2010-11 Iowa College Basketball Predictions
November 16, 2010
The Iowa Hawkeyes are hoping that another coaching change can rebuild a program that has gone in the wrong direction the last few years. The Hawkeyes went through their third consecutive losing season last year, the first time that has happened since the 1930?s. With that came the firing of head coach Todd Lickliter, who was just 38-58 in three years at Iowa. In comes Fran McCaffrey, who will replace Lickliter’s slow tempo offense and go to a much more up-tempo style of play. McCaffrey has been successful turning programs around, and has spent the past five years at Siena, where he went 112-51. Winning may still be a problem in the first year for McCaffrey, who actually didn’t get enough time to go after any big time recruits and a number of last year’s players opted not to come back. To get a general idea of what Iowa will look like this year, here is quick breakdown of their current roster, plus my prediction on where they will finish the season in the Big Ten.
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Checking out the live college basketball odds for next season, the linesmakers currently have the Hawkeyes listed with the worst odds to win the Big Ten at +2500, so anything above last place in Big Ten play figures to be a solid step towards the right direction for the Hawks.
Backcourt: Iowa returns both starting guards, which is a big plus for a team looking to improve. Junior Matt Gatens is the best player the Hawkeyes have and has started every game since his freshman year, and could be ready for a breakout year with the new offense. Gatens tore a tendon in his left wrist, but should return right around the beginning of the year. Also back is sophomore point guard Cully Payne, who put up 8 points and nearly 4 assists per game as a freshman, and he too thinks his game will only get better with a faster paced offense. Added to the mix is junior college transfer Bryce Cartwright, who should be a key contributor right away.
Frontcourt: Two more starters return in senior Jarryd Cole and sophomore Eric May, but neither really has a lot of size, something Iowa is really lacking again this year. Junior to be Aaron Fuller had some high expectations this year, but decided USC was a better fit for him than Iowa. Cole is just 6’7 but played the five for the Hawks most of last season, but wasn’t much of a factor in the offense, putting up just eight points a night. May is extremely athletic and will have to use that to his strength this year. Freshman Melsahn Basabe was going to join McCaffery at Siena, and opted to stick with the coach in his move to Iowa, and could play his way into the starting lineup from the start. Fellow freshmen Zach McCabe and junior college transfer Devon Archie also should get a long look early. Iowa also returns junior Andrew Brummer, but he has only played sparingly in his first two seasons, and anything he adds will be a plus.
Pick: 11th in the Big Ten: While the Hawkeyes should be better than they were a year ago, this is a team in transition and just simply doesn’t have the talent needed to compete in the Big Ten. If the squad responds well to McCaffery’s new system and the freshmen contribute early, Iowa may be able to squirm out of the basement, but this team is probably a few years from being a winner.
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