With Kris Murray and Filip Rebraca both moving on, the Iowa Hawkeyes needed some frontcourt help that could step in and be difference makers straight away.
The Hawkeye coaching staff got busy on the recruiting trail and landed a pair of transfer portal additions in former Valparaiso big Ben Krikke and former Belmont big Even Brauns.
With plenty of production to replace, the Hawkeyes will be counting on Krikke and Brauns to slide right in and help them in 2023-24. How likely are they to do that and what are reasonable expectations?
247Sports’ Isaac Trotter broke down realistic expectations for all 41 Big Ten basketball transfers, including the Iowa pair.
Here’s what he had to say about Krikke:
Starter. Iowa’s roster is constructed around Krikke being a dude. There’s a lot riding on Krikke being a reliable source of rim pressure. Iowa is known for its barrage of 3-pointers, but Iowa is also phenomenal at converting around the rim. Iowa finished second in the Big Ten only behind Indiana in made buckets at the rim last year. Krikke was very efficient inside the 3-point stripe last year for Valparaiso, but he has to prove himself at the Big Ten ranks. When the crafty, 6-foot-9 lefty can get to his pull-up jumper, he’s tough to guard. – Trotter, 247Sports.
If last season in the Missouri Valley Conference is any indication, then Krikke should be expected to jump right into a starring role with the black and gold. Trotter’s 247Sports colleague, Kevin Flaherty, tabbed Krikke as one of the Big Ten’s top transfers back in early July.
Krikke, a 6-foot-9, 220 pound forward, led the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring, averaging 19.4 points per game last season. He actually topped those figures in conference play, upping his scoring average to 21.0 points per game against league foes.
The Edmonton, Alberta, product averaged 5.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per contest, while connecting on 55.2% of his field goal tries and 79.6% from the free throw line.
What did Trotter have to say about Brauns? Let’s take a look:
Frontcourt rotation. Iowa’s defensive profile is pretty suspicious if Krikke has to be the anchor. Brauns is a different story. The 6-foot-9, 240-pound big man shaped Belmont’s defense in a big way. Belmont was horrible defensively when Brauns was on the bench, but opponents only shot 55.6% at the rim when he checked into the game, according to hoop-explorer. He’s physical, athletic and very smart. Brauns has all the tools to be a helpful role player. – Trotter, 247Sports.
That’s a welcome sight for Iowa. While scoring defense isn’t a tell-all, it obviously wasn’t where coach Fran McCaffery and the Hawkeyes want it to be. Iowa ranked 296th nationally in scoring defense, surrendering 74.7 points per game.
Again, the Hawkeyes’ offensive pace and their offensive success has to get factored into the equation when evaluating the defensive picture. Iowa ranked No. 18 nationally in scoring offense, averaging 80.1 points per game last season.
Even though there’s some trading of defense in favor of offense in Iowa City, someone that can help limit opponents’ easy makes in the paint will be incredibly valuable. If Brauns provides that, he will absolutely be a rotational piece.
Offensively, Brauns averaged 7.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, and 1.2 assists per game in 21.2 minutes of average floor time last year with the Bruins. The 6-foot-9, 240 pound center shot 58.3% from the floor.
It will be interesting to see what the rest of the Hawkeyes’ frontcourt rotation looks like. It’s early, but coach McCaffery seems awfully impressed with freshmen Ladji Dembele and Owen Freeman as well.
Iowa embarks on its foreign trip beginning next week. The Hawkeyes depart for Paris, France, on Aug. 5 where they will play the Paris All-Stars at noon CT on Aug. 8.
Then, Iowa heads to Spain for a pair of games in Valencia and Barcelona. The Hawkeyes play the Valencia All-Stars on Aug. 11 at noon and the Barcelona All-Stars on Aug. 14 at noon.
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