Good News today: Nick Baer gets a Schollie

[regibson1]

I think the best example of Player development is Aaron White. Aaron only had 1 other Div 1 offer, (Duquense) coming out of H.S. Iowa turns him into an All Big Ten, force of nature, who gets drafted into the NBA.

#goHawks

People want to bad mouth the Iowa program because they recruit players from Iowa. White was from Ohio along with a host of other players that Fran has recruited and developed into competent and some NBA drafted basketball players. He recruits players with talent but it is up to them to work and develop their games. Not every player is willing to do that. If they don't then they don't play.

Kreiner, Pemsl, and Bohannon will do the University of Iowa proud by the time their years at Iowa are over. Connor McCaffery and Joe Weiskamp are more that are on the way. This program is moving onward and upward and Iowa is starting to see the results with the successful recruitment of Cook.

 

[RockEyeState]

Congrats to Nicholas Baer.
(He already sent me a Text saying 'THANKS for lobbying for me, Rock')

#goHawks

 

[Drew003]

Wow, a lot of Baer worship around here. I get it, sort of. Yes, he contributed at times this season, and completely disappeared at other times. Played with fire and passion. Love all of that. But to me, Baer's very limited skill set means the Hawks are best served if he remains an off-the-bench role player who can bring zest to the game when needed. If he's a starter, it probably means the team is short on physically strong, skilled D1 athletes of the type you need to win the B10 and advance beyond the first round or two of the tourney. Hope I'm wrong, but that's how I see it. Again, love seeing Baer in a Hawkeye uniform but am very wary of projecting too much into his game, which has been very sporadic against quality competition.

Baer needs to become a knock-down three point shooter. If he does that, you have a high-energy forward who can space the floor and contribute with defense, energy, rebounding, and a little shot blocking. That's a very useful player. If he remains inconsistent with the shot, you have more of a niche player who is good for 15 minutes of energy a night.

 

[David1979]

Baer needs to become a knock-down three point shooter. If he does that, you have a high-energy forward who can space the floor and contribute with defense, energy, rebounding, and a little shot blocking. That's a very useful player. If he remains inconsistent with the shot, you have more of a niche player who is good for 15 minutes of energy a night.

Bear shot over 60% from 2 and about 40% from 3. Not exactly the definition of inconsistent.

 

[Drew003]

Bear shot over 60% from 2 and about 40% from 3. Not exactly the definition of inconsistent.

He was a low volume shooter, and he really rode a hot streak in the middle of the season. He needs to be able to shoot 40% while taking 4 or 5 threes a game.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

What I like about Baer is that he recognizes what he can and can't do. He has the mid range game and a turn around move to go along with his 3 point shooting and rebounding. I am sure he will work diligently to improve offensively and bulk up a bit, knowing his role will expand dramatically next year. We need a couple guys who can do more than spot up on the perimeter and I think Baer has the potential to pose match up problems. I also see him stepping into the role White played in the press (tipping passes, getting run out dunks, disrupting the other team).

 

[David1979]

He was a low volume shooter, and he really rode a hot streak in the middle of the season. He needs to be able to shoot 40% while taking 4 or 5 threes a game.

2 attempts per game is pretty good considering he only played 14 minutes a game. He also provides really good defense.

 

[GunnerHawk]

When there is something remotely resembling strategic recruiting, player development, and offers that make sense relative to the needs of the program, I will be on here with unicorns, rainbows and smiley faces. Until then, I choose to be a realist about the current state of affairs. Fran will wrap a pretty bow around 'freeing' up a scholarship for Baer, which he is deserving of, then bank the other ride for a yet to be named in state phenom who will underwhelm.
All Fran has to restore my confidence is to find a PG in the next two months. Odds he delivers?

If you can't see how many players have been developed in a positive way since Fran came to Iowa, then you must have your head up your arse. Butter my cakes gave numerous examples of player development. Strategic recruiting, hell Lickliter had run our program into the ground, Fran convincing anybody to come to Iowa is amazing. To think that he got White and Gabe here is miraculous, White was all big ten, his only major offer was Duquesne. Their development is a testament to the ability of this staff.

In the future, maybe you should do some homework before posting such a ridiculous thread.

 

[4th & 9 inches]

Congrats to Nicholas Baer.
(He already sent me a Text saying 'THANKS for lobbying for me, Rock')

#goHawks

Sure that text didn't say "Thanks for slobbing on me"?

 

[4th & 9 inches]

2 attempts per game is pretty good considering he only played 14 minutes a game. He also provides really good defense.

 

[bagdropper]

I would argue that while Fran has had a couple developmental successes (JU and AW), his failure to get Woody and Gesell to the level they were expected to achieve at the time of their commitments to Iowa hindered the development of the team the last 4 years.

The program needed more out of those two - Fran needed to figure out how to bring it out of them. Those two started what...every game of their careers?

Did either of them ever make all B10 anything? Did either of them average double figures or be near league best in any aspect of their games?

In my book, they were what amounted to be role players. And you really need better out of 4 year starters than role players. Fran needs to be able to take guys that are supposed to be true B10 talent (like those two) and turn them into repeat all B10 caliber players, or Iowa will stay in Tom Davis Land.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

If you can't see how many players have been developed in a positive way since Fran came to Iowa, then you must have your head up your arse. Butter my cakes gave numerous examples of player development. Strategic recruiting, hell Lickliter had run our program into the ground, Fran convincing anybody to come to Iowa is amazing. To think that he got White and Gabe here is miraculous, White was all big ten, his only major offer was Duquesne. Their development is a testament to the ability of this staff.

In the future, maybe you should do some homework before posting such a ridiculous thread.

You have absolutely no clue what you are talking about. White wanted to play in the big ten growing up in Ohio and got no big ten offers. His best offer was Duquense, so where do you come up with the notion that Fran performed some miracle? He found an athletic kid with up side who got overlooked by other big ten schools. White came in with a chip on his shoulder and worked hard. Did Fran develop White? Sure, but did White ever develop his offensive game under Fran? I would say no with the exception of the last 1/3 of his senior year when he started making 3's.

As for Olaseni, Fran went down to recruit Katenda, who committed to Notre Dame and later suffered a bad eye injury. Fran missed on Katenda and offered Olaseni, who had no other major offers....maybe WSU (maybe) and had played 3-4 years of organized basketball. Again, what is the common denominator? An athletic kid who was willing to work. Olaseni improved dramatically and no doubt a lot of the credit goes to Fran, but also to Olaseni's freak athleticism for a guy his size.

No charge for the history lesson.

 

[RockEyeState]

Sure that text didn't say "Thanks for slobbing on me"?

He said, 'Rock: obviously you know more about Hoop than a lot of the loafers on that
HR. It's hard to read messages from fools, who can't even get off the couch'.

#goHawks

 

[4th & 9 inches]

He said, 'Rock: obviously you know more about Hoop than a lot of the loafers on that
HR. It's hard to read messages from fools, who can't even get off the couch'.

#goHawks

www.zocdoc.com/psychiatrists

 

[Ihawkhoops]

I would argue that while Fran has had a couple developmental successes (JU and AW), his failure to get Woody and Gesell to the level they were expected to achieve at the time of their commitments to Iowa hindered the development of the team the last 4 years.

The program needed more out of those two - Fran needed to figure out how to bring it out of them. Those two started what...every game of their careers?

Did either of them ever make all B10 anything? Did either of them average double figures or be near league best in any aspect of their games?

In my book, they were what amounted to be role players. And you really need better out of 4 year starters than role players. Fran needs to be able to take guys that are supposed to be true B10 talent (like those two) and turn them into repeat all B10 caliber players, or Iowa will stay in Tom Davis Land.

Good post.

 

[DanL53]

A little bit of history. Tom Kakert himself warned readers of Hawkeye Report when Woodbury committed of the various strengths and weaknesses Woody had. No one should have expected stuff from Adam that he couldn't deliver.

I'm sorry if that blows away some reason to complain about McCaffery. But I am just bringing up facts.

And, a side note, Gunner knows his stuff about basketball. Guys like 4th and 9 inches are well known Clone fans just disseminating misinformation and doubt. Should be shot as a spy.

 

[4th & 9 inches]

A little bit of history. Tom Kakert himself warned readers of Hawkeye Report when Woodbury committed of the various strengths and weaknesses Woody had. No one should have expected stuff from Adam that he couldn't deliver.

I'm sorry if that blows away some reason to complain about McCaffery. But I am just bringing up facts.

And, a side note, Gunner knows his stuff about basketball. Guys like 4th and 9 inches are well known Clone fans just disseminating misinformation and doubt. Should be shot as a spy.

My '03 Orange and '04 Outback bowl ticket stubs say otherwise.

Know the facts before you start poppin' off, jackoff

 

[DanL53]

My '03 Orange and '04 Outback bowl ticket stubs say otherwise.

Know the facts before you start poppin' off, jackoff

Counterfeit. Spy.

 

[4th & 9 inches]

Counterfeit. Spy.

You're right-I'm busted-I now know I wasted my time and money constructing exact replicas of Miami's and Tampa's stadiums so I could have pictures taken of me and my buddies draped in Hawkeye garb in and around both.

You're way too smart for me, Dan. Uncle.

 

[regibson1]

You have absolutely no clue what you are talking about. White wanted to play in the big ten growing up in Ohio and got no big ten offers. His best offer was Duquense, so where do you come up with the notion that Fran performed some miracle? He found an athletic kid with up side who got overlooked by other big ten schools. White came in with a chip on his shoulder and worked hard. Did Fran develop White? Sure, but did White ever develop his offensive game under Fran? I would say no with the exception of the last 1/3 of his senior year when he started making 3's.

As for Olaseni, Fran went down to recruit Katenda, who committed to Notre Dame and later suffered a bad eye injury. Fran missed on Katenda and offered Olaseni, who had no other major offers....maybe WSU (maybe) and had played 3-4 years of organized basketball. Again, what is the common denominator? An athletic kid who was willing to work. Olaseni improved dramatically and no doubt a lot of the credit goes to Fran, but also to Olaseni's freak athleticism for a guy his size.

No charge for the history lesson.

Well he did sign two athletic kids that were overlooked by a lot of other coaches around the country. That is called identifying talent and then helping to develop that talent with players willing to work on developing their game.

While it may not have been all that miraculous that he was able to get them to come to Iowa, what was significant was that Fran recognized their talent in the first place and recruited them. Getting Nicholas Baer to come to Iowa as a walk on was also another case of identifying talent although I am sure that some people will not give Fran credit for that (since Baer wanted to come to Iowa) or for his play this year. Nicholas is however another example of recruiting a player that like White and Olaseni, have been willing to work hard at improving their game.

The fact that White didn't develop his outside shot at Iowa shouldn't be a black mark held against Fran. (His outside shooting or lack thereof may have been one of the reasons that White didn't get any other offers outside of Duquesne). White did however make 1st team All-Big Ten and was drafted in the NBA and Olaseni I think got best 6th man if I am not mistaken. Wilt Chamberlain or Shaquille O'Neal couldn't make a free throw to save their lives but I don't think that their coaches ever got blamed for that.