Minnesota Sports Forum

Newton has also continued his high level of play. My one big issue with him is he turns it over too much. But the rest of his game is pretty damn good, as he has improved as a shot maker and creator.

I see Rocco was a team-high +27 in his 26 minutes last night. His stat line does not pop out, except for that +27. I might have to go back and watch that game. It's pretty neat how the G-league makes all their games available for streaming.

Rocco once again a team high +16 tonight in Iowa's loss to the Windy City Bulls. He had 14 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 turnover, and 2 blocks in 22 minutes. I didn't watch the game, but he came off the bench again and clearly put up some decent numbers for just 22 minutes of action.

Freeman, the starting Center and fellow two-way player, has been underwhelming. I'm starting to question why we gave him the two-way and not Newton?? Newton had 24 points and 11 assists with 3 TOs. Missed all his 3-pt shots, but overall has been Iowa's best player this season so far. He's 4th in the G-League in assists per game, 6th in steals per game, and 11th in points per game. I'd be more excited about him if it wasn't for his 4.6 TOs per game, which is 2nd in the G league.

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Thu Nov 20, 2025 10:06 pm Rocco once again a team high +16 tonight in Iowa's loss to the Windy City Bulls. He had 14 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 turnover, and 2 blocks in 22 minutes. I didn't watch the game, but he came off the bench again and clearly put up some decent numbers for just 22 minutes of action.

Freeman, the starting Center and fellow two-way player, has been underwhelming. I'm starting to question why we gave him the two-way and not Newton?? Newton had 24 points and 11 assists with 3 TOs. Missed all his 3-pt shots, but overall has been Iowa's best player this season so far. He's 4th in the G-League in assists per game, 6th in steals per game, and 11th in points per game. I'd be more excited about him if it wasn't for his 4.6 TOs per game, which is 2nd in the G league.

Hmm. Interesting. Can we trade or release Freeman and give his 2-way to Newton?

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 20, 2025 11:12 pm

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Thu Nov 20, 2025 10:06 pm Rocco once again a team high +16 tonight in Iowa's loss to the Windy City Bulls. He had 14 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 turnover, and 2 blocks in 22 minutes. I didn't watch the game, but he came off the bench again and clearly put up some decent numbers for just 22 minutes of action.

Freeman, the starting Center and fellow two-way player, has been underwhelming. I'm starting to question why we gave him the two-way and not Newton?? Newton had 24 points and 11 assists with 3 TOs. Missed all his 3-pt shots, but overall has been Iowa's best player this season so far. He's 4th in the G-League in assists per game, 6th in steals per game, and 11th in points per game. I'd be more excited about him if it wasn't for his 4.6 TOs per game, which is 2nd in the G league.

Hmm. Interesting. Can we trade or release Freeman and give his 2-way to Newton?

Yes. Assuming Newton agrees to a 2-way

More catnip for Lip....

Rocco Zikarsky's per 36 minute numbers through six G-League Games:
- 22.4 pts, 12.3 rebs, 1.7 assists, 1.4 stls, 3.1 blks, 1.7 TO, 50% FG/33% 3pt/60% FT, Net Rating of +9.6.
- Has the best defensive rating of the regular rotation guys.

Keep in mind that Rocco is one of the youngest players in the G-League, playing against mostly grown men with more basketball experience and strength. That being said, you can't teach height and his God-given verticality has a lot to do with his success so far. There is simply no one his height down there so he can coral a lot of rebounds and get dunks without hardly even trying.

I don't think we should over-react to his success thus far, as he is still slow as molasses and the competition is so much weaker in the G-League. But it's good to see him doing well.

Impressive numbers from Giant Rocco! Has anyone watched many games that can provide any color as to his defense and rebounding. Naz/Ju have had a defensive resurgence recently, but if they regress, would Rocco be a candidate to play some backup center minutes? I get that he is young and slow, but he's also 7'3"! Might he be more ready than Joan in defense and rebounding? Remember, a year ago he was being talked about as a top 10 pick.

FNG wrote: ↑Fri Nov 21, 2025 10:10 am Impressive numbers from Giant Rocco! Has anyone watched many games that can provide any color as to his defense and rebounding. Naz/Ju have had a defensive resurgence recently, but if they regress, would Rocco be a candidate to play some backup center minutes? I get that he is young and slow, but he's also 7'3"! Might he be more ready than Joan in defense and rebounding? Remember, a year ago he was being talked about as a top 10 pick.

I've watched a couple of full games and a few highlights, but that's about it. Rocco is very, very tall and that by far is the driving force behind his rebounding and defense. He flashes the potential of a shooting touch from a variety of ranges that hasn't yielded great results yet, but there is something there for sure.

He also reminds me a bit of Beringer in that he just sort of knows how to play and position himself. He doesn't try to do too much and rarely looks out of control or reckless.

The big question mark is his lack of quickness and how he deals with the speed of the NBA game. With his height, he doesn't have to be the most athletic guy, but he needs to add strength and technique to make up for his lack of quickness/reaction time. That along with refining his offensive game will take time.

Connelly has been trying to address our needs through the draft, but he keeps picking guys that can't help now (Dillingham, Beringer, Zikarsky).

Watching the Iowa game so you guys don't have to

Playing the undefeated Windy City Bulls. Quick start for the mini-pups, up 23-16. Zikarsky not in the game yet.

Zyon Pullin....someone to keep an eye on.

Mixed bag here for Rocco's first stint. The good: got a block, a steal, and kept a couple of offensive misses alive tipping it out to team mates with his length. The bad: three fouls and an offensive 3-seconds! He's back on the bench.