Gopher Basketball
The Team
New Hawkeye head coach Fran McCaffery had success at Siena, having won the MAAC championship in each of the past three seasons. In Iowa, he’ll be hoping just to reach .500 within a few years. Iowa is an awful team and there is no reason this game should be close. The Hawkeyes had an impressive first half against Ohio State a few games ago, but were handled easily in the second half. In Iowa’s past two games (Northwestern and @Purdue), their play has been execrable from the opening minute and Minnesota should look to get an early jump on their lesser opponent.
Other than offensive rebounding (36.3 OR%), specifically from freshman Melsahn Basabe and senior Jarryd Cole (both of whom are just 6’7″), and keeping their opponents off of the foul line (24.0 FTA/FTG for opponents; D1 avg is 38), there is nothing worthy of note that Iowa has done well this season. Minnesota will not have a problem getting to the line against the Hawkeyes.
Defensively, Iowa has no chance against any decent team. The difference in defensive efficiency in games they win compared to games they lose is dramatic: in 7 wins, it’s 72.6… in their 9 losses, it’s 112.9. Gatens and Cartwright are the guys that could put up a lot of points. May and Basabe are capable of putting up numbers, but are prone to quiet spells. However, even if all four are clicking offensively, Iowa doesn’t have enough to stop Minnesota’s offense (yes, even Minnesota’s offense). My pick: Gophers by 16, Hoffarber with at least 4 three-pointers (which would make it 5 of 5 for Iowa giving up 4 or more three-pointers to an opponent’s player in the Big Ten).
Note to the U: Late in the summer of this calendar year, a nearly $50 million addition and renovation project to Carver-Hawkeye Arena will be completed. A key piece of this project will be the construction of a… practice facility.
The Players
#5 Matt Gatens
This 6’5″ junior guard stuck with Iowa despite committing when Alford was there. Probably not the best decision he’s ever made. He’s got good size for an off guard and is capable of piling up points. He’ll need to have a strong game in order for Iowa to not lose by 1,400. For the year, Gatens is averaging 13.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg and 2.4 apg in 34.2 mpg. From the field, he’s at just 42.3%, including 36.8% from three-point land, which is where the majority of his shots come from.
However, Gatens did miss the team’s first two games after surgery to fix a tendon in his non-shooting hand and has been performing much better as of late. In fact, in his first 7 games of the year, he averaged 8.7 ppg, while shooting 30.6% (17.1% 3FG). In his second 7 games of the year, he’s averaging 17.7 ppg on 52.0% shooting (50.0% 3FG). Don’t put him on the line – he’s an 87% career converter. He will get his points, but we must make him work for them.
#24 Bryce Cartwright
Straight outta Compton, this combo guard was at Fresno State his freshman year before spending last season at a JUCO. Now in his first year in Iowa City, he’s being forced to play point almost exclusively due to an injury to starting point guard Cully Payne (see below). Cartwright can dish the ball and handle the point, but is probably better playing alongside a lead guard. Not a big three-point threat, his quickness allows him to drive and get a shot or find a teammate. He has some impressive moments, but is inconsistent and hasn’t shot well. In his last game (1/12 vs. Northwestern), he played 38 minutes and scored 25 points on 9/16 FG and 7/8 FT. (6’1″, 11.0 ppg, 4.6 apg and 3.1 to/g in 28.6 mpg).
#25 Eric May
6’5″, 225 lbs. sophomore wing that started the majority of his freshman year. Solid player for this team, averaging 9.9 points, 3.7 rebound, and 1.6 steals in 27.1 mpg. Suffered a groin injury and is nearing 100%, but is still bothered some. More than half of May’s shots came from deep last year, but he converted at a rate of just 28.7%. This year, he has limited his trey attempts to about 30% of his FGA and has done much better (18/39, 46.2%). You’ll likely notice the shiner on his left eye, which he obtained by taking Cox to his face. Despite May receiving three stitches, freshman walk-on Cody Cox may have gotten the worse end of it, as his nose was flowing out of both nostrils after the collision during practice.
#1 Melsahn Basabe
This young man committed to Siena, but was released and followed McCaffery to Iowa. 6’7″, 225 lbs freshman forward who can use his athleticism and agility to grab boards. He can face up a defender and get it done offensively, but often seems unsure of himself and doesn’t make good decisions when holding the ball down on the blocks. Very capable shotblocker and all around a good looking freshman. Averaging 8.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 22.3 mpg. Shooting 53.6% from the field. Along with Cartwright, an exciting player to watch (relative to Iowa’s full roster).
#15 Zach McCabe
Freshman forward stands 6’7″ and goes about 225 lbs. Not quite as ridiculous as Mike Bruesewitz, but this kid’s dark black lid is offensive. Maybe I’m old school, but when I go to the barbershop I simply instruct the barber to, “cut it short”. The clippers come out and we’re done. McCabe apparently brings a picture of muskrat road kill and tells his stylist, “make my hair look this this”. Averaging 22.4 mpg, mostly off the bench, McCabe scores 7.6 and grabs 4.3 rebounds a game. Good size, but likes to shoot from the outside – about half of his FG attempts are threes. Shooting just 37.5% for the year (17/49 34.7% 3FG).
#50 Jarryd Cole
Cole is the lone senior scholarship player on this team and at 6’7″, 250 pounds, he is Iowa’s “big man”. He’s a solid rebounder and needs to use his leadership to get this team back on track after a couple of miserable games this past week. 22.1 mpg, 7.0 ppg, 6.4 rpg.
#20 Andrew Brommer
The only Minnesotan playing for the Hawkeyes, one thing you will not hear at the Barn is people asking, “how did we let this guy get away?!” His size (6’9″, 235) means he’ll get some minutes. Averaging 11.7 mpg, 3.1 ppg, and 2.3 rpg, the junior’s current production far exceeds what he did in his first two years. As a freshman, he shot 22.7% (5/22) from the free throw line. As awful as that is, he’s flirting with a similar performance this year, shooting just 30.4% (7/23).
#4 (Roy) Devyn Marble
Gophers fans remember his dad Roy, who scored more than 2,000 points during his Hawkeye career (all-time leading scorer at Iowa) in the late 80’s. Devyn is just a slim 6’5″ freshman that is nowhere near the talent his father was, but he shows some promise. Averages 5.9 points and 2.6 rebounds a game in 18.1 minutes.
#3 Cully Payne
This little dweeb started at point guard all last season, his freshman year, and averaged almost 9 points and 4 assists per game. Very annoying kid. He may be out for the year after a hernia surgery about 6 weeks weeks ago. He had played in only 5 games this year and could be a medical hardship waiver candidate. In addition to the team missing his experience running the point, his absence causes Cartwright to run the show for Iowa, instead playing off guard.
Discuss the upcoming Iowa game in Tubby’s Barn Basketball Forum