The Hawkeyes’ 8:45 p.m. matchup today against third-ranked Texas gives Cole the chance to take the court in his hometown of Kansas City, Mo., but exchanging greetings with family and friends isn’t his primary objective.
“It will be fun to have a chance to play in front of a home crowd. It’s been awhile since I’ve been home, but more importantly it gives us a chance to play some good competition that will only help us improve as a team,” Cole said.
In addition to facing the Longhorns, Iowa plays either Pittsburgh or Wichita State on Tuesday night at the Sprint Center.
Cole, a three-time Kansas City All-Metro selection at Winnetonka High School, has averaged 7.7 points and 8.7 rebounds during the Hawkeyes’ 1-2 start.
“He’s an undersized post player height-wise, but not heart-wise,” Iowa coach Todd Lickliter said. “He’s the kind of guy you want young players on your team to learn from. He sets such a good example.”
Working without the brace he wore after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee midway through his freshman season, Cole welcomes the chance to help a young Hawkeye team develop.
“I’ve been tested,” Cole said. “I realize now more than ever that there are no little things. I don’t take anything for granted.”
Cole watched from the bench as Iowa finished off a 13-19 season during his freshman year. When he did return to action last fall, he was eased into action in a reserve role behind Cyrus Tate.
In the first 10 games of the Hawkeyes’ 15-17 season, Cole totaled just five points.
When Tate suffered a high ankle sprain in early January that would slow him for the rest of the season, Cole received more minutes and played his best basketball in Iowa’s regular-season finale. He collected 14 points and 11 rebounds in a game against Penn State, and then built off of that foundation when the Hawkeyes played three exhibition games in Italy and Greece last spring.
“Jarryd has made steady progress all the way, and that is the way it has to work,’’ Lickliter said. “I told him at the beginning of last year that he might not play quite as many minutes as he wanted early, but he would understand why as the season progressed. He told me after the season, ‘Coach, that was a really smart idea.’’’
Cole initially struggled with the patience needed to make that work, but concentrated on improving his skills and expanding his game.
The 6-foot-7 center knocked down the first 3-point basket of his career during Friday’s win over Bowling Green, illustrative of the improved range that is now part of Cole’s offensive game.
His work hasn’t gone unnoticed.
After speaking to the team at halftime of a scrimmage last month, former Iowa coach Lute Olson cornered Cole as he was heading to the court and complimented him on his shooting touch.
“Coming from a coach who has accomplished as much as he has, that meant a lot,’’ Cole said.
Lickliter wants Cole to assert those skills as Iowa works deeper into its schedule.
“When we started practice, he went back to being the guy who distributed the ball to his teammates. He didn’t look for his shot,’’ Lickliter said. “I had to tell him, ‘Jarryd, you’ve worked hard on your shot. I want you to shoot it when you’re open’ and he’s working on that.’’
Currently in his second season as a captain, he also continues to lead – in his own way.
“I’m not the kind of person who is going to order people around. That’s not my nature,’’ Cole said. I try to set a good example and make sure everybody is on the right page.’’
Lickliter is fine with that.
“I think it’s better to pull than to push,’’ he said. “Jarryd pulls people along by example.’’
