VOTE: Is this year's team better than last year's?

[Franisdaman]

Is Iowa a better team this year than last year?

Using the eye ball test, I think you could say it is.

When you look at NET rankings, it also says it is.

#27 on Jan 31, 2019
#21 on Jan 31, 2020

 

[Hawksfor3]

I voted "yes".

 

[Kurt Warner]

Yep

 

[Moral]

Really tight poll so far.

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

More fun to watch, that's for sure...

 

[Moral]

More fun to watch, that's for sure...

This is my favorite team to watch since some of the 90s teams.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

More fun to watch, that's for sure...

I'll go with this

 

[H4wkfan4life]

Really tight poll so far.

the clowns and braskans really are hiding!

 

[Franisdaman]

Really tight poll so far.

i am not surprised. after all, last year's team was ONE POINT away in regulation from advancing the the Sweet 16.

 

[hawkeyeguy69]

Two words - CJ Frederick....

And a few other words, Luka is unreal this year. But without JBo, someone needed to step up bigtime. And that is CJF. His overall play is spectacular. I do not think there is a more gifted, well rounded player on the team. Offense, defense, basketball IQ, intangibles, etc... He is right up there with JW & LG. AND we get him for 3 more years!! Hell yes I love the redshirt!!! Same goes for Connor, and hopefully Patrick & Nunge.

With our incoming recruiting class, this program looks set for the next 4-5 years, and beyond. And set on a very high level. The future looks bright Iowa. Enjoy the ride!

Three words - Go Hawks!!!

Is Iowa a better team this year than last year?

Using the eye ball test, I think you could say it is.

When you look at NET rankings, it also says it is.

#27 on Jan 31, 2019
#21 on Jan 31, 2020

 

[BBHawk]

Gotta say yes. Adding the red shirts and new kids, it has made a difference.

But I will say this - if Joe T and CJ had played with Cook, this team would have practically unstoppable.

 

[hawkeyeguy69]

Gotta say yes. Adding the red shirts and new kids, it has made a difference.

But I will say this - if Joe T and CJ had played with Cook, this team would have practically unstoppable.

Moss would have been a good one to have. Especially with our short bench!

Kansas level?? Prossibly. I will say definitely, considering the scumbagness of the KU program under Roy Williams & Bill Self. You absolutely have to consider the cheating aspect. And those two would be in the top 5-10 all-time for cheaters... Hope the NCAA takes the NOA seriously. F cheating!!!

 

[Suterman]

As of today, yes. The answer could change dramatically in the next month. The B1G ten is really strong this year and Iowa looks very good so far, but OSU, Purdue and others have shown you can go on a losing streak easily. Iowa can too. Our shooting has been off the last few games, and if Luka is in foul trouble or is limited in other ways, we can lose a lot of games in a hurry. The B1G regular season is a marathon and at the 1/2 way point we look very solid. At the finish line we may not.

 

[BBHawk]

Moss would have been a good one to have. Especially with our short bench!

Kansas level?? Prossibly. I will say definitely, considering the scumbagness of the KU program under Roy Williams & Bill Self. You absolutely have to consider the cheating aspect. And those two would be in the top 5-10 all-time for cheaters... Hope the NCAA takes the NOA seriously. F cheating!!!

Not Moss. We have better options at guard. Iowa could use more scoring threats at forward, though. But Moss would just take away from our guard court, especially defensively.

 

[hawkeyeguy69]

Not Moss. We have better options at guard. Iowa could use more scoring threats at forward, though. But Moss would just take away from our guard court, especially defensively.

I am sorry, but I have to disagree. Moss would be a huge benefit to this short bench team. Without question.

 

[TheTruthTheWholeTruth]

Grittier by quite a bit.

Better at this point in the season

I’m worried about fatigue though.....

 

[BBHawk]

I am sorry, but I have to disagree. Moss would be a huge benefit to this short bench team. Without question.

He would lose more leads than he would keep. Without question. Stats don't lie. His +- at Iowa was pitiful.

 

[TheTruthTheWholeTruth]

I am sorry, but I have to disagree. Moss would be a huge benefit to this short bench team. Without question.

Cook is needed way more than Moss considering the injuries/illness Iowa’s had.

 

[mazda1]

Guys are playing a lot of minutes and we have 2 freshman starting. If we don’t hit a wall due to fatigue I like this years group.

We’re giving a ton more effort on D this year which makes it a more enjoyable team to watch. It also raises my concern that we run out of gas.

 

[Ronman]

Lot more fun for sure. The explosion of Garza and the revelation of CJ have made for a surprising and entertaining season.

 

[Stormn Norman]

I guess we’ll see, I’m not so sure as of yet.. if Iowa can avoid that annoying down play towards the end run this year will go a long way in saying if this year squad is better than last. Iowa would be awful tough if Cook,Moss, and Jbo got to play with JT thou..

 

[LittleBillDagget]

D is remarkably better. Mentality/chemistry is better. Best post player in Murika.
Yup. Better. And also: getting better still.

 

[Franisdaman]

This might be Fran's best coaching job...Ever.

Last year's starting line up vs this years:

JBo vs JoeT
Moss vs Fredrick
Weezy.....Weezy
Cook vs Connor
Garza.....Garza
...................................
OFF THE BENCH
Baer vs Pemsl

 

[Chishawk1425]

C. DUH

 

[owenhawk]

Gotta say yes. Adding the red shirts and new kids, it has made a difference.

But I will say this - if Joe T and CJ had played with Cook, this team would have practically unstoppable.

I will agree with Cook could be great if Cook was willing to play the role of the garbage man PF - getting put backs, getting alley-oops and dishes from Touissant and Frederick and Connor - and bringing it regularly on the boards and on Defense and not having to dominate the ball and have it in his hands all the time. If he insisted in trying to create and bogging down the offense one not being consistent with his effort, than I have my doubts how much better the team would be.

 

[MepoDawg#]

I am sorry, but I have to disagree. Moss would be a huge benefit to this short bench team. Without question.

Who’s minutes is he taking?

 

[DougFHawkeye]

Much, much tougher team. This year I always think we are still in it even as we fall behind.

 

[anon_qczsdwtnv6esw]

Defense alone this team is better than last years. Cook was very good but he wud be taking possessions from Garza this year if he was still on the team. I think it worked out well for everyone involved.

 

[amahawk]

Is Iowa a better team this year than last year?

Using the eye ball test, I think you could say it is.

When you look at NET rankings, it also says it is.

#27 on Jan 31, 2019
#21 on Jan 31, 2020

I thought many of Fran's earlier teams were soft. They folded when things got tough. This team is tough, win or lose.
They are very fun to watch.

 

[HerkysDad]

Not BAER vs Pemsl for sixth man. Baer vs Kreiner

 

[IllQChawk]

Cook is needed way more than Moss considering the injuries/illness Iowa’s had.

Ha,Ha....If anyone has some spare time, go to youtube and watch some Iowa games from last year....Cook played more ole' defense then a Spanish bullfighter.....The best thing that happened to Iowa was that Cook took his dunking game to the professional level where defense is an after thought....

 

[TheTruthTheWholeTruth]

Ha,Ha....If anyone has some spare time, go to youtube and watch some Iowa games from last year....Cook played more ole' defense then a Spanish bullfighter.....The best thing that happened to Iowa was that Cook took his dunking game to the professional level where defense is an after thought....

So you kind of missed the point. We are running Pemsl out there because of a lack of depth. Who would rather see eat minutes on this year’s team...Cook or Pemsl?

 

[87alum87]

We would not see much Joe T to Cook. Cook would be the starting 4. CMac would be the starting 1. And, defense at both spots would suffer.

I really like CMac/Kreiner at the 4.

 

[hawkeyeguy69]

Who’s minutes is he taking?

Minutes?? This year would be easy. Let's just keep our fingers crossed that no one gets hurt down the stretch.

Next year talk to me about who's minutes are going where. Fran is going to really struggle. I think the whole class but one will be worthy of playing some minutes.... Hopefully we can have some redshirt. But who....? That's the question.

 

[IllQChawk]

So you kind of missed the point. We are running Pemsl out there because of a lack of depth. Who would rather see eat minutes on this year’s team...Cook or Pemsl?

Neither one of them, but Pemsl is on the roster and Cook decided to play for pay, Pemsl is given minutes because the starters need a blow now and then. I can live with the few minutes Cordell is on the court as long as he plays smart and doesn't make stupid turnovers which he is prone to do.
Cook, Moss, and Dailey all decided to leave the program early, injuries, surgery, and stamina issues have taken another 3 from the roster. The remaining players are all Fran has left and he's doing what is necessary to keep things together. So far so good, Fran has to manage the remaining players from being worn down and out of energy so there's still something in the tank at the end of the year.
If Iowa can get some game to game production from Evelyn, Pemsl, Kriener, Toussaint, and Conner in the remaining games who knows how this season turns out, but relying on just 3 players to score is living on the edge and any injury to Garza, Wieskamp, or Fredrick can cause this season to crumble very quickly....

 

[Eternal Return]

Defense alone this team is better than last years. Cook was very good but he wud be taking possessions from Garza this year if he was still on the team. I think it worked out well for everyone involved.

Cook wasn't so hot on defense, either. Garza has improved so much defensively and offensively that it's a no-brainer to say this team is better. Garza is a legit All-American and I cannot remember Iowa having an All-American since ... ??? You've got to go back to the 1980s, probably, to find someone who could carry the team like Garza has every. single. game.

 

[TampaHawkfan]

Yes. More shooters, more toughness, more defense, more GARZA.

After the DePaul game, never thought I'd be saying all that.

 

[Franisdaman]

Feb 7, 2019:

18-5, 7-5
NET Ranking: 24
National Ranking: #20

Feb 7, 2020

16-7, 7-5
NET Ranking: 30
National Ranking: #17

 

[H4wkfan4life]

Who’s minutes is he taking?

i'll take moss over BE all day long.....

 

[iowa surfer]

More fun to watch, that's for sure...

That a Mouthful...