What Happened to Cordell Pemsl??

[IowasLaw]

The guy is truly a ghost of his former self. What happened?

He was such a stud recruit that he committed to Iowa as a sophomore in high school. He came into Iowa starting as a freshmen, ranking 4th on the team in both scoring (9 pts) and rebounding (5 rb). He even had a 21 point game and a 14 rebound game. His freshmen numbers were on par with what Garza did even last year (13 pts & 4 rb). Four years later, you would have thought Pemsl would be a 1st team all-American...or at the very least a starter.

Instead, Pemsl looks like a walkon out there. He seems confused, flustered, extremely reluctant to shoot, and unwilling to rebound. He's averaging 2 points and 2 rebounds per game.

I know the guy battled injuries over the years, but he came into the season back to 100% health. So what gives? Has any Hawk in our lifetimes ever declined so sharply over his career? If it is indeed injury related, should he be out there at all?

 

[MepoDawg#]

You answered your own question with the injuries comment.

 

[Hawkeye_Pride06]

I don’t think he’s 100%, or at least he wasn’t earlier in the year. I know he was dealing with a bad back.

Remember, he also had a lot of knee issues in high school as well. I think all of the injuries and time away from the game has caught up to him.

 

[ObeseMuffins]

He's also been asked to play more on the perimeter which is not his game.

 

[myteamcanbeatupyourteam]

With all of the injuries he's endured, a lesser person would have quit long before now. Tough, tough kid. I don't think he's ever been 100 percent since he came to Iowa.

 

[StormHawk42]

Injuries and body changes. It may do him and the team some good for Fran to run an iso play for him around the basket once he checks in. See if he can get his confidence up.

Right now, he’s just kinda out there.

 

[mstp1992]

He's never been close to 100% physically, which is likely catching up to him mentally as well. I give him a ton of credit for trying as hard as he can with his current physical limitations. With the limited bench the Hawks have he's being asked to spell some guys for a couple minutes here and there. If he can do that without totally jeopardizing the team that's all you can ask from him.

He obviously has the confidence of McCaffery at this point, otherwise Till would be playing in this role.

 

[Rifler]

We need Pemsl for 5-8 minutes of break-even play,.. If he can do that we'll be good...

 

[yrunvs]

 

[CleteyColgate]

The guy is truly a ghost of his former self. What happened?

He was such a stud recruit that he committed to Iowa as a sophomore in high school. He came into Iowa starting as a freshmen, ranking 4th on the team in both scoring (9 pts) and rebounding (5 rb). He even had a 21 point game and a 14 rebound game. His freshmen numbers were on par with what Garza did even last year (13 pts & 4 rb). Four years later, you would have thought Pemsl would be a 1st team all-American...or at the very least a starter.

Instead, Pemsl looks like a walkon out there. He seems confused, flustered, extremely reluctant to shoot, and unwilling to rebound. He's averaging 2 points and 2 rebounds per game.

I know the guy battled injuries over the years, but he came into the season back to 100% health. So what gives? Has any Hawk in our lifetimes ever declined so sharply over his career? If it is indeed injury related, should he be out there at all?

yeah another one of these

 

[SDHawkDoc]

He may be 100% of what he's capable of now, but that is significantly less than when he arrived in IC.
At times you can see that he knows what he would do if it was physically possible.

If you played ball at some competitive level previously you know the feeling. When you can no longer jump and move the way you used to it's a very different game.

 

[mstp1992]

He may be 100% of what he's capable of now, but that is significantly less than when he arrived in IC.
At times you can see that he knows what he would do if it was physically possible.

If you played ball at some competitive level previously you know the feeling. When you can no longer jump and move the way you used to it's a very different game.

You are correct. I'm also confident he's playing with a lot more pain than he'll let on to anyone.

 

[Joes Place]

Getting stomped on by Kreiner and Garza every day in practice can't be a big confidence booster, either.....

 

[backinblack23]

With him it's lots of things. First off he's sort of a in-between guy, at 6'8" he's to short to just be a banger down low, he never really developed a post game. This could be because of injuries not allowing him the practice time to do that. Also he has never really trimmed down to get quicker inside, also could be because of injuries. All that would have been ok but he also can't shoot very well, if he was a threat to hit those 12-18 foot jumpers he could be a decent player in my mind. He's smart and works hard he just hasn't developed as we thought he would. As long as he comes in the game and just holds his ground to give Garza or Kreiner a break I'm good with that.

 

[backinblack23]

I don't want to sound like I want him gone but if he is looking for more PT he needs to transfer to a smaller school, if stays good for him and I hope he does well, he deserves it. He's been nothing but a good teammate and representative for the University.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Yeah, injuries have certainly been a factor, and as mentioned, he's just not a threat from beyond 6 feet from the basket. He is a post-up guy with a couple power moves, but he is a bit too slow in setting his shot up. If teams stayed off and let him go 1 on 1 with his defender, yeah there's a chance he could get to the basket and finish, but most teams we've played are too keyed in to what they're trying to do defensively, to allow that.

I would actually like to see him become more of a defensive-minded big. Someone who can come off the bench for Garza or Kreiner and lock down a team's Center or PF and be a rim protector in our zone defense, even with his size.

I do think we're seeing that at times, but if he really puts the work in, that could be his ticket to a few more minutes and a lock on what his role with this team is going forward.

 

[Kurt Warner]

Just a year ago he played lights out against isu...

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Just a year ago he played lights out against isu...

And then shut down for the season, just like Bohannon.

 

[littlez]

A rim protector has to be able to jump and alter shots. At this point in his career he has zero chance of being a rim protector.

 

[Hawksfor3]

I'd just like to see him in a defensive minded role right now. We have 11 conference games left and I hope he doesn't aggravate whatever it is he may be going through. One thing I've noticed is that when Joe T is on the floor, no matter who the others are that he's in with, he makes them better. I'm looking for Joe to create some more opportunities for Cordell going forward. I want Cordell to defend as best that he can, set screens, and get the ball to the wings.

 

[Buffalo43]

I think he still has the ability to drive, spin and go over his left shoulder for a lay up like he use to do but choose not to for some reason

 

[creslin_hawk]

I think its confidence. With major injuries sometimes it takes a while to start trusting your body again. I don't think hers there. There is a chance that with steady minutes and an injury free off-season he could come back looking more like the player he was against Iowa state last year.

 

[QChawks]

He’s like that hairy old guy at the YMCA. Mostly a liability but every once in awhile sneaks by you for a bucket.

 

[Gridiron24]

I'm not too close with the current crop of athletes at Iowa, but I actually know Cordell personally.

All the injuries and the time away from the court has caught up with him. He played through the pain for years and has worked really hard in the past 2 years to get back, but I think even he knows that he's not the same player.

 

[HungryHawk]

He’s similar to Garza in that he isn’t the most athletic guy, but unfortunately for him he’s also 3 inches shorter and has struggled with injuries since before he stepped on campus.

 

[cleotishaywood]

A rim protector has to be able to jump and alter shots. At this point in his career he has zero chance of being a rim protector.

We just need him to be a ball protector and not throw the ball away.

 

[littlez]

Correct.

 

[MIHawk64]

And then shut down for the season, just like Bohannon.

Last year he shut down for the season I believe was to correct some knee work that he had done in high school. Being away from the court for a year, the surgery to correct high school knee issues, while those he was recruited with took their game up a notch or so has taken its toll.

 

[hawkisak]

I give anyone credit for being a scholarship athlete and having to handle the rigors of playing the game, going to school etc. It's extra challenging when there are physical limitations, combined with health issues. Truth is that Cordell is probably a few inches short and a step of two slow without a jump shot. If he was 100% physically healthy, he could mask some of these limitations, but adding it that situation makes things harder for him.

Honestly, i'd be more concerned for is long term health with knee/back issues and hope for the best in life for the young man.
Any positive minutes he can give this squad are a plus and he seems to be well liked/respected by his teammates. That's more what matters IMO.

 

[mtdew_fever]

It really is too bad. I remember seeing him play in high school as a Soph in the State Tourney. Very athletic and mobile.

Either way, he knows his role on this years team.