I agree with a lot of what you say here - especially about guards playing in the system vs. solo "hero ball". It definitely seemed like Fran unfairly jerked around Joe Toussaint. However, besides Toussaint, which guards did Fran run off that were actually good enough to play at this level? Are you referring to Ahron Ulis and Bowen? I think Thelwell and Harding are both better than Ulis and Bowen. Is there someone I'm forgetting?
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So once again, is our fandom only measured by the $$ contributed? I guess this is the only measuring stick now right. Open your wallet or shut the hell up........
Lolol.. okay then, I guess your the better fan. From now on folks before you post anything be sure to submit your tax returns with all contributions itemized so that your "level of fandom" can be accepted before you comment...
Will he sign said player? I guess you need to persuade the folks to kick in more.....
Geeze, he just brought in Thelwell, who I think has played great, and people are bitching that he won’t bring in quality guards? Personally, I think the combo of Dix, Thelwell and Harding is pretty good, maybe the best we’ve had under Fran. Guard play isn’t our problem this year, rebounding is.
First off, Thelwell and Harding are Good players, but not great players. Dix is maybe 2nd team all B1G worthy. The point is show me another above average team in the B1G alone that has THREE guards on the roster, two good ones, (not really good) and one maybe top 10-15 in the league. Thats just in our conference. One of those guys goes down and we play who, Kingsbury? The issue is the roster as a whole. We are short on back court players, (as we have been the last couple of years, and the frontcourt is loaded with projects. Dembele, had one good game this year. Tadjo is a project, as is Mulvey in his 4th year. Then there's Braun in his 5th year, I'm not even sure you can call him a project at this point. Maybe if we had been able to land one or two quality guards instead of all there 6'8" to 7'0" guys who don't really contribute anything we'd be more competitive in March. Take a look at the rest of the league, ad tell me theres no issue with our roster.
This ^ Fran plays positionless basketball, it's his fantasy. He'd love all players to be 6ft6in - 6ft8in, ball handling three point shooters. Defense and rebounding be damned.
I'll say it again. IMO guards are NOT the problem on this Iowa squad and it is definitely NOT a massive problem. The problem is inside defense and rebounding. It's been brutal this year.
Yes it is. But do you really think this roster as a whole is well put together for a push in March? What happens if Dix gets hurt again, or one of the other guards? Why should we be that thin in the backcourt with three 6'8" to 7'0" ft guys sitting on the bench who don't play and we only have three guards. Fran thinks he can slide the Sandforts around the court but they can't guard back court players, or 4's. This is also part if the issue with the the inside defense and rebounding.
Obviously Fran is thinking one of these 6’8” is going to become the next Magic Johnson. One of them can surely play point, right???
And don’t call me Shirley……
I agree that the current roster is a problem because Fran is in love with tweeners that aren't effective defenders of guards or bigs down low. The Sandforts, Dembele, and even Freeman are overwhelmed inside by bigger more athletic players. It's kind of the opposite problem that we've had before where we had inside players like the Murrays who were very good if somewhat undersized defenders and rebounders and really poor defenders on the perimeter.
Looks like a Cook clone to me. Maybe a little better mid range shot, Cook had none, but pretty much an undersized 5. All that being said, glad he's a Hawk
He'll at least bring in a skinny, white 6'6 shooter and call him a guard.
It's a great offense for shooters and post players.
It's really not a great fit for the majority of high end talented guards who are used to having the ball in their hands most of the time and playing isolation.
Not having at least one more is a problem but clearly not the problem.
I've been harping on the need to play 3 guards like the rest of the world does for many years now. He's finally doing it but they are the only 3 on the team lol.
No, the original complaint was that Fran never brings in good guards, especially transfers. He’s clearly done that this year in Thelwell. People expect an 1st team all big guard to transfer in have unreal expectations.
As far as “only” having 3 good guards, most teams are lucky to have 2. I like our guys. Again, guard play is NOT our problem this year.
I agree that the guard play has been improved this year.
But when you only have 3 guards on the roster (all of whom start) you are basically f***ed if any of them turn an ankle.
If Carter kingsbury is playing meaningful B10 minutes, our team is in trouble.
Pryce is our 4th guard. We have 2 very competent point guards in Drew and Brock. I don’t get all the anxiety about our depth at guard. We’re fine. You guys would have had a conniption over our guard depth on our last final four team because we had none.
Lol. Our last final four team?
You’re right - I would be much less concerned about our guard depth if we had Ronnie Lester, Bobby Hansen, and Kenny Arnold on the team. Perhaps the best backcourt in Iowa history.
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Obviously the current 2025 roster is lacking in guards at this time. Just as obviously the roster is far from finalized. Thelwell was a tremendous add BY FRAN and staff…..so time will tell…..we have a ways to go before the roster is finalized for next year.
And some would argue that Bobby wasn’t really a guard, either. Quality guards are rare and most teams don’t have 2, let alone 3.
3 capable guards is going to be enough for 99% of the time. Really, the most important thing is having 2 capable points, which we do.
Ya that’s just not true. Unless your definition of quality is vastly different than most
Chad Calabria was the PG and in the backcourt with Brown, Johnson was a 6-7 small forward (maybe could be considered the third guard if a 3 guard lineup was a thing then) on that team. Calabria was really good too. They’re in the discussion for sure.
Ronnie Lester himself practically puts that backcourt a level above everyone else.
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Quality is a subjective term.
Id guess the average college basketball team probably uses half of their scholarships on guards.
You might only normally play 4 but you should have at least a couple younger backups who can play if they need to and your going to have a few that don't hit and get passed over.
I'm glad Fran is playing 3 guards, next step is offering more scholarships to guards and having more on the roster so that you can have more chances to hit.
I'll argue he offers enough guards, he can't close on enough good ones. Seems to me, from the outside, that he is pretty tough on guards and what he expects from them.
I think if you compared the amount of guards hes offered vs forwards it would probably be double in favor of forwards.
Normally that would be the reverse.
I think it’s questionable that most college teams dedicate half the roster to guards. But it really depends on how you define a guard. I just checked the Duke, ISU and Illinois rosters. All have a bunch of 6’6” guard/forwards types. Does that make Payton and Saore guards? Not many guys 6’4” and under on those teams who are capable of being primary ball handlers.
I think the real issue is how many point guards you have, because you really can’t run an offense without one. Iowa has two, plus Dix as an emergency? I think that’s pretty typical. .
The higher the level of talent a school is able to pull the taller their guards will be generally.
Terrace Shannon and Markus Domask were Illinois primary ballhandlers last year both at 6'6. I haven't paid attention to them yet this year.
If a team plays 60% or more guards in their lineup it only makes sense that half of the roster at least would be guards. That may skew a little different in the big ten but I'd bet it's spot on across the whole of power conferences.
Only having 3 or 4 guards on a roster isn't typical.
I'm not saying Iowas main issue is lack of guards this year, it's obviously the 4/5 spots, but they are one injury away from having a problem at guard too.
Edit: after looking at a dozen random rosters 6 or 7 guards seems to be the average. Didn't see any with less than 5.
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