Most Improved Player 2015-16

[nu2u]

Taking an early gut feeling check. It's kind of silly this far out but I'm home alone with my 7 year old son all weekend and I'm starting to go crazy.

I'm leaning Woodbury or Uhl. Who you got?

(Ellingson not included due to very brief action last year).

 

[supahawk]

I have Jok. I think he is going to be very solid and have multiple 20 point games.

 

[nu2u]

I have Jok. I think he is going to be very solid and have multiple 20 point games.

You could very well be right, supa. When I step back and think about it, I believe a case can be made for any player listed. Jok is certainly ripe for a scoring breakout - can he be consistent? I voted for Woodbury under the belief that he will follow the Les Jepsen / Acie Earl senior center model.

That is what makes this season so interesting and also dynamic. Which returning vet takes the biggest step forward? Which newcomer makes the biggest impact? How will the vets and newcomers blend as a unit? Will Fran stretch the offense? Many questions; many possibilities.

 

[goodbyebobby]

Uthoff.

 

[DanL53]

I see I went with the crowd and picked Uhl. But I have to say, I had a hard time. All four of the seniors could have a year to remember, and Jok has always given me and most everybody else that feeling he's going to just explode.

In the end I picked Uhl as with White and Olaseni gone he'll have the most chance to step up.

 

[CanadaHawk]

I see I went with the crowd and picked Uhl. But I have to say, I had a hard time. All four of the seniors could have a year to remember, and Jok has always given me and most everybody else that feeling he's going to just explode.

In the end I picked Uhl as with White and Olaseni gone he'll have the most chance to step up.

That's the thing this year. The seniors are going to step up. I feel Jok is going to make a leap forward. But for all the talk of the newbies, Uhl may have the chance to make the most unexpected jump in his play.

 

[hawk-i bob]

Difference makers...between upper division B1G...NCAA bid...
two of them IMO..Uhl & Jok.

I think we know what we have in Gesell, Clemmons, Uthoff & Woodbury..

 

[FSHawkeye87]

I think it has to be Uhl, due to his increased role alone. I think he'll be more comfortable, and if it's consistent, this team can be very dangerous. I do, however, expect big leaps forward from Uthoff and Jok, and moderate leaps from Gesell and Woodbury.

 

[shoot_the_three]

I think Gessel is poised to have a big Senior year. His elbow should be healed, he was getting to the rim better towards the end of last season, and Fran has shown that he can get the best out of his Seniors.

 

[StormHawk42]

I think Gessel is poised to have a big Senior year. His elbow should be healed, he was getting to the rim better towards the end of last season, and Fran has shown that he can get the best out of his Seniors.

An excellent point

 

[hawksense]

Interesting responses, so far.

I think, IMO, that Uthoff can't get too crazy in the most improved category unless he goes all one-of-the-best-seasons-in-Hawkeye-history good. He's good.

Woody stepping forward in a big way gives every team we play a giant headache. I like this as the most important piece should he be the most improved.

I'm not on the Jok wagon like so many. I have my reservations based on MY eye test. He certainly has room for improvement and could make me eat crow, but I'll wait to see it. And don't kill me. I like him. He's a Hawkeye. Just offering an opinion.

Mikey is what he is, as is AC. They could make marginal statistical improvements, but their contributions would be more impressive in leadership roles. Love them both and would still be shocked to see huge leaps forward.

Uhl is truly a wild card. I loved the video I saw on him before he arrived and saw oozing potential. Can he tap into it? Can he be a hybrid of Whitey and Bowen with a splash of Bullard? Would love to see him hit a decent % on his 3's and be a quality rebounder. It would go a long way in expanding the rest of his game. Get to the line consistently, too.

This team will need 3 other "rookies" to contribute in a big way. Not necessarily in a lead way, but more as a nice complement to the others. And if one wants to bid for Big Ten Newcomer of the year, that would be fine, too.

 

[SSG T]

While I think Uthoff and Gesell will be the leaders of the team, I think Uhl will take the biggest step forward in performance, followed by Jok. Honestly, the biggest thing with Uhl will be how much confidence he plays with and how comfortable he is this year.

Last season it always looked like he was capable of doing things, but he'd hesitate, think about it just a fraction of a second too long, then do the action with no confidence. With a year under his belt and a bit more comfort and maturity, I expect him to show he's one of the best players on the team. And by one of the best, I mean top 3 on the team with JU and Mike.

 

[The Sleeping Dog]

Most improved player is always a strange category. For example, Uthoff could improve his overall game without displaying an enormous statistical leap. Add 4 ppg, 2 rpg and get the shooting up around 50 and 80 and you've got a monster on your hands.

At the same time Uhl could triple his production and still be a pretty marginal player. Kind of pulling for Uhl to be very much improved because the Hawks have a big need for someone to be already prepared to start in the B1G. The other options look a lot like smallish ball (Jok) or varying levels of inexperience. Uhl certainly seems to have the type of versatile size and game that McCaffery seems to prefer (what I call the traditional forward). One thing for certain, the other forward is going to be the hottest point of competition in camp.

My vote was Woodbury. He's gotten better every year. Last year I thought he was getting close to a big breakout. The big man theory of late developers could apply as well. He's really got to avoid the dumb fouls an area of great improvement last year. The refs will surely give a senior a break on the chicken s**t calls as well. Woody also has to be more under control at the point of release on those inside shots that he so frustratingly misses too often. Any improvement at the line is just the cherry on the top.

Both Gesell and Clemmons improved significantly last year as well. MG had some big games and big moments and so did AC. Mike's got to get better at penetrating, which he did last year. The shooting woes, especially from the line have to be cured this year. If Mike gets more reliable as shooter his penetration will surely improve as well. Much the same can be said for AC. Both AC and MG are smart kids that play really hard and smart on the floor. Those are the kind of guys that typically rise to the challenge of their senior years.

Jok is my second pick. He's erratic but his overall game, especially rebounding and defense improved. More importantly he worked hard on defense and appeared willing to do so. Yes too many dumb mistakes but a lot fewer than his freshman year. Probably Hawks most versatile offensive threat. His game really seems to follow his first couple of shots. That's a mental problem to be solved. On the upside, that offensive versatility could all come together and, if it does, we'll have a shot at two guys getting pretty close to twenty a game. Also think he can play a forward position in McCaffery's general scheme. Jok's 6'6" and getting stronger.

 

[HoustonHawkeye]

While I think Uthoff and Gesell will be the leaders of the team, I think Uhl will take the biggest step forward in performance, followed by Jok. Honestly, the biggest thing with Uhl will be how much confidence he plays with and how comfortable he is this year.

Last season it always looked like he was capable of doing things, but he'd hesitate, think about it just a fraction of a second too long, then do the action with no confidence. With a year under his belt and a bit more comfort and maturity, I expect him to show he's one of the best players on the team. And by one of the best, I mean top 3 on the team with JU and Mike.

This brings up another interesting topic: Leadership

I think all 4 seniors will provide their own style of leadership. Woody will be vocal and confident. Gesell will be by running the offense, driving. AC will be by coming as the back up PG most of the time and running the offense, but also by being a defensive sparkplug at other times. Uthoff will lead by performance. He will just get it done.

 

[Ronman]

Uhl only averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds last year. He could optimistically quadruple those figures this year. What other Iowa player has that potential?

 

[nu2u]

Uhl only averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds last year. He could optimistically quadruple those figures this year. What other Iowa player has that potential?

Uhl is probably unique in that regard but I believe most fans would be more impressed if, with all the scoring options on this year's team, Woodbury bumped his scoring from 6.6 to 12 ppg and increased rebs from 5.2 to around 10, especially if he was hitting some 10-12 foot shots and staying out of foul trouble. I think he could probably do that if he would average 25 or more mpg.

 

[BBHawk]

I do love the jolt that seniors who play for McC seem to get and I think that Woodbury and Gesell are set to have great senior years, but I still voted for PJ. He just seems so focused and had added a lot of upper-body strength. He weakness still seems to be his knees - he has the smallest knees and legs on the team next to Williams. But man has he ever put on weight above - his shoulders and arms are substantially thicker and his shot is still just as sweet.

 

[icwesthawk]

Mike takes us where we want to go next season. Uthoff is important but Mike makes the system go and he has to have a much bigger scorers mentality. I posted earlier I thought he came to Iowa as more of a 2 guard not a pg, I was wrong. But he was always a very good and productive shooter, unless I'm mistaken again and he will need to be that again.

 

[sloehawk]

Interesting responses, so far.

I think, IMO, that Uthoff can't get too crazy in the most improved category unless he goes all one-of-the-best-seasons-in-Hawkeye-history good. He's good.

Woody stepping forward in a big way gives every team we play a giant headache. I like this as the most important piece should he be the most improved.

I'm not on the Jok wagon like so many. I have my reservations based on MY eye test. He certainly has room for improvement and could make me eat crow, but I'll wait to see it. And don't kill me. I like him. He's a Hawkeye. Just offering an opinion.

Mikey is what he is, as is AC. They could make marginal statistical improvements, but their contributions would be more impressive in leadership roles. Love them both and would still be shocked to see huge leaps forward.

Uhl is truly a wild card. I loved the video I saw on him before he arrived and saw oozing potential. Can he tap into it? Can he be a hybrid of Whitey and Bowen with a splash of Bullard? Would love to see him hit a decent % on his 3's and be a quality rebounder. It would go a long way in expanding the rest of his game. Get to the line consistently, too.

This team will need 3 other "rookies" to contribute in a big way. Not necessarily in a lead way, but more as a nice complement to the others. And if one wants to bid for Big Ten Newcomer of the year, that would be fine, too.

I'm with you on Jok. He doesn't give me the "warm fuzzies" either. I just don't like the way he handles the ball most of the time. He did have a few really nice passes on some fast breaks, but in the 1/2 court with him dribbling it makes me cringe to be honest. Needs to vastly improve his finishes and decision making at the rim as well.

He's got a nice shot, great free throw shooter, those are the good things. If his handles don't improve, he won't either, at least to the extent we need him to, IMO. I don't care all that much about his defensive improvement or lack thereof depending on who you ask I suppose, but for the Hawks to be a contender for anything, we'll need another scorer, and Jok is that guy. I'll hope for the best and see what happens.