Jayda is a 3/4 as well... sample size is too small to know about either Jayda or Shateah at this point? I think Shateah played post in high school?
Needs for next year to win it all
- Thread starter Hawkfan_08
- Start date
I believe they will. The motivation will be there. With CC back next year anything is possible.
Tell me more about Jayda. I really didn't follow her recruiting but she was usually last off the bench.
She was hurt to start the year, and Bluder said she's a 3/4 but she would only play the 4 this year because In iowa system the 3 and 4 are so different. she was on the same All iowa attack team as Hannah and Taylor. I'm not sure what to expect coming into next year. I think all 3 were top 100 recruits according to some services?
So In theory our bench has some higher recruiting evals than our starters... but ratings don't easily replace a 3 year starter
That's an easy pass. I'd give anything for a title, but not at the expense of team character. I'd rather they lose with good decent people, than POS questionable personnel
Iowa didn't miss a free throw. I've never seen that happen before. Likely helped quite a bit and good 3 pt shooting.
The difference between her and Megan also illustrates the importance of guard play in the tourney as well. I know we always discuss this as the Iowa men’s Achilles heal in March. For both though, the most important piece is great guard play. Agree with others that more inside presence and rebounding is needed if we hope to be back in the FF next year. With a player like Clark and knowing it could potentially be her last year, you still gotta do everything you can to bring in some athletic height. I’m hoping having Feurbach back will help with athleticism and be another viable back up point for us ( I know she’s more of 2).
With that said, did I see correctly that some Maryland player(s) are already leaving or was that just some false click bait from last year?
Bluder is selective about character and this would never even be an option in her mind. She didn’t offer Ashley Joens after all (who is by all accounts a nice girl), due to a family member’s conduct. Plus she’d never be eligible at Iowa as others have already pointed out. There’s a reason she ended up at LSU.
I have a few thoughts (many previously noted by others):
1. Someone upthread noted that Caitlin's defense was non-existent. I agree but that's because it had to be. She is so essential to everything we do on offense that we can't have her picking up fouls (especially when the refs are eagerly waiting to call her for offensive fouls for the slightest little push off of a defender who has both hands on her). Saving energy is a factor too. But she definitely has the physical tools necessary to be a solid defender. So that brings me to #2.
2. We need someone besides CC who can create offense for, like, 10 minutes a game. This will enable CC to defend with more intensity because her offensive energy expenditure won't be as high and she won't have to worry as much about fouls. For the team to get back to the FF / Win the whole thing, they must find such a player, either internally or externally. Obviously, it's unreasonable to expect this player to be equivalent to CC, someone like that guard for LSU who hit those pullups/floaters in the second half would do just fine. This player will also need to be a capable of defensive player.
3. Some more athletic length. I like O'Grady and Stuelke. They have potential and will be good players for us, especially given our coaching staff's track record of developing bigs. That said, especially with Czinano leaving, I feel like we are going to be one big away from being able to beat a team like LSU.
4. We were good enough offensively to win the whole thing this year. Defensively, we weren't though. We basically had to sag off SC and LSU because of their interior size and, perhaps, an inability to stay in front of them off the dribble. SC couldn't shoot well enough to burn us but LSU could. If we get the two right players, athletic+skilled guard/wing and athletic big (+Clark now being able to go all out on defense), the defense could get there.
5. I will be pleasantly surprised if these things happen but not sure how plausible these upgrades really are.
6. I think it should be a great season with a star player who extraordinarily fun to watch. We'll see how long the tournament run goes. But definitely don't wait until March to watch this team. There will be plenty of fun basketball to watch in November, December, January and February.
1. Someone upthread noted that Caitlin's defense was non-existent. I agree but that's because it had to be. She is so essential to everything we do on offense that we can't have her picking up fouls (especially when the refs are eagerly waiting to call her for offensive fouls for the slightest little push off of a defender who has both hands on her). Saving energy is a factor too. But she definitely has the physical tools necessary to be a solid defender. So that brings me to #2.
2. We need someone besides CC who can create offense for, like, 10 minutes a game. This will enable CC to defend with more intensity because her offensive energy expenditure won't be as high and she won't have to worry as much about fouls. For the team to get back to the FF / Win the whole thing, they must find such a player, either internally or externally. Obviously, it's unreasonable to expect this player to be equivalent to CC, someone like that guard for LSU who hit those pullups/floaters in the second half would do just fine. This player will also need to be a capable of defensive player.
3. Some more athletic length. I like O'Grady and Stuelke. They have potential and will be good players for us, especially given our coaching staff's track record of developing bigs. That said, especially with Czinano leaving, I feel like we are going to be one big away from being able to beat a team like LSU.
4. We were good enough offensively to win the whole thing this year. Defensively, we weren't though. We basically had to sag off SC and LSU because of their interior size and, perhaps, an inability to stay in front of them off the dribble. SC couldn't shoot well enough to burn us but LSU could. If we get the two right players, athletic+skilled guard/wing and athletic big (+Clark now being able to go all out on defense), the defense could get there.
5. I will be pleasantly surprised if these things happen but not sure how plausible these upgrades really are.
6. I think it should be a great season with a star player who extraordinarily fun to watch. We'll see how long the tournament run goes. But definitely don't wait until March to watch this team. There will be plenty of fun basketball to watch in November, December, January and February.
She’s more of a fallen angel I think
Scoring is never a problem for a Bluder/Jan Jensen team. We shot 14-30 from 3 in the championship game. That’s ridiculously good, and lost by 17. Honestly if Monica could have stayed out of foul trouble, we possibly had a chance as she was killing it on the pick and roll.
Let’s be honest, we gave up a record breaking 102 pts. Clark can only do so much. I’m never going to say never with her on this team but Warnock and Monica are huge losses. Bluders teams are actually pretty similar to Frans teams except we now have Clark, a once in a generation player. Hopefully we can convince 1 or 2 girls to come play with her. If not I’ll just sit back and enjoy watching her play anyway.
Let’s be honest, we gave up a record breaking 102 pts. Clark can only do so much. I’m never going to say never with her on this team but Warnock and Monica are huge losses. Bluders teams are actually pretty similar to Frans teams except we now have Clark, a once in a generation player. Hopefully we can convince 1 or 2 girls to come play with her. If not I’ll just sit back and enjoy watching her play anyway.
That would be a travesty!!!! CC is a once in a generation player. You need to seize the opportunity with her and make full use of it. Ya gotta get a solid transfer. Stuelke will make good improvements, but O’Grady is not ready to be a starter. Plus we have no depth.
Agree and it is sad that's why we have to get them right now to keep us moving forward. Stuelke needs to be at the 4 and we need a BIG! I would love, love, love to get Cardozo or a player of that ilk. I know Cardozo won't leave USC but that's what we need to get back. O'Grady has too much to do to improve and not enough time to do it in my opinion. Although, Jensen is a genius low post coach so you never know.
It's BIG in the portal or bust in my opinion.
Iowa doesn't play great defense but the foul situation handicapped them even more. The fouls were like 7 on Iowa and 2 on LSU early in the first quarter. Iowa basically has no bench so had to keep the players in foul trouble in the game. Then they couldn't defend aggressively for fear of picking up more fouls. The refs pulled a Tonya Harding and handicapped Iowa out of the gate.
We need an off-ball guard who can complement Clark, along with another tall post player all from the transfer portal. Book it. You can’t teach experience or maturity. They need some girls who can literally plug and play. The ones on the roster right now, aren’t ready in my opinion. Find 2 girls with 1 or 2 years left. We need to capitalize big time while we have Clark on the team before it’s too late. The Iowa brand is bigger than ever at the moment. We need some dawgs!!
Not seeing one player mentioned at all in this thread that could be a major contributor: Syd Affolter. She has had a horrendous 3pt %, but is an 85%+ FT shooter; the potential is there. My hope is off-season work and more PT allowing her to get into the flow of the game will get her into the 30s%.
She is a hard-nosed player and willing and able to mix it up more than anyone the Hawkeyes have had in years (Carly Mohns, maybe?). And, she can drive. As the roster exists on 4/4, to me our best five are Clark, Marshall, Martin, Stuelke, Affolter. May not be the starters, but would be the best line-up. Yes, they're short.
She is a hard-nosed player and willing and able to mix it up more than anyone the Hawkeyes have had in years (Carly Mohns, maybe?). And, she can drive. As the roster exists on 4/4, to me our best five are Clark, Marshall, Martin, Stuelke, Affolter. May not be the starters, but would be the best line-up. Yes, they're short.
Assuming there is no one transferring out. Stuelke will be better next year. A lot better. O'Grady should be better, too. There is talent there. With that, if a single spot opens in the roster, they should put all of their focus on landing a five.
As far as the Final Four next year? It is always hard to get there. But I wouldn't count them out.
As far as the Final Four next year? It is always hard to get there. But I wouldn't count them out.
Of course it did. It was Monica or bust for us in a game like that. Stuelke had some really good moments this year but we needed ( and still need ) another quality big. Monica got the absolute most out of her talent of almost any player I've ever seen. Again, w/Clark, I'm not putting anything past us, but there's some big and talented teams out there. You know SC will rebuild quickly, the SEC teams are always big and physical, we've got to get another solid big out there. The time is now w/a player like Clark.
I know she's been hurt, but people are sleeping g on Goodman. I think she looks a lot more like the fresham we saw two years ago next. Fall. She has post moves and seals, when healthy might be a better defender than cinzano
Now if they can land a upgrade ready to start day 1 that might be something to consider. My concern would be it would likely result in one in and 2-3 out?
Is what it is. Obviously chemistry is important but we were in the national championship game. Sweet 16 or something like that next year w/possibly Clark's last year would be crushing. Have to strike while the iron is hot.
She's going to be good but only a frosh the year extra year I believe for CC if she takes it. Doesn't mean she won't be something special right away but BIGs take time usually. If she has a frosh year like Gustafson though, that's all we need truthfully and you never know with Jensen coaching them.
My biggest concern is next year and even if we don't do as much or as well, we need to prove to Clark she has a reason to come back for her extra year and that means we need to get better quickly and prove we're upgrading to give her a shot.
Of course, she may come back regardless but it can only help if she's still chasing that title.
Apparently there are rumblings that up to two will transfer out. I just heard that so I don't know how truthful it is.
