ISU, that's what good players/leaders do.

I think 2/3 are somewhat interchangeable. Since Moss starts, there must be room to play him with Jok. Baer can play 3 or 4. Jok is struggling, so it seems there should be ample room for Fran to play Moss but he is choosing not to.

We saw Moss go off vs Nebraska, so he is capable player. Seems to have most upside, so why give his wing 2/3 time to Ellingson/Jok/Baer.

it is not inconceivable that Fran might be making some poor decisions.

 

[HawkLogic]

Perhaps when Moss doesn't become a turnover laden liability with no real value add, then I'll support him. I'll trust the objective advanced metrics over your subjective eye test.

3 game losing streak might be indication that Fran and yourself might not have winning formula.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Why do you have a problem with doing something entirely within NCAA rules? Winning is way better than losing as long as you don't cheat to do it.

I don't have a problem with the "grad transfer" rule. Like I said if the NCAA allows it, why not take advantage of it. Its basically like the "free agency" of college sports. Iowa football benefited from it greatly this year with their punter. Fran could use that to get a PG or guard who is an upgrade from what we currently have.

The disciplinary issue is the one I have a problem with. I think if a player has been kicked off his team for an issue (arrests or anything serious) then their only option to continue to play college sports is dropping a level. Instead of being able to transfer out to another Div 1 institution make them transfer down to div. 2. I think if they take that opportunity of being a college athlete and throw it away, they shouldn't be given a 2nd chance at another university. Make them go down a level. Just my thought

 

[Ihawkhoops]

This thread has hit on the key problems that Iowa BB has this year. With Jok you can stay in every game. He is double to tripled team so other Iowa players get open looks for easier shots. When he is out Iowa is exposed as a one trick pony. The primary scoring option falls to Baer who is not near the threat that Jok is. Cook is clearly affected by his broken finger given that when he goes to the rim he can't control the ball with his left hand. He is a shadow of his former self. Pemsl is a back you down 4 with slick in the paint moves. He can be negated by a quick double team or pushed off his spot. He is maybe the worst defender of the pick and roll in Iowa history. He is playing guys 2 to 5 inches bigger every night so not totally to blame for bad defense. Bohannon is a great shooting try hard slow 2 guard trying to play point. Moss is trying to play the 3 when he is clearly a break you down sharpshooting 2 guard. Consequently he looks lost in Iowa's offensive sets. Kreiner has BB intelligence and just needs to be bigger and stronger, but plays smart and hard with purpose like Baer. Williams is nottttt a point guard and one feels sorry for him having to expose himself as incapable of dribbling let alone shooting. Ellingson is toooo slow, but can shoot if open which is seldom. Dom's most distinguishing BB characteristic is his Man Bun. Wagner is a try hard beast of a player who simply needs shot development to add to his rim dives and rebounding. McCaffery is putting a team on the floor with the fundamental handicap of playing without a 1 and a 5. How can this be. Even OmahaNebraska had two point guards that Iowa would kill for. I'm a big fan of McCaffery but it's getting hard to understand how he has let himself get in this position after 7 years as head coach. Oh and Fran please stop with the disingenuous comments about Jok is fine you should ask him about his back. There isn't one person in Hawkdom who didn't see a guy who better belonged in a wheelchair than a BB game.

Lots of great points, but this stood out to me: Even OmahaNebraska had two point guards that Iowa would kill for. It is not about getting an elite point guard the caliber of Ulis as some keep referencing. It's about getting a PG who can attack, penetrate, and create and defend at this level. Bryce Cartwright would look like Penny Hardaway at this point.

Dozens of these guys out there at the juco or graduate transfer level who would love to play on a bigger stage. 7 years is enough of a clinical trial Fran. Swallow your pride and get creative to solve this problem or plan on getting T'd up a lot next season, because the play won't get any better.

 

[iowa surfer]

Alot of people are badmouthing the players. These are the same guys that beat purdue a couple of weeks ago. I think these guys are capable of great things. The thing that alludes Fran is getting his guys to play hard with effort and intensity game after game. That is a problem.

THAT IS CALLED FRESHMEN.Time will improve that greatly.Patience.

 

[CP84]

3 game losing streak might be indication that Fran and yourself might not have winning formula.

Not sure what playing Moss more minutes would have accomplished. He has been bad in the minutes he's played during that stretch. Both players have been terrible but Ellingson doesn't turn the ball over and passes much better. Moss really hasn't done anything well.

Last 3 games:

Moss: 37 minutes, 4/12, 10 points, 1 reb, 1 assist, 1 steal, 4 turnovers

Ellingson: 39 minutes, 1/7, 5 points, 2 reb, 4 assists, 1 steal, 0 turnovers

 

[2432Hawk]

Fran has consistently identified and recruited very talented PG's but he's just not been able to get them to say yes to Iowa. Sometimes it has nothing to do with Iowa and Fran and has more to do with those he's recruiting. I'm hopeful he can change that trend as it would help. but all is not lost, i still love this team and enjoy watching them grow.

 

[wneff]

Wasn't Reggie Evans a transfer? And Adam Haluska? Not point guards, but I would welcome their talents. And if you are expecting Fran to develop players, I think you should reconsider that thought.

And Tom Norman, Steve Krafcisin, Gerry Wright, Matt Bullard, Andre Woolridge, Jarrod Uthoff. A bunch of bad seeds. Since 1990, our top four seasons of total points scored were all by D-1 transfers--Woolridge '97, Haluska '07, Uthoff '16, and Recker '02.

 

[unIowa]

I think Fran is genuinely lost in his rotations. He has always played a decent amount of players per game but this season it's just becoming 11-12 man rotations consistently and it doesn't work. How does Moss start, but only play 6 minutes? Moss is 10x the player Brady is. Jbo was sick tonight so I understand that but he's also struggling how to play cook and pemsl while still getting wagner minutes (whose been playing the best out of the 3 lately). Ultimately I think Fran needs to get rid of some people this year, of cut down to a 9-10 player rotation.

Unfortunately for him every recruit who is coming in the coming years (with the expection of Garza) will fall under the mess that is the 2-4 position rotations.

I don't understand that about moss either. I think he's actually one of our best players. He can create his own shot and I think he's probably our best defender (doesn't take much) yet he doesn't play. Sure he will struggle at times but he's a frosh that has potential. Why waste that time on some of these other guys with little potential is beyond me.

I think he is sitting bc he isn't looking for his shot enough or moving away from the ball. Kid has huge potential and in transition is super dangerous but he needs to be able to get to the bucket in the 1/2 court...I think Fran may be trying to SHAME (by sitting him) some aggression into him.

 

[Hammer93]

Fran has consistently identified and recruited very talented PG's but he's just not been able to get them to say yes to Iowa. Sometimes it has nothing to do with Iowa and Fran and has more to do with those he's recruiting. I'm hopeful he can change that trend as it would help. but all is not lost, i still love this team and enjoy watching them grow.

^^^^^^
Yeah, I agree. There's some real good pieces there now. I personally think that Fran realizes that this year is not going to be great. I think he's trying to get several different groups on the court and see who is going to keep for the years to come. Playing defense against high school players is way different then playing defense versus college Juniors and Seniors. They'll get better as they realize what they need to work on. The off season this year will be big for this teams development. I think next year there will be a huge difference in results with this same group. I did like that he sat Cook for a period of time during the game. He really needs to work on his defensive rotation and timing. He is late to a lot of help situations (Not that he is the only one).

 

[SDHawkDoc]

Fran has the weirdest rotations I have ever seen from a Major conference coach. Play your top 8 guys and stick with them.

Who are the top 8?
It varies from game to game.
They could draw straws. Or highest card gets on of the spots.

 

[ScoutRefugee]

Agree that he needs some to transfer and I think that will naturally happen. I also agree that a look at a transfer would be smart. What I don't agree with is that Fran is a bad recruiter. Look at the last class and the one coming in next year and say he is a bad recruiter is irresponsible.

When you can't recruit a PG that can break someone down off the dribble/defend on the ball, after 7 years....you've recruited poorly. It doesn't matter how many talented wing forwards he signs. College basketball is a GUARD driven league.

 

[DodgerHawki]

He has taken Iowa as far in the NCAA as he took Sienna. The reality is, the guys he was getting a Sienna were not power 5 guys and if they were they were not recruited because of grades or other issues. Coach McCaffery has never been able to get over the Round of 32 hump in his coaching career.

Put those 2 guards he had at Siena for the first-round upset of Ohio State in 2009 with the frontcourts he has consistently had at Iowa and you would really have something. Those little guys were tough and had game. Getting Siena to the round of 32 at Siena is a terrific accomplishment. I'm just confused as to why he hasn't been able to get at least that level of guard play here at Iowa.

 

[ScoutRefugee]

This thread has hit on the key problems that Iowa BB has this year. With Jok you can stay in every game. He is double to tripled team so other Iowa players get open looks for easier shots. When he is out Iowa is exposed as a one trick pony. The primary scoring option falls to Baer who is not near the threat that Jok is. Cook is clearly affected by his broken finger given that when he goes to the rim he can't control the ball with his left hand. He is a shadow of his former self. Pemsl is a back you down 4 with slick in the paint moves. He can be negated by a quick double team or pushed off his spot. He is maybe the worst defender of the pick and roll in Iowa history. He is playing guys 2 to 5 inches bigger every night so not totally to blame for bad defense. Bohannon is a great shooting try hard slow 2 guard trying to play point. Moss is trying to play the 3 when he is clearly a break you down sharpshooting 2 guard. Consequently he looks lost in Iowa's offensive sets. Kreiner has BB intelligence and just needs to be bigger and stronger, but plays smart and hard with purpose like Baer. Williams is nottttt a point guard and one feels sorry for him having to expose himself as incapable of dribbling let alone shooting. Ellingson is toooo slow, but can shoot if open which is seldom. Dom's most distinguishing BB characteristic is his Man Bun. Wagner is a try hard beast of a player who simply needs shot development to add to his rim dives and rebounding. McCaffery is putting a team on the floor with the fundamental handicap of playing without a 1 and a 5. How can this be. Even OmahaNebraska had two point guards that Iowa would kill for. I'm a big fan of McCaffery but it's getting hard to understand how he has let himself get in this position after 7 years as head coach. Oh and Fran please stop with the disingenuous comments about Jok is fine you should ask him about his back. There isn't one person in Hawkdom who didn't see a guy who better belonged in a wheelchair than a BB game.

I can tell you how he let himself get into this position. Conner McCaffrey. He's been counting on Connor to come in and play PG in 2017. That effectively kills PG recruiting for 2015 (Gesell's SR season when a FR PG could be groomed) because that PG doesn't want to be a JR and have to give up his spot to the coach's son, the 2016 season for the same reason and 2017-2019 at least, simply because Fran cannot promise playing time to any recruit that would be willing to believe him. When Connor is a SR, we might be able to recruit a high D-1 PG prospect. Maybe.

 

[vincebrookins]

i still love this team and enjoy watching them grow.

That's what's frustrating. The last three games, they've regressed not progressed. I really hope Fran can get this thing turned around but I'm afraid he's grasping at straws. Hope I'm wrong.

 

[Hawk_82]

I think we are seeing the results of multiple factors. we have a ton of young guys who are all going through their first season together. the team is hitting it's Wall physically and mentally. injuries are taking their toll. other teams are better now and the scouting on iowa is better which is now taking away what used to work.
So now the team has to reinvent themselves to find what will win games again.

This is the same stuff all teams go through but it makes it tougher when the team consists of young guys who don't know what it takes to make it through a season.

I think this team will be just fine long term. I don't particularly care for the one size player fits all, but I think fran does a good job. I have faith in him.

 

[Bulldogs1974]

Perhaps when Moss doesn't become a turnover laden liability with no real value add, then I'll support him. I'll trust the objective advanced metrics over your subjective eye test.

And you'd be wrong. Show me where those stats show how they guard.

 

[2432Hawk]

That's what's frustrating. The last three games, they've regressed not progressed. I really hope Fran can get this thing turned around but I'm afraid he's grasping at straws. Hope I'm wrong.

There's a lot going on with Jok's back, and the flu bug that's hit the team of late as well as some injuries... on top of that teams scout and they see what we can't defend. Minnesota scares the hell out of me with what their guards might do to us as well their bigs. Road games won't be pretty.... i thought we had a chance vs. Maryland but give them credit for hitting the big shots when needed.

 

[N.Legend]

Fran Desparetly needs people to transfer
Discussion in 'Iowa Basketball' started by sb33miz, Yesterday at 1:22 AM.

Why? This bunch hasn't worked out so he should start over again with untested freshman rather than build on what he has. Where have the fans gone that said this would be a rough year, but the future looks bright? I keep thinking about teams like Northwestern, Minnesota who were crap last year but this year are winning with the crappers from last year's team (and I don't remember a stud grad transfer in the bunch). Bitch, bitch, bitch.

 

[DodgerHawki]

And Tom Norman, Steve Krafcisin, Gerry Wright, Matt Bullard, Andre Woolridge, Jarrod Uthoff. A bunch of bad seeds. Since 1990, our top four seasons of total points scored were all by D-1 transfers--Woolridge '97, Haluska '07, Uthoff '16, and Recker '02.

Shhh. Don't bother people with facts. They prefer to live in pie-in-sky world where Iowa is clean as the driven snow and all transfers are terrible people.

Coaches should use all resources available to them to improve the roster (legal ones). Fran was willing to take Uthoff as he should have been. He should be interested in a grad transfer or other transfers this year or any year.

 

[Lumas Etima]

Fran has consistently identified and recruited very talented PG's but he's just not been able to get them to say yes to Iowa. Sometimes it has nothing to do with Iowa and Fran and has more to do with those he's recruiting. I'm hopeful he can change that trend as it would help. but all is not lost, i still love this team and enjoy watching them grow.

Also, at least one of the PGs Fran did land did not pan out. I'm referring to Trey Dickerson. If Trey had been the player we hoped he would be, he would be one of our leaders this year as a senior PG, and I think the team would look a lot different.

 

[CP84]

And you'd be wrong. Show me where those stats show how they guard.

Both are horrible defensively. Ellingson has just been less of a liability in total sum. You guys keep making declarative statements that are easily proven wrong with metrics.

Total Season Advanced
Offensive box +/-
Ellingson: 3.6
Moss: -0.1

Defensive box +/-
Ellingson: -1.6
Moss: -0.8

Total box +/-
Ellingson: 1.9
Moss: -0.9

Conference advanced
Offensive rating (estimate of points produced by player per 100 possessions):
Ellingson: 114.9
Moss: 86.0

Defensive rating (estimate of points allowed by player per 100 possessions):
Ellingson: 117.3
Moss: 119.2

 

[Bulldogs1974]

Both are horrible defensively. Ellingson has just been less of a liability in total sum. You guys keep making declarative statements that are easily proven wrong with metrics.

Total Season Advanced
Offensive box +/-
Ellingson: 3.6
Moss: -0.1

Defensive box +/-
Ellingson: -1.6
Moss: -0.8

Total box +/-
Ellingson: 1.9
Moss: -0.9

Conference advanced
Offensive rating (estimate of points produced by player per 100 possessions):
Ellingson: 114.9
Moss: 86.0

Defensive rating (estimate of points allowed by player per 100 possessions):
Ellingson: 117.3
Moss: 119.2

No where in those metrics will you find one on one defender, help defense, needing to be helped, who another team iso's It's a snap shot of two kids that don't play a lot of minutes extrapolated out over 40 minutes. There aren't exactly an accurate indication of potential to play well.
Brady is playing as well as he ever will. He is very close to his ceiling, Brady will struggle the rest of his career to get shots off against good teams. I'll give him credit he can at least hit shots in games when left alone but that's generally the extent of it. Moss is not at his ceiling, not even close. Fran will mess with Moss's minutes which will handicap him over his career. Fran has always struggled with how to use his bench and how much to play kids. Whether it be taking gesell out of end of game situations as a freshman, to playing ogelsby, at all, to playing 12 people in a game. There is no continuity for some players that need experience because they will be counted on in the future, like moss.

 

[JRHawk2003]

Like Epenesa said, the biggest problem to me is lack of consistency in rotations. Guys just appear in games for no apparent reason like Daily or Jones, then don't play in the next 2 games. WTF?

Also, as mentioned above, you have 3 classes that are giving you almost nothing. We have two great athletes in Cook and Wagner that lack basketball skills. Cook just jumped over people in HS no doubt. I do think his recruiting is suspect. JB is an undersized 2 guard. Period. He is not a point. You have a lot of guys who give you no scoring, no rebounding, and no defense. I could stand on the floor and do that. Sad. Your best player who isn't a freshman is a walk on. Its clear Fran doesn't Crean people. That Nunge guy is another guy who will have no position really. 6-9 180? He will get flattened inside.

Also, what the hell is he doing with Jok? He is clearly hurting. Why are you playing him? Why did you put him in that Maryland game, when if you had just skipped that one he would have had a 10 day rest?

I didn't expect an NCAA bid this year, but this year is a step back in a lot of ways. The Illinois game was flat out painful to watch, because that is a bad Illinois team and they beat Iowa easily.

 

[bravehawks1]

I believe a lot of this should be directed at Fran. Why you say? here is a list:
Lack of recruiting a PG over 7 years
Lack of player development
Lack of consistency on player rotations
Lack of end game coaching
Inability to motivate players regularly. You can say this is because they are freshman, but that just supports the argument more that Fran has to work to do
Can't get his team to play defense - his teams have always struggled, this one is the worst and admittedly having a lot of freshman makes this difficult.

Not saying we need a new coach, but Fran is not able to effectively "make lemonade when he has lemons". Fran needs to step up his game and I think the players and recruiting will follow

 

[HawkLogic]

Not sure what playing Moss more minutes would have accomplished. He has been bad in the minutes he's played during that stretch. Both players have been terrible but Ellingson doesn't turn the ball over and passes much better. Moss really hasn't done anything well.

Last 3 games:

Moss: 37 minutes, 4/12, 10 points, 1 reb, 1 assist, 1 steal, 4 turnovers

Ellingson: 39 minutes, 1/7, 5 points, 2 reb, 4 assists, 1 steal, 0 turnovers

It is about upside. What is the upside to Ellingson's game? He can't get his shot off. He is role player--valuable, but you don't win with a team full of role players. Moss has made plays that Ellingson is not capable of making.

 

[Ronman]

Seems as though everyone sees the potential of the young Iowa players, but some Iowa fans (and a bunch of people on here with dubious affiliations).

 

[Iowamavs14]

Here is one fact that kills this team. Our supposed two best players(Cook and Jok) are by far our worst defenders. Hard to build a successful team when that is a component of your team. I love Jok, but his injury really limits hm.

 

[CP84]

It is about upside. What is the upside to Ellingson's game? He can't get his shot off. He is role player--valuable, but you don't win with a team full of role players. Moss has made plays that Ellingson is not capable of making.

I'm not arguing that. Potential is an entirely different issue. I'm simply contesting the original comment that was made about Moss being 10* the player Ellingson is. At this point it's a wash at best. If Fran wants to play Moss more because he thinks has a higher ceiling, you won't find me arguing. I'm just pointing out the facts as they exist in the present.

 

[The Sleeping Dog]

Point guard job 1-run the offense and find open scorers, right? Bohannon is 5th in the B1G right now. Bohannon is closer to number 1 than is the 6th spot to Bohannon. Bohannon is 2nd in APM and 5th in A/TO ratio. Stats aren't everything but that appears to be the profile of a point guard succeeding better than 9 other starting PGs in a major P5 conference at the most important thing a point guard does for every team-hence the description of the position.

Only one freshmen is ahead of Bohannon in Job 1. ESPN, #31 Cassius Winston. Bohannon scores more, largely by shooting 89.3% from the line to 66.7%. Winston has taken 8 more free throws but made one fewer, a small statistical sample but our freshman PG is much better, and always will be. Winston's shooting form from both lines is terrible, Bohannon's is excellent. Winston will never be a better shooter. In whose hands do you want the ball at the line with a 1 and 1 and 30 seconds to go, the 90% shooter or the 67% shooter? Both freshmen attempt and make comparable numbers of threes, also an important PG skill, tends to keep the defense honest. Both freshmen have comparable numbers of turnovers-although Winston generates far more turnovers per minute played.

Then drill down into Winston's season. He fattened his numbers in non-con blow outs against bad teams. Easy to look good when a freshmen high 4* surrounded by 7 or 8 other high 4* and 5* is pounding Mississippi Valley State by 50. His performances are getting worse in an almost linear fashion as the conference season has unfolded. Until the truly poor performance against the Cheatin' Illini Bohannon's have been relatively steady over the same conference season, up and down but not mostly down like Winston. Significantly Winston's free throw percentage has fallen to only 60%. Defenders get most of the missed free throws so that is a huge liability

WhileI have Sparty's stats open: I notice Lou Rawls Tum Tum Nairn isn't really setting the world on fire. Izzo is getting him off the floor late in games. While he may have more names than a member of the British Royal Family he is still is a more likely to generate a defensive rebound than make the front end of a 1 and 1 and he's still 5'8" and a huge liability on defense-especially in a grind it out kind of game. How truly valuable is a point guard that cannot see the floor in the final minutes of a tight B1G game?

I'm not saying that Bohannon is better than Winston; although I expect by junior year Bohannon will have proven to be better than Nairn is now. I am also saying that Iowa can win, and win as big as the boys have at any time in the last 20 years, with Bohannon as a four year starter at the position. Bohannon is already better than Mike G at any time before Mike G's senior season. Just think about which player you want taking the big shot, from the field or the line, Mike or Bohannon? The answer is obvious.

So put the point guard situation in perspective. At the end of the season and career most players really are what their numbers say they are. The player, in pretty much any sport I've played or followed, whose value significantly exceeds the sum of their numbers is very rare.

Oh, player development seems an odd complaint. Marble, White, Uthoff were all 1st Team All B1G. Jok will probably make it four years in a row that a different McC recruit will have finished in the conference top five players. That is pretty good player development. Wasn't White on the all freshmen team as well?

Just keeping it in perspective for the naysayers.

 

[mazda1]

There's some film on our guys now and without an effective Jok to spread the floor offensively, we lack people who can create their own shot. We can't score and even if someone gets hot it's not too tough to shut one man down.

Defensively we are a train wreck. We lack consistant want to defensively and on the defensive boards. When you put that together with a lack of understanding of what to do it gets ugly.

What is really frustrating is we haven't been making progress. I expect mistakes, but I also expect effort and improvement.

 

[HeRKeYHoPeFuL]

People keep forgetting that we've been seeing this issue for years, although in past years it has been from upperclassmen who hit the wall and get worn out/become ineffective. These are primarily freshman or injured upperclassmen that are struggling. This should be expected. They are still learning what it takes to play at a high level consistently.

The fact that they are able to learn on the job should only help them speed up the process throughout this year and in the offseason.

 

[CP84]

Looks like Ellingson got his shot off tonight without problem.

 

[Bulldogs1974]

Osu's defense and defensive effort was poor, admit that. Brady was not knocking down contested shots by any means.
He hit them and was actually looking to shoot, that's what was refreshing.
I suppose no one saw the graphic showing Brady shooting 11% in the last 7 after shooting in the 60%'s the first 14 games.

 

[skydog0784]

Agreed, OSU's defense is atrocious. Ellingson had a big game, and I'm very glad he's part of this ball club, but he needs space in order to get his shot off, no doubt.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

OSU defense was sub-par, but still we hit open looks. We had not done that in a while.

I mean watching ILLINI vs PSU and the ILLINI missed every shot they hit vs Iowa. So its a home cooking type of deal.

Iowa has to protect home court and hopefully sneak out a win on the road or two.

 

[jdv77]

I enjoyed watching tonight's game. I think that Fran knows how to put together a roster. The previous 3 games were rough, to be sure. But a lot of this it was freshmen being freshmen, and Jok not being healthy enough to provide the consistent scoring to keep teams from running away from us.

Tonight's game demonstrates the difficulty of figuring out who you would want to transfer. Ellingson was very good. Kriener was very good. Uhl had 6 assists and 5 boards. Those guys (well maybe not Kriener since the Purdue game) have been popular choices for a transfer.

Tonight's game also demonstrates the difficulty of picking who should be excluded from the rotation. I loved what Pemsl provided early in the season, and would like to see him get more minutes. But Kriener has clearly earned the minutes that he is getting now. And while Cook has been inconsistent, he has immense talent. When you toss in Uhl and Baer, the front court rotation is really tough to figure out. But all of those guys should be playing.

Playing "big" seemed to work well tonight, with Uhl and Baer playing the lion's share of the minutes at 3. If Jok's injuries have him out for an extended period of time, it will be interesting to see if that continues to work. While I have been critical of Uhl, he certainly looked more comfortable at the 3 than he has at the 4 or 5 this year.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Its a pick your poison type of deal with Iowa. Right now I would go the majority of the minutes to these guys:

Bohannon
Moss
Ellingson
Jok (when healthy)
Pemsl
Kriener
Cook
Wagner
Baer

Limited Minutes (less than 5min):
Uhl
Williams
Dailey
Jones

I hate to say it but those 4 should probably transfer out or quit. They are not legit div 1 players and they are not giving anything to the team. It sucks because Uhl was such a key part in Iowa basketball last year. This year for whatever he is not the same player. Williams, Dailey and Jones are not and need to transfer.

 

[bagdropper]

Iowa doesn't need players to transfer. Iowa players need to grow into better players who are deserving more PT where the rotation will tighten up some. The roster hasn't gotten there yet.

Fran's playing a lot of guys because he has a squad of players who are very even with what they offer, yet varying degrees and types of skills. This team right now needs to play a lot of guys because Fran never knows what combination will work against different teams game to game.

Some nights the 5 that work best will be completely different than other nights.

One more point is all I'd wish for. Hell, a twin of JoBo would be perfectly fine for me.

Be patient, folks. I know it's difficult to do, but be patient. We aren't Kentucky. We aren't going to get 3 or 4 five star recruits every class where the squad turns over every year from guys going pro early every year. Creaning in any fashion will probably hurt more than it'll help.

It will sort itself out. I doubt it will happen quickly enough for most here, but it will sort itself out. And remember back not that long ago when the program was in shambles, we were begging for the very depth we have now. It would be nice to have a more well rounded roster...but at the moment there's nothing that can be done about it.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Iowa doesn't need players to transfer. Iowa players need to grow into better players who are deserving more PT where the rotation will tighten up some. The roster hasn't gotten there yet.

Fran's playing a lot of guys because he has a squad of players who are very even with what they offer, yet varying degrees and types of skills. This team right now needs to play a lot of guys because Fran never knows what combination will work against different teams game to game.

Some nights the 5 that work best will be completely different than other nights.

One more point is all I'd wish for. Hell, a twin of JoBo would be perfectly fine for me.

Be patient, folks. I know it's difficult to do, but be patient. We aren't Kentucky. We aren't going to get 3 or 4 five star recruits every class where the squad turns over every year from guys going pro early every year. Creaning in any fashion will probably hurt more than it'll help.

It will sort itself out. I doubt it will happen quickly enough for most here, but it will sort itself out. And remember back not that long ago when the program was in shambles, we were begging for the very depth we have now. It would be nice to have a more well rounded roster...but at the moment there's nothing that can be done about it.

I agree we have a nice roster. The only missing piece from this team is a "solid" PG. Someone who can attack the lane and make the players around him better. Bryce Cartwright did that and he was a JC transfer. I am not asking for a 5 star recruit. All I am asking for is a PG who can break down the defense. Bohannon will be a solid player for the Hawks, but he will never be that guy. He will be one of the top guards in the Big10 when he is a junior/Senior.