Jok to replace Baer in starting line up

[Franisdaman]

So, it looks like the starters will be:

FR JoBo
SR Jok
FR Moss
SO Wagner
FR Cook

From HawkCentral:


Sophomore forward Ahmad Wagner figures to remain a starter. Iowa is 7-1 with him in that role this season, and Wagner is playing the best basketball of his career. He has 37 points and 19 rebounds in his past four games. Most impressively, 13 of those boards have come on the offensive end.

“Coach put me in the lineup because he wanted more energy, and that’s what I’ve been trying to bring,” Wagner said. “Just going to the glass immediately, getting offensive rebounds, kicking them out, trying to get assists. Anything I can to help us get a good start.”

The Hawkeyes haven’t always been locked in defensively this season. But they’ve held their past two opponents — Ohio State and Rutgers — to a combined 40.9 percent shooting.

That improvement, too, was sparked by studying film, freshman forward Tyler Cook said.

“We’ve seen on film the difference between when we’re active and when we’re not,” Cook said. “I think we’re doing a better job of holding each other accountable from top to bottom, making sure we’re in the right spaces at the right time.”

read entire story here: http://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sp...ery-nebraska-peter-jok-ahmad-wagner/97449970/

 

[HeRKeYHoPeFuL]

That Tyler Cook quote makes me happy. Effort and activity on defense only get addressed when players can recognize it. The fact that our freshmen are starting to recognize it is HUGE.

 

[LuteHawk]

With five key Freshmen in our rotation, those guys
are learning about the transition from high school to
college basketball. Bohannon and Cook were big
offensive stars in high school, now they are learning
that defense is also an important part of winning games.

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

Great to have Pete back if he's healthy, but I think it's a mistake to take Baer out of the starting lineup. He and Wagner have turned this team's opening act upside down since they were inserted as starters. Why screw it up? I'd absolutely start Baer instead of Moss. I hope it all works out, but I'm not a fan of Baer on the bench.

 

[slipHawk]

I like seeing Wagner getting more minutes. He's just a gritty player that makes plays.

 

[HawkLogic]

Great to have Pete back if he's healthy, but I think it's a mistake to take Baer out of the starting lineup. He and Wagner have turned this team's opening act upside down since they were inserted as starters. Why screw it up? I'd absolutely start Baer instead of Moss. I hope it all works out, but I'm not a fan of Baer on the bench.

Baer + Jok + bohannon means 3 athletically challenged defenders at the 3 perimeter positions vs most teams---you can expect a drive by shooting bonanza on defense. I like what Moss brings to the lineup defensively and offensively and playing him is an investment in his long-term upside.

I think Fran's lineup makes sense. If Jok falls into his recent slump play, then quick hook to sub Baer at 3 or he can come in off bench at either 3/4 positions or Jok goes to 2 and Baer comes in at 3 if Moss does't bring effort.

 

[Bearhawk0505]

Wagner and Baer are great glue guys. They bring a defensive intensity to the lineup. Wagner significantly increases our foot speed and athleticism when he is in the lineup. I think we found a solid lineup for next year over the last few games.

 

[Bearhawk0505]

I think Moss could also be added to my above post.

 

[IowaNiceHawk]

Baer DESERVES to start..........Hey Fran..........you can't tell who your
Most Valuable Player is??

Good grief...........

I'll bet that Baer actually starts and this is WRONG info

 

[lovedwatchingLester]

As I have said on more than a few occasions Nick Baer is the perfect 6th man on a team that has 5 solid starters. The question remains do the Hawkeyes this year now have 5 solid starters in front of him. I guess we will see !!!

 

[thirteenandtwo]

I wish Ellingson was starting instead of Moss...
I think its just a matter of time.

 

[iahawkeyes17]

Baer DESERVES to start..........Hey Fran..........you can't tell who your
Most Valuable Player is??

Good grief...........

I'll bet that Baer actually starts and this is WRONG info

Honestly for most part who starts is insignificant to a certain degree. Who Fran has in during the last 5-6 minutes of a close game is what I care about more. Majority of games Fran has had Baer this year and usually has the 5 guys who have played the best during the game.

 

[The Sleeping Dog]

Agree with the 6th man theory. The Baer Cage is one of a very rare kind of players, even more impact off the pine as starting. At this point in the career and on this team Baer is a far better player than Moss or Wagner. But the force multiplier effect when he enters a game provides even more advantages. The game almost always turns in Iowa's direction when an adversary gets the first couple of minutes in the Cage.

Every guy on the floor needs to learn to turn up the heat regardless of exhaustion the instant Baer enters the game. That is the time to deliver the most punishing blow possible.

 

[Joes Place]

Headline really needs to read:

"Iowa starting lineup won't go Baer; will play with Jok"

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

No, it doesn't matter who starts...except that when Baer and Wagner were NOT starting, neither was Iowa. I know it's been a long time ago, but try to remember before this long 2-game winning streak. Remember when Iowa started three straight games behind 8-0, 8-0, and 10-0? Well, that 3-game losing streak stopped when Baer and Wagner started.

So no. It doesn't really matter who starts. Except when it does.

 

[iahawkeyes17]

No, it doesn't matter who starts...except that when Baer and Wagner were NOT starting, neither was Iowa. I know it's been a long time ago, but try to remember before this long 2-game winning streak. Remember when Iowa started three straight games behind 8-0, 8-0, and 10-0? Well, that 3-game losing streak stopped when Baer and Wagner started.

So no. It doesn't really matter who starts. Except when it does.

Quality of opponent matters when we talk about Iowa's last vs previous 3.

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

Then why did Fran make the change in the first place? Didn't he know the "easy" teams were coming up after facing such juggernauts as the limping Illini?

 

[iahawkeyes17]

Then why did Fran make the change in the first place? Didn't he know the "easy" teams were coming up after facing such juggernauts as the limping Illini?

He said he wanted guys with more energy due to lathergic starts so why Wagner replaced pemsl and also cause jok was hurt so he inserted Baer. All I said is people here debate so much and so worried about who starts I think more importantly is who is there in the end. In crunch time personnel wise Baer finds himself in majority of time starter or bench player so if he starts or not is a moot point to me.

 

[RocknRollface]

No, it doesn't matter who starts...except that when Baer and Wagner were NOT starting, neither was Iowa. I know it's been a long time ago, but try to remember before this long 2-game winning streak. Remember when Iowa started three straight games behind 8-0, 8-0, and 10-0? Well, that 3-game losing streak stopped when Baer and Wagner started.

So no. It doesn't really matter who starts. Except when it does.

Exactly, yes Baer changes the game when he comes in but the slow starts aren't worth the trade off.

Id much rather start fast and not have to play catch up.

 

[RocknRollface]

He said he wanted guys with more energy due to lathergic starts so why Wagner replaced pemsl and also cause jok was hurt so he inserted Baer. All I said is people here debate so much and so worried about who starts I think more importantly is who is there in the end. In crunch time personnel wise Baer finds himself in majority of time starter or bench player so if he starts or not is a moot point to me.

I generally agree that its who finishes thats important but the slow start against Illinois was pretty much the difference in that game.

In this instance I think Fran needs to do whatever he can to avoid those bad starts.

 

[herkI]

Great to have Pete back if he's healthy, but I think it's a mistake to take Baer out of the starting lineup. He and Wagner have turned this team's opening act upside down since they were inserted as starters. Why screw it up? I'd absolutely start Baer instead of Moss. I hope it all works out, but I'm not a fan of Baer on the bench.

I'm with you. I think Jok is terrific but the team plays differently when he's in. They all look to get the ball to him instead of playing team ball. I'm sure the coaches have seen that and it will be interesting to see how they try to overcome the problem.

 

[thirteenandtwo]

I'm with you. I think Jok is terrific but the team plays differently when he's in. They all look to get the ball to him instead of playing team ball. I'm sure the coaches have seen that and it will be interesting to see how they try to overcome the problem.

I don't see that at all...
I think that is a completely imaginative statement.

Peter Jok is the greatest basketball player to ever wear the uniform...
without question, the Hawkeyes are much better with him in the game.

 

[Mohawkeye]

I think Fran knows that moving Baer to the bench isn't going to get into his head and affect his play. With Moss or Cook or even Wagner it might. It is really a compliment to Baer and shows how much Fran respects him and his mental toughness. He will play the same number of minutes, regardless.

 

[FairfIowafan1984]

I love Baer he's the energizer bunny he just keeps going and going. I love him coming off the bench and Is a good defender.

I think Fran has done a terrific job this year with subs and such. ISU would love our bench!

 

[HawkTex]

Great to have Pete back if he's healthy, but I think it's a mistake to take Baer out of the starting lineup. He and Wagner have turned this team's opening act upside down since they were inserted as starters. Why screw it up? I'd absolutely start Baer instead of Moss. I hope it all works out, but I'm not a fan of Baer on the bench.

Baer has not been productive offensively when he starts. Much better off the bench.

 

[ABYPFCS]

Not sure that starting is all that big a deal, compared to total minutes played. Of course, that is assuming the players accept their roles.