Player Grades for Exhibition Game

[HellaHawk]

Here are my thoughts on how each player performed tonight. Feel free to disagree.

Jok: A (18 pts, 4 rbs, 0 TOs)

Jok was on fire from distance and showed a new dimension to his game by driving to the rim. Will likely be our second leading scorer this year.

Gesell: A- (24 pts, 8 rbs, 6 assts, 3 stls -- also 5 TOs)

Would get an A if not for the 5 TOs, but it was great to see Mike scoring so well.

Clemmons: B+ (9pts, 6 assts, 3 TOs)

He didn't do as much offensively as Gessel, but made all 4 of his shots and turned the ball over less.

Baer: B+ (8 pts, 5 rebs)

He had more pts and rebs per minute than Uthoff. Not bad for a walk-on.

Uthoff: B (13 pts, 10 rbs)

His stat line was okay, but only 3-8 from the field. Didn't seem in rhythm tonight. Perhaps a bit disinterested, which is understandable.

Fleming: B (8 pts, 2 stls, 2 rebs)

He got the most mins of the newcomers and was productive. Took a couple of ill-advised shots, but has a much more varied game than Ellingson. It's nice that he is able to score even when his 3 ball isn't falling.

Williams: C (3pts, 1TO)

Not much of a statline, but looked okay handling the ball. He appears to be ahead of Moss and Hutton in the rotation. Or Fran is planning on redshirting him and wants him to play now as this is his only chance. I think the former is more likely as I think Fran needs to get him ready for next season.

Uhl: C (4 pts, 3PF, 1 reb)

Was hoping to see more from Uhl tonight. It's possible that he just didn't get many mins because Fran wanted to test out Wagner, Jones, and Baer, but Uthoff did play 30 mins. He did have one nice move in the post.

Woodbury: C- (8 pts, 5 rebs)

His statline wasn't terrible, but he missed a ton of easy shots against a very short team. Not his best night.

Jones: C- (5rebs, 1stl)

The rebounds were nice, but he was kind of invisible out there otherwise. Only took one shot, which he missed. If he's as good a shooter as promised, he needs to become more aggressive.

Ellingson: D (2 pts)

The night started well for Ellingson. He swished a 3, but then they called it off because he was on the line. Missing 3 free throws was pretty bad too. It's only game though. He seems to be ahead of Moss in the rotation right now. I see better games ahead.

Wagner: D (2 pts, 2 rebs, 4PF)

Like Woodbury, Wagner missed a few easy shots. He also racked up 4 fouls in 9 minutes.

Moss: N/A (2pts)

He didn't play enough to warrant a grade. Missed a couple of 3s, but flashed his athleticism in getting a put back.

Hutton: N/A (1 reb)

Only played 2 mins. As of now, most likely to redshirt, but season doesn't start for two weeks.

 

[Kurt Warner]

I would change it a little
Bair: A
Woody: D-
Wagner: C+
Williams: B
Ellingson: C (hit long three, so long he was out of bounds)

the rest I pretty much agree with ya

 

[hooper56]

I disagree with a lot of this. I think Fran does too.

My thoughts:
Uthoff/Woody looked pretty bad.
Williams was impressive.
Gesell and Clemmons are absolute studs
Jok is a lights out shooter and took it to the rim successfully as well
Flemming has no fear and plays hard. Doesn't know how to play defense.
Not enough minutes to judge Hutton and Moss
Jones was disappointing
Wagner looks like he oozes potential
Uhl has a nice low post game. Liked what he did.

 

[mazda1]

Who played post defense when Woody was out and what if anything did they show? Did any of the frosh look like they could defend their man?

Sounds like some of the kids had a little problem walking the talk under the dim lights of an exhibition game. Freshman will learn, but there will be growing pains.

 

[freemanbrenner]

If Uthoff gets 13 and 10 on a bad day, that's a good sign.

 

[mazda1]

Glad to hear Peter is taking it to the hole, but this isn't BIG defense yet.

Has anyone found a box score w minutes?

 

[hooper56]

Who played post defense when Woody was out and what if anything did they show? Did any of the frosh look like they could defend their man?

Sounds like some of the kids had a little problem walking the talk under the dim lights of an exhibition game. Freshman will learn, but there will be growing pains.

Dom Uhl or Wagner.

 

[Kurt Warner]

Glad to hear Peter is taking it to the hole, but this isn't BIG defense yet.

Has anyone found a box score w minutes?

Lol at your first sentence. But really looks as though jok has added that dimension to go along with the sweetest stroke ul ever see.

 

[briggshawk]

If Uthoff gets 13 and 10 on a bad day, that's a good sign.

That is in 30 minutes of play and he took plenty of shots. He looked almost sluggish tonight. Believe me, that stat line is not a good sign. Hope he gets it going; but I have feeling that the weight gain was a bad idea

 

[hansenhawk]

Was at the game, Jok and Gesell looked great.

Everything else was "meh."

Still like Flemming, and Baer looks NOTHING like he should be a high D1 basketball player, but was surprisingly effective.

Woody still can't make a layup.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

That is in 30 minutes of play and he took plenty of shots. He looked almost sluggish tonight. Believe me, that stat line is not a good sign. Hope he gets it going; but I have feeling that the weight gain was a bad idea

Well what kind of a weight gain was it?.........

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

I disagree with a lot of this. I think Fran does too.

My thoughts:

Flemming has no fear and plays hard. Doesn't know how to play defense.

Well considering where he came from, can you blame him?

 

[FranklinHawk]

Glad to hear Peter is taking it to the hole, but this isn't BIG defense yet.

Has anyone found a box score w minutes?

http://www.hawkeyesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/stats/2015-2016/sf-iowa.html

 

[CanadaHawk]

Well considering where he came from, can you blame him?

With Fleming, the experience he gained by playing with the competitive Oak Hill team, appears to be offset by a tendency to take bad shots. On that team, you probably have to be selfish to be seen. He's learning that on this level, that doesn't help your stat line or the team.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

With Fleming, the experience he gained by playing with the competitive Oak Hill team, appears to be offset by a tendency to take bad shots. On that team, you probably have to be selfish to be seen. He's learning that on this level, that doesn't help your stat line or the team.

True. I was also thinking more along the defensive side. I doubt their coaches were exactly masterminds of defensive strategy and fundamentals.......

 

[unIowa]

That is in 30 minutes of play and he took plenty of shots. He looked almost sluggish tonight. Believe me, that stat line is not a good sign. Hope he gets it going; but I have feeling that the weight gain was a bad idea

I think the weight will work itself out when more games get rolling. Their weight room activity will go down now that they are tipping it up.

 

[ZaHawks]

I'm excited about all of our new players! We're going to enjoy the ride!!!

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

I'm excited about all of our new players! We're going to enjoy the ride!!!

Way too early to make judgments, but we need Woody to play a whole lot better if Iowa is going to have a great season.

 

[freemanbrenner]

Uthoff had a quiet 10 rebounds which was good to see. Think he leads the team in rebounds with around 7 or 8 this year.

 

[DanHawkPella]

I disagree with a lot of this. I think Fran does too.

My thoughts:
Uthoff/Woody looked pretty bad.
Williams was impressive.
Gesell and Clemmons are absolute studs
Jok is a lights out shooter and took it to the rim successfully as well
Flemming has no fear and plays hard. Doesn't know how to play defense.
Not enough minutes to judge Hutton and Moss
Jones was disappointing
Wagner looks like he oozes potential
Uhl has a nice low post game. Liked what he did.

Agree with this entirely.

Woody was horrible - I can understand being cold, but he was just bad and his choices were bad. Uthoff looked in a funk because he knew he was the best guy on the floor but seemed indecisive about when to apply his talent versus letting his teammates make plays. He'll be fine. Guards looked good. Jones looked to be giving good effort on defense, didn't get many opportunities on offense. Wagner and Uhl look like true PF's down low, just need to finish.

Williams and Baer were the surprises - feel very good there. Baer shooting 3's was eye opening - now that he's more than a garbage guy on offense it really opens the door for serious minutes imo.

 

[hawksense]

I understand people being down on Woody. I, also, don't understand it.

He failed to make a bunch of bunnies....in an exhibition. That's what he's being graded on. The game itself, which doesn't count.

Did he do some things he should get credit for? Did he play good defense? Did he make some layups? Did the opposing offense have to respect his defensive presence?

He did go 4-5 from the line. He hustled the floor for an easy layup. He still goes to the floor before most on loose balls.

He's a punching bag. He is what he is and people don't like it sometimes. He doesn't sky for thunder dunks and misses gimmes, which is frustrating to me, too. But, the effort is ALWAYS there. And he loves wearing the black and gold.

I think a D- is harsh. I'd give him a C because I don't think he had his best game. He was Woody Lite on this night which is better than being Woodyless.

You may now start with the jokes.

 

[hooper56]

Woody will be fine but he lacks focus and rushes sometimes. That's all.

 

[DanHawkPella]

My issue with Woody is not the fact that he missed shots - it's HOW he missed them (and perhaps his defensive rebounding and bad foul, but I don't see those as ongoing issues).

I've played most of my life in the post and the decisions he makes at times are ridiculous. You can't hold the ball and wait for the guard to strip it when you finally make your move. You are 7' tall with a 6'7" freshman guarding you and you decide to go under the hoop and nearly airball a reverse layup. Etc, Etc. Stuff I might expect from a freshman but not a Center. I'm only 6'2" but I think I'd have a better chance getting some shots off than he does, because even without a vertical leap there are a lot of creative ways to score around the hoop.....even more if you are his size. The problem is that he has so few options, and then quite seldom doesn't pick the right one. It is EXTREMELY frustrating for people who have played a lot of time in the post and understand what he could do. Take the offseason to learn a hook shot, and then use it in the right time and place. Learn to release the ball at different times and places if you think the 6'7" guy will block your shot. Be decisive and quick on the first move. He pump fakes when wide open to the hoop because he's afraid of getting blocked - it shows in his mannerisms. His offense is so limited and predictable that it makes it easy on the defense and hard on him, so then he feels like he needs to fool them somehow and thus turns a shot into a more difficult shot.

It's just one game, but most of my hopes for off season improvement (like Les Jepsen for example) went out the window (other than his FT's perhaps) with just that showing. He'll round into better shape obviously over the next few months, but I don't see him being much better than last year in the post at least. That just makes my eyes bleed.

Woody will win a few games for us this year - I have no doubt. But that doesn't guarantee that he'll be much better than last year, or that he won't make my inner Jack Sikma cry most of the time. I desperately hope that I'm wrong and that there's a butterfly in their somewhere just waiting to break out.......but I'm no longer holding my breath.

 

[hawksense]

Once again, I understand your frustrations. However, he doesn't have your clarity or confidence with what he can or should do. He is what he's always going to be, and I applaud his efforts because I think I understand what he is. Your/my frustration can't hold a candle to what he feels what he watches time and time again in film study with his teammates watching. He keeps going after it, though.

I really hope he gets his moments of pure triumph this year to redeem his efforts. And I hope Senior Day is just as special for him as it has been for so many who put their heart and soul into the game. Who the f has he hurt? I guarantee that no one wants to win as badly as he does.

Well, maybe me. But, I don't play, thankfully.

 

[DanHawkPella]

Once again, I understand your frustrations. However, he doesn't have your clarity or confidence with what he can or should do. He is what he's always going to be, and I applaud his efforts because I think I understand what he is. Your/my frustration can't hold a candle to what he feels what he watches time and time again in film study with his teammates watching. He keeps going after it, though.

I really hope he gets his moments of pure triumph this year to redeem his efforts. And I hope Senior Day is just as special for him as it has been for so many who put their heart and soul into the game. Who the f has he hurt? I guarantee that no one wants to win as badly as he does.

Well, maybe me. But, I don't play, thankfully.

I don't understand this response to my post because I never claimed he wasn't frustrated, didn't care, etc. He appears to care almost more than anybody on the roster - he's extremely competitive. I love that aspect about him too. But we weren't talking about how much he cares or how much confidence he does or doesn't have, we (I) were simply stating that he's frustrating to watch because he seems to have hit a wall in terms of his skill set in the post when a lot of us were hoping there was still room to grow - and by grow I mean develop new aspects of his game. If anyone needs a hook shot (or a fadeaway, or a quicker spin move, or name that variant) it is him, because he can't jump.

I'm much less optimistic after this first exhibition about the 2015-16 version of Woody being much better than the 2014-15 version - which isn't bad, but I was hoping for more and I didn't see anything in terms of different skill sets to give me much hope. Again, we agree it's just one game but his "game" looked very similar to last year even if he makes 2 or 3 more shots than he did.

In the end I'm not disagreeing with you, and I love Woody as a person / Hawk, but we are just having separate conversations it seems

 

[hawksense]

we talk good.