Clues from Alford

[BenEClone]

When it was announced that there was one more men's basketball recruit, I was expecting an inside player. When Boozer was announced I guessed that GMac had confidence in the bigs already on board. Nothing we've seen so far this year points to Jiri or Ross. Maybe its Thompson. FWIW the Register article suggests Steve Alford expected Alex Thompson to start at Iowa this year and wasn't playing more before only because he was behind Brunner. "The plan was for Thompson to replace Brunner as the Hawkeyes’ primary post player." How good do we expect Alex to be?

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/p...02050101/61207035/1094/cyclone_insider&lead=1

 

[Cyclonepride]

A clue from Alford? This is breaking news! Alford has a clue! Stop the presses!

 

[ljs6756]

My look on the hole deal is its just a eye for a eye!!!!
What goes around comes around.

 

[Cyclonesrule91]

How good do we expect Alex to be?

If watching him in the Capital City League this summer is any indication, he will make a great post player. He was more physical down low and definitely more of a banger inside then 3 Jiri's could ever be. He matched up quite well and had Keita(big man for Drake) frustrated at times when they played against one another(one example that I can remember).

I think he will be a good #5 player next year until Brackens gets acclimated to Gmac's system and then will be a solid power forward when Brackens takes over down low. Then we should be covered quite well in each position. I can't wait..:yes4lo:

 

[jay moe]

I hope he can come in and mix it up under the basket, we really lack that this year.

 

[bawbie]

I think he will be a good #5 player next year until Brackens gets acclimated to Gmac's system and then will be a solid power forward when Brackens takes over down low. Then we should be covered quite well in each position. I can't wait..:yes4lo:

From what I've read around here, Brackins isn't much of a banger either. I think Thompson starts at the 5 for both years he plays here.

 

[cygoat]

I was also really impressed with Thompson in the Cap City League this summer. He will definitely help raise the level of our inside game next year.

 

[BryceC]

I'd like Thompson to gain 20 pounds if he's going to be playing the 5 spot.

Edit: I guess he is listed as 230 on the Cyclones.com roster. 20 pounds would still be nice.

 

[cgwarrior33]

Yea. From what I have heard through the coaching circles, Thompson would play just as good as Brunner in practice, but he could not translate it over into games. It did not help that Alford rode him all the time in the games. He looked like he was scared to make a mistake.

 

[CYdTracked]

I think GMac is just what Thompson needed. A year off to work with him may really do him wonders as GMac knows how to develop big men. Alford has never really developed players that well. Remember Glen Worley? I think he got worse every season. And I can't say that Horner and Brunner were noticable way better than they were when they came into the program. I think the only player during the Alford tenure to be a mainstay in the NBA so far is Reggie Evans right? He was a juco transfer and went un-drafted so not like Alford had much to do with getting him to the NBA.

I've had my reservations about Thompson after the incidents with his HS coach and then with Alford but after seeing him play in the Capital City league I hope a change of scenery being back in his hometown plus GMac coaching him that he finally settles down and becomes the player Iowa thought he was going to be when they recruited him.

 

[Wesley]

Yea. From what I have heard through the coaching circles, Thompson would play just as good as Brunner in practice, but he could not translate it over into games. It did not help that Alford rode him all the time in the games. He looked like he was scared to make a mistake.

He can come to Ames and play, because we make 20 mistakes a night for sure.