So, what are Fran's best options now that we have some open scholarships?

[The Deplorable Sleeping Dog]

The Big C has is also an injury magnet. Jack may need to be the starter for the reliability benefits-a kid available every game. I strongly believe one of the two guys will emerge as a good player that will give us the same or better production that TC provided this year.

Don't foresee P McC red shirting. He seems kind of like a guy that can swing between 3 and 4 depending on match ups and the defense being played. A Nick Baer with better offensive skills. Obviously we don't know if P McC has anything like the Baer's instincts or hustle but they are comparably sized with similar games.

 

[RocknRollface]

I could care less about dunks. For all the people saying how much worse Iowa will be without Cook, please give a prediction or idea of what you think that will be.

I’m on record saying that I believe Iowa will have a better Big Ten record and higher seed in the tournament next year.

Absolutely agree on all points. Dunks are just 2 points.

Theres zero chance Iowas not better next year although overall record probably won't be better because of difficulty of schedule.

If we have a similar record seed in tournament should be much better.

 

[skydog0784]

My preference for the two open rides for next year in order of preference...

1. Grad transfer at the 1 and/or 2 spot - senior leadership, penetrating guards, defensive oriented, still leaves 2020 rides available
2. Transfer that would need to sit one year but only if a real difference maker, prefer to have 4 rides for 2020 available.


Fran will have a lot to sell to the 2020 recruits (that would commit in the Fall most likely)...

1. Top 10 - 20 in several 2019-2020 preseason polls
2. 2018-2019 team floated in and out of Top 25 all season
3. Nice little run in the Big Dance, 1 win and loss in OT to get to the Sweet 16
4. Playing in one of the best conferences in college basketball and definitely the wealthiest
5. The largest national exposure, I believe, in the country via the BTN
6. Plenty of PT with 3 top playing seniors departing in JBo, Moss, and Kriener
7. Good remaining pieces to play with in Joe W, Jack N, Luka, The Macs, and perhaps CJ and Joe T (we'll see)

As it stands now, I'd think the greatest need would be at the 1,2, 4, 5 spots. Probably okay at the 3 spot between Joe W and Pat M.

 

[Iowa210]

I don't want another chucker. I want a slasher who will defend.

Amen to that.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

Without Tyler I think we drop from 4-5th in the league and possible 5-6th seed in the tourney to fighting for 6-8th in the league and landing on the bubble for tourney. ..hope we get in. Not a disaster seAson but not the special senior season for JBo etc.we have been building to for four years.

I honestly worry more about replacing Baer than Cook, in terms of impact on winning.

 

[cleotishaywood]

Absolutely agree on all points. Dunks are just 2 points.

Theres zero chance Iowas not better next year although overall record probably won't be better because of difficulty of schedule.

If we have a similar record seed in tournament should be much better.

Dunks may be worth 2 points but they sure are entertaining and they get the crowd going!
Sure going to miss the lob dunks and putback slams from Tyler Cook. Very doubtful we will see anyone soon who will throw down at every given opportunity like Cook. I thought that after Aaron White moved on that there would never be a guy who would have more dunks than he but Tyler Cook may have surpassed him. Cook's highlight reel dunks may never be outdone.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

Dunks may be worth 2 points but they sure are entertaining and they get the crowd going!
Sure going to miss the lob dunks and putback slams from Tyler Cook. Very doubtful we will see anyone soon who will throw down at every given opportunity like Cook. I thought that after Aaron White moved on that there would never be a guy who would have more dunks than he but Tyler Cook may have surpassed him. Cook's highlight reel dunks may never be outdone.

Tyler probably had more highlight dunks than any Hawk I have seen, and that goes back to the mid 70s, but I am not sure he would have been able to win a dunk contest with Gerry Wright (Sir Jam-a-Lot), who played for Iowa in the mid-80s.

Exciting to watch, but consistent, smart basketball wins more games.

 

[kcgolfer]

You can never have too many guards in the college game. What we really need is a cat quick guard who can defend in man. He doesn't even need to be good on offense but we really need someone who can guard point guards. He doesn't need to start just be able to play defense when we really need it.

 

[cleotishaywood]

Tyler probably had more highlight dunks than any Hawk I have seen, and that goes back to the mid 70s, but I am not sure he would have been able to win a dunk contest with Gerry Wright (Sir Jam-a-Lot), who played for Iowa in the mid-80s.

Exciting to watch, but consistent, smart basketball wins more games.

I remember when Gerry transferred from USC and had some incredible left-handed cartwheel dunks. Pretty damned impressive at that time!
Yes, smart basketball will win you games! Sir-Jam-A lot had some pretty good company around him during his days!

 

[IamHawkeye]

The Big C has is also an injury magnet. Jack may need to be the starter for the reliability benefits-a kid available every game. I strongly believe one of the two guys will emerge as a good player that will give us the same or better production that TC provided this year.

Don't foresee P McC red shirting. He seems kind of like a guy that can swing between 3 and 4 depending on match ups and the defense being played. A Nick Baer with better offensive skills. Obviously we don't know if P McC has anything like the Baer's instincts or hustle but they are comparably sized with similar games.

Can someone(if it's allowed) recap what the premium article says about BB recruiting? Of course, I suppose what is said is not about next season additions, but I'd like to know of the names listed.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

Give it up man

Give what up? You would support Fran if he recruited 1-A high school talent. Point is in basketball 1 guy can make a difference. Fran doesn't get it and never will. The hope some cling to that 20 minutes of comeback basketball somehow = better next year without the teams best or 2nd best player and by far most athletic player is beyond me. If Fran cared about winning as much as he claims to he would be out looking for that guy. See impact of graduate transfers on teams who played beyond the 2nd round.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

I could care less about dunks. For all the people saying how much worse Iowa will be without Cook, please give a prediction or idea of what you think that will be.

I’m on record saying that I believe Iowa will have a better Big Ten record and higher seed in the tournament next year.

Fair enough. I will go on record saying Iowa does not make the tournament and finishes at best 6th and likely lower in the conference. Where would Iowa have been without Cook this past season? Answer: NIT at best and I doubt even that good. The Cook detractors see all the things he can't do and refuse to acknowledge his stats (the same stats they throw out in defense of every other player). I hope you are right and I am wrong but if Fran schedules up like he claims to have done he won't have the luxury of going undefeated in the non-conference and beating Illinois 3 times.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

Give what up? You would support Fran if he recruited 1-A high school talent. Point is in basketball 1 guy can make a difference. Fran doesn't get it and never will. The hope some cling to that 20 minutes of comeback basketball somehow = better next year without the teams best or 2nd best player and by far most athletic player is beyond me. If Fran cared about winning as much as he claims to he would be out looking for that guy. See impact of graduate transfers on teams who played beyond the 2nd round.

Being anti-dumbass is not the same as blindly supporting Fran.

 

[newerattitude]

“So, what are Frans best options now that we have some open scholarships?”

To leave

 

[owenhawk]

Fair enough. I will go on record saying Iowa does not make the tournament and finishes at best 6th and likely lower in the conference. Where would Iowa have been without Cook this past season? Answer: NIT at best and I doubt even that good. The Cook detractors see all the things he can't do and refuse to acknowledge his stats (the same stats they throw out in defense of every other player). I hope you are right and I am wrong but if Fran schedules up like he claims to have done he won't have the luxury of going undefeated in the non-conference and beating Illinois 3 times.

Also fair thank you for civil response. Obviously this is all wait and see for everyone. I can understand where people might have their concerns with Cook gone and what they fear is going to happen. I personally believe we are going to see a really big jump from Wieskamp in overall confidence and play. We know he has the skills and and the mindset and I think after doing the NBA evaluation and getting the go ahead by the coaching staff and team to be more if the guy, he is going to make a big jump.

Also, I just think experience means a lot in college basketball. They will have a lot of experience back and a number of guys in their Senior year and now have experienced the tourney and some success and what it takes. I think that will be huge for the team next year. Not a lot of teams will have 6 of their top 9 players back plus 2 players that were rotational guys already coming off redshirt.

Finally, while I understand there was certain athletic advantages that Cook brought that others can’t, I just happen to think on this team and how they operate, the drop-off won’t be big and the overall team might operate more efficiently and smoother ... and perhaps just better. I happen to believe that with the focus on Cook as the main guy offensively, it bigged down the offense and killed the flow often. It seemed to me when Cook was out or when he was in and willing not to be the main focus, the team looked better. Add in the two guys replacing Cook have been through the Big Ten wars and have different skills/intanogibles they bring, I’m just not that worried about his loss.

I think we see big jumps from Wieskamp and Garza as they areemboldebed to be the guys, along with a rotation led by a focused, senior-led team who had a nice tourney experience to build off of and get a taste, my optimism is high.

 

[IllQChawk]

Iowa may be in the same position going into next year as they were in 2015/16 season.
After the 2014/15 season, finishing 22-12, 12-6 in the Big Ten, Iowa loses it's best player since 1989 in Aaron White, a pretty good shot blocker in Gabe Olaseni, and a serviceable shooting guard in Josh Oglesby.
The next year Iowa came back with a record of 22-11, 12-6 in the Big Ten with senior players of Jarrod Uthoff, Adam Woodbury, Mike Gesell, Anthony Clemmons, and jr Peter Jok.
Iowa's bench that year had a bunch of newcomers that was pale compared to Iowa's bench next year. Some of the players that didn't provide a whole lot that year were: Dom Uhl (6.2), Nicholas Baer (4.4), Brady Ellingson (2.9), Anmad Wagner, Dale Jones, Christian Williams, Andrew Flemming, Brandon Hutton, and Isaiah Moss.
Of coarse scheduling is a big factor in any season and next year is no exception, but with the senior players coming back in Isaiah Moss, Jordan Bohannan, and Ryan Kriener, and Juniors Luka Garza and Cordell Pemsl, sophomores Joe Wieskamp, Jack Nunge, and Connor McCaffery, and freshman C. J Fredrick, Patrick McCaffery, and Joe Toussaint Iowa will just fine.

 

[hooper56]

Give what up? You would support Fran if he recruited 1-A high school talent. Point is in basketball 1 guy can make a difference. Fran doesn't get it and never will. The hope some cling to that 20 minutes of comeback basketball somehow = better next year without the teams best or 2nd best player and by far most athletic player is beyond me. If Fran cared about winning as much as he claims to he would be out looking for that guy. See impact of graduate transfers on teams who played beyond the 2nd round.

I feel bad you totally missed last season.

 

[iabcuda]

Hauser. Hauser.

 

[The Deplorable Sleeping Dog]

First, Isaiah isn't transferring to anything but a B league pro organization. He's not ready for the better Euro leagues. Don't know enough about NBA D League (even though we have a local team). Isaiah is definitely not NBA material. He's used a red shirt. He can only change teams if he gets into grad school. Isaiah had trouble getting eligible at Iowa and had academic adjustments that necessitated his red shirt season. That's not the profile of a graduate student.

Second, what is the point of saying things like someone would support Fran if he recruited 1A talent? F McC's recruiting is nothing like that level. As of now, and I am assuming that Joey W returns, Iowa will have four ESPN 4 *s top 100 and three more 4* top 120 players. Neither Jack nor Cordell were unknowns out of HS; CJ was PoY in a Kentucky-not like a 4* but it does show he was more than competitive in the very good HS ball played along the Cincy - Covington border area. Even RK, although a sleeper, was coming off some kind of NCAA national championship when he signed with Iowa.

Had Cordell not been injured its very likely the Iowa season would have been as good or better. TC made a lot of mistakes and was a defensive liability. An improved TC returning would be the best scenario but that is no longer possible. The sky is not falling we have two guys and both have shown starter potential. Now we'll learn if the potential can be translated into action.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

I feel bad you totally missed last season.

Lol. Yeah you keep replaying that last 20 minutes of the TN game and I will live in the real world.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

Being anti-dumbass is not the same as blindly supporting Fran.

Once again you can't do anything but disparage. You avoid answering with anything resembling intelligent thought and go with the prescriptive insults. Do you think a grad transfer would have helped last year? Here are your options: Yes or No. The Franwiches are high in calories so I hope you are doing lots of cardio to offset eating two per day.

 

[owenhawk]

Once again you can't do anything but disparage. You avoid answering with anything resembling intelligent thought and go with the prescriptive insults. Do you think a grad transfer would have helped last year? Here are your options: Yes or No. The Franwiches are high in calories so I hope you are doing lots of cardio to offset eating two per day.

Yes if that grad transfer had been an SG would have helped and would help this coming year. That should be Fran’s #1 priority.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

Once again you can't do anything but disparage. You avoid answering with anything resembling intelligent thought and go with the prescriptive insults. Do you think a grad transfer would have helped last year? Here are your options: Yes or No. The Franwiches are high in calories so I hope you are doing lots of cardio to offset eating two per day.

I’m disparaging you because you are ignoring reality. We DO look at transfers, we just haven’t found the right fit or been able to land one that we wanted.

There is opportunity cost with bringing in short term solutions in that you will lose some developmental guys that don’t like getting recruited over. And we develop four year guys pretty well.

 

[hooper56]

Lol. Yeah you keep replaying that last 20 minutes of the TN game and I will live in the real world.

You are arguing that the Ia vs Tenn game in the ncaa tournament 2nd round was not the real world. Interesting. This is why it does not pay to argue with some of the folks on here. Cuckoo.