Seeing him in his interview, you can really see he has gotten stronger. He said he is up 17 lbs. Iowa's conditioning and weight traing is impressive. Ben really challenges his players.
Cooper Koch
- Thread starter Hawkangler
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He looks pretty sturdy. He has to be for who we're asking him to guard.
Yes, when Ben was hired, he was talking about how he is big into strength and conditioning. So this is good to see.
On the post game, BM talked about how much better Cooper has been on defense in a short time. That's great to hear and I thought he played well today. Shot was a little off but defense was great.
Agreed - we don’t have a lot muscle on the roster and we will need him to play well as the season goes on…..
Coop just a red shirt frosh. Love it, Just scratching the surface. Reason BM wanted only him dix, and sandfort to stay. Been a pleasure watching him this year buying into BM system.
JR was 6'10 1/2" in socks
Cooper is 6'7 1/2" in socks
Also, Nate on far right was about 6'5"
And the reason not having the maximum number of scholarship players on the roster?
That's the kind of players you love to root for, and Iowa has a roster full of them. And it's largely because their coach sets the standard. I don't know that I've ever had more respect or admiration for any Hawkeye coach, other than Hayden Fry, than I do for Ben McCollom. Just remember again that his team is 18-5, 8-4, and the core of the team is kids from Drake, led by a kid who started his college career in D-II.
Kachine Alexander addressed this on the "Hawkeye of the Storm" podcast a few weeks ago. She made the case that you always want to have at least one empty spot in case a player suddenly becomes available late.
At present, the Iowa mens basketball team has 14 players on the roster -- just one empty spot. (It's worth noting that the NCAA now caps the roster size at 15, with all 15 eligible to receive a scholarship.)
Last year, Iowa went into the summer with two empty spots, one of which was filled by Trey Thompson. Thankfully, we had a roster spot/scholarship available for him.
IMO Cooper really played great D las night even though his shooting was off a bit.
Ben plays a pretty short rotation...why add if not difference makers?
No.
Ben actually attempted to bring in a guard (Williamson), that for whatever reason, didn’t work out.
And he spoke many times about the desire to bring in more bigs than what actually ended up on the roster.
No, the empty scholarships are not by design.
Something was miscalculated along the line. Thus, when IAHAWK17 mentions the approach to the roster build, it's only forthcoming to mention the possibility that that approach contributed to an incomplete roster that was not by design.
I'm not on Ben's case about it. It was his first roster build at this level, he has gotten a lot of mileage out of doing this "his way", and that personality will continue to be a strength for him in his career.
I'm just commenting on the tendency of fans to turn things into something it is not.
Even worse is when they all go to the girls' bathroom together and end up repeating the inaccuracies. I mean, nearly 39 years later, the Iowa/UNLV game carries a narrative that isn't even close to accurate. Is there not something completely wrong about that?
But aren't you speculating here, too? I mean, I don't think you attended any of McCollum's private meetings to know for certain what was planned, as far as roster construction. You are simply drawing a conclusion based on the information you have. And, for what it's worth, it's possible you are correct. I'm not dismissing your case. But the point is, you don't know for sure. You might be turning it into something it's not. If we are going to grandstand about fans being accountable for what they post online, perhaps it would be prudent to back off a claim to which you cannot be certain?
Or maybe it's not such a bad thing for fans to speculate a bit on message boards.
On another note, I think the Iowa/UNLV narrative is a little different, because there is factual evidence to review to determine for certain how that game went down. To be honest, I think that game is a bit of a Mandela effect ... I personally have a distinct memory of watching the Hawkeyes go to their delay-of-game "wheel" relatively early in the second half. But when I watched the replay (at your urging, FWIW ... take a bow), I learned that what I remembered didn't happen. It's just like the Monopoly man's monocle and the Berenstain Bears.
I'm not entirely sure we didn't all slip into a parallel universe at some point a few years back. It would explain A LOT. (But there I go speculating again, LOL.)
That white boy can ball with the best of them. And the best part is he’s just a puppy. And if you watch him play D. Arguably the best defender on the team.
He really works hard guarding 1 on 1 and is great on switches and “help and recover”. Has been streaky on offense but with 3 years left is going to be a “real good one”!
58 pts at the half in that game. Such a crazy game with the 3 pt shot just taking effect. Hawks shoot 30-54 from the field, make 9 more 2 pt baskets and 6 more free throws. But we only attempted 6 3’s and made 2 while UNLV made 11-30 for an extra 27 pts which of course won the game for them.But aren't you speculating here, too? I mean, I don't think you attended any of McCollum's private meetings to know for certain what was planned, as far as roster construction. You are simply drawing a conclusion based on the information you have. And, for what it's worth, it's possible you are correct. I'm not dismissing your case. But the point is, you don't know for sure. You might be turning it into something it's not. If we are going to grandstand about fans being accountable for what they post online, perhaps it would be prudent to back off a claim to which you cannot be certain?
Or maybe it's not such a bad thing for fans to speculate a bit on message boards.
On another note, I think the Iowa/UNLV narrative is a little different, because there is factual evidence to review to determine for certain how that game went down. To be honest, I think that game is a bit of a Mandela effect ... I personally have a distinct memory of watching the Hawkeyes go to their delay-of-game "wheel" relatively early in the second half. But when I watched the replay (at your urging, FWIW ... take a bow), I learned that what I remembered didn't happen. It's just like the Monopoly man's monocle and the Berenstain Bears.
I'm not entirely sure we didn't all slip into a parallel universe at some point a few years back. It would explain A LOT. (But there I go speculating again, LOL.)
Correct. I have no proof that the approach to the roster build was as I've suggested. That's why I said, "possibly".But aren't you speculating here, too? I mean, I don't think you attended any of McCollum's private meetings to know for certain what was planned, as far as roster construction. You are simply drawing a conclusion based on the information you have. And, for what it's worth, it's possible you are correct. I'm not dismissing your case. But the point is, you don't know for sure. You might be turning it into something it's not. If we are going to grandstand about fans being accountable for what they post online, perhaps it would be prudent to back off a claim to which you cannot be certain?
Or maybe it's not such a bad thing for fans to speculate a bit on message boards.
On another note, I think the Iowa/UNLV narrative is a little different, because there is factual evidence to review to determine for certain how that game went down. To be honest, I think that game is a bit of a Mandela effect ... I personally have a distinct memory of watching the Hawkeyes go to their delay-of-game "wheel" relatively early in the second half. But when I watched the replay (at your urging, FWIW ... take a bow), I learned that what I remembered didn't happen. It's just like the Monopoly man's monocle and the Berenstain Bears.
I'm not entirely sure we didn't all slip into a parallel universe at some point a few years back. It would explain A LOT. (But there I go speculating again, LOL.)
I think it's fair to say anything and everything that happened in the off-season points to, and adds up to the likihood that Ben welcomed very few players between last year's Hawks and the incomers that were commited to Iowa.
I've heard it claimed, as fact, that everyone left by their own decision.
Even only suggesting the possibility of such requires a far more substantial leap. I happen to find it far more likely that the departures came down to the decision of one man (Ben), rather than several players all having made the same decision to choose lesser/lateral gigs.
I could present extensive reasoning for what I find to be most likely. In the end, it would not be proof.
But in the end, for fans to completely omitt something that seems quite likely, is to paint an incomplete picture, at best.
As for the UNLV game, I give you a lot of credit for searching out the facts. Never in my life have I seen a team stall while full-court pressing. (And of course, Iowa pressed the whole game). Too bad the Hawks couldn't come out on top that day
Look man, it wasn’t a conspiracy of some kind by Mac to get rid of everyone. Look around. At how many schools does a new coach come in and the players all say man, I love this guy and want to stay. Oh, and he plays the exact opposite style of basketball for which I was recruited for. It’s total ******** from you. He came to Drake I believe with 1 returning player. Everyone else left. You keep complaining about not having a full roster. It happens at a lot of places these days. You’re being ridiculous. He’s 19-5 with basically a mid major roster. What do you think Frans record would be with this roster?
Read better. I haven't complained about not having a full roster. I'm talking about fanisms.
One of which, you have displayed by asking what Fran would do with this roster, as if Ben was stuck with it. Although a couple were leaving regardless, all of last year's players and what would have been this year's incoming class, left after Ben got the job. So whether he didn't want them or couldn't keep them, this team is what he put together.
But since you bring it up, I do find the slash and burn mentality that exists in college sports these days to be completely overrated and unnecessary
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For those that remember, Cooper's haircut and his size reminds me of Bobby Hansen.