What will be more important?

[jacknicholson]

Cannot wait for this season...I haven't even wrapped my brain around what might be in another year...but holy crap, it sure is fun again.

It is a good feeling to be excited again about the program.....

I also think Fran addressed the basic needs. Perhaps the size in the middle is slightly more important because we were simply killed inside a lot of games. The outside game is almost equally important in my mind. We need three point accuracy and solid D. We also have guys coming in who can hit the mid-range jumper on the run. The incoming class compliments our returning team very well.....

[jacknicholson]

I agree with this point of view. I was disturbed by our lack of interior D last season. Or maybe the lack of consistency of our interior D would be a better way to put it.

Good point, Scorpio, you shoild join the chats during the games, lot of fun most of the time.....

You seem to be learning the rulebook very well, bro....

[TheOracle]

Is Woodbury a shot blocker? The one place I could find stats for him it said he blocked .4 shots per game. I find that hard to believe but just because you are a 7 footer it doesn't automatically make you a great shot blocker.

[atomicblue224]

Good point, Scorpio, you shoild join the chats during the games, lot of fun most of the time.....

You seem to be learning the rulebook very well, bro....

For some reasons, B1G sometimes don`t allow chats during game

[VictorCooper]

Is Woodbury a shot blocker? The one place I could find stats for him it said he blocked .4 shots per game. I find that hard to believe but just because you are a 7 footer it doesn't automatically make you a great shot blocker.

No it doesnt make him for sure a great shot blocker but also I think teams may have just shot outside in high school in the fear of being blocked. I played against a few 7 footers in high school and we rarely went inside since we never had the height to compete in there

[sportstalent]

1. Guards win period, or a team of extremely versatile players with two or more forwards with major guard skill. Look at the best teams in the BIG...you have Craft, Burke and Appling. The best teams have the best guards for sure.

2. Size is good, if it is useable...Gabe last season, yeah he is 6-9 or 6-10, but does he just simply have size, or is there more to it. Woodbury looks the part and Meyer does as well. Throw in White and Basabe and Iowa appears to have usable size.

3. Iowa's depth at the guard position is going to be their most essetial attribute this year. Unless Gesell, Clemmons and Ingram flop Iowa should have good depth at guard along with Oglesby and Marble.

For those that aren't sure Iowa tries to play a power game with their inside guys, just think about how the ball is fed to the post early and often...when PG play was good last season. Will Iowa have the power inside game of MSU/OSU/Ind...absolutely not, but when the PG's are feeding the post early and often, it opens everything up for the guards. Good guard play can overshadow some of the short comings in post play, but Iowa has to rely on freshman for that. Iowa's expericenced players will have to carry the young ones until conference play and for once, I actually think that can happen.

[TheOracle]

I just hope Gesell can live up to the expectations that a lot of people on this board have for him. If he can come in and put up 8 ppg, around 4 assists and keep people from packing the lane with his shooting ability it will help everyone out. It will clear the lane out for Basabe and the other big guys and it will move Marble back to his natural position for the most part.

[imported_Tmoney12]

Holy sh!t there is a whole lot of good points in this thread. Just remember were not getting "excited" again... were mad again... cmon guys!

[VictorCooper]

i wouldnt call any of this expectations...just speculation and anticipation. It goes without saying the program is heading in the right direction. It is just fun/new talking Hawk basketball in the summer. This hasn't happened in awhile.

[HawkeyeShane]

It is a good feeling to be excited again about the program.....

I also think Fran addressed the basic needs. Perhaps the size in the middle is slightly more important because we were simply killed inside a lot of games. The outside game is almost equally important in my mind. We need three point accuracy and solid D. We also have guys coming in who can hit the mid-range jumper on the run. The incoming class compliments our returning team very well.....

Mucho agreedamente!

[gohawkz]

Well, the simplistic answer to that question is that an outside game needs a strong inside game to make it possible.

And even if you have a great outside game, which we don't have...you will eventually fail without a good inside game.

[RocknRollface]

A debate on whether back courts or front courts are more important is pointless. It can be either or depending on your team.

Yeah MSU and OSU had good guards but they also had the two best front courts.

Iowa biggest needs last year were both perimeter and interior defense. We were not good at either one.

[SwirlinLingerie]

Les Jepsen as a senior + a bunch of role players = 4-14 in the Big Ten.

Andre Woolridge + a bunch of role players = 2nd place in the Big Ten and a team capable of making a deep run in the tourney.

Interior defense is nice. Good guard play is critical.

[ChosenChildren]

To compete with Michigan State and Ohio State, you have to be strong and physical inside. It is absolutely crucial. I think Fran is on his way in addressing this issue.

This is a very exciting time to be an Iowa BB fan

[storminspank]

Guard play wins championships in college basketball.