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Iowa Basketball: Five Hawkeyes to Watch in NCAA Tournament

By Dylan Burn

Mar 10, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes coach Fran McDaffery coaches on the sidelines against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the Big Ten Conference tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Illinois defeats Iowa 68-66. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes coach Fran McDaffery coaches on the sidelines against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the Big Ten Conference tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Illinois defeats Iowa 68-66. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 10, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Mike Gesell (10) brings the ball up court against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the Big Ten Conference tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Mike Gesell (10) brings the ball up court against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the Big Ten Conference tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3 – Mike Gesell

You can talk to any Iowa fan and they either love Mike Gesell or they simply do not like him as a point guard, there is no middle ground.  Mike is a four year starter and is a big reason why Iowa has made three straight tournament appearances.

Mike has some big games early on in the year, especially the one against Michigan State.  He tallied 25 points and three assists in Iowa’s defeat of the number one ranked team in the country.

Your success in the NCAA tournament is largely due to the play of your guards.  Iowa has two of the most experienced guards in the nation in Gesell and Clemmons.  However, sometimes they don’t show it.  Gesell seems to struggle late in halves and late in games.

He turned the ball over on an out-of-bounds play late in the game against Illinois, but it was like deja vu for Hawkeye fans, because they’ve seen it all before.  Gesell has been an instrumental part in turning this Hawkeye program around, but there will always be people who remember him for his inability to execute late in games.

He averages 8.3 points and 6.3 assists per game this season and has been one of the best in the Big Ten at taking care of the ball.  Gesell is at his best when he is attacking the rim or putting up jumpers from the elbows.

He had a lot of success in last year’s tourney as he averaged 12 points and 5.5 assists in two contests.  Gesell is going to need to be sharp for the Hawkeyes on Friday against Temple.

Next: Number Two

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