By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Iowa men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery never has been and never will be someone who relies on the transfer portal to fill and sustain his roster.

He believes strongly in roster continuity and in recruiting players out of high school and developing them over time in order to build a family-like culture.

But McCaffery also understands that major college sports has changed dramatically and that the transfer portal is here to stay and can’t be ignored.

So, he carefully chooses what players to pursue from the portal, and the results speak for themselves.

From former guard Bakari Evelyn to former forwards Filip Rebraca and Ben Krikke, and now current forward Seydou Traore and current point guard Drew Thelwell, almost of all the players that have transferred to Iowa under McCaffery have played significant roles and have all been good fits.

The latest example was Friday’s 76-66 victory over Washington State in Moline, Illinois as Traore and Thelwell both came off the bench to provide a spark.

The 6-foot-7 Traore was a force on defense against the Cougars, especially after Iowa started pressing in the second half, while the 6-3 Thelwell made two critical 3-point baskets down the stretch as Iowa (4-0) closed the game on a 16-4 scoring run.

“Those guys provide athleticism, they provide toughness, they both can score, and they both can defend,” McCaffery said of Taore and Thelwell after Friday’s win.

And though it’s only been four games, Traore and Thelwell also seem to fit nicely in the Iowa culture, on and off the court.

Traore, who is from New York City, played his freshman season for Manhattan, where he averaged 11.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.

Thelwell, who is from Orland. Florida, transferred to Iowa after playing for four seasons for Morehead State where he is the all-time winningest player in program history.

“You need a guy like him that can engineer a victory,” McCaffery said of Thelwell. “He started slow throughout the summer. He just kept getting better and he just kept grinding. Instead of making excuses, he just came in and studied. Okay, this is all new. Okay, yeah, I’m an old guy, but it’s all new.

“Seydou relies more on his innate basketball instincts and his length and his athleticism and his skill set. He still is really green when it comes to knowing where to go and what to do.”

Fran McCaffery was asked earlier this week what is the secret to his success with the portal?

“We don’t have to go in there and get eight or nine guys,” he said. “Some people have to do that. Obviously, that’s when a coaching change takes place. But we know who fits our culture, our style. We get to know them, which is harder because you don’t have as long.

“Sometimes, you recruit a guy for two years. So, we might only be recruiting a portal guy for a couple weeks. But we do our homework on those individuals and get to know them. And then of course, they visit and they spend time with our guys. Everyone of the guys that we’ve brought in, it has been an absolute seamless transition in every area.”

There is always the risk when bringing players in from the portal of disrupting the culture and camaraderie within a roster, and that’s why Fran McCaffery is so careful and meticulous with his approach.

“The focus initially is on, okay, what positions do we need to add to our team,” Fran McCaffery said. “But it doesn’t work if they don’t mesh in the locker room. If they’re selfish. If they’re less character than what you’re looking for.

“Every guy that we’ve brought in has just been stellar in terms of their personality, their work ethic, their basketball IQ, and their willingness to try and help us win and be a part of something bigger than themselves”

Iowa has third player on the current roster that came from the portal in 6-9 senior power forward Even Brauns, who transferred from Belmont.

Brauns doesn’t play heavy minutes, but he grew up in Iowa City cheering for the Hawkeyes, and that makes it easier for him to put the team first because the team and the program mean so much to him.

All of Iowa’s additions from the transfer portal have come from mid-major programs. Each player has been unique in his own way, but what they all have in common is or was the desire to play on a bigger stage.

“I think when you have really successful mid-major guys, they always wonder, maybe they feel like they should have gotten recruited higher,” Fran McCaffery said. “They’ve proven it on a consistent basis at the collegiate level and they want that opportunity and they accept the challenge. And I think that’s impressive.”

Thelwell credits his vast experience for helping to keep him calm and focused during the critical stretch late in the second half against Washington State as Iowa pulled away.

“Keeping your nerves and composure definitely helps in those types of situations,” Thelwell said. “I definitely relied on some experience tonight.”

Thelwell then had a surprise waiting for him after Friday’s victory, which was the media requesting him for a post-game interview.

“This is a first, this is a first,” Thelwell said.

But it probably won’t be the last time that he is requested for a post-game interview.