[jacknicholson]

Excellent thoughtful post, Jon.....

Lots of positive expectations for the Hawks, this year and next. It would be huge to make the NIT this year. It is certainly possible, but a lot of tough games remain. Indiana and Wisconsin at Carver will be extremely tough wins to achieve, and the B1G on the road is nasty.

If we do make the NIT, it would be a tremendous boost for the team next season.....

Times are changing.....

[EddyP]

Originally Posted by JonDMiller

We'll have to see what Iowa's non-conference slate looks like. I'd love to see Iowa play Campbell again, as well as UNI. Would have been nice for Cartwright not to have been hurt against Iowa State and a few others, too.

It only takes a few games to change an entire outlook on a season...beat Campbell, hold on to the double-digit lead against Nebraska and win one of the two close ones against Purdue, and now you are looking at a team who is 16-8 and everyone is thinking differently.

But this program still needs to learn how to be tough from night to night, game to game. It still needs more defense and some better outside shooting.

Next year, you bring in that class, which is accomplished in both paper ranking as well as individual camp honors and high level AAU success...these kids have been winning for a while and it helps to bring in more winning attitudes like that.

The biggest plus about Cartwright's early season injury is that Marble had to play some point, and he did a good job. It means that Gesell won't have to handle all of that load next year, and it's never a great thing when you have a true freshman point guard. That factor boosts my expectations a bit.

I think Gabe Olaseni will make some offensive strides this off season. Not saying he is going to be a force or huge factor next year, but he will be better.

Clemmons and Ingram are going to give Iowa a boost in the perimeter defense department, and Woodbury can help to add some defense along the back end and some help side blocks.

I don't expect Woodbury to come in and have an impact like Zeller or Indiana, because I don't think he has to...not sure he is capable of that. I am tempering my expectations for him, because it's rare to have a big man step in and be a huge factor for most programs. It's been all the more rare when that has been the case for Iowa.

Michael Payne had a real good freshman season, but sort of topped out. It was a similar season, stats wise, to Mel Basabe last year. But most of Iowa's big men have taken a while to develop, as is the case for most big men.

I dont have much expectation for Meyer next year, but that has nothing to do with him...just looking at the rotation and minutes...to me, if he can come in and contribute, it's a bonus.

Aaron White will be a better player and I think Zach McCabe's confidence will be off the charts. I think Marble can spend some time in the weight room as well as working on his outside shot.

I wouldn't wager on Iowa in the Top 25, but I will not disregard it as crazy thinking, either.

In two years? I think they should get there.

I would agree with tempering expectations for the freshman coming in. That being said after seeing White this year it would not surprise me at all to see many of them come in like it ain't no thing and be major contributors right away. One thing is for sure there will be an excitement level from the fanbase like there hasn't been in awhile.

[JonDMiller]

Originally Posted by EddyP

I would agree with tempering expectations for the freshman coming in. That being said after seeing White this year it would not surprise me at all to see many of them come in like it ain't no thing and be major contributors right away. One thing is for sure there will be an excitement level from the fanbase like there hasn't been in awhile.

I think Gesell and Woodbury have been playing against high level competition in summers, so the 'shock factor' may not be as big..then again, you can say that about most of the kids who sign with Big Ten schools. Freshman are more 'ready' to play now than ever before. The biggest adjustment are the physical demands of the Big Ten.

[busabus114]

The good news is the talent level on the current squad is nearing the point where we dont need "big things" from the freshman coming in. This is good because I think lots of people on this board are guilty of anointing guys they have never seen play live as sure things. Hopefully they can come in, fill in where needed and keep improving

[sportstalent]

Originally Posted by JonDMiller

I think Gesell and Woodbury have been playing against high level competition in summers, so the 'shock factor' may not be as big..then again, you can say that about most of the kids who sign with Big Ten schools. Freshman are more 'ready' to play now than ever before. The biggest adjustment are the physical demands of the Big Ten.

This is particularly true with the highly ranked players as they play against each other a lot in camps. That said, I think the biggest adjustment for these "top" players coming into programs is that they have to earn the respect of their teammates rather than being put on the pedestal. The mental makeup of a freshman has a lot to do with how good they are in their careers, but especially that first year.

With the Iowa recruits though, especially, Gesell and Woodbury, Paige is the one everyone has really focused on for the last couple of years. Motivation is a big part of each Iowa recruit and all five seem to feel they have something to prove and all indications are they play that way.

[herbyhawk]

i don't see there being a big difference in Woodbury and Zeller, in his being ready to play with confidence, as for being ready i feel it has more to do with who coaches him.
even betteris the fact that Marble, McCabe and Basabe will be JR's, and i feel White has the work ethic to avoid a sophamore slump,
Gesell will have Clemmons to help at the point, they may be Freshman, but they have been thru the AAU wars against some of the best in the country, again coaching will be key, and from what i read point guards are Fran specialty, just like Dr Tom was a great one at coaching point guards

[EddyP]

Originally Posted by herbyhawk

i don't see there being a big difference in Woodbury and Zeller, in his being ready to play with confidence, as for being ready i feel it has more to do with who coaches him.
even betteris the fact that Marble, McCabe and Basabe will be JR's, and i feel White has the work ethic to avoid a sophamore slump,
Gesell will have Clemmons to help at the point, they may be Freshman, but they have been thru the AAU wars against some of the best in the country, again coaching will be key, and from what i read point guards are Fran specialty, just like Dr Tom was a great one at coaching point guards

That is because he was one.

[GhostofBTT]

Woodbury is going to be more Meyers Leonard as a freshman than Tyler Zeller as a freshman.

[hawkfan33]

Originally Posted by GhostofBTT

Woodbury is going to be more Meyers Leonard as a freshman than Tyler Zeller as a freshman.

Tyler Zeller and Meyers Leonard had almost identical freshman stats, but they also had a lot of talented big men in front of them. Woodbury will get a lot more minutes than either one of those guys.

[bcl20]

All I really want for Woodbury is to make an impact defensively.

[H8IAST8]

Originally Posted by hawkfan33

Tyler Zeller and Meyers Leonard had almost identical freshman stats, but they also had a lot of talented big men in front of them. Woodbury will get a lot more minutes than either one of those guys.

I'm guessing he meant Cody?

[GhostofBTT]

Originally Posted by hawkfan33

Tyler Zeller and Meyers Leonard had almost identical freshman stats, but they also had a lot of talented big men in front of them. Woodbury will get a lot more minutes than either one of those guys.

I did mean Cody, sorry. And I also, Leonard's stats were not bad because he played behind Tisdale, they were bad because he was getting pushed around, looking lost on defense, and was a fouling machine.