Question about Uthoff for the board

[hooper56]

Jared is obviously a guy we are all proud of, a bright student and a solid citizen. But i got to thinking,,,,,I don't recall Uthoff ever shoving a guy, elbowing someone, trash talking, tripping, or anything of that nature. Every other player I can think of a time they might have lost their cool, if only for a moment, but never Uthoff. I just wonder.....does he not have that inner fire or competitive spirit? Facial expressions don't tell the whole story but it just seems like he never pushed back. Thoughts?

 

[ih8iast8]

grasping.

 

[Lone Clone]

1. I've said many times, and will say again now, that I wish he had gone to Iowa State.

2. He is not aggressive, either against opponents or in the sense of wanting the ball when his team needs a lift. Or so it appears. I get the impression watching him that he doesn't enjoy playing and wishes he were someplace else. (I don't mean playing basketball somewhere else; I mean in the library or something)

 

[theIowaHawk]

1. I've said many times, and will say again now, that I wish he had gone to Iowa State.

2. He is not aggressive, either against opponents or in the sense of wanting the ball when his team needs a lift. Or so it appears. I get the impression watching him that he doesn't enjoy playing and wishes he were someplace else. (I don't mean playing basketball somewhere else; I mean in the library or something)

A bit funny that we are talking about a guy who averaged what he did in the B10, but I disagree with your #2, he looks like he wants to be playing basketball and enjoys it ... but you are right that he isn't aggressive. There may never be a Jordan again in that context, LBJ certainly isn't him in aggressiveness. That doesn't leap to JU wanting to be in the library. Put him as a clear #2 or #3, a shooter and he fits right in. I see him doing quite well in the NBA.

 

[StormHawk42]

He's just introverted. Doesn't wear emotions on his sleeve. Not everyone needs to be a ra-ra guy.

 

[hooper56]

I guess I am saying I never saw the guy lose his temper on the court, yell at an opponent or even teammate. Thinking about it, it just seems really weird.

 

[basketballfan333]

He is the epitome of a soft basketball player. Period.

 

[And1Hawk]

I guess I am saying I never saw the guy lose his temper on the court, yell at an opponent or even teammate. Thinking about it, it just seems really weird.

Honestly what's the point of this now? The season and his Hawkeye career is over. I am just glad he came to Iowa and enjoyed watching him play. It could be frustrating at times but he did some truly great things on the court and off. Lots of good memories. I wish him and the other seniors all the best and thank them for their efforts.

Looking forward now to a whole new group of players and the thrills and spills that will bring.

 

[The Sleeping Dog]

Ute was a good player but appeared to never enjoy the game. His interviews were rare and usually monosyllabic. He typically just sat and stared at the game during his few minutes of bench time. You couple that with a kid that played as soft as Ute plays and I think you've got someone that just lacks the competitive fire to bring his best play to the toughest moments.

Some people just don't really enjoy the things they do well.

 

[theIowaHawk]

Ute was a good player but appeared to never enjoy the game. His interviews were rare and usually monosyllabic. He typically just sat and stared at the game during his few minutes of bench time. You couple that with a kid that played as soft as Ute plays and I think you've got someone that just lacks the competitive fire to bring his best play to the toughest moments.

Some people just don't really enjoy the things they do well.

Another guy who "appears to never enjoy the game" (amongst so many others): Gregg Popovich.

 

[rcribbs]

Many believe that's one reason why he left Wisconsin. Didn't want to compete with Dekker for the same position.

Personally, he probably would have become a much better player with Bo guiding him. I'm not saying Jared wasn't a good player. Just that he left a lot on the table.

 

[Hawk and Awe]

Great player, but yeah little fire. Not his game

He needed an MC. An enforcer. We really missed that this year.

 

[Quadhawk]

Great Hawkeye that I enjoyed watching these past years. I wish him well in the future and hope he can make NBA someday. In college that talent is always changing and I am looking forward to that!

 

[LuteHawk]

Jared Uthoff had a great Senior season. He played in all
32 games and scored 612 points for a 19.2 average. This
was the best offense of any player so far in the Coach Fran
Era.

His calm demeanor masked his own personal drive to be the
best that he could be. Jared led by example and had good
work ethic. There was no vocal cheerleader on this team
as far as the starting five was concerned.

 

[WAHawkeye]

Expressing personal opinions; this post, in my opinion, is absurd.

 

[doughudd]

Jared is obviously a guy we are all proud of, a bright student and a solid citizen. But i got to thinking,,,,,I don't recall Uthoff ever shoving a guy, elbowing someone, trash talking, tripping, or anything of that nature. Every other player I can think of a time they might have lost their cool, if only for a moment, but never Uthoff. I just wonder.....does he not have that inner fire or competitive spirit? Facial expressions don't tell the whole story but it just seems like he never pushed back. Thoughts?

You should have seen him in the team huddle after lineups were announced at the Wisconsin game. He was pumping his fist in front of their faces and screaming at them. Yeah no fire. Keep reaching.

 

[spbc7]

Jok has a reputation of being an embarrassingly bad trash-talker, it definitely isn't for everyone

 

[EZ2BJZ]

I don't know why this annoys me so much, but c'mon, it's J-A-R-R-O-D.

 

[MepoDawg#]

See his first half performance vs ISU, and other spurts within other games, please tell me he didn't have the fire. Since when do you have to be in someone's face, fighting, or be a dirty player to have fire and passion. Some people let their actions speak rather than words and stay within themselves. I question whether some people on this board ever played competitive sports with the remarks made. This goes along with Fran saying he couldn't yell at JU, he just had to tell him what he wanted without yelling, different players react differently to coaches, thus coaches have to learn their team and adjust to each player, it's not one size fits all.

 

[Hawked]

He's not a physical guy and that hurt him in big games against tough opponents. I won't say he's soft or didn't care. What I will say is Iowa needs tough players to play with these teams. For every guy that hangs with his fiance for a favorite hobby (Uthoff) we need a guy who steals car radios for fun. TOUGH GUYS is what Iowa needs.

 

[moondog24]

Jared is obviously a guy we are all proud of, a bright student and a solid citizen. But i got to thinking,,,,,I don't recall Uthoff ever shoving a guy, elbowing someone, trash talking, tripping, or anything of that nature. Every other player I can think of a time they might have lost their cool, if only for a moment, but never Uthoff. I just wonder.....does he not have that inner fire or competitive spirit? Facial expressions don't tell the whole story but it just seems like he never pushed back. Thoughts?

I would hate to thing that you would have to elbow someone, trip someone, shove someone or talk smack to be considered a "competitor". As a coach for over 30 years, I would pull someone quicker than heck and sit them on the bench if they pulled that. I coached many good players who were great competitors who didn't have to resort to those tactics.

 

[SoCalFan]

As a fan of another B1G program, I wish the young man was on our team. Uthoff was outstanding and the only player I was worried about when Indiana played Iowa. I felt Jok could be contained by putting a smaller quicker player on him, but our only chance against Uthoff was if he missed. It looked to me as if Iowa's achilles heel was their lack of depth. I really liked the back-up center (Uhl?), but he seemed to lose rotation time as the season went on. He was the only player off the bench that seemed to give consistent good minutes when I watched. The other bench players didn't add much...I think your team just wore down.

I understand the disappointment you guys feel. It was a promising year, but went up in flames. We have had that type of year under Crean and the fans have been as livid as yours is...and rightfully so. I think your head coach is pretty good, but I understand the frustration. Good luck next year.

 

[farhawks]

As a fan of another B1G program, I wish the young man was on our team. Uthoff was outstanding and the only player I was worried about when Indiana played Iowa. I felt Jok could be contained by putting a smaller quicker player on him, but our only chance against Uthoff was if he missed. It looked to me as if Iowa's achilles heel was their lack of depth. I really liked the back-up center (Uhl?), but he seemed to lose rotation time as the season went on. He was the only player off the bench that seemed to give consistent good minutes when I watched. The other bench players didn't add much...I think your team just wore down.

I understand the disappointment you guys feel. It was a promising year, but went up in flames. We have had that type of year under Crean and the fans have been as livid as yours is...and rightfully so. I think your head coach is pretty good, but I understand the frustration. Good luck next year.

 

[Lone Clone]

I think anybody who wouldn't want him on their team is stark raving crazy. I don't see anyone saying that, or anything close to that. In my case, I've been careful to preface every comment with the statement that I wish he'd chosen ISU -- and Fred tried to get him twice, once out of high school and then when he transferred. Nobody is saying he isn't a terrific college basketball player.

But it also is true that he tends to disappear at crunch time. One would expect a guy with his obvious skills to be the guy demanding the ball at the end of a close game, the guy who takes the game in his hands. He hasn't been that guy.

Maybe that's Fran's fault. And I agree some fans -- including me, probably -- may be tending to over-analyze body language and facial expressions.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

IMO, this about having talent around a guy. We saw it with Gatens, Marble, and White. We put these unrealistic expectations on the 1-2 legit players we have because we have nobody else in supporting roles. You put a legit big ten PG on this team who can drive, draw a double and kick and Uthoff gets to accentuate what he is good at--being a spot up shooter. Same with Jok. When you don't have that dynamic nor a post who can score, you make it easy for the defenses to key on Uthoff. He tried putting the ball on the floor and taking all these wild off balance shots because Fran kept telling him to shoot more, but that is not his identity.

The kid likes to hunt, fish, and spend time with his fiance. He isn't a glory hound trying to be in the spotlight all the time. It's Fran's responsibility to find some players who want to be leaders. You look at Morgan for UNI against Texas A & M ....he wanted the ball in crunch time and hit big shots. He also was pumped up and encouraging his teammates. That role fits his personality, but it's not who Uthoff is.

 

[OC_Hawk]

 

[mtdew_fever]

He's a top notch kid. Some of it could be that the Iowa fan base saw him play all-world (ex - first half of the Iowa St game) and expected him to be that guy in every other game, which might not be fair.

Uthoff is definitely talented, but it's possible he's just not the on court leader one would assume. Many criticized Aaron White for the same type of play.

I think he's as competitive as anyone. Not a coach in D-I wouldn't have loved to have him....and I still wish he ended up at Iowa St.

Jared is obviously a guy we are all proud of, a bright student and a solid citizen. But i got to thinking,,,,,I don't recall Uthoff ever shoving a guy, elbowing someone, trash talking, tripping, or anything of that nature. Every other player I can think of a time they might have lost their cool, if only for a moment, but never Uthoff. I just wonder.....does he not have that inner fire or competitive spirit? Facial expressions don't tell the whole story but it just seems like he never pushed back. Thoughts?

 

[noStemsnoSTICKS]

Great college player. Amazing shooter. Deserving of all the accolades he's received. But I don't see him excelling as a pro. He seems challenged to create his own shot and/or get to the hole in traffic.

I don't make much of his quietness. Larry Bird was an extreme introvert off the court. Rarely ever talked to reporters, especially if he didn't have to. But he was a totally different person on the court. One of the league's biggest trash talkers who backed it up with his play.

 

[krugcpa]

Wisconsin may have won back-to-back national championships had Jared stayed a Badger and been content to play 20-25 mpg off the bench and/or share playing time with Nigel Hayes and Sam Dekker. I hope he got want he wanted by transferring to Iowa.

None of us have any right to question his motives and drive as a Hawkeye and a person. It isn't necessary to act badly or have a temper to be an effective (all Big Ten) player, is it?

Before posters like this start setting the bar so high, we'd all best look in the mirror first.

 

[Ronman]

Many believe that's one reason why he left Wisconsin. Didn't want to compete with Dekker for the same position.

Personally, he probably would have become a much better player with Bo guiding him. I'm not saying Jared wasn't a good player. Just that he left a lot on the table.

So, finishing on the first team All Big Ten team and most likely getting drafted in the NBA is less than you Wisconsin fans expected of him? Funny, how so many of you knocked him and his ability, including you with your innuendo that he was afraid to compete with Dekker. Which is it? Stud or dud?

 

[sadiehawkins]

What Ute need was a true point guard that could get him and jok the ball at the right time. I truly believe Gesell cost Jok and Ute 4 points each in scoring average.

 

[SJeagleEye]

I agree with some posts above, I get a sense where he just doesn't enjoy it that much. It's like he doesn't like the attention, or anything that comes with it.

It's like he knows he has a gift, but wishes he gift was in something else.

Will be interesting to see how the NBA potential stuff goes. Will he try? Will he just be content to go to Europe for a few years to make some $?

I could see him getting out and just doing something else all together.

I don't think he likes the scrutiny, or attention, AT ALL.

 

[doughudd]

Not real, Photoshop.

 

[LinusPF]

I think in a 2-3 years he'll be married, have a kid or two, be living in Vinton and hunting and fishing every weekend. He'll be making a living doing something totally unrelated to basketball, and be happy as a clam. Maybe he'll play in Europe for one year mostly because he feels like he should. And good for him.

Though as a fan, I wish he had had more passion for the sport the past two years.

 

[crHawkeye92]

He probably cost himself over a million dollars with how he played at the end of the season. He could've been a late 1st round pick. Now it's more likely he'll be taken at the bottom of the 2nd round.

 

[SJeagleEye]

Which equals Europe.

 

[WAHawkeye]

Questioning his "inner fire" and "competitive spirit". Really? Aside from his obvious offensive skills, remember Uthoff earned a spot on the all-conference defensive team & I believe he led the conference in blocked shots. Playing defense is about grit, determination, "inner fire" and "competitive spirit. Enough said.

 

[mtdew_fever]

That's debatable. One could argue his individual team work outs and his showing at the NBA combine in Chicago is going to determine his career more than his last month of the season.

He probably cost himself over a million dollars with how he played at the end of the season. He could've been a late 1st round pick. Now it's more likely he'll be taken at the bottom of the 2nd round.

 

[hooper56]

grasping.

That's true. I am just trying to understand how a player so gifted and talented didn't have more fight in him. Everyone acknowledges he is a great person.

 

[Hawkdogwoof]

Uthoffs major problem is his strength or lack of. We was useless when teams got tough with him. I've never seen a big time ballplayer just have the ball taken from him like Uthoff. It's like a bully taking the ball from the whimpy kid. If he doesn't get considerably stronger he has no shot in the NBA. Those guys will physically destroy him.