2008 Iowa Hawkeyes Basketball Preview

Last season, the Iowa Hawkeyes (13-19 overall, 6-12 Big Ten) garnered eighth-place, missing the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season. It was hoped that new coach Todd Lickliter would turn the team around last season. But that was simply pie in the sky. This season, there are a slew of new guys who hold promise. But that promise will not come to fruition for at least another year.

Forward Cyrus Tate (22.7 MPG, 8.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 0.3 APG, 66.7 FG%, 58.5 FT%), now a senior, showed great improvement last year. Tate became the club’s go-to guy and returns as the team’s leading rebounder. Sophomore forward Jarryd Cole (23.2 MPG, 6.6 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 0.2 APG, 66.7 FG%, 45.2 FT%) was injured last season in the 13th game. His return and good health will be a big help. Junior David Palmer (3.4 MPG, 0.9 PPG, 0.6 RPG, 0.0 APG, 30.8 FG%, 60.0 FT%) has been unable to play up to his potential. Two freshmen, Andrew Brommer and Aaron Fuller, will help fill out the frontcourt.

There’s depth at shooting guard. Sophomore Jake Kelly (27.3 MPG, 7.3 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 2.0 APG, 40.8 FG%, 77.4 FT%) is back after a solid freshman performance. Freshman Matt Gatens is the best new recruit to arrive this season. He was designated as one of the top-100 high school seniors in the nation. The point position is problematic. Sophomore Jeff Peterson (24.9 MPG, 5.2 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 3.1 APG, 32.5 FG%, 73.3 FT%) looked good at the start of the season but then had a tough time against Big Ten teams. He turned the ball over 94 times, while making 92 assists. His turnover stats have to improve.

This Hawkeyes team looks to finish in the bottom third of the conference. Next year Iowa could be a contender for a NCAA berth, but this season the club will be hard-pressed to win more than four or five games. In order to do better than 4- 14 in the Big Ten, this team will have to score more.