Iowa prepares to face a true giant in Purdue’s Isaac Haas
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – By normal standards, Iowa basketball players Tyler Cook and Cordell Pemsl are considered massive.
Cook is listed at 6-foot-9 and weighs 253 pounds, while Pemsl checks in at 6-8 and 249 pounds.
To most people, they’re giants.
Purdue center Isaac Hass isn’t like most people.
Listed at 7-2 and 282 pounds, Haas is an imposing figure, to say the least. He is also effective in the post and one reason why Purdue is 14-3 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten heading in Thursday’s game against Iowa at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
“He’s the biggest person that I’ve ever seen,”Pemsl said when asked if Haas was the biggest player he has faced.
Purdue’s 89-67 victory over Iowa in the Big Ten opener on Dec. 28 in West Lafayette, Ind., was the first time Pemsl had seen Haas in person. To say that Haas made an impression with his size would be an understatement.
Suddenly, Pemsl felt sort of small.
“I had never physically with my own two eyes seen someone that big,” Pemsl said.
Haas is part of a mammoth frontline duo for Purdue, along with 6-9, 250-pound sophomore forward Caleb Swanigan, who leads the Big Ten in rebounding.
“I thought I was big and then I go up against someone my own size and then someone bigger than me,” Pemsl said. “It had me kind of in awe to start. Haas goes out of the game and then you get Swanigan.
“So you’re getting two potential pro players. So it’s a struggle. But it’s something that I was to go up against. I want to go against the best of the best. So it’s a good challenge for Tyler and I.”
Haas scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the first game against Iowa, while Swanigan had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Cook also was shocked when he saw Haas in person for the first time.
“I’ve never seen anyone that big in my life,” said Cook, who scored 12 points in the first game against Purdue.
Haas is so large that opponents have to guard against being intimidated by his size, or in awe of it.
“There is some truth to that, too, but you can’t just dwell on, okay he’s huge, because he obviously has a leg up on you,” Cook said. “You just have to go out and compete every time on the floor no matter who is in front of you.”
DUNK CONTEST: Cook is quick to share the praise and the spotlight with his teammates. Except for when it comes to dunking.
When asked on Wednesday who is Iowa’s best dunker, Cook didn’t hesitate to answer.
“Me, no doubt,” Cook said.
Redshirt freshman Isaiah Moss agreed that Cook is one of the team’s best dunkers, but Moss also said he and 6-6 freshman guard Maishe Dailey would deserve consideration.
“I’m in there, but Maishe Dailey is a high-flyer, too,” said the 6-5 Moss. “So he can jump. Tyler Cook, of course. So I’m not sure. It would be pretty close.”
Cook also praised Dailey for his leaping ability.
“Maishe has some sneaky hops,” Cook said. “You guys have seen Isaiah’s (hops). But Maishe has some really sneaky bounce.
“But I’m going to win it.”