Iowa basketball enters transition mode

IOWA CITY — It took only 20 minutes after Iowa's 2016 men's basketball campaign ended Sunday before a reporter asked Coach Fran McCaffery about next year's NCAA tournament chances.

McCaffery looked at the reporter briefly before responding.

'I'm confident in what we have in this program,' McCaffery said. 'I'm not going to talk about next year's NCAA tournament today. We've got a really good class coming in. We've got a lot of good players coming back. We've got a lot of work to do.'

Iowa finished 22-11 and has advanced to three straight NCAA tournaments. But McCaffery, who dug Iowa out of a major crater when he arrived in 2010, has yet to endure a shock to his program like what will happen next year.

The Hawkeyes lose 392 career starts and 58 percent of this year's minutes. All-American forward Jarrod Uthoff is off to pro basketball. Single-season assists record holder Mike Gesell is gone, as is gritty backcourt mate Anthony Clemmons. Center Adam Woodbury, the Big Ten's top rebounder and Iowa's career leader in starts at 137, graduates. They were four of Iowa's top five scorers and 57 percent of the point production. Also gone are 75 percent of the assists and 59 percent of the rebounds.

With past departures, like Devyn Marble in 2014 and Aaron White in 2015, McCaffery couldn't replace their skill sets but he molded the remaining talent into an equally effective, yet different unit. But with only one starter returning, McCaffery and the Hawkeyes are starting over, save for one key piece.

Guard Peter Jok, currently a junior, is the only returning starter. He averaged 16.1 points overall and 17.3 in Big Ten play. Jok was named second-team all-Big Ten and was one of the league's best jump shooters. Speculation has surfaced that the 6-foot-6 Jok may weigh his future options, but he told The Gazette last week he plans to return.

'My plan is coming back and getting my degree,' Jok said.

Iowa lacks a true point guard and an experienced center next year. The Hawkeyes boast several wings who fit McCaffery's profile as long, athletic players who can run the floor. Outside of Jok, starting and major bench roles appear wide open. Iowa returns three players who averaged double-digit minutes, four others who played sparingly, and two red-shirts. There are four newcomers, all with a chance to play right away. The upcoming summer workouts and fall camps might become the greatest competition for minutes in McCaffery's era.

McCaffery does return a few pieces who could blossom with greater roles. Forward Dom Uhl (6-9) played multiple front-line positions and likely opens at forward next fall. Uhl (6.0 points, 3.6 rebounds) was unstoppable in his first seven Big Ten games, sinking 11 of 17 3-pointers. In his final 14 games, he hit just 7 of 21. Post player Ahmad Wagner (6-7) improved throughout the season. His final statistics (2.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 10.1 minutes) belied his importance. Wagner has a chance to at least double his minutes and possibly start at center.

Red-shirt freshman Nicholas Baer (4.8 points, 2.6 rebounds) became a high-energy value player off the bench. He played 25 minutes against Villanova and scored 15 points with four offensive rebounds and two steals. Baer, 6-7, remains a walk-on. His role may not change in the future, but his minutes (14.5) probably will.

'Nicholas Baer is a terrific basketball player,' McCaffery said. 'The only thing that is separating him from being really, really good is about 15 pounds. I'm sure he'll be that much stronger next year, and he'll get after it in the weight room. He can dribble, pass and shoot, he defends, he's got instincts, he's tenacious, he's got basketball IQ. He's got tremendous character.'

Freshman guard Christian Williams (6-6) moved into a vital backup role late in the season. He played sparingly for most of the season but contributed heavily in Iowa's final six games. His highlight was a 12-minute, eight-point effort against Indiana. While he can play point guard, Williams' best position is probably on the wing.

As for the rest, Iowa has major question marks. Junior forward Dale Jones (6-7) was a key role player before a knee injury sidelined him after only six games. As Williams' minutes increased, red-shirt freshman guard Brady Ellingson (6-4) saw his time whither up. Only three times did Ellingson's minutes reach double figures in Big Ten play. Freshman guard Andrew Fleming (6-5) played in only 11 games and totaled just 24 points.

Jones declined to comment about the progress of his knee. Both Ellingson and Fleming expressed some disappointment with their seasons.

'I was just a little off with my shot,' Ellingson said. 'I haven't really shot the ball the way I wanted to this year. That shouldn't be my only reason why I'm not on the court. I've got to work on some other things (like) defense and being more aggressive with the ball.'

'Lots of ups and downs,' Fleming said. 'I don't know what it was specifically (why he didn't play) but I just want to win and coach put in the group of guys that gave us the best shot at winning.'

Guards Isaiah Moss and Brandon Hutton — both from the Chicago area — red-shirted this season.

'It's not easy when you're not playing, but those two guys are phenomenal people,' McCaffery said a few weeks ago. 'They want to help us be the best possible team we can be and that's the only way they can do it now. They are getting in extra work. If you can get here before our games, they are lifting and shooting, two, two and a half hours of work in before we play. Both of them, Isaiah more than Brandon, got to change his body a little bit. But they are coming.'

Iowa has four decorated newcomers next year. Guard Jordan Bohannon (6-1) was named Iowa's Mr. Basketball after putting 25.8 points and 5.3 rebounds a game at Linn-Mar. Dubuque Wahlert forward Cordell Pemsl (6-8) scored 21.3 points and grabbed 10.5 rebounds. Spirit Lake post Ryan Kriener (6-10) put up a double-double with 22.4 points and 11.8 rebounds, and he blocked 2.5 shots a game.

The jewel of the class is St. Louis Chaminade forward Tyler Cook (6-9) who combined with Duke signee Jayson Tatum to win the Missouri Class 5 state title last weekend. Cook averaged 12.2 points and 6.4 rebounds. At Chaminade, Cook exclusively was an interior player who attempted just three 3-pointers this year. His role will expand at Iowa.

The Hawkeyes have a gaping hole at point guard. Both Gesell, a four-year starter, and Clemmons ran the show the last two years. There are no true point guards on the roster or coming in. Without a new recruit — Iowa currently has no available scholarships — Williams and Bohannon are the primary contenders for the slot. But it will take time to play even close to Gesell's or Clemmons' level.

Iowa basketball appears to be in transition mode for next year. Will that end the streak of three NCAA tournament berths or will the Hawkeyes force many observers to eat crow with another successful season? Woodbury, an outgoing senior, touts the latter.

'Why shouldn't it be bright?' Woodbury asked. 'Nobody picked us to do a thing this year and nobody's going to pick them next year. I'm sure they'll have that underdog mentality.'

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