The Backcourt: Bohannon Is Going To Try To Play

Iowa's guards are versatile, but how will it all fit?

Jordan Bohannon plans on being on the court.

Which wasn't necessarily a surprise — the Iowa senior guard said as much at media day a couple of weeks ago.

And coach Fran McCaffery confirmed it on Wednesday — Bohannon, unless something happens before then, will play in Monday's exhibition against Lindsey Wilson College

How Iowa's backcourt will look for the rest of the season will depend a lot on Bohannon's recovery from offseason hip surgery.

Bohannon has delivered so many big plays in his first three seasons that late last season, in close games, opponents swarmed him in the final minutes to keep him from getting good looks.

He's Iowa's all-time leading 3-point shooter, and he can play both guard spots. And now Iowa has the depth back there to help a.) get him rest during games and b.) play where he's needed.

Bakari Evelyn, a graduate transfer from Valparaiso, was a huge early-summer get. His experience will be important, especially if Bohannon struggles or can't go.

"It's gone about as well as we would have hoped, and it's one of the main reasons why we wanted him," McCaffery said Evelyn, who averaged 8.4 points as a junior and 12.6 points as a sophomore at Valpo. "Bakari is really mature. He's somewhat well traveled in terms of the fact that he went to Nebraska right out of high school and then transferred to Valpo, so he's played in two different leagues already. He's had different roles already. He comes in, and while he's new and we have new faces, he's just a veteran guy in terms of how he prepares, how he thinks, how he performs on the floor.

"I've been really impressed with him. A lot of times you bring a guy in and you think he can play both spots and you find out he really can't, but he can. And that's not only from an offensive standpoint, from a defensive standpoint, as well."

Connor McCaffery, Fran's son, is in his third season with the Hawkeyes, but this will be his second full season. He averaged 4.4 points last season, but was on the court in late-game situations.

"We played Connor a lot at the '1' and Jordan at the '2', sometimes coming down the stretch and to get Jordan going," Fran McCaffery said. "Connor can also play the '3'. He's 215 pounds and really strong at this point. He's always been a good offensive rebounder. He can guard threes and fours, gives us versatility there to get more guards playing time."

McCaffery has spent the offseason raving about redshirt freshman C.J. Fredrick. Fredrick averaged 23.1 points per game as a senior at Covington (Ky.) Catholic High School, but took last season off to get stronger and learn.

Fredrick can play both guard spots, but McCaffery sees him as more of a '2'.

"CJ is shooting the ball extremely well," McCaffery said. "He's a big-time scorer. He's a bucket getter. He can create his own (shot). He can get baskets within the offense.

"The thing that really makes him difficult to guard is he's really good at getting rid of the ball. You look at him and say, well, surely he can play the '1' because look at the plays he's making off the dribble, and that's a weapon. He moves without it, curl cuts, fades, shot fake drive, shot fake rip-and-go, one-dribble kicks. He sees the floor extremely well and gets the ball out of his hands quickly when somebody is open."

Freshman Joe Toussaint is an unknown, and he'll face some of those usual first-year struggles. But Toussaint grew up in the Bronx, and touted his defensive toughness during an interview over the summer.

That's something the Hawkeyes will need, but Toussaint can score — he averaged 22.5 points as a senior at Cardinal Hayes High School.

"Joe Toussaint has always been a leader," McCaffery said. "It's hard as a freshman. We all know that. But if you're performing well at that position, then you command a certain element of respect, as well."

The X factor

It's either Fredrick or Toussaint. The Hawkeyes are going to need a consistent outside shooter from the '2' spot, especially depending on Bohannon's availability, so Fredrick might be able to give a shot-creating element they need from that position. Toussaint could get significant playing time if he can defend, also something Iowa needs in the backcourt.

The outlook

It all depends on Bohannon. He'll get some opportunities to play in the first two months of the season, but there will have to come a point where he has to make a decision based on how he feels.

The Hawkeyes have depth here, but there are still unknowns. Evelyn's experience will help, as will Connor McCaffery's. Fredrick and Toussaint may become major factors if their development continues.