*****2026-27 Transfer Portal News*****
- Thread starter QChawks
- Start date
Maybe? It'd be the first time you've been right about anything on here. I doubt it, but even a broken clock...
We definitely came out on the better end on this, just like when we lost Guyton but landed Chit Chat. I'll take those trades any day.
The portal adds were to cover for the graduating seniors.
Chit Chat for Lucy, just like the Georgia girl for KF and McCabe.
They didn't need to worry about covering for the 7th/8th player as a high priority.
The evidence in his previous posts is what is known as circumstantial, which is not conclusive. I personally doubt that he would waste his time on this forum but even if he did, I would not blame him for his support for his own daughter.
She was voted [by her teammates] to be a team captain… last season as a sophomore (for good reason). And just listening to her giving interviews, I can easily see why. I have never even met her but am a huge fan.
BTW, I also was never enamored with Deal and quite honestly was almost relieved to see her leave. (I was getting negative vibes from my ‘crystal ball’ since before the season started.)
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This Iowa team will be a lot better than last year. That being said I think the BIG will be tough with USC at the top. Jan and company surprised me with the quality additions. The only spot I am a little concerned with is at the 4.
I think in Jans offense more 1 in 4 out so the 3/4 are kind of interchangeable. McKenna said she'd play more wing in college, so we'll see....
I'm not sure JJ prefers to play 4 out. Lisa Bluder is certainly, but JJ started the first 18 games of her career as HC playing Hannah and O'Grady in the first season, and in the second season she started every game [that they were available] with Hannah and Ava Heiden. In 68 games, Jan played 48 with 3 out -2 in.
Any coach is going to adjust to the players that need to be on the court.
Obviously, but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm responding to the coment "Jans offense more 1 in 4 out" saying that I'm not sure about that because she played more than 70% of her career games with a 3 out - 2 in. And also, "she is recognized for developing elite post players" (Hawkeye Report), so unless she has explicitly said that she prefers to play 4 out, it's difficult to be certain about it.
What’s the scout on McKenna? Is she plug and play right away? If that’s the case I think we are in good shape. I mean Journey could play the 3-4?
Jan didn't have enough shooters, especially this year which became painfully obvious. That and she tried her best to put a square peg in a round hole, and drag Hannah toward the skills she'd need to have a pro careers. Never worked out though...
I think the last two years were for Hannahs benefit to further her career, and that we didn't have enough shooters on the roster
Journey gave an indication @19:15 in the interview below they will run the 4 out this year and she thinks she will play the 3/4 spot but it's not set in stone yet.
OTA w Matt Randazzo April 16th -Iowa's Journey Houston, Kyle Huesman on Transfer portal, & John Marx
"@19:15 Yeah, like right now my mindset like I'm just really hungry. Like I like I said playing on the perimeter like I can't express enough like how excited I am for that cuz we're going to be doing a four out one in offense. So um I'm excited for that."
Even if she had the best shooters on the roster, Hannah and Ava Heiden would still be starters and she would still play 3 out - 2 in.
I think it will happen at some point, or even start with a 4 out, but based on what we've seen so far, you can't say that "Jans offense more 1 in 4 out". That's just my point.
It might change to 4 out in next season, but that would be a change of pattern and we'll have to wait and see if it actually will happens.
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In several interviews Jan has said they ran the 2 post offense because she felt it was the best use of the personel she had. (ie: what do I do with Hannah). She knew Hannah had to be a starter, and she couldn't shoot the ball from the perimeter. Obviously Ava had to start and play major minutes. Hence the 2 post offense. The skill set of next years front court will be much different.
It was stated numerous times that they changed the offense to keep Stuelke on the court. Jensen will adapt the offense to match the talent on the roster.
FWIW, I do agree with the majority on this forum that our four new players are much more athletic than the portal players we lost and that they bring much more potential to our team next year. I also agree that the nine we have are solid and will get the vast majority of majority of playing minutes. Our next two or three signings will be depth unless we somehow get lucky with someone who develops or is overlooked by others.
That being said, will we be a better “team”? There certainly is talent to be, but I have always felt building a team is like putting a puzzle together. Do we have the right pieces? I believed our biggest needs were finding one or two great three point shooters (AKA McCabe) and a great perimeter defender to replace Kylie. Even with the upgrade of offensive talent, I’m not convinced we have the great three point threats we need. We have opinions about who will start but whether she starts or not, I believe Whiting needs a ton of minutes as our defensive stopper unless Faison can fill that role. I don’t see anyone else on our present roster capable of that role. I hope the “puzzle” fits together perfectly. We will see.
That being said, will we be a better “team”? There certainly is talent to be, but I have always felt building a team is like putting a puzzle together. Do we have the right pieces? I believed our biggest needs were finding one or two great three point shooters (AKA McCabe) and a great perimeter defender to replace Kylie. Even with the upgrade of offensive talent, I’m not convinced we have the great three point threats we need. We have opinions about who will start but whether she starts or not, I believe Whiting needs a ton of minutes as our defensive stopper unless Faison can fill that role. I don’t see anyone else on our present roster capable of that role. I hope the “puzzle” fits together perfectly. We will see.
Opponents often get very comfortable defending a specific offensive set from each team. If Layla's development progresses as expected JJ will possibly have the personnel to give teams a difficult scout. Being able to switch off to the 3 out 2 in offense with both Layla and Ava on the floor at the same time. Ava has shown good perimeter skills. This could also provide a degree of protection for Ava on defense by having another big on the floor at the same time.
My response was to your posts saying essentially nobody in the portal is better than her based on her stats.but I suspect you knew that.
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A couple of the well known guard dogs are lumping you in with the anon board idiot even though you've done nothing but offer minor criticism. I was called a troll because I wasn't impressed with JJ late game call vs VA. Stated it one time and her dogs came out on the attack. They are almost as annoying as the constantly negative posters.
I'd be totally floored if Ava, and Layla play any real minutes together. IF Layla progresses where she can fill the post when Ava needs a rest or is in foul trouble we'll be in good shape.
Ava and Layla both can struggle with foul problems. Unless they have someone else who can fill in at the 5 in a pinch...I don't see them playing at the same time very often if at all.
I have wondered if Ava could end up as a 4 or some type of hybrid 4/5. I would love to see Layla make major strides this season and MW be very effective.
You still need to defend, and I don't see us playing Layla and Ava on that side of the floor either. Ava is pretty athletic, but you don't want her using a lot of extra energy chasing quicker 4's on the perimeter....
I don't see Ava Heiden and Layla Hays starting. It would be a very heavy and slow team. And Hays has an important role in coming in to bench Heiden for a few minutes. I think the question is whether Houston will start at the 4 or Woliczko. And also whether we'll play 4 out. Although Woliczko has said she'd like to play as a wing, she's a player who hits 13 reb, 17 reb and is mostly near the rim. I think she's very similar to Hannah, with the update that she shoot from the deep sometimes. That's something we'll have to wait until nov/dec to find out. We can't be sure now.
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Okay you lost me there. HOW exactly will we be leaving Ava "alone to guard two bigs" Few teams play two players Ava's size. If its Houston she'll just be at a height disadvantage, maybe against some teams. One of the reasons I think MW plays a lot, is not just her skill on offense, but she's a willing and competent defender with length and she gets off the floor. She'll plenty capable of defending right away. At this point she's way more athletic then Layla. Regardless Ava won't be guarding two bigs.
I even edited the comment because that's not the main point, but you were hasty and replied before I finished editing. Please read the edited comment again, and if you want to reply, we can discuss it.
MW also played in the high post, and many of those boards are on defense, where she's very good attacking boards out of her area. She could certainly play in the high post or on the wing. Remember "the wing" only relates to where they start in an offensive set. As they rotate the ball she could still end up on ball reversal in the paint or crash the glass especially on shots from the opposite side.
I don't know about being "hasty". Obviously there's no way to know when someone is going to edit their post. Yes, I agree. MW can score at all three levels and her versatility will let her play 3/4 something Jan did not have to work with the last two seasons.
Get a life is precious from a guy who posts all day on the Internet.
You don't even realize you stuck up for the wrestling forum version of anon. That's embarrassing.
The other guy you stuck up for is a pedo state troll. Are you even a Hawkeye fan? I have to wonder with you sticking up for guys as bad or worse than mitch.
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Not sure your point because I'm pro Jan for now. Another early exit next and I will be neutral unless we catch an unlucky injury bug. The guard dogs need to quit lumping everyone in with the anon idiot.
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I watched some of McKenna's games. All of her games on the USA Team, and she seems like a true PF. She was awarded best PF in the country. Of course, she will be more versatile than Hannah, but that's more because Hannah had a huge deficiency in mid and long range shooting. Of course, MW can also train and develop as a wing, but it's still a process. She arrives in Iowa more as a true PF than as a true wing.
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As much as a loved Hannah and her efforts, I truly think that her limitations hamstrung the Iowa lineups the past 2 seasons. She was obviously too good to not play, but because she was only 6'2" she was also too small to be a true 5. Because of her lack of shooting range and lack of "wing-like" ball-handling she was forced to play the. old school 4 position (in the post).
All of that combined with whatever injuries she had that seemed to zap some of her athleticism, made the offense less efficient. Also, because Iowa lacked a wing that could make the full court passes, Hannah stopped rim running.
This is NOT a bash Hannah post at all. Just pointing out that Iowa was sort of forced into the 2 post offense because of the personnel that they had on the roster.
Moving forward, I would assume that Iowa will go back to the 4 out offense they ran with Caitlin. The key to that offense was that Warnock played the 4 and she could knock down the 3, run the floor and defend other teams 4's. I see Woliczko filling that spot well, if not a little differently. She is probably more of a slasher than a true spot up shooter, which may be an even better fit. Maybe more of a Kate Martin style on the wing
Yes I do understand that. just saying that we had two good guards transfer out (Deal and Guyton) the past 2 seasons) but we added upgrades in Carnegie and Chit Chat, even if they aren't necessarily direct position-by-position swaps. Two out, better ones in.
I find it amusing that now that Steulke has graduated, we're seeing several posters finally willing to admit she hindered this team with her lack of offense.
Also strange that there was zero improvement from HS in four years, offensively.
Oh well, onward.
Also strange that there was zero improvement from HS in four years, offensively.
Oh well, onward.
Hannah had limitations, all players do, but having a physical player who fights for every ball under the rim is something every team needs and would like to have. It won't be easy to fill everything Hannah brought to the team, but I hope Woliczko can do that and much more. I don't think Woliczko is like Kate Martin or Syd Affolter game. She's more seems like Hannah game with plus some the mid range and long range. However, McKenna can develop new skills.