This is gonna be a less stressful year

[Kurt Warner]

Last year with everyone coming back expectations were very high and they started out great which added to the stress. Then they faded which was like a punch in the gut.

This year no one is going into the season thinking we could contend for a title, so hence less stressful. Put me in the category as very pumped to see how these young guys develop, without expecting too much. Can't wait.

 

[Ronman]

If I remember correctly, most "experts" picked Iowa to finish much lower than we did. So even though we had another maddening collapse down the stretch, we actually overachieved in some eyes.

 

[ScoutRefugee]

I don't recall expectations being that high last year. I didn't expect them to finish as high as they did. I'm excited for this coming season because of all of the new faces.

 

[DanL53]

If I remember correctly, most "experts" picked Iowa to finish much lower than we did. So even though we had another maddening collapse down the stretch, we actually overachieved in some eyes.

When B1G TV guys picked us to finish ninth, I think the overall expectations were pretty low. Would love to go back and find the "not enough tall guys" comments and stuff. Even Jok had his detractors at the start of the season.

 

[ScoutRefugee]

When B1G TV guys picked us to finish ninth, I think the overall expectations were pretty low. Would love to go back and find the "not enough tall guys" comments and stuff. Even Jok had his detractors at the start of the season.

I thought they would finish higher than 9th but not much higher.

 

[ScoutRefugee]

I'm curious to see how our guard play is going to look. I know that Dan and a lot of other people don't think you need a traditional PG any longer but I disagree. At the end of every close game last season, Gesell had the ball in his hands. That was by Fran's design.
When ball security is important, when every possession counts, you need 1 guy (if you have more than 1, congrats) to make those things happen.

 

[HawkLogic]

Like Marble's team that was 3rd in B1G at one time, last year's team gave us a period of joy that was crushed with a collapse. Can't take away the two wins over MSU though.

This year we seem likely to be competing for around 8th place...so not a lot of upside, but they probably won't lose 6 of their last 7. We should be more athletic and exciting than years past.

 

[Kurt Warner]

Maybe we weren't predicted to contend for the title but at one point it was the hawks to lose. Unfortunately that's what they did.

 

[2432Hawk]

I'm curious to see how our guard play is going to look. I know that Dan and a lot of other people don't think you need a traditional PG any longer but I disagree. At the end of every close game last season, Gesell had the ball in his hands. That was by Fran's design.
When ball security is important, when every possession counts, you need 1 guy (if you have more than 1, congrats) to make those things happen.

I liked Mike but his end of clock efficiency was terrible. Teams took away Jok and Uthoff and forced Mike to make a shot. I actually feel better with the guys we have now being able to make plays at end of clock situations....and that goes beyond our young guards but excludes Uhl. Dom has got to make better decisions

 

[HawksRMe]

I liked Mike but his end of clock efficiency was terrible. Teams took away Jok and Uthoff and forced Mike to make a shot. I actually feel better with the guys we have now being able to make plays at end of clock situations....and that goes beyond our young guards but excludes Uhl. Dom has got to make better decisions

This. You just knew what was going to happen with 30 seconds left and the ball in Mikes hands.

 

[ScoutRefugee]

I liked Mike but his end of clock efficiency was terrible. Teams took away Jok and Uthoff and forced Mike to make a shot. I actually feel better with the guys we have now being able to make plays at end of clock situations....and that goes beyond our young guards but excludes Uhl. Dom has got to make better decisions

I get it and yet Fran kept putting the ball in his hands. That tells me more about Fran than Gesell.
What happens when teams take Jok and Cook away this season? And they make it a point to try and do it every game.

 

[CanadaHawk]

I liked Mike but his end of clock efficiency was terrible. Teams took away Jok and Uthoff and forced Mike to make a shot. I actually feel better with the guys we have now being able to make plays at end of clock situations....and that goes beyond our young guards but excludes Uhl. Dom has got to make better decisions

The good thing is that there are other personnel choices than Dom

I get it and yet Fran kept putting the ball in his hands. That tells me more about Fran than Gesell.
What happens when teams take Jok and Cook away this season? And they make it a point to try and do it every game.

Earlier in the season, MG answered the call. Then, like he did every season at Iowa, he slowed as the B1G season went on. But who else, besides JU, Jok, and MG, do you go to on last year's team at end of clock situations? There are more answers possible on this team and the senior star Jok I feel more comfortable going to than the senior JU or junior Jok.

 

[EastIowaHawk]

I think most fans will be patient with this team of mostly young faces. All we look for is improvement from game to game.

 

[EduNeerHawk]

I get it and yet Fran kept putting the ball in his hands. That tells me more about Fran than Gesell.
What happens when teams take Jok and Cook away this season? And they make it a point to try and do it every game.

I bet there are a lot of fan bases across the country that are frustrated with their play and coaching at the end of every close game. We are not alone. A lot of teams had a record like Iowa's and much worse.....ouch.

It's a difficult thing to do because teams are very locked in defensively especially when the stakes get higher with league and tourny championships on the line. The ball was in Mike's hand most of the time because Fran could trust Mike handling it with pressure. He hardly turned the ball over that was one good thing about Mike. The team itself didn't turn the ball over much. I do wish he and Sapp were more reliable shooters, drive and finishers at the rim with contact and FT shooters. That can be improved on and I think it will be this year.

It's still way too early to know what this roster will be able to do under pressure but I really like the potential, the options, the possibilities and it starts with Peter and Tyler. Those are two potential NBA players and not very many teams can start with that but Iowa can. And it looks like Tyler is going to be a pretty good FT shooter.

But just the bit we've seen of CW, the jury is out on his handles under pressure but the kid can get the rim and finish with contact and appears to be a pretty good FT shooter as well. I loved his baseline move and bucket the other night, hard to stop with his size and he's going to be a match-up problem for teams on the perimeter.

Jordan is another guy who excelled under pressure in HS at the end of games because of his outside shooting and like Peter is an excellent FT shooter. With him and Peter in at the end of games.... I like the risk in our favor of putting either one of them at the FT line.

I'll stop there but add Ahmad, Dom and Baer are all players who are big players and can take their defender off the dribble and to date, Dom and Baer can can the 3 shot....

 

[kceasthawk]

The thing about last year that was so maddening was the early BIC schedule was supposed to be a killer, then much easier at the end. We start out great, and beat MSU twice, and were a top 5 team. Expectations followed. Then as the schedule was supposed to be much easier we faltered, and couldn't seem to beat anybody with the game on the line. Then once again we couldn't get by what should have been a winnable game to start the BIG tournament.Hopefully this here this group will improve as they gain experience, and build toward more consistant winning play as the season unfolds.

 

[ScoutRefugee]

You guys are missing the point. Forget Gesell. Forget how we did in close games. My point is that people think we'll be fine without a true PG and I just wanted to point out that Fran's decisions at the end of close games probably tells me he feels differently.

 

[relishingwinning18]

You guys are missing the point. Forget Gesell. Forget how we did in close games. My point is that people think we'll be fine without a true PG and I just wanted to point out that Fran's decisions at the end of close games probably tells me he feels differently.

I'm just glad I don't have to watch Gessell throw up some wild shot with no time left anymore. Love the kid, but that part of his game was just missing.

 

[buttermypancakes]

You guys are missing the point. Forget Gesell. Forget how we did in close games. My point is that people think we'll be fine without a true PG and I just wanted to point out that Fran's decisions at the end of close games probably tells me he feels differently.

As good of players as Uthoff and Jok are neither showed the ability to consistently beat guys off the dribble without using a shot fake. Fran literally had no options at the end of games. Williams is a definite upgrade over Gesell but I think Cook has good enough handles that you can put him in that role as well.

 

[DanL53]

I just don't see how having a nearly 6'7" guard with good passing skills isn't considered something valuable at the end of games. But we'll see how things go. Don't go getting any sad faced tattoos over this season just yet. Well, do. If folks are that sure our motion offense is going to struggle, or we will struggle as shot clocks wind down, get that tattoo. Because:

1) I could swear I read the same monikers have concerns and lowball expectations every year.
2) And I hear what an optimist I am, last year I predicted 11-7....Heck it turned out I was a lowballer!

11-7 this year, B1G, because of talent and an easy schedule.

 

[ScoutRefugee]

I just don't see how having a nearly 6'7" guard with good passing skills isn't considered something valuable at the end of games. But we'll see how things go. Don't go getting any sad faced tattoos over this season just yet. Well, do. If folks are that sure our motion offense is going to struggle, or we will struggle as shot clocks wind down, get that tattoo. Because:

1) I could swear I read the same monikers have concerns and lowball expectations every year.
2) And I hear what an optimist I am, last year I predicted 11-7....Heck it turned out I was a lowballer!

11-7 this year, B1G, because of talent and an easy schedule.

I'm not sad about it. I'm looking forward to it. The his team will have its share of growing pains. That's normal for most young teams.

 

[PhantomFlyer]

As good of players as Uthoff and Jok are neither showed the ability to consistently beat guys off the dribble without using a shot fake. Fran literally had no options at the end of games. Williams is a definite upgrade over Gesell but I think Cook has good enough handles that you can put him in that role as well.

Excellent point. Someone earlier said you don't need a traditional PG to win. You don't, but you need someone who has good handles and can beat people off the dribble. MSU had this with Valentine last year. The Bulls had it with both Pippen and Jordan. You need at least 1 guy who can break down the defense. This allows you more FT opportunities, as that player will get fouled, and it opens up your 3 pt shooters when the help defense comes to stop the player driving.

With MG and AC you had too much vertical passing. They certainly couldn't beat anyone off the dribble or demand a help defender. This would have been ok if Jok or Uthoff could have been point forwards, but neither had great handles, so they couldn't beat guys off the dribble. So, you end up with a lot of guys standing around outside the arc, and it was difficult to get open 3 pt shots, especially when MG was a non-existent threat beyond the arc, and AC took so long to get his shot off he literally had to be wide open to even attempt a shot.

Will Williams be able to beat guys off the dribble? I don't know. I'm not sure he can't be any worse, and if he's guarded by smaller players he may be able to drive and shoot over them. I haven't seen Cook play so I don't know if he's capable of filling this role.