Iowa let another close game slip through its Midwestern fingers in Carver-Hawkeye last night, falling 60-58 to Thad Matta’s five-star laden Buckeyes. The game featured another strong performance from the Talented Mr. Turner, a shooting clinic from former-West Virgina/John Beilein recruit Devan Bawinkel, and several more in a season of questionable calls (or no-calls) by Hightower and Company. But even in the loss, special recognition is reserved for Jake Kelly. While ex-Iowa baller Tony Freeman bides his time in Carbondale and incumbent point guard Jeff Peterson’s bad hamstring shackles him to the bench, Jake Kelly has quietly played lead in one of the more compelling stories in the Big Ten.
Evan Turner Light
Despite a big turnover and late free throw miss, the talent of Evan Turner (22 points, 9 assists, 100% responsibility) was too much for Iowa to overcome as Dallas Lauderdale saved the game with a beautiful block of a Jermaine Davis layup with six seconds left. Evident in the loss was the great burden given to and assumed by sophomore Jake Kelly (Carmel, IN). Playing on a bottom of the Conference team with 16 losses, many of them too close to stomach, is not easy. But as we conclude the Big Ten regular season, Kelly has acquitted himself with aplomb. He plays hard; he plays with confidence; he defends; he leads; Iowa depends upon him.
With only Penn State remaining on the Iowa schedule, Kelly has adapted on the fly to his role as Iowa’s leader. Since Valentine’s Day, the 6′6″ Kelly, a more natural off-guard, has entirely taken over the point guard role. Over the last six games, Kelly’s averaging 40 minutes and 20 points in addition to the sole responsibility for initiating the Iowa offense. Compounding the pressure, on most Iowa possessions, he seems to be the only Hawkeye confident enough to want to handle the ball under defensive pressure.
Like Turner, in addition to being the team’s best passer at 6′6″, Kelly is also Iowa’s best player at creating his own shot off the dribble. And while he still turns the ball too frequently like Turner, his handle continues to get better. Apart from the quick footed travel, often Kelly’s turnovers are attributable aggressive passes to teammates in the post who don’t possess hands as soft as Michigan State freshman Delvon Roe.
Room to Grow
Much as Geary Claxton’s injury last season fast-tracked the development of Penn State’s Talor Battle, the loss of Peterson in February has afforded Kelly the chance to become a better player. In the scheme of things, a few Iowa losses that should’ve been wins could prevent them from playing any postseason basketball this season. However, Kelly’s growth in the absence of Peterson may give Iowa a taste in 2010 of the much-ballyhooed but less-appreciated comparison to the Butler Bulldogs, with two experienced guards competent with the ball and team full of shooters, including Matt Gatens, Bawinkel and hopefully a reformed Anthony Tucker.
Show Kelly Some Love
When we vote later this week on the 2009 All-Hoopraker Team, Kelly will certainly get some votes. If traditional media appreciates the nuance of the game apart from the obvious metrics of wins and losses and scoring average, they too will recognize in some capacity Kelly’s contribution to his team.
Original Story:
http://hoopraker.com/2009/03/04/jake-...
