Chicago Bulls: Big Ten players to watch in 2019 NCAA Tournament
By Ryan Heckman
Forward Tyler Cook, Iowa
If the Bulls are looking for a second-round splash, Tyler Cook might be their guy. A 6-foot-9 forward out of Iowa, Cook is a strong, athletic forward who will throw down some high-flying dunks from time to time. At the very least, he is one of the more fun players to watch in the Big Ten.
This season for the Hawkeyes, Cook posted a line of 14.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 52.8 percent from the floor.
Like some other forwards in the Big Ten, Cook is lacking in one particular area: Long range. In fact, we’ll get to another guy in this category in just a minute. But, at Iowa, Cook has only knocked down three shots from beyond the arc, while attempting just 21 over three seasons.
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Cook is strong in the lane, being able to finish from either hand. He possesses above-average footwork, and like I said before, lots of strength. Where he might get caught, though, is not being big enough to defend the taller guys in the post. He’s also a little too big to even think about transitioning to the small forward position.
The Hawkeyes begin their tournament as a 10-seed taking on 7-seed Cincinnati on Friday. Should Iowa have a shot at upsetting Cincy, it’s going to be Cook who has to come out hot.