Currently have 3 scholarships available, Not sure a 4th makes a difference. Also still need practice players.
Who should Jan go after in the portal
- Thread starter fish1hawk
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Currently have 3 scholarships available, Not sure a 4th makes a difference. Also still need practice players.
There's 14 girls listed on the roster.
My understanding is Division 1 WBB is allowed 15 schollies.
How does JJ have 3 scholarships remaining or are you talking about the 25/26 season?
Talking next year, I believe you were referring to creaning Jada next year.
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Might want to reread what I said again… You or no fan has enough information to even have an opinion on that….. I could have an opinion it shouldn’t be raining, but until I knew all the circumstances behind why it would it’s just an ignorant opinion lol surely you’re smarter than that.
For next season, 2025-2026.
There are 14 currently on scholarship. 5 of them are seniors. There are 3 incoming freshmen signed.
So there are currently 12 on scholarship for next season with three vacant scholarships. There doesn’t seem to be any chatter about adding any other 2025 graduates. Kind of doubt they will bring in 3 transfers (although I do hope they get a couple). So they will most likely already be carrying an open scholarship again next season. No need to force a valuable team member out just for not getting many court minutes.
I think we're talking 2 different things here.
You're speaking about game situations.
I'm talking about recruiting visits and the recruiting photos taken during those visits that players post to their social media accounts.
Coaches wear their coaching apparel during recruiting visits. That means their wearing tennis shoes and not heels for these photos.
Photos of coaching apparel:
Jan is mostly wearing her practice apparel (if not all the time) when taking these recruit visit photos. Meaning she's in tennis shoes as well as everyone else. She's NOT gaining 2" of heels over the others who are wearing tennis shoes.
Aaliyah Guyton visit (coaches are wearing their coaching apparel):
Class of 2025 visit:
Brynn McGaughy visit (open the the pic with the coaches and you'll see they're all wearing tennis shoes
Layla Hays visit (view the 4th pic and Bluder is wearing tennis shoes for recruit photos):
Here's some video insight of what a recruit sees when they come on a visit. This shows why the coaches are wearing practice apparel during these recruit visit photos. Meaning they're all wearing tennis shoes in these recruiting photos. Then later the coaches change their coaching apparel to game attire later on for the game.
Here's the main photo in question here. Addie Deal and Jan are both wearing tennis shoes and that's the way I've seen all of these recruit photos.
Class of 2026 visit (view the 5th pic and coaches are all wearing tennis shoes; no heels):
Here's a blown up version of that 5th photo:
Don't know why you're asking me to see game attire and heels. It doesn't apply for the situation at hand. Again, Jan is not gaining 2" on her recruits to look the same height as Addie Deal. There's a reason I used the word "pegged" (used to mark a score) at 6'0". That's because Jan is in most of these recruit visit photos. Addie Deal is not. I need a marker or ~guage and Jan is gonna be the one in all these recruit photos.
I realize kids can still grow from older HS listed heights. So I use Jan's height to ~guesstimate the recruit's height. Everywhere I've seen on Addie Deal's bio is she is listed at 6'0". So I "pegged" Jan at 6'0" so I can place an ~height on other recruits as they do their recruit visit photos that they post online.
My original post was not to find out their exact height. It was to ascertain if I'm off base in thinking Journey is tall enough and big enough to take on the 4 position. So I was thinking if she's taller and and more of a bruiser like Syd, she could also be a potential player in the 4 position next year. That 4 seems to be the hardest to fill for some reason. Just looking for possible alt players.
Just today I found the answer I was looking for and it looks possible that Journey could also be a 4 if needed.
Notice again the coaches are in their coaching apparel which looks like a recruit visit photo also.
Class of 2025 G/F Journey Houston talks commitment to Iowa - 8/26/23
“My strengths are getting to the basket and rebounding. My next step in my game is staying consistent and expanding on my outside game… I am working on my outside game because when I get to college I will play in the 2-3, possibly 4, but mostly 2-3 position.”
Class of 2025 G/F Journey Houston talks commitment to Iowa
HawkeyeReport takes a look at the addition of Journey Houston to the Iowa Women's Basketball 2025 recruiting class.
Tom Paris said:
"Journey seems more like a stretch 4 to me, at this point, because her shooting and ball handling is just okay. Having said that, she’s more of a 3, like you say, if I consider Stulke a perfect 4. Some similarities to their games but Houston is better than Hannah on the perimeter. Still work to do!"
Iowa WBB 2025 Recruiting Thread
Deal, Houston and Hays would be a great class. Add in Skinner and/or McGaughy look out. Think what Coach Bluder could do with a top five class of talent. If Bluder can land Skinner, McGaughy, Hays, or Speiser, this will certainly be a Top 5 class. If she can land both Skinner and McGaughy, it...
iowa.forums.rivals.com
Iowa WBB 2025 Recruiting Thread
Deal, Houston and Hays would be a great class. Add in Skinner and/or McGaughy look out. Think what Coach Bluder could do with a top five class of talent. If Bluder can land Skinner, McGaughy, Hays, or Speiser, this will certainly be a Top 5 class. If she can land both Skinner and McGaughy, it...
iowa.forums.rivals.com
I think we're talking 2 different things here.
You're speaking about game situations.
I'm talking about recruiting visits and the recruiting photos taken during those visits that players post to their social media accounts.
Coaches wear their coaching apparel during recruiting visits. That means their wearing tennis shoes and not heels for these photos.
Photos of coaching apparel:
Jan is mostly wearing her practice apparel (if not all the time) when taking these recruit visit photos. Meaning she's in tennis shoes as well as everyone else. She's NOT gaining 2" of heels over the others who are wearing tennis shoes.
Aaliyah Guyton visit (coaches are wearing their coaching apparel):
Class of 2025 visit:
Brynn McGaughy visit (open the the pic with the coaches and you'll see they're all wearing tennis shoes
Layla Hays visit (view the 4th pic and Bluder is wearing tennis shoes for recruit photos):
Here's some video insight of what a recruit sees when they come on a visit. This shows why the coaches are wearing practice apparel during these recruit visit photos. Meaning they're all wearing tennis shoes in these recruiting photos. Then later the coaches change their coaching apparel to game attire later on for the game.
Here's the main photo in question here. Addie Deal and Jan are both wearing tennis shoes and that's the way I've seen all of these recruit photos.
Class of 2026 visit (view the 5th pic and coaches are all wearing tennis shoes; no heels):
Here's a blown up version of that 5th photo:
Don't know why you're asking me to see game attire and heels. It doesn't apply for the situation at hand. Again, Jan is not gaining 2" on her recruits to look the same height as Addie Deal. There's a reason I used the word "pegged" (used to mark a score) at 6'0". That's because Jan is in most of these recruit visit photos. Addie Deal is not. I need a marker or ~guage and Jan is gonna be the one in all these recruit photos.
I realize kids can still grow from older HS listed heights. So I use Jan's height to ~guesstimate the recruit's height. Everywhere I've seen on Addie Deal's bio is she is listed at 6'0". So I "pegged" Jan at 6'0" so I can place an ~height on other recruits as they do their recruit visit photos that they post online.
My original post was not to find out their exact height. It was to ascertain if I'm off base in thinking Journey is tall enough and big enough to take on the 4 position. So I was thinking if she's taller and and more of a bruiser like Syd, she could also be a potential player in the 4 position next year. That 4 seems to be the hardest to fill for some reason. Just looking for possible alt players.
Just today I found the answer I was looking for and it looks possible that Journey could also be a 4 if needed.
Notice again the coaches are in their coaching apparel which looks like a recruit visit photo also.
Class of 2025 G/F Journey Houston talks commitment to Iowa - 8/26/23
“My strengths are getting to the basket and rebounding. My next step in my game is staying consistent and expanding on my outside game… I am working on my outside game because when I get to college I will play in the 2-3, possibly 4, but mostly 2-3 position.”
Class of 2025 G/F Journey Houston talks commitment to Iowa
HawkeyeReport takes a look at the addition of Journey Houston to the Iowa Women's Basketball 2025 recruiting class.www.on3.com
Tom Paris said:
"Journey seems more like a stretch 4 to me, at this point, because her shooting and ball handling is just okay. Having said that, she’s more of a 3, like you say, if I consider Stulke a perfect 4. Some similarities to their games but Houston is better than Hannah on the perimeter. Still work to do!"
"I was a bit but saying their games are different. I could see Journey as your big 4th guard/stretch 4. Hannah is probably more of a power forward who has to play the 5."Iowa WBB 2025 Recruiting Thread
Deal, Houston and Hays would be a great class. Add in Skinner and/or McGaughy look out. Think what Coach Bluder could do with a top five class of talent. If Bluder can land Skinner, McGaughy, Hays, or Speiser, this will certainly be a Top 5 class. If she can land both Skinner and McGaughy, it...
Iowa WBB 2025 Recruiting Thread
Deal, Houston and Hays would be a great class. Add in Skinner and/or McGaughy look out. Think what Coach Bluder could do with a top five class of talent. If Bluder can land Skinner, McGaughy, Hays, or Speiser, this will certainly be a Top 5 class. If she can land both Skinner and McGaughy, it...
FWIW, that is in no way shape or form the way you worded it, in fact, I and a couple other people clearly said on the sidelines and you’re rebuttal made it seem like it was ridiculous, She’d be wearing them on a basketball court, period. Nonetheless, she’s 5-10. At least she was, and I doubt she’s taller now🤷♂️
You're kinda vague here.
You said, "made it seem like it was ridiculous"
What is ridiculous?
You said, "She’d be wearing them on a basketball court, period."
She'd be wearing what? What is "them" in your statement?
When she is wearing "them"? Is it during a game or during practice/recruit visit photos?
I said prior Jan is listed as 5-10. But I'm also wondering why Jan and Addie look very close to the same height in straight on photos. Addie Deal is listed as 6'0" in the bios I've seen. I'm asking questions here. Just like I was asking questions on Journey Houston's height with HIWILLE.
Ok…fortunately for me I wasn’t the only one who understood you to say it would be ridiculous for her to be wearing heels 🤷♂️
Some of the posters here need to remind themselves of what the Iowa WBB culture is all about. The symbolic circle before games. The mantra that everybody matters. It is not going to change. Every recruit that comes on a visit says afterwards how impressed they were with the culture first of all. There will never be any Creaning of players.
@MitchLL is honestly one of the calmer ones, in fact I’m sure he’ll take umbrage with this, but I don’t think he pisses & moans about the coaches like he used to. But this is a very out of touch take.
But I’ll say this, the more you read the game threads in any of the losses or any moment during a game in which we are playing poorly and it is filled with ridiculous, out of touch, idiotic, and mostly just flat stupid basketball takes. That are easily realized the very next game….
I’ll say again….
We are not running a different offense, that’s made up fan bullshit…
We are not more post centric now than we were with Monika or Meghan for Lords sake. I mean that’s just dumb & something I’d be embarrassed to even say out loud.
We are better when we can throw the lob entry, AND it takes practice and eventually (by the by, not just 5 games) it became obvious we weren’t Going to get it, this year. I do find myself thinking it might reappear @ an in important time down the road maybe even against Ohio State who I’ve noticed are extremely poorly guarding the post and that over the top entry in particular.
We wanted, even needed HS, to adapt to the 4 (again it takes more than 5 games) but when we were struggling Jan switched back and it unclogged the lane.
I mean, honestly, I’m no brilliant basketball mind, nor regardless of my critics do I think I am, that’s how simple this shit really is to understand; if you just open your damn eyes…
I think that was what has been pretty impressive about Tennessee this year - their coach rotates A TON. They play pretty deep down in their bench.
The other end of that of course being….our fans used to complain vehemently (at least when I used to view that board) about Fran playing too many players
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The guards started dribbling to the lane. You can call it the same offense, but when you don't execute and move, it's really not the same offense. Standing around the perimeter and trying to feed a post is NOT the same offense. That's on the coaches and players. They moved Hannah, got the guards moving forward. Call it whatever you want.
I noticed Jada was not subbed in last minute against Nebbie. Only freshmen went in.
Part of the difference there being that the Tennessee coach has them play quite frenetically on D ... I don't think that Fran has even discovered defense in basketball yet.
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That and decisiveness significantly improved. It's the other big reason why they look more confident (1st being is because they're making more shots). If they're open in a good spot they take the shot. Earlier in the season the player would have an open window to shoot, pause for a second, let the D recover, not shoot, and then miss their passing window while looking lost after taking two dribbles into that lane, picking up the ball at the worst possible time, clogging the lane more, and in the end look around at 4 other people who are also standing there who aren't sure who is the one supposed to help her out.
Now, they shoot it right away. If it doesn't go in then at a very good clip SF, TS, or HS get an offensive rebound to kick to another open 3, a big down low whose defender is now out of position, or a driving guard. Amazing what a simple change, taking the open look, does for the team's offensive identity.
No….in fact, they generally couldn’t guard a fireplace if the were changed to it 😜
Yes - she will be handed the keys. You don’t bring in a top 10 and 5 star player to “sit.” Nope … she will start from Day 1 … This girl is insanely good ….
There are lots of sides to that topic. And having a team full of 5 stars works for teams like S Carolina. We'll see how this all plays out with Rev share, NIL, and the portal. Not really so easy to justify having roster spots taken up by "cheerleaders" anymore when your trying to hang on to that brass ring that the ladies have been so close to the last couple of years. I've said this before, but recruiting is not just about replacing the top player on your roster, it's about making the roster better from the back end all the way up. At the rate these young girls have injuries, (ACL's etc...) you better keep the roster as healthy as possible all the way down and not be complacent. Having players that you know are't going to play could come back to bite you in the ass during a long season.
This. What people don't consider is that player you bring in, MIGHT just end up being way better then projected, and then you have another real player on your team instead of someone who you already know isn't going to contribute. You just can't be complacent. Or you could just do like Fran and give rides out to walk ons when you can't fill the roster.....
Meh…I Don’t know about that as it pertains to the deeper end of the roster. I’m not gonna do a deep dive on this but a quick look at South Carolinas roster reveals only 13 girls, and that 13th is a senior who doesn’t contribute very much. In fact doesn’t play all the time.
Would you really not agree that if you have another available spot, you could add real value to your roster? MAYBE someone who becomes even better then some of the higher ranked recruits you have? This could also be achieved from the portal? I used SC as an example, but we aren't SC at this point, BUT right now Iowa has real momentum in recruiting. NOW. Even getting Kate Harpering in on a visit was huge if she come to Iowa or not. I understand that fans get attached to players just as the coaches do, but Jans job is to build on this current opportunity. There were many people here wanting Ava Jones to remain on the active roster even when it was clear she would never recover to play D1 basketball. Now its the Jada argument. People want to have her on the team as what the teams den mother? Going into the year would it not be possible to have a player in that spot who had grown into being a contributing player? Is it not worth considering that the 3rd or 4th year player would be come a real asset then you don't have to rush a Taylor Stremlow or Teagan Mellegni out on the floor because you don't have someone on the bench currently who can play? I never understand the whole "those last three roster spots don't really matter because you don't play more then 8-9 anyway". That makes zero sense. While those may be developing players, they should be held by players who are developing, don't you think? Then your not forced to have freshman come in and have to play if they aren't ready right from the jump.
This is an interesting topic, most of these women’s roster aren’t full. And some have freshmen waiting their turn but still others have Srs that don’t appear to have ever played much but still there….
ND has a Sr graduate student who was a walkon but put on scholarship last year and now this year who has never really played much. They also only have 12 rostered players.
UCLA has only 11, Frosh at the bottom…
LSU has 12,w/a Sr Amani Bartlett who has never contributed too much
This will end my search, but as a remarkable comparison, Sarah Graves from Texas, a former walk-on, has never contributed much but yet is important enough to the bench and team chemistry she had this article written about her….
Ultimate team player: how walk-on Sarah Graves impacted Texas women’s basketball’s star-studded team
The name Sarah Graves may not mean much to average fans of Texas women’s basketball. Yet, the once-walk-on sophomore guard impacts the team both in the practice gym and from the bench. Graves started playing basketball in her freshman year of high school following the advice of her track coach...
thedailytexan.com
So it doesn’t appear Iowa is too unusual in the WBB world. Incidentally if Memory serves Jada was a pretty highly rated recruit, who now has chronic knee problems.
The biggest thing is, I didn’t see one full roster. They all had 11-13 players. So no I don’t see Iowa booting Jada.
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Well, I responded to this already, but in short none of these teams carry full rosters. You’re someone I’ve greatly enjoyed and respected over the years so I certainly don’t want you to think I’m challenging you. But a quick look at the top 10 reveals none have even 14 players let alone 15. Kentucky has 11 and Ohio State 10….
So no, I guess I don’t agree. I mean, conceptionally, sure it makes sense, but nobody’s practicing that methodology.
I guess I'm just too much an Iowa fan. I'd like our teams to actually get a chance to win B1G and national championships. Wouldn't that be something to aspire towards? We still hang in with wrestling, but even there we are looking up at PSU now, but were hanging in. Football is an enormous task, so I give Kirk some leeway. Mens hoops is totally out of the question until some changes are made starting at the top. The womens team was thrust right into the mix by having ONE generational talent, but that spark remains, as can be seen from the USC weekend, and current recruiting trends. Do whatever you can NOW to hold on to that momentum. I understand your premise about the back end of the roster, BUT, it just seems like we aren't talking about A player. As I said there are those who were fine in Ava Jones took up a spot even if she could never play. Then you have Jada. Again, I know where she was recruited, but thats not where she is now. Now you have spots for Kenise Johnson who looked lost as freshman, and now out over an entire year now with the ACL. I assume she's redshirting. Maybe she becomes a player at some point, but her situation just builds my case. Your always going to have players who develop slowly, or get injured, so depth of real players helps to aleveate that. Clarks soph year I believe we had three players out with ACL injuries. What happens when you have that situation and the last three players on the roster are "non players" ? Then with 13 on the roster you have about 7 or 8 functioning actual players.
This is a pure guess, but I'm assuming, the cost of a scholarship has to weigh into this….why else would none of these teams being carrying full rosters? And this is basketball royalty, 🤷♂️?
As far as the Ava Jones thing, that’s just emotion & naïveté. She is now in a medical scholarship and taken care of. She just doesn’t count towards the bball totality. She still isn’t paying out of pocket.
Jada is involved w/the team still and we don’t have a full roster, different deal.
The Truth is brother, and I’m sure this will sound “richardish” to use your language 🤓 there ain’t tons of brilliant minds in here. Mostly just knee jerk reactions. That’s why I respect what you’re saying because you think things through. I just don’t see that in action anywhere else?!
Both really, 😂 thinking things through and/or filling up the roster 🙂
While I understand this may be the norm even for the blue bloods, our situation to me is unique at this time for Iowa. We have for sometime been a regular top 20 level team in the womens game. These last few years have thrust Iowa potentially into a top 10 or higher team. One with realistic dreams of contending for not only conference titles but even to be a national player. This opportunity simply does not come along for Iowa often. Other then the last two years and a couple under Stringer we haven't been "a player" in basketball for 50 years, in the mid 80's for the men or then back to the mid 50's. So I wonder should we not go ALL in here, now. Whatever that entails. Recruiting one or two more players. Pushing NIL opportunities. Maybe more Rev share then is being discussed towards womens team. Will we look back in 15 to 20 years and be discussing how we missed the chance to raise one of our current programs into being a true national player?
How many players do you think Jan should go after in the portal this offseason?
So yes the players got more “confident” and “took” the open look, right?! Surely you aren’t saying that was a game plan change? The players finally started playing w/confidence. Not even that unusual 🤷♂️
Jan was NOT coaching them to not shoot. Honestly all you have to do is listen to her audio and it will be pretty clear what has been happening
Well we would certainly not be the norm for sure. I have yet to find one WBB team w/14 girls on the team? And I’ve looked at 25 plus🤷♂️
That will obviously depend on her conversations with Kylie, and any other outgoing seniors if there is a mutual interest in any of them returning. If all move on with their lives then I believe we'd be at 12 players currently bringing in Deal, Houston , and Hays. That includes Jada and KJ whom at this point have been no factor to play meaningful minutes, so it depends if Jan see's KJ to even be an option to play at the point at sometime. I think Jada's knee issues will keep her from ever being a rotational player. That leaves you basically with 10 players. So yes I'd like to see Jan add at least one or two players from the portal, (assuming there isn't a high level high schooler from the 2025 class to be had). Certainly a skilled 3/4 wing who can drive, shoot and rebound (Syd will be missed on the glass) would be key.
Is there another senior other than Kylie who could come back next year? I don’t think there is.
Nope, only Kylie because she was out a whole year with an ACL.
If she goes, she'll get the same chance to play the same amount of time as much as CC did.
If she comes back, she'll get the chance to play the same amount of time as much as Martin or Marshall did.
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While I don't think it happens in this upcoming off season, and with who is coming in, I think Levin will eventually look for playing time elsewhere at some place like Drake/UNI.
JMO.
JMO.
This is true, but you are losing Olsen. Olsen and Deal together would be solid. I agree with the person that you were responding to. Stuelke really can’t play a forward position as she is not a good ball handler and can’t shoot the outside shot. Iowa needs to pick up at least 1 solid shooting transfer with good ball handling that can start and compliment Deal and Guyton.
I don't disagree about that. Pretty sure my response there is in regard to what Deal can do coming in, some posters even questioning if she would start. Deal will likely replace Olsen.
I imagine a lot depends on how much the coaches bet on points from Houston and Mallegni, and then if portal players look like an exact fit for the team and need.
Can't really think about it too seriously until you know what's available.
