NCAA Basketball: Formerly injured players set for big impact in 2020-21

LOUISVILLE, KY - NOVEMBER 27: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks to Joshua Langford #1 during the ACC/Big Ten Challenge against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC YUM! Center on November 27, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville won 82-78 in overtime. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

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COLUMBUS, OH – FEBRUARY 10: Jack Nunge #2 of the Iowa Hawkeyes (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

Jack Nunge – Iowa

The 6’11 power forward has a larger sample size of games to draw upon than some of the others on this list, and the available stats are not necessarily eye-catching. By the end of his freshman season, Nunge had established himself as a starter as Coach Fran McCaffrey had started him in five of Iowa’s final six games, which included the Big 10 tournament. While he only started 14 of 33 games, averaged 16 minutes, and under six points per game, Nunge showed flashes of an impact player on a number occasions. In the seven games that he scored double-digits, he logged over 20 minutes in each.

To start the 2019-20 season, the 2017 Indiana Mr. Basketball finalist was in the starting line-up for the Hawkeyes prior to injuring his ACL in his right knee. With senior Ryan Kriener (7.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg) Nunge and Luka Garza are the only two returning players over 6’9. As 6’9 senior Cordell Pemsl played 268 more minutes than Nunge in 2019-20 and scored just 49 more total points and grabbed 66 more rebounds.

When taking into consideration that No.69 in 2019 RSCI Patrick McCaffrey played in just two games before leaving for health and wellness, the Hawkeyes are in need of another big body. A need Jack Nunge will be able to fill better than incoming recruit, 6’10 /240 Josh Ogundele who is part of the Hawkeyes’ No. 55 recruiting class in the nation.

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