FAB 5

[Smarthawk]

1) Gesell
2) Marble
3) White
4) McCabe
5) Woodbury

Let Woody get his feet wet early and often. He's gonna be a good one. Basabe could start for McCabe.

[dmShortSaledude]

I think Basabe will be starting in place of McCabe.

Only Matt Gatens started more games than Zach. McCabe started 30 of 35 games. Only Marble was close to Zach. That should say something. Then again, things change, and things will definitely change for Iowa. We will see numerous starting lineups this year. They will change as the year progresses. And they will change with the opponent. That said, McCabe is going to start to begin the season.

Opener:
1) Gesell
2) Marble
3) McCabe
4) White
5) Melsahn

Start of the B1G season:
1) Gesell
2) Marble
3) White
4) McCabe
5) Gabe

Towards the end of the season:
1) Gesell
2) Marble
3) White
4) Melsahn
5) Woody

Bench:
- McCabe
- May
- Ogelsby
- Gabe
- Clemmons

That's a good bench.

I'm excited to see Fran's first printout of the starting lineup!

[BigD]

Man, how would you like to try to defend any of the lineups listed? Every player listed for the most part has the potential to score twenty or more points on any given night. This program has already come a long way already. "Lazarus come forth!"

[SheagleHawk]

Good Lord, people. Give Mike enough respect to at least spell his name right. Eeeesh.

[HawkeyeHypnosis]

I know right? My stupid broken iPhone seems to have Gessel switch to Gassell due to spelling error.

[Thawki]

I don't blame you at all. I have had this conversation with a few people and we go around in circles because there are quality players all around. Ive just come to the conclusion that the lineup will change depending on our opponents strengths. We have many players that can do different things, something we haven't had in a long while, and their strengths will allow us to switch the starting 5 up if needed.

If you change your starting lineup depending upon who you are playing you are adjusting to others and thinking from a position of weakness, I feel. Why not let people change to play you. Make what you have as a starting lineup something that requires someone else to get out of their comfort zone to defend. If you can do that then you are playing from a position of strength.

[rodg12]

Starters:
Gesell
Marble
White
McCabe
Woodbury

First off bench:
Basabe
Oglesby

[OatesStache]

Man, how would you like to try to defend any of the lineups listed? Every player listed for the most part has the potential to score twenty or more points on any given night.

Ummm What? No.

[atomicblue224]

Main thing is to speed up the games , i think it doesn't matter who starts as long we can keep going fast.

[SpiderRico]

I think the most average minutes we will see from any one player is probably going to be about 28. I don't think we'll see a single player avg more than 30 minutes for the season.

Therefore, I don't really care who starts because it's not like the starters are going to get 32-35 mins per game.

And everyone keeps talking about the possibilities on offense for this team and this group of players which is understandable given the fact we're all still scarred from the Lickliter years. But offense isn't an issue with us. It wasn't last year and it won't be as long as Fran is here. What concerns me and what I want to see is a HUGE leap in improvement on the defensive end. A stronger, more physical presence in the post. Staying in front of your man and stop playing ole defense in the guard court.

The bottom line is that we won't see a major improvement in the win column through improved offense.....it will be through improved defense.

[HawkeyeHypnosis]

Good point thawki. It would be an advantage to have opponents have to alter their starting 5 to play to our strengths. Honestly, over the course of the year I don't think there will be any complete lineup changes. They may switch a player in or out of the starters a few times over the progression of the year. It's nice to have the problem of more than 5 are capable to start.

[1st]

If you change your starting lineup depending upon who you are playing you are adjusting to others and thinking from a position of weakness, I feel. Why not let people change to play you. Make what you have as a starting lineup something that requires someone else to get out of their comfort zone to defend. If you can do that then you are playing from a position of strength.

Fran is all about matchups.

[Thawki]

Fran is all about matchups.

Not when it would mean changing the starting lineup on a game-by-game basis. The starting lineup might change once in a while, but he is not going to change it each game because of who we are playing.

[jacknicholson]

Why does't anybody think Woodbury will start. Am I the only one who thinks Adam and Fran had an agreement of sorts. Woodbury will need every minute he can get before the conference starts. He is going to be essential when the Big Ten conference starts. I do realize that in Fran's system those who earn the privilege during practice will start. Woodbury is more than essential as far as the success of the team is concerned. Of course he is only one of the essential players we will need this season.....

[Cover3]

Ummm What? No.

Oglesby, Marble, McCabe, White, and Basabe have all had multiple 20-point games in their careers. Gesell has the skill set of a scorer for sure. Nobody's saying any of these guys would average 20 (or even close), but Iowa has a lot of guys that can go off on any given night.

Let's just say that if the 2011-12 version could have defended...at all...that we wouldn't have an NCAA drought to be so concerned about this year. Iowa can already score with just about anybody.