Fran ranked as the 21st best coach.
- Thread starter TheTruthTheWholeTruth
- Start date
Lol
If you read how this was done (largely measured against pre-season expectations rather than actual league or tourney accomplishments; and much based on his performance AT SIENNA), you’d understand why it didn’t ruffle my feathers at all. In fact, it pretty much agrees with every single thing I’ve ever said about Fran. If they considered ability to evaluate talent, I think Fran would easily be in the top 10 and likely top 5 he’s as good or better than any coach in the county at it, imo.
21. Fran McCaffery, Iowa
Score: 80
Raw Rank: T-70th
Relative Rank: T-46th
Fran is a polarizing coach, you either love him (if you like Iowa) or hate him (everyone else). Here’s some more wood for the fire of those who dislike the long-time head coach: he gamed the system! That’s right, because Fran was both promoted from Siena to Iowa and has been at Iowa for 10 seasons, he scored the second most (tied) bonus points allotted.
Now, Fran has also done things to earn a spot among the elite coaches in the country. He had three Siena teams finish in the KenPom top 100 (two in the top 75). Those were the three best Siena teams in the KenPom era. And at Iowa, he’s hit some homeruns, like in 2014 and 2016 when he blew away preseason rankings. Some publications have the Hawkeyes in the top ten heading into 2021 - we’ll see if Fran can live up to the hype.
Again... he’s been coaching in a power 6 conference for TEN YEARS and has zero league titles, zero league tourney titles and three total NCAA wins. If that’s your idea of “elite” coaching, you might just be an Iowa fan.
Painter, justifiably ranked in the top 10 has actual accomplishments. It will be interesting to see what Underwood #17 does in the way of actual accomplishments over the next few years. I guarantee that if it’s nothing, he won’t be at Illinois anywhere close to 10 years.
If you read how this was done (largely measured against pre-season expectations rather than actual league or tourney accomplishments; and much based on his performance AT SIENNA), you’d understand why it didn’t ruffle my feathers at all. In fact, it pretty much agrees with every single thing I’ve ever said about Fran. If they considered ability to evaluate talent, I think Fran would easily be in the top 10 and likely top 5 he’s as good or better than any coach in the county at it, imo.
21. Fran McCaffery, Iowa
Score: 80
Raw Rank: T-70th
Relative Rank: T-46th
Fran is a polarizing coach, you either love him (if you like Iowa) or hate him (everyone else). Here’s some more wood for the fire of those who dislike the long-time head coach: he gamed the system! That’s right, because Fran was both promoted from Siena to Iowa and has been at Iowa for 10 seasons, he scored the second most (tied) bonus points allotted.
Now, Fran has also done things to earn a spot among the elite coaches in the country. He had three Siena teams finish in the KenPom top 100 (two in the top 75). Those were the three best Siena teams in the KenPom era. And at Iowa, he’s hit some homeruns, like in 2014 and 2016 when he blew away preseason rankings. Some publications have the Hawkeyes in the top ten heading into 2021 - we’ll see if Fran can live up to the hype.
Again... he’s been coaching in a power 6 conference for TEN YEARS and has zero league titles, zero league tourney titles and three total NCAA wins. If that’s your idea of “elite” coaching, you might just be an Iowa fan.
Painter, justifiably ranked in the top 10 has actual accomplishments. It will be interesting to see what Underwood #17 does in the way of actual accomplishments over the next few years. I guarantee that if it’s nothing, he won’t be at Illinois anywhere close to 10 years.
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Painter followed a legend and West Lafayette is less than 2 hours from Chicago and an hour from Indianapolis. McC followed Steve effing Alford and Todd Lickliter, and is over 3 hours from any basketball metropolis. Not exactly a level playing field.
Wait there are still people like you who think Fran should be removed?
Of course, yet another Iowa wasn't in the big dance. Fire Fran!
So what you're saying is an outside party ranks Fran quite highly but the issue is Iowa fans are too complacent with what he's done?
Lol
search this board for every post I’ve ever made and find one where I said “Fran should be removed” or anything like that.
Do you speak English as a first language?
?
Do any of you guys read full sentences?
Seriously. Did you read anything about how this ranking was done?
What I’m saying is what I’ve said. Try to focus for longer than 15 seconds at a time and you might save yourself some future embarrassment.
It’s an interesting ranking. I enjoyed it.
The author knew that he would receive tons of idiotic comments from dip shits who couldn’t be arsed to read and understand the methodology. You can see how right he was just by reading some comments here.
Anyway.., thanks for posting.
Apologies, I was just very confused by this paragraph...
I don't know of anyone that thinks Fran is an elite coach. I would argue he's a good coach, but not elite. I would also argue anyone ranking him 21 is ranking him good, not elite.
Your post and phrasing makes it seem like you are unhappy with Fran and believe a "good" coach is not the solution, that Iowa fans should strive for better. Apologies if this is not the case but that's how your post comes off by pointing out what Fran hasn't accomplished.
I’ve talked about Fran’s good points here ad nauseum. He’s a good coach. He has brought us from laughing stock to respectable to nationally recognized.
Does he have any real accomplishments in 10 years? A sweet sixteen? A league title? A tourney title? Nope.
Maybe we get those things this coming season. Maybe we don’t. Either way, Fran has done a good not a great job here in 10 years.
This ain’t Sienna, man. This is high major basketball. You have to get hardware to be considered legit.
I've been critical of Fran, but I have to post with integrity. Had this year played out...I think he would have a big star on his resume. This squad was destined for the Sweet 16...if not better.
If 2020-21 plays out with any sense of normality, I think he'll have one of his best teams.
If 2020-21 plays out with any sense of normality, I think he'll have one of his best teams.
Fran will be competing for a 6 seed or higher the next two seasons. As an Iowa fan I literally cannot expect more. He has provided us his own two sons, who will be huge pieces going toward too
Personally, I love the fire. Those who don’t, just don’t get what it takes to win. Feelings don’t matter, results matter. Fran has as a solid top 25 team with minimal instate talent. If you want a comparison, look no further than Minnesota. They have 8 to 10 high level D1 players a year and Fran has been more consistent yearly with a third of the in state talent competing against a successful in state competitor.
Personally, I love the fire. Those who don’t, just don’t get what it takes to win. Feelings don’t matter, results matter. Fran has as a solid top 25 team with minimal instate talent. If you want a comparison, look no further than Minnesota. They have 8 to 10 high level D1 players a year and Fran has been more consistent yearly with a third of the in state talent competing against a successful in state competitor.
LMFAO
Few seem to understand just how insulting a statement like that is to Iowa basketball in general.
What you are essentially saying is that Iowa basketball is so terrible and hopeless that not even a “great” coach could be expected to win a league title, or a tourney title there in a decade of coaching. Not even a “great” coach could be expected to earn higher than a 7 seed there in TEN years. Not even a great coach could be expected to make the second weekend of the tourney there in TEN years. Not even a great coach could be expected to win more than three NCAA games there in TEN years.
Bo Ryan was a “great” coach. In his first ten years at Wisconsin he won the big ten regular season title three times, won the conference tourney once, had four sweet sixteen appearances and one elite eight appearance.
THAT’S how much better Wisconsin basketball is than Iowa Basketball, I guess. Two “great” coaches, two very different results.
It’s nonsense of course. I’m old enough to know that Iowa can compete at the highest level with great coaches at the helm. Fran McCaffery is not a”great” coach. If he was, there would be objective evidence of it by now rather than just the butt hurt proclamations of message board imbeciles.
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This is a message board, I think you are taking people too seriously.
Fans realize what he has and hasn't done. If Iowa were to have let him go, it should have been years ago. Not now, now we have a glimmer of hope.
There will be another time in 3 years where everyone will be back to evaluating his accomplishments after his sons are done.
That is the bummer isn’t it, this team, perhaps more than any of his, seems to have the kind of grit you need to win in the Dance. Hope it holds true next year as well.
They did have some head scratching home losses as well though, so it could just as easily have been another early post season flameout for Fran.
Too bad we will never know. Damn global pandemics.
afsocker:
Your post and phrasing makes it seem like you are unhappy with Fran and believe a "good" coach is not the solution, that Iowa fans should strive for better. Apologies if this is not the case but that's how your post comes off by pointing out what Fran hasn't accomplished.
Raptor this above, what afsocker said, is exactly on the money.
You make a logical argument for your position and you offer some evidence for you evaluation which is well thought out.....the trouble is in the delivery. It appears that your assessment is much more negative than what YOU seem to realize it is. That is why you get the feedback that you get....even if you don't say "We need to replace Fran" that is what comes across....that you expect more, he isn't delivering, so how can people support or stick up for him.
It appears through your tone and delivery that not only are you dissatisfied but that you think we can do better.....I get it, but that is a very slippery road and there are no guarantees.
I get it...I'm in my 60's and I think that if we can compete for league titles in football we should be able to do it in basketball. I would love to see a regular season B10 title still in my lifetime. Can Fran get us there? I don't know...I also don't know that he can't.
I will add this piece from my perspective. I think that Fran is a very very ethical coach on the recruiting front. VERY ethical. I think that is a handicap when it comes to landing some of the top talent. When I say ethical, I don't just mean that he doesn't violate recruiting rules, I think he doesn't BS recruits. I think most of the coaches at the highly successful schools (MSU, OSU, etc) tell players things about what they will achieve that is offering up guarantees that they really don't have the ability to guarantee...they are offering up opinions as facts. I don't believe that Fran does that...the point being; it is harder and there is a longer slower curve towards the top. One that can be derailed by some bad luck....whereas if you're Kentucky you simply recruit the next top 10/20 player over the top of the mistake you made.....just my thoughts.
BirdistheWord
HB Legend
I would be disappointed if everyone else hated Fran. If you dig in beyond the over hyped outbursts, which of course there have been a few, Fran is actually one of the most intelligent, well spoken and respectful coaches towards other teams. Yes, among coaches there is almost always some element of ass kissing in front of reporters, Fran almost always has genuine, accurate and relevant things to say about opposing teams and players (minus Illinois Assistant Coaches, who are the worst I have seen in 30 years). Fran does have an edge to him that could be deemed polarizing, but its exactly what our program needs.
I thought this was about right, if slightly to strong.
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I will seriously reflect on what you’ve said.
Bottom Line though: I will always defend the university/program above any coach.
We can all see the past and where we have come up short. I don't think there can be any denying that Fran works extremely hard and has an eye for talent. Look forward and see that Iowa is on an upward trend and could use more positive vibes around here. We may never get to where we all want to be but with the recruiting and momentum in the program, I think we all can hope for a great future.
Bottom line is that Fran recruits high character players who would run through a wall for him. For instance, the Great Luka Garza, how many athletes have represented the U of I better?
His players are talented, work hard and believe in him. I believe in him too. The best of the Fran era is yet to come!
His players are talented, work hard and believe in him. I believe in him too. The best of the Fran era is yet to come!
I would agree he's been good not great, and while I'm content at the moment I think the next 2-3 seasons (next year especially if Luka returns) he needs to take the next step. If he doesn't compete for a conference title or make the second weekend in the tourny I'll be very disappointed and we would be too start discussing if there's another option going forward.
Best Illinois assistants in years. Great guys, too. Antigua and Chin go to my church and are great representatives of the university. I’m sure you think the bad blood between Illinois and Iowa coaching staffs are all Illinois’ fault. Point of view. To us, the Iowa coaches are the bad guys. See how easy that is?
I've no doubt most fans look at these things with team colored lenses. I would be interested to hear if you have any insight (from an Illini perspective) on what happened after the game in Carver. I've rewatched that ending multiple times and didn't see anything that warrented the response of the two Illini assistants. Even seemed like Underwood went out of his way to steer clear of pointing anything at Iowa afterwards. It appeared that their response was over the top, and I certainly thought Fran defusing the situation was the right way to handle it. Perhaps you have other ACTUAL insight.......By the way, Bruce Pearl doesn't coach at Iowa anymore, just sayin...
Not really. You came over to our board to set us straight, right? That dip shit move just makes you look like a tool.
You're not wrong. Fran=Tom Davis lite. I was really high on Fran going into the 17-18 season. Have only watched a handful of games since that huge dissapointment. That being said, Im excited for this season and will be watching if Garza comes back. Recruiting & late season let downs have been his achillies heal.
You only watched a 'handful' of games, this season, when IOWA had the ESPN and FoxSports, consensus All American playing every game??
Realize that 'the Voice' had some great guests, this winter.
OK...……
Very lucky and happy to have Fran. Hope he's here for a long, long time.
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