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*****Tavion Banks Commits to IOWA*****

I made a comment before Iowa hired McCollum that I'd be perfectly happy to see much of that Drake team in black and gold. Looks like I'm getting my wish, lol.

I figured McCollum would likely bring a lot of his Drake players with him, so I'm not surprised.

Curious to see who else he will be able to land, though, that isn't following him from Drake. So far, nada. I know there are some visits scheduled, though.
 
A drake starting 5 now

Iowa Bulldogs

It made sense that McColllum would try to bring most of his Top 5-6 from Drake and I could see them wanting to stick together
for unfinished business.

We can hope McCollum finds a couple more pieces that can take the Drake Roster to a little higher level. Getting deeper bench
backups like that PG that went to Indiana isn't anything that is too worrying.

This guy is a good get and replaces Traore but more inside the paint oriented. While I liked Traore's athleticism, he seemed to take a lot of 3pt'ers and he wasn't good at it.

It's too bad the Fan-Player-Team relationship/loyalty to a school is going away. It makes it harder to root for these guys careers, especially the guys that left Dix, Pryce, Freeman. I didn't particularly like Dix tweet calling Koch a "hero" as it seemed to be mocking Iowa program and Koch.
 
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I wonder how some of these players feel about seeing other people’s heads (and arms) photoshopped onto their bodies.

Or maybe it’s the other way around.
It's the second thing you said. 'Shopped Iowa gear on a pic of him from a Drake game. You can see all the red in the crowd and the big letter B, which would indicate it's from a contest against Bradley.

In fact, here's the pic from the Peoria Journal Star. Hopefully whoever created the Iowa version and posted it publicly did so with permission and proper citation.
82156183007-usatsi-25626443.jpg
 
The guy is bringing in guys who understand his culture/system and how he does things, they’re also pretty good players. Iowa needed a cleanse like this. Get rid of the soft/no mental toughness/no grit/no defense structure and start building this the right way. Myself and others have been saying “burn it” for months and I couldn’t be more thrilled for how it’s started. I firmly believe Iowa has the best college bball coach in the country
 
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It's the second thing you said. 'Shopped Iowa gear on a pic of him from a Drake game. You can see all the red in the crowd and the big letter B, which would indicate it's from a contest against Bradley.

In fact, here's the pic from the Peoria Journal Star. Hopefully whoever created the Iowa version and posted it publicly did so with permission and proper citation.
82156183007-usatsi-25626443.jpg
Nice find.
 
The guy is bringing in guys who understand his culture/system and how he does things, they’re also pretty good players. Iowa needed a cleanse like this. Get rid of the soft/no mental toughness/no grit/no defense structure and start building this the right way. Myself and others have been saying “burn it” for months and I couldn’t be more thrilled for how it’s started. I firmly believe Iowa has the best college bball coach in the country
I think this is the most important part.

The defense and toughness are already there, so it doesn't need to be built from scratch.

This is a foundation for how things will be going forward.

Now the rest of the new guys that are added, even this year, will be dropped into a preexisting culture of toughness and accountability (the opposite of the previous culture)and will have to adjust to it vs Ben trying to build it again.
 
So for this team may be a slight upgrade from last year but still near the basement of the conference. Not overly excited at this point. We’ll see.
The Missouri team that Drake physically manhandled would have probably finished top 2 or 3 in the big 10 last year.

This is already a big upgrade from that pathetic Iowa team from last year.
 
Yep as the Hawkeyes went elsewhere for either the 💰 or did not want to play extended defense and rebound except for Cooper
Quitters. Funny how those involved with the present state of the program decided they don’t have the onions to step up and clean up the 💩 they left at mid court before they bolted.

Looking forward to a new direction and a much better product. Air out CHA and allow Ben to do what he’s done every place he’s been.
 
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You're probably right but I believe they would finished season higher than Iowa did.
Good chance of that.

But how would some of those Iowa players have performed under Ben? Also, Owen healthy again.

Also have lost of whole well-ranked incoming class.

I get that there's more help on the way. But at this point Iowa has lost a hell of a lot more talent than they have coming in
 
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Good chance of that.

But how would some of those Iowa players have performed under Ben? Also, Owen healthy again.

Also have lost of whole well-ranked incoming class.

I get that there's more help on the way. But at this point Iowa has lost a hell of a lot more talent than they have coming in
Stirtz is better than anyone that was on the team.
 
If the current edition is half as good as the original I'll be happy.

Play I remember the most and is my favorite is when Tavian made a 70 yard or so TD run in the Big House. Bill Curry, noting how Banks outraced everyone, said something to the effect "He runs a 4.25 (I think) 40 ... as fast as any player in the country." Heady stuff.
 
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I love that all these Drake transfers are all in on defense and rebounding - like their coach wants - but after 15 years of 'Fran ball', its quite the shock to the system.
15 years of tournament failures when we made the tournament.

I say "Shock my system....please"
 
Would you be happy to make the 2nd round of the tournament?
Actually, no. Most posters believe if Iowa cannot get to the Sweet 16, then the season is a bust. Hopefully they are able to get at least two quality bigs and two or three guys that can shoot. If he is healthy, Koch is probably the best shooter on the team as of now. It will be interesting to see how well this group does during the Big 10 season.
 
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Oh no question, 8 out of 10 times just based on the rebounding alone.
8 out of 10?

That's interesting because Iowa would have been favored in any game played at Carver.

I don't have a problem with someone saying Drake was a better team. 8 out of 10 is way too high
 
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Aren't we hosting a top 60 PG next week? It's gonna take some time to build an entire new roster. Chill.
Unless he hates Texas, he is probably going to play for Miller, since he was going to Xavier to play for him.
 
I think this is the most important part.

The defense and toughness are already there, so it doesn't need to be built from scratch.

This is a foundation for how things will be going forward.

Now the rest of the new guys that are added, even this year, will be dropped into a preexisting culture of toughness and accountability (the opposite of the previous culture)and will have to adjust to it vs Ben trying to build it again.
He pretty much had to do it to have a chance to be successful down the road. If they have success next year with this group, it will hopefully help future recruits see what can be possible.
 
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Actually, no. Most posters believe if Iowa cannot get to the Sweet 16, then the season is a bust. Hopefully they are able to get at least two quality bigs and two or three guys that can shoot. If he is healthy, Koch is probably the best shooter on the team as of now. It will be interesting to see how well this group does during the Big 10 season.
Actually no, because they need to get past it.
 
Best overall athlete for Drake last year. Real good rebounder, especially on O boards. Jump shot is no bueno. But has enough strength and athleticism to hang with true PF’s.

One thing that drove me absolutely bonkers last year though is when he drove to the basket in traffic, he tended to go for finger rolls instead of trying to slam home a dunk even though he jumped higher than everyone else. Just something to log away for the future.
Maybe Even Brauns could give him a short course on the power dunk. Brauns was brutal, and I loved it.
 
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