This guy assembles a better team at Drake in year one with D2 transfer than Fran can in year 15 at Iowa. Just shake my head because it's seemingly acceptable as well.
Drake
- Thread starter EagleHawk
- Start date
I saw a lot of fundamentally sound ball from Drake. Blocking out in particular. Great example on one possession 3 drake defenders walled off the vandy players under the basket so the missed shot could drop right to them with no chance for an offensive board. You'd never see that from a Fran team.
I go every year. Went to the Blue-White game last year. Poorly attended, but was great for my grandkids to meet up with Drake players.
They outrebounded their 3 opponents in Charleston 104-66. Oofta.
Ben Jacobsen should be feeling some heat. If Drake can show life why can’t UNI.
They have done nothing in years.
They have done nothing in years.
Like Kirk, he's in that realm of being thought of as one and the same with the program given his longevity. He's also got the best NCAA tourney performance in the history of that program as a legacy. Not that he can't be canned, but I suspect it would take multiple years of really bad performance.
I mean, who wouldn’t? The trick is finding an Otzelberger, he wasn’t exactly tearing it up before ISU. The difference between the next Lute Olsen and Todd Lickliter is pretty thin on paper. It takes an outstanding AD with excellent personnel evaluation to know the difference.
You were ready to move on from Alford way back and I was okay with Alford moving on. I don't see a big difference in accomplishments between Alford and Fran. Lickliter was 3 year dry spell which is a blip----Iowa has a 42 year dry spell in no B1G titles. 24 year dry spell in no sweet16s.
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I'd prefer a chance to do something special vs stagnating with slightly above 0.500 B1G records with no chance of success in NCAA tourney because Fran's teams don;t defend. I think it is everyones's personal choice whether they like Fran ball or not. Obviously there are quite a few fans quite happy with status quo.
I do think without NIL money, no one will do well at Iowa. The new AD will have to navigate the NIL funding better than what they have done so far. The roster that ISU had last year had NIL value at around $1.2 million. I don't think Swarm gave Iowa anywhere near that figure.
There was article on how TJ play's moneyball and maximizes the NIL money he does have...he looks for defensive/rebounded minded players that are cheaper in NIL. I don't think Fran's personality/style/brains allow him to compete. He really is an Old Man stuck in doing the same thing he's always done. His assistants coaching tree is a dead end---he likes yes men.
Thre is no point to buyout Fran at full dollar. He looks to be on his way out to Butler. Negotiate a buyout and Save some money and use it for NIL.
Listen I get it. Rebounding has been a problem under Fran for most of his 15 years at Iowa, but there's an additional 5 other assistants under Fran that doesn't seem to know how to solve the issue either. Sherman Dillard has been on Fran's staff the longest, Courtney Eldredge, Matt Gatens, Tristan Spurlock, Kyle Denning, what the hell do these assistant coaches do during the summer and fall other then stand along the sidelines watching the players run up and down the court? . I was thrilled when Fran signed Matt to be on his staff replacing the retired Kirk Speraw, but nothing has changed and it appears that Fran is OK with how everything is working out, why, I have no idea.
Watching the games on TV none of Fran's assistants seem upset at he lack of rebounding, especially Sherman Dillard who seems just happy to be sitting next to Fran.
It's the perfect time for Fran to leave Iowa after this year and replace Thad Motta at Butler. He would have his oldest son Conner on his staff and be able to coach his youngest son Jack for the next 4 years before riding off into the sunset in retirement. Lord, please make it happen!
Watching the games on TV none of Fran's assistants seem upset at he lack of rebounding, especially Sherman Dillard who seems just happy to be sitting next to Fran.
It's the perfect time for Fran to leave Iowa after this year and replace Thad Motta at Butler. He would have his oldest son Conner on his staff and be able to coach his youngest son Jack for the next 4 years before riding off into the sunset in retirement. Lord, please make it happen!
He went 52-16 in the final 2 seasons at South Dakota State, his only bad season was the Covid year at UNLV which was an asterisk season anyways with all the restrictions.
UNI has won two of the last five MVC championships, and produced the first genuine NBA player since Norm Stewart was the Panther's coach. They're doing pretty good this year after a slower start.
It's all about positioning yourself for a conference tournament run these days. At large bids for the mid-majors are nearly impossible to achieve.
I am in KC for the game. Pre-game begins at 4PM.
They've played (but lost to) some good mid-majors so far. Irvine, Wichita, North Texas, and St. Bonnie's could all be tourney teams. And they've got Washington State next.
They smoked Montana last night, the Big Sky favorite.
Big test in Vegas against Washington State coming up Saturday afternoon.
I just read this thread. I literally watched that play and thought the exact same thing. It has stood out in my mind since then.
Stirtz could absolutely be a P4 starter. He’s a gamer.
He’d be the best player at iowa immediately. Not even close
Drake got flustered for a bit, but rallied to win.
They are fundamentally sound and full of grit.
Stirtz is playing lights out.
Really enjoy watching them play.
If I lived in the Des Moines area I would definitely go watch them in person.
They are fundamentally sound and full of grit.
Stirtz is playing lights out.
Really enjoy watching them play.
If I lived in the Des Moines area I would definitely go watch them in person.
It’s amazing how he gets those 2 scorers decent looks. From what I watched, they basically have 3 guys who don’t even look at the rim in the half court. Makes it work with good cutting/spacing. He also uses his timeouts well
The rep on him coming from NWMS was that he always played a very limited bench.
And I can also say as someone who’s watched every Drake game this year there is a steeeeep drop from their top 6 to the rest of the squad. Starting 4 grad students has been a huge luxury.
Doesn’t really have any other options.
Great night for Drake players from KC area. My daughter lives in Liberty and Liberty well represented at Pre-game. Different atmosphere at Pre-game. Hawkeye parties I always meet people I know or see familiar faces. Didn't know anyone. Hardin and Dolph P were at Pre-game. 8 and 10 year old grandsons had a blast.
Best coach UI ever had played 6… some years maybe 7. He pressed and pressured a lot too. It can be done.
I don't know where this comes from, but I think the figures for last year are quite a bit inflated. I haven't heard anything about this year's roster.
