Iowa City’s Even Brauns ready to contribute more for Hawkeye men’s basketball team

IOWA CITY — Even Brauns has taken the opposite path of most college basketball transfers.

Brauns left Belmont University in Nashville after starting 29 games last season to do a lot of watching games from the bench as an Iowa Hawkeye.

The four-year basketball letterwinner in high school -- two at Iowa City Regina and two at Iowa City West -- may be doing more playing this week than he has since joining the team he cheered for as a child. With freshman Ladji Dembele out for the time being with a sprained ankle, Brauns may be called upon for more game time backing up freshman center Owen Freeman.

Brauns played a season-high nine minutes last Saturday in Iowa’s 84-70 loss to Purdue. Wednesday, he’ll be Freeman’s primary sub when the Hawkeyes host Maryland (6 p.m., BTN).

This season, Brauns’ playing time has been sparse. He has taken three shots all season over 13 appearances. But with Dembele out, Iowa has a senior who has played in 105 games and started 29 last season.

“He’s getting more and more comfortable as he’s gotten some minutes,” Hawkeyes Coach Fran McCaffery said. “Keep in mind he was a starter at the Division I level, so it’s not like he’s uncomfortable out there, but it’s still a new program, a new situation for him.”

Brauns averaged 7.0 points and 5.3 rebounds last season for Belmont, which was 14-6 in the Missouri Valley Conference and was 72-23 overall in Brauns’ three seasons there.

He had 18 points and 12 rebounds in a late-season game against Illinois State.

If anyone doubts getting the job done in the MVC translates to being able to do likewise in the Big Ten, they aren’t paying attention.

Ben Krikke, Brauns’ roommate, is Iowa’s leading scorer this season. He played at the MVC’s Valparaiso a season ago.

Also in the MVC last season were Illinois’ Marcus Domask (14.7 ppg this season), Nebraska’s Rienk Mast (13.7 ppg, 8.5 rebounds per game) and Purdue’s Lance Jones (11.9 ppg).

“No matter what level you play,” Brauns said, “guys are going to bring it, regardless. I think all conferences’ gaps are a lot smaller than they might look on paper.”

At 6-foot-9, 245 pounds, Brauns’ size transfers to any level of college basketball. He describes his attributes as “physicality, a defensive presence. I think that’s always been my niche throughout my career and I think that’s something that kind of helped the team out in different areas.

“I really enjoy being here. … The opportunity to play at a high level has been great.”

It appears the Hawkeyes might welcome forward Patrick McCaffery back to duty. The senior, who averages 9.9 points, has missed three of the last four games with physical ailments.

“He really wanted to play Saturday,” Fran McCaffery said. “But you have to be mature enough to say ‘I’m not going to be effective.’

“It’s been hard on him because he really wants to be out there, help our team.”

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