Time to finally flush the ISU game. Need something to look forward to. Drake is my second team to the Hawks so I watch them quite a bit.
The Hawks are 2-1 in the Big Four Classic, 1-0 against Drake. Drake is 4-6 on the year, with wins against Western Kentucky and Pepperdine, but losses to Tulane, Bowling Green, DePaul, some others. I still think the Dogs are on an upward trajectory under Coach Giac, but they're still a year away IMO. The lone senior, Karl Madison, is not much of a contributor, so they lose nothing after this year. Their goal this year is to avoid the Thursday night game in the MVC tourney. Anything else is gravy. Next year, I really think they'll compete for top 4 in the Valley.
Now then, this game really should not be close if Iowa comes to play. Drake goes about 11 deep, but there is little in reason behind the rotations. Their top 3 scorers are really the offense and that's pretty much it. At PG is Penn State transfer Graham Woodward. Fast, looks to dish, but is small and is turnover prone by PG standards. At SG is their best offensive player Reed Timmer (Soph). Averaging about 19 points a game (including 30 against DePaul) and hits alot of threes, but his all around game isn't really developed and Clemmons should be able to neutralize him. Abrahamson, NW transfer and Des Moines native, is the third offensive threat. He dropped 41 against Western Kentucky, but he really lacks quickness and gets beat on the dribble. Uthoff should have his way there. CJ Rivers is a super undersized SF and is more about defense than offense. They have a pair of foreign seven footers, Enevold and Olenjizak. Enevold doesn't have a lot of offensive moves and butter fingers, but plays decent defense. Olenjizak is a freshman and a better athlete, but is very turnover prone.
Drake's huge achilles heel is defense. For as small as they are, they play very little zone. Consequently, they get absolutely destroyed on dribble and dish. For Drake to even be competitive, they have to hit about 50% of 3's (I think they're 15th in the nation in 3pt%) and not get completely outdone on the boards. And even then, that may not be enough.
Iowa should roll by 15-20 fairly easily.
The Hawks are 2-1 in the Big Four Classic, 1-0 against Drake. Drake is 4-6 on the year, with wins against Western Kentucky and Pepperdine, but losses to Tulane, Bowling Green, DePaul, some others. I still think the Dogs are on an upward trajectory under Coach Giac, but they're still a year away IMO. The lone senior, Karl Madison, is not much of a contributor, so they lose nothing after this year. Their goal this year is to avoid the Thursday night game in the MVC tourney. Anything else is gravy. Next year, I really think they'll compete for top 4 in the Valley.
Now then, this game really should not be close if Iowa comes to play. Drake goes about 11 deep, but there is little in reason behind the rotations. Their top 3 scorers are really the offense and that's pretty much it. At PG is Penn State transfer Graham Woodward. Fast, looks to dish, but is small and is turnover prone by PG standards. At SG is their best offensive player Reed Timmer (Soph). Averaging about 19 points a game (including 30 against DePaul) and hits alot of threes, but his all around game isn't really developed and Clemmons should be able to neutralize him. Abrahamson, NW transfer and Des Moines native, is the third offensive threat. He dropped 41 against Western Kentucky, but he really lacks quickness and gets beat on the dribble. Uthoff should have his way there. CJ Rivers is a super undersized SF and is more about defense than offense. They have a pair of foreign seven footers, Enevold and Olenjizak. Enevold doesn't have a lot of offensive moves and butter fingers, but plays decent defense. Olenjizak is a freshman and a better athlete, but is very turnover prone.
Drake's huge achilles heel is defense. For as small as they are, they play very little zone. Consequently, they get absolutely destroyed on dribble and dish. For Drake to even be competitive, they have to hit about 50% of 3's (I think they're 15th in the nation in 3pt%) and not get completely outdone on the boards. And even then, that may not be enough.
Iowa should roll by 15-20 fairly easily.
