'Building blocks' give Hawks reason for hoops hope'

Millions of dollars, thousands of fans and a number of jobs are on the line next year for Iowa men's basketball.

Iowa's 20th loss Wednesday set a season record with two games left. Another losing season likely triggers the end of Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter's tenure. A severance package would cost Iowa $600,000 for each year left on Lickliter's seven-year contract. That's $2.4 million after this year, $1.8 million after 2011.

But Iowa administrators and coaches say the future shows a glimmer of hope. Iowa starts four underclassmen who have taken their lumps but continue to compete. Sophomores Matt Gatens and Aaron Fuller rank among the top 18 in league scoring, and Fuller is tied for fourth in Big Ten rebounding. Freshman point guard Cully Payne ranks seventh in Big Ten assists, the only freshman in the top 11. Freshman Eric May is the most athletic of the foursome and ranks among league leaders in several categories.

“They have some great building blocks with Fuller and Matt Gatens,” Big Ten Network analyst Jim Jackson said. “I think Cully can be a great point guard for this team. If you add a couple more pieces there and continue to grow, it doesn't take much in basketball.”

Next year's class consists of forwards Cody Larson (6-foot-9) and Zach McCabe (6-foot-7) and guards Devyn Marble (6-foot-5) and Ben Brust (6-foot-2). National recruiting analyst Van Coleman compares Larson with Chris Street, McCabe with Jess Settles and Brust with Jeff Horner. Marble has a natural comparison as the son of Iowa's all-time leading scorer, Roy Marble.

“You have no excuses not to have a tremendous year when that 2010 class is here,” Coleman said. “That's the pressure on that coaching staff. They have to produce.”

Others agree. Veteran AAU Coach Hank Huddleson of Martin Brothers Select and longtime TV broadcaster Mac McCausland said next year's class easily tops the charts in Lickliter's tenure.

“I've seen them all play, (and) they're all quality players,” McCausland said. “They all add something better than what Iowa has currently. I think by keeping the freshmen and sophomores and adding this group, Iowa becomes competitive next year. Competitive to win the championship? I'm not saying that. Competitive enough to challenge for an NCAA berth in the middle, I am saying that's what's on the horizon.”

But it's not that easy. Nine scholarship players with eligibility have left the program on Lickliter's watch, including leading scorers the last two seasons. After last season, four players with starting experience bolted, most notably leading scorer Jake Kelly and starting point guard Jeff Peterson.

Sophomore Anthony Tucker, who averaged nearly 12 points a game this year, was arrested on an alcohol charge in December and suspended. Tucker, who started the first 11 games, returned Jan. 27 but did not play and left the program last month. That incident created almost daily drama for players, coaches and media. There are questions about Larson, who is suspended from his high school team for violating school rules.

Recent player interviews reveal nothing tangible about the future. Every player interviewed said they will return next year, but rumblings continue that transfers are possible.

“I would like to believe that everybody's going to come back,” said junior Jarryd Cole, a two-year captain and the only player remaining from Lickliter's initial season. “I think if we do that, and we've got the recruits coming in next year, I think we'll be a force to be reckoned with.”

So can Lickliter mesh a highly touted recruiting class with his foundation? Can he win, advance to a postseason tournament for the first time in his tenure and get fans back to Carver-Hawkeye Arena? Those are million-dollar - and foundation-altering - questions.

“I think this team is well-respected,” Lickliter said. “We need some help, and the staff has gone out and done that. I think what you're asking me is do you think we're on track? Yes, I do. I feel like we're on track.”