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105 G oals remain the same as the dawn of a new season for University of Iowa men's basketball approaches. Fresh off a third-place Big Ten Conference finish and advancing to the third round of the NCAA Tournament, the Hawkeyes continue their pursuit of a Big Ten championship and postseason success. Iowa returns five players with starting experience while welcoming eight newcomers. Head coach Fran McCaffery is excited about blending youth and experience. "It will be a fun team to coach because the older guys can bring these kids along and hopefully get them to where they need to be quicker," said McCaffery. "We have good people in the program that want to be good and share the ball, and we're not afraid to go on the road and compete." Iowa returns five of its top seven scorers from a year ago, including Jarrod Uthoff, the second- leading scorer (12.4 points per game) and rebounder (6.4 rebounds per game). Joining Uthoff in the front court is four-year starter Adam Woodbury, sophomore Dom Uhl, and newcomers Brandon Hutton, Dale Jones, Ahmad Wagner, and Nicholas Baer. McCaffery expects Woodbury will see extended minutes this season. "We won't be as big, but we can leave Woodbury on the floor for a longer period of time," said McCaffery. "It will be great for him and us. As you see his numbers go up, he'll play with more confidence. I'm expecting a big year out of him." Experience in the backcourt consists of seniors Mike Gesell and Anthony Clemmons, along with junior Peter Jok. McCaffery knows that experienced and productive guard play is critical to success in the Big Ten. "You have a couple exceptions, but by-in-large, it's the veteran guards in this league that have their teams in the top half of the toughest conference in the country," McCaffery said. "Peter, Mike, and Anthony give us great confidence that our team can be good. "(Mike and Anthony) can make plays, shots, and defend. ey do it with little fanfare. It's a pleasure as a coach when you have two guys who conduct themselves the way they do because it relaxes everybody around them knowing they're there." McCaffery believes this year's team has a number of players who can attack the basket and shoot at a high percentage from 3-point range. In addition to Jok, who made 36 triples a year ago, McCaffery likes the shooting ability of redshirt freshman Brady Ellingson, and freshmen Andrew Fleming, Isaiah Moss, Christian Williams, and Jones. "When you look at the group, you have a lot of options," McCaffery said. "e impressive thing about the young guys is that they have come in ready to compete for playing time. ey don't want to come in and wait their turn, they want to play. at creates an atmosphere of competition and helps everyone get better." Since McCaffery's arrival in Iowa City, each of his teams has had solid senior leadership and this year is no different. "We have unbelievable leadership with this group," McCaffery said. "It starts with Clemmons, Gesell, and Woodbury; they came in together and started as freshmen. Uthoff falls into that senior class with the kind of success he has had and the kind of person he is. ey all have character and want to win."