Iowa Basketball: Can Cordell Pemsl And Tyler Cook Play Together?

The possible dilemma the Iowa Hawkeyes might be in once Tyler Cook returns from injury

Panic. That’s how many would describe their emotions when finding out Tyler Cook would miss three weeks with a broken right finger.

Through Iowa’s first six games, Cook had been Iowa’s second best player after Peter Jok. His outside shot proved to still be a work in progress, but he was second on the team in scoring at 13.7 per game on 56.4 percent shooting, to go along with 5.3 rebounds per game.

The Hawkeyes had another forward emerge as the team’s second best player during Cook’s absence, though.

Fellow freshman Cordell Pemsl struggled finding playing time behind Cook, but he thrived in Cook’s place once he got consistent minutes. In four starts during Cook’s absence, Pemsl averaged 17 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 blocks per game. He also shot a ridiculous 79.4 percent from the field.

Now, with Tyler Cook expected to return for Iowa’s game against North Dakota on January 20, Iowa has a decision ahead of them.

At least for now, Cook won’t move to the bench. He’s the best recruit Iowa has landed under Fran McCaffery, and his star potential is still there.

That leaves either Pemsl or Ahmad Wagner moving back to the bench.

At first glance, it seems like Wagner would be the obvious choice. Even though he’s a versatile defender, his 4.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game lacks in comparison to the production and impact Pemsl has had since moving to the starting lineup.

That being said, it’s not a guarantee that Pemsl and Cook can continue to dominate alongside each other. They’ve never played significant minutes together, which brings a lot of people doubts about their ability to co-exist in the paint.

Naturally, their numbers are expected to decrease since Cook’s return will take away from Pemsl’s touches and Pemsl’s emergence will take away from Cook’s touches.

Although, numbers become an afterthought if Iowa can effectively play their three best players at the same time — Jok, Cook, Pemsl.

Even though Wagner is the more versatile defender and is thriving alongside Isaiah Moss, Pemsl’s ability to control the paint is something even Tyler Cook didn’t do right away. Cook has had more thunderous dunks through six games than I count, but Pemsl is clearly the more polished back to the basket player right now.

His post moves are better than a lot of seniors, he’s able to finish through and absorb contact well and isn’t afraid to put his head down and drive to the basket.

Before scoring 11 points against Iowa State, Pemsl scored at least 18 points in his first three starts and shot above 80 percent in each game. Pemsl has just one three-point attempt this season, which is telling of his old-school style of play.

He’s not a modern-day stretch four, rather he looks uncomfortable when trying to score on the perimeter. Considering the way big men play basketball these days, Pemsl’s now unorthodox style of play would fit well alongside most big men, except that’s also when Cook is most effective.

Cook plays more on the perimeter and isn’t afraid to shoot an occasional three. He attempted six through his first six games but only made one, which led him to doing most of his work on offense in the paint.

Having Pemsl in the starting lineup would force teams not to double-team Cook as often, but it also could become easier with two big men in the paint. Even though Nicholas Baer and Dom Uhl didn’t provide the same scoring threat, their perimeter games cleared the paint for Cook, or forced teams to leave them open on the perimeter to double-team.

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With Pemsl and Cook potentially starting together, teams can play off of them and dare them to shoot. Tyler Cook’s three-point shot will get better with time, but right now most teams would consider a three-point attempt by Tyler Cook a successful defensive possession.

Therefore, the lane gets more crowded not just for Cook and Pemsl, but also for wing players who thrive on getting to the basket. Sure, with the tempo Iowa usually plays at, it wouldn’t have a huge impact on them, however, for a team that struggles creating their own shot in half-court situations, it could make it even harder.

In today’s game, spacing is everything and two traditional big men don’t often work when both have offensive games that limit them to the paint or just outside of it.

There is no doubt that Cook and Pemsl will play together even if they both don’t start. McCaffery would be foolish not to play his best players at the end of games, and it would simply take too much effort and hurt Iowa more to actively try to never have them on the court at the same time.

Besides, it shouldn’t be disastrous lineup with their skill and basketball IQ, rather it would just be less effective than other lineups.