Hawkeye Basketball

T-Rex · Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 4:27 pm Post subject: Hawkeye Basketball

Gonna be a loooooooong season.....

DonnyDonovan · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 1:19 am Post subject:

I think what has people (rightfully) the most concerned, and I'm sure Henery will be along to tell me why I'm wrong, is that not only is the team pretty unwatchable, but, if you look at the recruits coming in the next couple years, there are no real difference makers on the horizon.

I like Lickliter, but, I'd be lying if I said I didn't have some concerns about whether his system can win consistently in the Big Ten. I'm worried he might be another Barry Collier, and we all remember how he worked out at Nebraska.

This league has phenomenal coaches right now. Tubby Smith is making strides up north. Izzo and Bo Ryan are money. Bielein plays a similar style but has better recruiting pipelines at Michigan. We all know Crean will turn IU around eventually.

I am still willing to be patient, but, if I said I was optimistic about the future of Iowa basketball, I'd be lying through my teeth.

HeneryHawk · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 10:01 am Post subject:

Crean will have IU smokin' in a pretty short time, a high calibre coach at the (traditional) premier BigTen basketball school.

No, I have some consideral doubts with TL right now. Is this a system that not only can win, but is it watchable? Will it, if it starts winning regularly, draw the fans? Is that part of the issue with getting the cash to finance the extremely needed practice facility ( come on now folks, running around IC area to find practice space, and how can the kids get better when they get show up at the arena and workout as they desire to do so? ), fans/donors arent buying into this and arent giving.

As for the talent, there is some nice talent there, and with the incoming ones, soe nice ones there too, but it would be nice to see some top notch kids even looking to come here. They need, above all, a high calibre PG, without, this system ( actually, most ) wont work well, not in this league. This group of players would be fun to watch in Dr Tom's system, they would be a nice fit.

I am questioning Lick with regards to his system, his players on hand, and is he being hard nosed stubborn? Plamer came in and played, played hard, and made contributions. Now, can he sustain it? I would bet he will be targeted now, how does he do from here? But he obviously has the talent to play. Lick said he and Tate dont play together as they have similar skills. Really ? I didnt see that. I also have noticed soem comments from players that seem a bit telling, they seem to want to see Palmer playing too. Whats up with that?

I guess we will see with time, but, do we really want to wait long? I m not of the wagon yet, but it irks me that this team doesnt display Iowa hustle, I know the injuries and youth are greatly effecting them, but still, they should be scrapping at all times, and they dont seem to be doing that, heck, I dont remember that lacking from SA's team even ( though, I may be blinded by SA's self acclaimed greatness ).

If they dont start looking like a team again, fighting for each and every possession, where we see a true team leader emerge, this will be a long two months. And for next year, who will step up to be a leader?

In a year or two, should we take a look at Keno ( before Mac implodes at isu and he goes there )?
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HeneryHawk · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 10:11 am Post subject:

Just a point to add....I like Lickliter, I think he can win, but this program was much worse that he or most all realized. What was left to him was less than most imagined. Working a system as he does, the kids he brought in are good kids, decent players. To look at next years, they appear to be the same kids Dr Tom would go after ( Cougill especially ), but we dont even seem to have a rats arse chance at Barnes, and with Tom, we would, he always had at least one top athlete in the mix. I think Mays may be quite a player, but how many 6'5" kids can we use when a PG is a desperate need, and a thlete big would be a big big plus. How long to install this system, and to get the players to buy into it and do it well? When do we see the cream want to come to play here again ?
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Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain

St Louis Cardinals 2011 AND 2006 World Series Champions

Uberhawk · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 5:07 pm Post subject:

We might want to cut out and frame Henery's posts here. Laughing

Yes, they are unwatchable right now. I turned it off even before Purdue blew them out later in the second half. It looked like they had no chance even when it was relatively close. This is what concerns me. It seems like they are on their way to losing games right out of the gate and when they do fall behind, it looks like this team is helpless trying to catch up. You almost know they won't come back.

I often wondered why Palmer hadn't played more and figured it was problems witih the system or poor practices or whatever. Now, with no big man to go to with Tate out, Palmer was the only bright light we had out there yesterday.

Jury is out on Lickliter. They do need at least one major talent on the recruiting trail and, as has been mentioned, that major is nowhere in sight.
Meanwhile, the crowds wither away at Carver. I don't see a win anytime soon. Penn State and Northwestern are even knocking off or scaring ranked teams at home. Looks like the Hawks may be cellar dwelling this season.

If that's the case, at least I would like have hope they will start moving up next year. I am not so sure about that right now.

HeneryHawk · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 9:31 pm Post subject:

Look, Lick can coach, he doesnt do at Butler what he did if he couldnt. That said, here he is rebuilding and that is a completely different set of circumstances. Is the fan base willing, especially if this season is a rough one ( next year could actually be better )? Fans will stick with him if they see the team play hard, work hard, and progress, even while losing. A lack of progress, competitiveness, really will make the task very tough. If a quality PG commits, that helps alot, it would offer hope, demonstrate progress.
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Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain

St Louis Cardinals 2011 AND 2006 World Series Champions

HeneryHawk · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 9:36 am Post subject:

You know, watching a Butler game from this past weekend, and you ca see the O that Lick wants these guys to run, and to be fair, with the amount of underclassmen, its hard to install. It just strongly reinforces my belief that a PG is key to all this. A true point can make that transistion work, and usually, a PG is a natural leader, take the bull by the horns type. I think they get that, and the transition jumps ahead considerably, and then we see some enjoyable hoops. I just hope time is there to do ( he has a seven year contract ). We need to get to games to help support these guys.
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Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain

St Louis Cardinals 2011 AND 2006 World Series Champions

DonnyDonovan · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 11:32 am Post subject:

The lack of quality PG play is indeed a huge factor. It would make a world of difference.

HeneryHawk · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 9:52 pm Post subject:

A PG would be the perfect addition. The other recruits for the next two years look like good fits, ids who want to be Hawks and have some nice talent. Cougill is a nice big who seems to be talented and a player, May is an excellent athlete an a hard core competitor, he could be a great compliment to Gatens. Creekmur did real well in AAU, tall and supposed to be quite skilled, shooting, passing, handling, and also, like May, a QB in HS. Larson, has been rated pretty high, seems to have alot of upside, 6'9", and again multi skilled. So, a PG would be the piece to make it work, that and time. When I review it this way, I see the positives, and see time is required.

ps...there may be an academic casualty...we will see....
_________________
Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain

St Louis Cardinals 2011 AND 2006 World Series Champions

DonnyDonovan · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 5:28 pm Post subject:

It's Tucker.

That young man has had a bad start to his Hawkeye career. These are dark, dark times for the Iowa basketball program.

HeneryHawk · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:33 pm Post subject:

This is what this O is supposed to look like, this is the glimmer of hope I want to see. Palmer is showing why he was so highly recruited in HS, I hope he can continue to develop and play this way. His D, his footwork is impressing me.
_________________
Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain

St Louis Cardinals 2011 AND 2006 World Series Champions

HeneryHawk · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 11:26 pm Post subject:

Sweet game. This is the progress that can sustain the patience needed as they grow up, gain experience, get more guys on board. Nice.Nice.
_________________
Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain

St Louis Cardinals 2011 AND 2006 World Series Champions

T-Rex · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 12:53 pm Post subject:

That was awesome...and with Tate on the bench!

DonnyDonovan · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:08 pm Post subject:

The Palmer phenomenon is just bizarre, and, frankly, raises as many questions as it answers. That was a nice win though. It is too bad that I was watching the season premiere of Lost and missed it.

Uberhawk · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 5:21 pm Post subject:

So many questions! Palmer hardly saw the court through nonconference games this season. Why not? Never heard an explanation. I thought maybe he was in the Lickliter doghouse. He came to Iowa fairly highly touted. So why didn't he play until now? Iowa has been desperate for offensive rebounds and scoring, even with Tate healthy. Seems like Palmer should start along with Tate when Cyrus returns to give Iowa a strong post presence they haven't had. Big 10 teams don't seem to have a lot of towers down low this season. So a Palmer-Tate combo down low would seem to be formidable.

DD, you watched "Lost" instead of the Hawkeye game? Shame. By the way, what is "Lost?"