Iowa Hawkeyes (11-20, 4-14)
Fran McCaffery’s (11-20) team could play spoiler to some of the Big Ten’s top teams once again this year.
Projected starting five:
So. F Melsahn Basabe
So. F Zach McCabe
So. G/F Devyn Marble
Sr. G Matt Gatens
Sr. G Bryce Cartwright
Important departures:
Jarryd Cole: 8.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg
Additions:
Fr. G Josh Oglesby (Rivals.com three-star recruit)
Fr. C Gabe Olaseni (Rivals.com three-star recruit)
Fr. SF Aaron White (Rivals.com three-star recruit)
Outlook:
Fran McCaffery’s second year coaching the Hawkeyes finds Iowa adding a legitimate practice facility for the basketball team this year. Unfortunately, they lose a player; G/F Anthony Hubbard (whom McCaffery and Iowa AD Gary Barta had just vouched for publicly), a convicted felon heavily recruited by McCaffery. Iowa returns a lot of starters, but based on last year results the team has a long way to go.
Schedule highlights:
Iowa has 11 (potentially 12) games scheduled to be televised on ESPN. That’s very high for a team that’s season highlight last year was defeating a Purdue team that was also not living up to expectations. This team will boost other Big Ten teams’ wins column more than their own.
