Awfully quiet about summer workouts

[Hawkangler]

This is a fairly young team. Ben feels really good about Koch. Will Sage continue to ascend. Will Manyawu be a different player at the four, relied on for rebounding and an inside game. What about Thompson? What will our transfers provide?

Anxious to see where the points will come from with ojr three top scorers gone.

A lot of uncertainty, but I'm pumped to see how the team comes together.

 

[Hawksfor3]

.

 

[Nvhwk]

Obviously the majority of the media’s focus right now is on football. It will probably be quiet until visitors make visits during football games

 

[J.Hawkeye]

Was told by someone that has seen Iowa workout 2 times, that “Thompson doesn’t stand out” and that “Sage impresses immediately”. His opinion is that the PG Transfer (Coleman from Illinois State) doesn’t yet know how to “run a team” and should’ve waited a year before moving up to B1G level, but did mention “he can lock you down on D, though!”

 

[DuddyB]

Was told by someone that has seen Iowa workout 2 times, that “Thompson doesn’t stand out” and that “Sage impresses immediately”. His opinion is that the PG Transfer doesn’t yet know how to “run a team” and should’ve waited a year before moving up to B1G level, but did mention “he can lock you down on D, though!”

I can’t remember the podcast, but somebody threw cold water on Trey Thompson on that as well. That was surprising to me because everybody gushed about him up until the last few weeks.A

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Hawksfor3]

 

[ObeseMuffins]

Who knows anything, really. Tate Sage was seen as a bench warmer before the season started.

 

[J.Hawkeye]

Was told by someone that has seen Iowa workout 2 times, that “Thompson doesn’t stand out” and that “Sage impresses immediately”. His opinion is that the PG Transfer (Coleman from Illinois State) doesn’t yet know how to “run a team” and should’ve waited a year before moving up to B1G level, but did mention “he can lock you down on D, though!”

Also, I asked him about…

J. Coon: “good looking Athlete, good looking kid. If he gets his shoulders past you he is attacking the Rim & going to try & put one on you, but not much wiggle to his game”

McKeever: “moves well… might not be great with back to basket”

….thats all I remember.

 

[Hootie LaRue]

Was told by someone that has seen Iowa workout 2 times, that “Thompson doesn’t stand out” and that “Sage impresses immediately”. His opinion is that the PG Transfer (Coleman from Illinois State) doesn’t yet know how to “run a team” and should’ve waited a year before moving up to B1G level, but did mention “he can lock you down on D, though!”

I imagine Combs will be the primary ball handler and get quite a few minutes so at least Coleman won’t be thrown into the deep end right away. However, it would be concerning if Iowa doesn’t have a legitimate backup PG or secondary ball handler. There aren’t a lot of other options.

 

[hawkeyemark18]

I imagine Combs will be the primary ball handler and get quite a few minutes so at least Coleman won’t be thrown into the deep end right away. However, it would be concerning if Iowa doesn’t have a legitimate backup PG or secondary ball handler. There aren’t a lot of other options.

Coleman I think stepped into a great situation where he can get comfortable at this level without having to become the primary ball handler right away. He appeared to come in as Ben's primary point guard target in the transfer portal so I feel confident he will develop under this staff.

If you recall earlier in the summer Bennett Stirtz said Peyton McCollum will surprise people. Peyton strikes me as as scrappy player who could help us if needed. I don't think we have much to worry about when it comes to point guard depth.

 

[PeteJox]

They released around 30 min of live scrimmage. Put it on the big screen and see who you like.

 

[TailgateTom]

His opinion is that the PG Transfer (Coleman from Illinois State) doesn’t yet know how to “run a team” and should’ve waited a year before moving up to B1G level, but did mention “he can lock you down on D, though!”

This is exactly why they brought him in when they did. McCollum has said as much.

 

[TailgateTom]

Also, I asked him about…

J. Coon: “good looking Athlete, good looking kid. If he gets his shoulders past you he is attacking the Rim & going to try & put one on you, but not much wiggle to his game”

McKeever: “moves well… might not be great with back to basket”

….thats all I remember.

McKeever isn't great with his back to the basket. He knows this and it's a huge reason he chose Iowa--McCollum's system accentuates his strengths.

 

[iahawkeyes17]

Was told by someone that has seen Iowa workout 2 times, that “Thompson doesn’t stand out” and that “Sage impresses immediately”. His opinion is that the PG Transfer (Coleman from Illinois State) doesn’t yet know how to “run a team” and should’ve waited a year before moving up to B1G level, but did mention “he can lock you down on D, though!”

With Coleman not the worst thing. I say better for us for him to learn a year in mccollums system then play at Ill St one more year then get him. Plus who knows if Iowa would even get him as his number on the floor probably only get better at isu and his asking price $ only increases with it.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Hawksfor3]

At 00:25, is that Coleman throwing that bomb? Holy smokes!

 

[2432Hawk]

Was told by someone that has seen Iowa workout 2 times, that “Thompson doesn’t stand out” and that “Sage impresses immediately”. His opinion is that the PG Transfer (Coleman from Illinois State) doesn’t yet know how to “run a team” and should’ve waited a year before moving up to B1G level, but did mention “he can lock you down on D, though!”

Summer workouts Ben treats almost like free-writing. Not a lot of structure and really just letting them play in the random offense and see what they can and can't do. Thompson was doing very well in the structured practices in Spring, but this summer is being pressed to get uncomfortable and expand his game. That can often look ugly. As for Coleman, much the same.

The only thing I take from summer workouts are new guys and how quickly they can assimilate to this level.

Fall practice is when you get more of a sense of who's gonna see the court and produce.

 

[Hawklove]

I have a feeling most fans will have unrealistic expectations of this season, especially given our amazing tourney run last year. The little I’ve heard about this team echoes what everyone is saying on this thread regarding readiness of certain players. But then again, the year before last year at this time, many of us didn’t even think that the team would make the tourney. At least, I didn’t.

 

[J.Hawkeye]

I have a feeling most fans will have unrealistic expectations of this season

+1

 

[Palmerhawk]

The BIG is loaded again this year
Illini could win it all this year.

 

[RagnarLothbrok]

I can recall so many past Iowa players being bragged about because of how they were tearing it up in the summer PTL only to not do sh*t during the season and transfer out a year later.

If things don’t look good now, I will take that as a good sign, because it probably means defense actually exists and players are actually working on improving their game instead of just showboating during glorified YMCA type pickup games.

Yes, obviously my words should be interpreted to mean anything short of a Big Ten championship and Final Four appearance is a massive failure that needs to result in several firings and player demotions to Kirkwood.

Just trying to be honest and sensible now before a large swath of Iowa fans try to beat me to the punch come January.

 

[cfhawk22]

I like our chances with this coach. We are going to be a better rebounding team with the size at center and the 4 and we have plenty of people that can shoot the ball.

 

[Hawksfor3]

I like our chances with this coach. We are going to be a better rebounding team with the size at center and the 4 and we have plenty of people that can shoot the ball.

Also, I think the guards will rebound better as well. Ben said that, in the Illinois game, the guards didn't rebound well enough.

 

[RuggieC]

I don't think there have been many years where defense was a serious part of the summer leagues. So if there is some struggling going on I am assuming the defensive side of the ball is part of this "struggle". I think with Ben they will find their way offensively but defense is the starting line.....you don't play defense, you won't play much. Not worried about offensive struggles.....yet.