ADVERTISEMENT

Excitement levels…

LarryMullenJr.

LarryMullenJr.

HB Legend
Dec 7, 2011
11,272
18,693
113
Reading Fran’s press conference transcript I found myself not really caring as much as in years past. It got me wondering what everyone else’s feeling are. I know there’s some “Fran burnout” and frustration about a number of things but do you find yourself pumped for the season? Apathetic? Sort of interested?
Let’s go 1-10. 1 being couldn’t care less and 10 being “got all the streaming services paid for, tickets for a number of games, and can’t wait for the Quincy exhibition.
 
I'd give it a 6. Only because I know it's a rebuilding year.

There will be growing pains and frustration but as long as we see improvement, I'm cool. It's harder to get pumped for a season with lower expectations than we have had recently.
 
I'm a 10, but I also understand that I'm in the minority. Once October hits I'm just ready for basketball season.

I also don't think this team is as bad as some are making it out to be. We're starting 3 seniors and a junior all of which have been double digit scorers (granted 1 of those is a transfer). Our depth is young, but there's something exciting about that as well. I also think that outside of the main 2 (Purdue and MSU) every single Big Ten team has huge question marks and I think it's wide open from 3-10.

As for the Fran fatigue, I really try to listen when people say that they are done with Fran. And I do get some of the criticisms (especially the recent tournament letdowns). But that being said, Iowa has finished Tied for 6th or better in the Big Ten in 9 of the last 10 years and made the NCAA tournament in 8 of the last 10. So as for the regular season, I've just come to assume that my favorite team is going to win a lot of ball games and entertain me all winter. And that I can be excited and happy about.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Andrew Houk, hawkfan1963, 504hawk and 19 others
I don't have Fran fatigue beyond his teams lacking defense. That has to change.

The tourney results, while disappointing, are not as big of a deal to me. It is very difficult to win in the tourney and they've had some really bad matchups and luck.

I like Fran's offensive style of ball just want a bit more defense sprinkled in.

He is fantastic at identifying under the radar talent. Like really really good.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Andrew Houk, Rambler Hawk, Jprimus and 12 others
Way more excited than football, at least I know our basketball team will usually be fun to watch and can compete with top tier teams when shooting well.

Fran’s teams issues is they don’t have defense to fall back on during off days.

I think people are going to be surprised by this years team. We added some size and toughness. Bowen and Nix are going to be much improved. Harding is going to be a blast to watch. Pryce and Payton can shoot the rock.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RocknRollface, Hawksbyamillion, the notorious r.d.m. and 2 others
I'm not that excited ... yet. Once the season starts I expect to be pretty excited to watch a lot of new guys and some returning guys getting more PT.

Regarding the D. I'm not expecting a lock down defense or anything like that, but I am hoping for a rim protector. Maybe one of the new guys can guard the rim and at least make the opponent make shots.
 
Maybe around 5-6.
Clearly this feels like a rebuilding year with many new faces.
So expectations are tempered.
Now that does leave room for a surprise to the upside which Fran seems to pull off more often than not.
Last year my pass/fail on the season was making the dance.
Fran passed.
This year? A winning season w fringe bubble status would be a good season.
 
  • Like
Reactions: longliveCS40
I think this year is more unpredictable than most past seasons, because of the number of new faces. I'm actually pretty excited about this year, especially to see how the newcomers come together. I believe the biggest need for the team to overachieve expectations will be for the young PGs to be good. Bowen was too easily taken out of his game last year. I hope that all four freshman are part of the regular rotation. We are a much deeper team, but we don't have a Murray to carry us.
 
  • Like
Reactions: perryhawk
I’m a 10. I love Iowa basketball and enjoy watching it more than football. Fran always produces an exciting and entertaining style of ball and I genuinely like the guys he recruits.

This season is one of the more unpredictable years in recent memory, but Fran has consistently produced top half of the conference, tournament teams with All Big players and I kinda expect this year will be no different. One of these years we will break through to the 2nd round . . . Right?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Underscore2, RocknRollface, Ronman and 4 others
Being from Moline I've seen first hand how Brock and Owen play off each other, those two have been playing together for the last 4 years and are amazing to watch. They brought a first ever state title to a school that always has to buck the talent rich Chicago public and surrounding area schools. Those two are SOOOO underrated. I predict that before conference play begins Brock and Owen will both play a major roll in making Iowa the surprise team in the Big Ten.
You don't win the Mr. Basketball in the state of Illinois without having a ton of talent and Owen who was first team all-state is, well.... amazing. Can't wait for the season to start!
 
  • Like
Reactions: hawk149, TheRealHerky, iabcuda and 10 others
Always excited. Plus at this point we don’t have the idiot football-minded fans who don’t watch any basketball except a few Iowa games posting their dumbass thoughts. They’re too preoccupied by football, but they’ll show their faces once the Hawks have a close game vs Alabama State.
 
  • Like
Reactions: perryhawk
LarryMullenJr. said:
Reading Fran’s press conference transcript I found myself not really caring as much as in years past. It got me wondering what everyone else’s feeling are. I know there’s some “Fran burnout” and frustration about a number of things but do you find yourself pumped for the season? Apathetic? Sort of interested?
Let’s go 1-10. 1 being couldn’t care less and 10 being “got all the streaming services paid for, tickets for a number of games, and can’t wait for the Quincy exhibition.
Click to expand...
No excitement just another year of the same IMO. Although I will watch and hope for a breakthrough year.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TampaHawkfan and dekhawk
I’m an 8.

We have a pretty good blend of talented experience and new pieces that will be interesting and fun to watch.

I anticipate we’ll be in the hunt for another NCAA tourney birth…
 
Until frans proves he can play D and make some what of a run in the tournament it will be a 6 for me, will watch the games but not get to excited.
 
I would say an 8. A few unknowns for sure, but decent nucleus with Saucey, Payton, PMac and Dix. Bowen seems to be on the upswing and not a complete newcomer of course. I really like the two big transfers and love the freshman. Fran will play a lot of bodies early and the rotation will tighten up but we should have more contributors vs. last year IMO.

Freeman and Harding should over deliver.

We are set up well for more rebounding and at least slightly better defense. Scoring has a few question marks.
 
I am an 8. Love Iowa basketball and am anxious to see how this team comes together. They do have some talent and if one of the Freshman steps up into stud level this is going to be a fun year!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: the notorious r.d.m.
Iowa returns just enough experience with 2 seniors and a junior along with 6 new faces, there's no reason not to be excited.

It shouldn't be difficult to field a better defense this winter since last season was maybe Fran's worst in his tenure here. I'd love to see Fran return to his early-2010s level of defense. 2013 featured young talent, a deep bench, and was by all accounts a very good defense.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hawk149, perryhawk and HawkHoops80
the notorious r.d.m. said:
Iowa returns just enough experience with 2 seniors and a junior along with 6 new faces, there's no reason not to be excited.

It shouldn't be difficult to field a better defense this winter since last season was maybe Fran's worst in his tenure here. I'd love to see Fran return to his early-2010s level of defense. 2013 featured young talent, a deep bench, and was by all accounts a very good defense.
Click to expand...
Last year teams shot 36.6% from 3 against us. And while yes, a lot of that is related to poor defense, there is also some amount of variance baked into that. If that goes down to a somewhat reasonable number--even if into the low 34% range, that will make a big impact on the defensive numbers. Some of the other perimeter's last year were actually not that bad such as limiting second chance points and not putting teams onto the FT line--teams were just very efficient shooting against us. And again, some of that is scheme related, but teams haven't been nearly as efficient against us as they were last year causing me to think some of that is just bad variance.
 
  • Like
Reactions: the notorious r.d.m.
HawkHoops80 said:
Last year teams shot 36.6% from 3 against us. And while yes, a lot of that is related to poor defense, there is also some amount of variance baked into that. If that goes down to a somewhat reasonable number--even if into the low 34% range, that will make a big impact on the defensive numbers. Some of the other perimeter's last year were actually not that bad such as limiting second chance points and not putting teams onto the FT line--teams were just very efficient shooting against us. And again, some of that is scheme related, but teams haven't been nearly as efficient against us as they were last year causing me to think some of that is just bad variance.
Click to expand...
I'd absolutely love to see those defensive 3P% numbers get down even further.

I doubt Fran changes his defensive philosophy of being foul-averse, but if he were to change this season would be the one to do with the amount of new front-court depth he has with Krikke, Brauns, Freeman, and Ladji. I think that goes a long way with limiting teams' efficiency from the floor.
 
  • Like
Reactions: unclesammy
I'm the eternal optimist, so before the season starts I will always be around 8 to 10. But this year I am really intrigued about what the incomers will bring, so this year I'm at an 11!

OIP.OjUVhokfLK0wsOvIayerMAHaED
 
  • Like
Reactions: skydog0784, unclesammy, the notorious r.d.m. and 1 other person
3

I'm all about the NCAA tourney. The regular season is just a prelude to that. I don't care if they finish 3rd or 7th in the league as long as they make the dance. I would like to see a sweet 16 for the first time in 25 years. Fran's dismal tourney performance has worn me out. If he sticks around after this season, meh. If he retires, meh. I don't dislike the guy, but I care as much about him sticking around any longer as I do about having a bowl of lukewarm oatmeal for breakfast.
At least they play games that are watchable offensively, although the lack of decent team D does get to me sometimes.
I'll watch sometimes. Definitely won't spend an extra penny for games on peacock or other streamers. Plenty of other things to do.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LarryMullenJr., dekhawk and TampaHawkfan
At present, I'm about a 3. Gotta be honest. Just feel like we've seen the best that Fran is going to deliver. Call it stale, or Fran fatigue, or what have you. It seems like Fran's teams usually find a way to be competitive, though, regardless of expectations. But my expectations are not very high right now, and I don't expect anything beyond what we've seen out of this program in the past 20 years or so, this upcoming season.

I'm sure my "3" will climb a little once the season starts, though. I definitely am not in basketball mode yet.

I need a strong Iowa team that makes a decent tournament run (Sweet 16 or better) to restoke my passion. The fires are burning low.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TRHawkeye145 and AEG82
Frans teams find a way to be interesting in regular season. So maybe a 7 for this teams roster. But I try to stamp down interest come March. Fran hasn't really done much in post season tournaments besides the big ten tournament. But I can still enjoy some of the season at least. I like to think Fran will move on his own if he continues to have NCAA tournament issues.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AEG82


Saw this on my timeline this afternoon and thought it was very well articulated. They don't even mention Fran in this, but I think this applies to the general discussion surrounding fan opinion and excitement level of Fran.
 
  • Like
Reactions: perryhawk
I'd say a 3-4 for me honestly. I was a big Fran homer in his first few years but we know he has his limitations now. The Richmond game finally did it for me with him. I'm under the impression now that no matter how good I think we are at times, they're gonna let us all down and we KNOW it. Winning the B1G tourney was great, and reinvigorated me but I also said he had to at least get a Sweet 16 that year because I thought we were legitimate contenders going into the brackets. We, uh, didn't do so great though. We also got run off the court by Oregon with Garza in his final year too. It's just too much investment to get let down all the time. Fran has returned us to respectability but he's at/hit his ceiling in my opinion.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Louis3Hawk and TampaHawkfan
5 right now but will be at a 3 in no time. Excited to watch Harding, Peyton, Perkins and that's about it. This team is going to be so bad defensively and I don't trust Fran to put the right lineups together to fix that. It's going to be a long year. We've lost NBA players the last 3 years and this team doesn't have one of those players.
 
HawkHoops80 said:
I'm a 10, but I also understand that I'm in the minority. Once October hits I'm just ready for basketball season.

I also don't think this team is as bad as some are making it out to be. We're starting 3 seniors and a junior all of which have been double digit scorers (granted 1 of those is a transfer). Our depth is young, but there's something exciting about that as well. I also think that outside of the main 2 (Purdue and MSU) every single Big Ten team has huge question marks and I think it's wide open from 3-10.

As for the Fran fatigue, I really try to listen when people say that they are done with Fran. And I do get some of the criticisms (especially the recent tournament letdowns). But that being said, Iowa has finished Tied for 6th or better in the Big Ten in 9 of the last 10 years and made the NCAA tournament in 8 of the last 10. So as for the regular season, I've just come to assume that my favorite team is going to win a lot of ball games and entertain me all winter. And that I can be excited and happy about.
Click to expand...
Frans teams are never as good or bad as people think they will be.

I honestly can't believe how so many of these fans haven't caught on yet.

They will always score a lot and play bad defense so they will almost never be bad and never be great.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Andrew Houk, TheRealHerky and TampaHawkfan
kzoohawk80 said:
5 right now but will be at a 3 in no time. Excited to watch Harding, Peyton, Perkins and that's about it. This team is going to be so bad defensively and I don't trust Fran to put the right lineups together to fix that. It's going to be a long year. We've lost NBA players the last 3 years and this team doesn't have one of those players.
Click to expand...
They're always so bad defensively.

Next year will probably be a little better than normal just by having front court depth that won't be afraid to foul.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

cigaretteman

Homicide, Most Other Violent Crimes Drop to Pre-Pandemic Levels in U.S. Cities

Replies
5
Views
226
Off Topic
lucas80
lucas80
cigaretteman

Gov. Reynolds proposes school cellphone bans, strengthening child care workforce

Replies
2
Views
145
Off Topic
Sharky1203
Sharky1203
cigaretteman

If you can stomach watching the Iowa Legislature, I’m here to help

Replies
0
Views
204
Off Topic
cigaretteman
cigaretteman
cigaretteman

AEA staff levels down 12% in new school year; Democrats say services will suffer

Replies
9
Views
599
Off Topic
Joes Place
Joes Place
RicoSuave102954

‘Pennsylvania is such a mess’: Inside Team Harris’ unusual levels of finger-pointing

Replies
0
Views
449
Off Topic
RicoSuave102954
RicoSuave102954
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest posts

ADVERTISEMENT
Top Bottom
Back