Hawkeye Players

[perryhawk]

I love watching College Bball and specifically the Iowa Hawkeyes......I don't believe there has ever been an Iowa player that I disliked. That said, although unintentionally, I often times have a player that is a favorite. Most often it's an Iowa born and raised kid.

It's very, very early but I have to say from what I have seen of the new guys I really like Brandon Hutton. First off from watching a little PTL and the other video stuff I love the way he plays. He seems to be an all out effort guy that constantly plays with intensity and embraces the defensive end. In addition, when I have watched his interviews he is a very positive guy and he seems to really embrace being at Iowa....seems very sincere, not just saying what they are supposed to say.

Anyway, it's just one more reason why I can't wait for the season to get started and see what these guys can do.

 

[hawk-i bob]

good post Perry ... Fran does a really good job not only recruiting talent but also young guys that seem to get it...makes pulling for them easy. I also grab a favorite...just for the heck of it...Hutton would be a good pick..I'm going to wait til the season starts to pick. Last year Clemmons was mine...just because he could have said screw it & left..instead he took ownership of his play the previous year & was clearly an important piece to the teams success.

 

[DanL53]

Nice thread. I was all about Woody last year as if one watches him work away from the ball, the guy is all effort. I kind of feel drawn to Hutton this year, but I have a feeling that several guys are going to be vying for the coveted DanL's favorite award. Mostly because I've a feeling that Hutton is going to rub off on others.

And, being repetitive. Again, thanks to our Hawkeyes for an offseason with not a single piece of bad news! Nothing but inspiration and good news about getting in shape, passing classes, great stuff!!!! Go Hawkeyes!

 

[perryhawk]

Nice thread. I was all about Woody last year as if one watches him work away from the ball, the guy is all effort. I kind of feel drawn to Hutton this year, but I have a feeling that several guys are going to be vying for the coveted DanL's favorite award. Mostly because I've a feeling that Hutton is going to rub off on others.

And, being repetitive. Again, thanks to our Hawkeyes for an offseason with not a single piece of bad news! Nothing but inspiration and good news about getting in shape, passing classes, great stuff!!!! Go Hawkeyes!

Ya, that's the thing......I really like all of these guys....shouldn't even single out Hutton but it just strikes me every time I watch him play, and then later hear an interview.

That said I'm really hoping that all of the seniors have a great year to end their career AND I can't wait to see how Peter Jok plays. I guess I could go on and on....it's time for some bball. I'm seriously thinking of driving 2.5 hours on a week night to see the first exhibition game. Getting there is great and no problem it's just that getting home and getting up at 6:00 the next morning for work is a downer. Wish they still televised every game like they did in the 1980s.

 

[20"Terminator]

I can think of one Hawkeye I don't care much for...

 

[perryhawk]

I can think of one Hawkeye I don't care much for...

Your right. ...he had slipped my mind. I don't care for him either.

 

[unoHawkeye]

Josh Oglesby was a guy that I cheered extra hard for. I always liked him as a player and just wanted to see him become the sharpshooter that Fran felt he could be.

 

[RefinedBean]

I'm on the Fleming train. I don't think he'll be the best guy on the court, but I see him being the glue guy who brings out the best in everyone.

 

[BGHAWK]

I'm happy that Ellingson is still here and I hope he gets some minutes this year. When kids are injured and don't get to play, many times they leave, so I'm glad he's sticking with it.

 

[Legend12]

Josh Oglesby was a guy that I cheered extra hard for. I always liked him as a player and just wanted to see him become the sharpshooter that Fran felt he could be.

Same for me, because I played for his dad in college.

It's odd how we can take some small connection like that, or where they are from, or what their name is, and somehow turn them into our favorite player.

I wonder if players do the same with message board posters.

 

[hansenhawk]

Flemming

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

Flemming

I root for Mike Gesell to finally have a healthy season and get his due for his role in Iowa's success over the past three years. A four-year starting PG on an up and coming program must be doing something right, although some of our posters don't seem to think that is the case...

 

[The Sleeping Dog]

Part of being a Hawk fan is cheering for every Hawk to excel. Good post. You think of the hundreds of kids that have come through the U and how very few were really pretty hard to choke down. The three guys that I can recall just weren't likable were Pierce, even before we knew he was a total psychopath, Glen Worley and Tyler Smith, even before he transferred. All three of those guys seemed to have a real chip on the shoulder and not in a good motivational way. Obviously Worley wasn't a dangerous criminal like Pierce and Smith.

Other than those three its been pretty easy to pull for the boys in black and gold, every mother's son of them.

 

[CanadaHawk]

When asked which fellow freshmen players jump out to him, Andrew Fleming says:
"I think Isaiah (Moss) is really good," he shared. "He's really shifty and can make a lot of stuff happen. Ahmad (Wagner) is already impressing the coaches with how well he can screen. In film, he's really good. He's setting screens on guys and getting guys open. Brandon (Hutton) plays really hard on defense. We have a ton of good guyson our team. I'm really looking forward to it."
http://www.scout.com/college/iowa/story/1599853-freshman-andrew-fleming-won-t-turn-down-shots

 

[perryhawk]

Part of being a Hawk fan is cheering for every Hawk to excel. Good post. You think of the hundreds of kids that have come through the U and how very few were really pretty hard to choke down. The three guys that I can recall just weren't likable were Pierce, even before we knew he was a total psychopath, Glen Worley and Tyler Smith, even before he transferred. All three of those guys seemed to have a real chip on the shoulder and not in a good motivational way. Obviously Worley wasn't a dangerous criminal like Pierce and Smith.

Other than those three its been pretty easy to pull for the boys in black and gold, every mother's son of them.

I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Glenn. ...seemed like a good kid. Admittedly that was limited contact but he was very personable and polite.i don't know more about him other than what we saw in games.

 

[nu2u]

I'm looking forward to watch Gesell and Woodbury. In my mind, those two were the platform that Fran McCaffery used to built the foundation of his program at Iowa. Both started and played from day1. Both have endured a ton of criticism and, in Woody's case - outright hatred.

Maybe too much was expected too soon. I suspect they had goals when they committed to Iowa and that a couple of those goals have not yet been fulfilled. I have a feeling that Woody believes he has something to prove to the naysayers this year.

With the excitement of the new comers, these two have almost been forgotten. If not forgotten, under-appreciated by the fans -myself included. I'm hoping for big seasons for both.

As for the new-comers, the two I'm most interested in watching are Fleming and Ellingson. I truly believe that multiple credible 3PT shooters is what will take Iowa further. By "further" I mean a conference championship and the Final4

Even though Ellingson is not a new player per se, he will be a freshman this year and I really like his shooting stroke. I mean, every one of his jumpers just looks perfect and the shot appears to be good as soon as it leaves his hand. I will be very surprised if he shoots under 40% from long-range this year. Hope he stays healthy.

 

[icwesthawk]

Gotta love the Hawkeye optimism, good thread.

 

[EduNeerHawk]

Gotta love the Hawkeye optimism, good thread.

Yes....great thoughts by all. Listening to Fran's interviews from BTN Media Day, he really pointed out how important it is to recruit guys with character just as important as the talent. He mentioned with the 4 seniors, you can't say enough what it means to have great character guys like Woody, Mike, Sapp and Jarrod who lead by example on and off the court, work out sessions - during the season and out, in the locker room and most importantly **** on the road in very tough and hostile environments......huge.

Ya gotta believe all these freshman/newbies from Brandon on, Fran looked at their character as much as their talent.

 

[hawk-i bob]

Yes....great thoughts by all. Listening to Fran's interviews from BTN Media Day, he really pointed out how important it is to recruit guys with character just as important as the talent. He mentioned with the 4 seniors, you can't say enough what it means to have great character guys like Woody, Mike, Sapp and Jarrod who lead by example on and off the court, work out sessions - during the season and out, in the locker room and most importantly **** on the road in very tough and hostile environments......huge.

Ya gotta believe all these freshman/newbies from Brandon on, Fran looked at their character as much as their talent.

super post .... it is pretty fair to say that Fran has passed on some Rivals Top 100 or whatever.. just for the same reason(s) in your post...guys who just didn't fit.. At the same time...one of the reasons Fran got Tyler Cook ...was because it was important to his family he attend a school under someone like Fran...

 

[hawk-i bob]

good post Perry ... Fran does a really good job not only recruiting talent but also young guys that seem to get it...makes pulling for them easy. I also grab a favorite...just for the heck of it...Hutton would be a good pick..I'm going to wait til the season starts to pick. Last year Clemmons was mine...just because he could have said screw it & left..instead he took ownership of his play the previous year & was clearly an important piece to the teams success.

after reading Kakert's new article on Clemmons today ...I'm going with Sapp as my favorite back-back.