Bowman University Basketball Preview

 I sat down today ready to dive into 2022-23 Bowman University.  I wanted to review last years set, look into the numbers and see if I could guess who might be on the checklist this year.  But the more I dug, the more I realized it just isn't feasible.  

This is what I'm thinking.  Since the checklists are comprised of college students not being represented by a single entity, each player has to make their own deal with Topps.  I think that some NIL groups make it easier to get a team as a whole, but don't quote me on that.  Regardless, it does shape how Topps can build their checklist.

Last years set was interesting to review as it had future NBA players such as Chet Holmgren, Keegan Murray and Walker Kessler, but missed out on 4 of the top 6 draft picks (Paulo Banchero, Jabari Smith, Jaden Ivey and Bennedict Mathurin).  

I don't know the reasons, so I can only speculate.  Topps was not owned by Fanatics at the time, thus was not the future of basketball cards (Panini) at the time.  Topps didn't have rights to display college uniforms, so the cards lose a bit aesthetically.   These made Topps a secondary option.  

Paulo Banchero opted for Panini, and has a 2022 Panini Instant NIL card. Ivey has a 2022 Panini Father's Day card.  So you can see some players opted for the future with a college uni card with Panini.

Fast forward to today, and Topps is the future and Panini is sinking fast.  But when the deals for this set were made months ago, was that the case yet?  Trending towards, yes, but not there yet.

We know two players in this years set. Brandon Miller will be the top men's college player selected and is projected between #2 and #4.  Marcus Sasser will be a 2nd round pick according to the mocks I've read, but was a 1st Team All-American. 

Obviously we probably won't see Scoot or Wembanyama in this set because of where they play (overseas and NBA G League).  Unfortunately they took a bunch of attention this year, so the number of breakout stars in the NCAA this year was lower.  This wasn't helped either with the number of upsets in the NCAA Tournament.

Well, if you're looking for stars, enter in the women.  Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark are the two announced that will be in the set.  Aliyah Boston (#1 pick in the WNBA draft) and Caitlin Clark (likely top pick next year or the year after) bring name recognition and draft capital.    

So what are the names we are hoping to see in the set this year?  Looking at All-American teams, we hope to see:

Zach Edey

Zach Edey

Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Jalen Pickett

Oscar Tshiebwe

Azuolas Tubelis

Kris Murray

Keyontae Johnson

Armando Bacot

Markquis Nowell

Other names included last year as well are:

Trayce Jackson-Davis

Drew Timme

Jalen Wilson

 If we dig into mock drafts, these name reach the top:

Dereck Lively II

Jarace Walker

Cam Whitmore

Cason Wallace

Taylor Hendricks

Dariq Whitehead

Gradey Dick

Anthony Black

Jett Howard

Dereck Lively II

Depending on how many women get included this year (please more than just two), there are tons of big names to pull from:

Angel Reece

Paige Bueckers

Paige Bueckers

Diamond Miller

Maddy Siegrist

Grace Berger

Jordan Horston

Hailey van Lith

Azzi Fudd

Of course, this is a pro-Iowa blog, so really I just want to see a ton of Iowa Connections in the set this year.  Caitlin Clark is enough for me to buy boxes of this set this year, but I do anticipate that Kris Murray will be in here as well (considering his brother Keegan made it last year).  Who else would we like to see?  

Ashley Joens

Ashley Joens - Iowa State (Projected WNBA 1st Rounder)

Stephanie Soares - Iowa State (Projected WNBA 1st Rounder)

Lexi Donarski - Iowa State  (Future Projected WNBA Draft Pick)

Emily Ryan - Iowa State  (Future Projected WNBA Draft Pick)

Lauren Jenson - Iowa   (Future Projected WNBA Draft Pick)

Monika Czinano - Iowa  (Projected WNBA Draft Pick)

Chrislyn Carr - Davenport (Projected WNBA Draft Pick)

Hannah Stuelke - Cedar Rapids (Big 10 Sixth Player of the Year)

Tucker Devries - Waukee (MVC Player of the Year)

Liam Robbins - Davenport (SEC Defensive Player of the Year)

Should there be coaches in here too?  Absolutely!

Jennie Baranczyk

Katie Abrahamson-Henderson - Cedar Rapids (Head Coach Georgia)

Shauna Green - Clinton (Head Coach Illinois)

Jan Jensen - Kimballton (Assistant Coach of the Year)

Brenda Frese - Cedar Rapids (Head Coach #1 Seed Maryland)

Robin Pingeton - Atkins (Head Coach Missouri)

Jennie Baranczyk - Urbandale (Head Coach Oklahoma)

C. Vivian Stringer - Iowa (Head Coach Rutgers)

Lisa Bluder- Iowa (National Runner-up)

Allison Pohlman - Drake (MVC Tournament Champion)

Darian DeVries - Drake (MVC Tournament Champion)

Its too late for me to influence Topps on the Iowa content of this set for this year, but next year lets see more Iowa Connections.  And apologizes to everyone after this set drops as this blog becomes a Caitlin Clark blog for a while :)