Fran Twitter rumor: Arkansas

[JLDHAWK]

I'm not buying it. Hard to see what he gains with that move, which is at best lateral. And he's unlikely to find another AD who is as big a bonehead as the guy he gets to deal with now when it comes to throwing cash and extensions at coaches. He can stay where he's at, make the tourney field a couple of the times over the next 5 years and ride the gravy train to retirement.

Maybe he just gains his way out of Iowa. It hasn't exactly been a smooth ride between his anger issues and Dolph, a little lack of success. It's a great contract and money is good and you have an idiot AD but you still have to be happy where you are.

 

[DodgerHawki]

So it sounds like Mussleman already made a statement squashing any rumors of going to Arkansas, and the big target, Kelvin Sampson, is basically restructuring now. Who else was on that list of potential hires besides Fran? Sounds like if Arkansas comes to the table with some cash, it could potentially happen.

Well sure, anything could potentially happen. As others have pointed out, Arkansas canned Mike Anderson for basically a slightly better version of Fran's performance at Iowa. And Anderson was "going home" to Arkansas.

If he feels like it's a better opportunity and if they want to pay him a mountain-load of money, cool. It's a free country. I wouldn't get too worked up either way as a fan. Fran will not find the atmosphere more hospitable at Arkansas than at Iowa. If he thinks the Iowa fan base is critical (there is a segment of the Iowa fan base that is nutso), at Arkansas the volume is cranked to 11.

If it's purely a money thing and if he's convinced he can recruit much better players to Arkansas than he can to Iowa, then more power to him.

But I really don't see this happening.

 

[David1979]

He’s not hireable for Iowa.

Huh?

 

[MeetTheFerentz]

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I'm pretty sure this guy altered the flight log

 

[JLDHAWK]

Someone asked the question about who leaves if he does take the job. Going through our roster

JBo stays
Joe W stays
Pemsl stays
Kreiner stays
Those are all Iowa boys that would play here no matter the coach.

After that:
Garza he seems like the kind of kid that will stick to his commitments and will stay
Nunge already redshirted, so he would likely stay unless he thinks he can get a transfer waiver
Cook either stays or declares
Moss either stays or declares
CJ may leave as the only reason he came was for family connections to Fran
Joe T who knows? May desire the challenge of playing in the Big Ten and would get decent minutes as a freshman since we would lose a PG.

Definitely:
Patrick leaves
Connor leaves

A new coach would have to find some Jucos or senior transfers to step in right away as there’d be anywhere between 3-8 open roster spots. There’s a decent foundation if fewer people leave, but potentially only having one PG(who should be playing SG) would kill us and we’d likely see a bottom tier finish in conference if we also lose Cook.

We'd only lose his sons. No loss in my opinion but I don't know if Patrick is the real deal or not. Connor isn't.

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

We could end up with another Lick.

Sure. Or we could end up with the next John Beilein or the next Lute Olson.

 

[HawkIDrummer]

Who the heck is Gary May?

Barta's new alias on the boards

 

[HawkIDrummer]

Why would she want to move away from her parents?

Minneapolis/St Paul ain't exactly around the block. A flight is a flight. After a winter like this, maybe they're ready to move South for their golden years. Northern Arkansas is pretty popular for that.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

We literally missed the sweet 16 by one possession.

So now we are measuring close? Iowa was close to losing 3-4 more games this season that would have put them in the NIT. Going on year 10 without a 2nd round win and anemic BTT performances.

 

[StormHawk42]

Fran was in Des Moines yesterday. So if the Arkansas reps were meeting with someone here, it wasn’t with him.

 

[HawkIDrummer]

Fran was in Des Moines yesterday. So if the Arkansas reps were meeting with someone here, it wasn’t with him.

Plausible denial is a wise strategy. Fran could easily call in to join the meeting run by his agent/attorney.

 

[moondog24]

ESPNU was reporting the same thing this morning on the radio -- personally can't see it. Fran's not the kind of coach that can recruit high major talent and his personality isn't a good fit for that area. I think Arkansas is scrambling right now because their top choice spurned them and they are looking at anyone who might listen. Hopefully Barta won't take this interest in Fran to extend his contract.

 

[Kaiser_Soze]

I'd love to get rid of Fran, so I hope he was meeting with him. However, I don't like the lying about it on his end.

If I was an Arkansas fan I would be pretty annoyed he is even on the list along with Pitino. Seems like waste of jet fuel.

 

[Chicagohawk2019]

Good luck to Connor trying to get playing time on the Arkansas baseball team

 

[amahawk]

Typically pretty solid CBB insider mentions that Fran has met with Arkansas? That makes no sense?

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IF he would leave, who is out there that would fit in at Iowa?

 

[TCOOL]

I'd love to get rid of Fran, so I hope he was meeting with him. However, I don't like the lying about it on his end.

If I was an Arkansas fan I would be pretty annoyed he is even on the list along with Pitino. Seems like waste of jet fuel.

How was Fran supposed to respond to that question?

 

[SIXERS24]

So they met with Fran, Pitino, and Musselman in one day

 

[SB_SB]

Fran was in Des Moines yesterday. So if the Arkansas reps were meeting with someone here, it wasn’t with him.

Doesn't the flight information show 4/1, which would have been two days ago. Yesterday was 4/2.

 

[StormHawk42]

Doesn't the flight information show 4/1, which would have been two days ago. Yesterday was 4/2.

True. Just trying to follow along the twitter updates.

Edit: it was Monday he was in Des Moines for some I Club thing

 

[Carolina Hawk]

I doubt we would be lucky enough to have someone buy us out of that contract.

 

[ChisHawk81]

Was Fran asked about Arkansas job? Not following along with the lying part?

 

[LaQuintaHawkeye]

Sure. Or we could end up with the next John Beilein or the next Lute Olson.

"That's the spirit!"

​

 

[Fan In Black]

Maybe Fran would like to get down South where it is easier to recruit athletes that fit his style like Pearl at auburn.

This.

 

[LaQuintaHawkeye]

Hopefully Barta won't take this interest in Fran to extend his contract.

I expect an extension announcement any minute now... thru 2030, fully guaranteed, no trade clause.

 

[CP84]

So now we are measuring close? Iowa was close to losing 3-4 more games this season that would have put them in the NIT. Going on year 10 without a 2nd round win and anemic BTT performances.

You could say that about most teams in the NCAA sitting in the 20-23 win range. Iowa was also very close to winning games they lost, for example Nebraska, Maryland and game 1 vs Wisconsin. They could have just as easily been a 26 win team as they could have been a 20 win team.

The Sweet 16 comment is a stretch as well and demonstrates that history seems to repeat itself with Iowa fans. Tom Davis made the sweet 16 only 2 times in 13 years at Iowa. The first time because he had Raveling recruits and the second time in his very last season, 11 years after the first.

 

[GhostAppendage]

Gee, I wonder why he’s looking around?

Barta wouldn’t have offered that huge contract last year if he was going to do this. Frans behavior is. It new and hasn’t been as bad overall, IMO, to have this year push it over the edge.

 

[Kaiser_Soze]

How was Fran supposed to respond to that question?

Well, you can (A) tell the truth or (B) give the standard "I only talk about the job I have" or (C) no comment.

I understand we've all be so accustomed to public lying, it's hard to expect someone to actually, you know, not blatantly lie.

 

[Rustys Dad]

We could end up with another Lick. We actually have momentum going into next year and we have fans rooting for our coach to leave so Bart a can hire a new guy? Go figure.
Nebraska is a more appealing job now with New facilities,sell out arena, and fans who are realistic.
We would never land a Fred quality coach...back to mid major ranks...maybe Tim Miles?

Consider overall body of work ... Fran has only won 49% of his Big 10 games in 9 seasons. Part of the problem around Iowa basketball is we've (fans/administration) settled on being very "average." We've seen what Fran can and can't do ... To say 'the grass isn't always greener' or 'careful whatcha wish for' is accepting being average ... In the real world you don't get 9 years to prove yourself ... especially if you are in a high-paying, CEO-type position ... If Fran were to go I would not lose any sleep and would welcome a fresh approach ...

 

[Rustys Dad]

Sure. Or we could end up with the next John Beilein or the next Lute Olson.

Exactly ... I cringe every time an Iowa fan says 'careful whatcha wish for' or the grass isn't always greener ... That is settling on mediocrity ... There are lots of good, young basketball coaches in the United States and lots of good recruiters ...

Iowa basketball has peaked under Fran ... What you've seen over the past 9 years is exactly what you will continue to see ... If you expect Iowa to make an Elite 8 run ... or even a Sweet 16 run ... chances are good it 'ain't happening ... So if a fan is 100% satisfied with Fran's accomplishments of winning 49% of Big 10 games in 9 years ... then that's where Iowa basketball will continue to be ... Personally, I think Iowa can do much better ... We have the fans, the money, facilities ... to attract a good young coach ...In life, you take chances ... I think the time to take a chance on a new basketball coach is long overdue in Iowa City. (Barta and Fran would never have survived this long at any other major university) ...

 

[Ingraider]

How was Fran supposed to respond to that question?

No comment?

 

[Bravehawk56]

Who the heck is Gary May?

I typed that at 4am after starting my day at 0630... give me a break ace..

 

[Suterman]

Exactly ... I cringe every time an Iowa fan says 'careful whatcha wish for' or the grass isn't always greener ... That is settling on mediocrity ... There are lots of good, young basketball coaches in the United States and lots of good recruiters ...

Iowa basketball has peaked under Fran ... What you've seen over the past 9 years is exactly what you will continue to see ... If you expect Iowa to make an Elite 8 run ... or even a Sweet 16 run ... chances are good it 'ain't happening ... So if a fan is 100% satisfied with Fran's accomplishments of winning 49% of Big 10 games in 9 years ... then that's where Iowa basketball will continue to be ... Personally, I think Iowa can do much better ... We have the fans, the money, facilities ... to attract a good young coach ...In life, you take chances ... I think the time to take a chance on a new basketball coach is long overdue in Iowa City. (Barta and Fran would never have survived this long at any other major university) ...

We were 1 free throw from a Sweet 16 this last season. Why is it so hard to think we can make a Sweet 16 run?

 

[ChrisVarick]

Doesn't sound like a good fit. There aren't that many white basketball players in Arkansas.

 

[owenhawk]

You could say that about most teams in the NCAA sitting in the 20-23 win range. Iowa was also very close to winning games they lost, for example Nebraska, Maryland and game 1 vs Wisconsin. They could have just as easily been a 26 win team as they could have been a 20 win team.

The Sweet 16 comment is a stretch as well and demonstrates that history seems to repeat itself with Iowa fans. Tom Davis made the sweet 16 only 2 times in 13 years at Iowa. The first time because he had Raveling recruits and the second time in his very last season, 11 years after the first.

I understand your premise but didn’t The 87-88 team also make the Sweet 16?

 

[Ballhawk1221]

Consider overall body of work ... Fran has only won 49% of his Big 10 games in 9 seasons. Part of the problem around Iowa basketball is we've (fans/administration) settled on being very "average." We've seen what Fran can and can't do ... To say 'the grass isn't always greener' or 'careful whatcha wish for' is accepting being average ... In the real world you don't get 9 years to prove yourself ... especially if you are in a high-paying, CEO-type position ... If Fran were to go I would not lose any sleep and would welcome a fresh approach ...

Exactly. That's why if you don't make a Final Four at Google within three years, they fire you.

 

[HawkIDrummer]

Doesn't sound like a good fit. There aren't that many white basketball players in Arkansas.

Two white guys on this year's squad...one from Illinois, one from Missouri.

7 Arkansas kids on the roster.

 

[CO_hawk]

Maybe Gary has a superstar coach in waiting and is trying to push Fran out.

 

[David1979]

Fran was in Des Moines yesterday. So if the Arkansas reps were meeting with someone here, it wasn’t with him.

Apparently the event didn't start until 7 in Des Moines.

 

[David1979]

I expect an extension announcement any minute now... thru 2030, fully guaranteed, no trade clause.

This is what I am worried about. Barta throwing more money at him.

 

[C/Seahawk]

This is what I am worried about. Barta throwing more money at him.

Didn't Fran just get a raise that was kept quiet? Its hard to believe our AD could be held hostage again for a raise after we made the Rd of 32...the results of the past 9 years used to get a coach fired here...now we are supposed to believe it is deserving of another raise? If Barta fell for that one, he certainly can't be much of a poker player.

Fran did a nice job bringing the program back from the ashes and I think he has been compensated more than fairly as a result. Now its time to see if he can elevate the program another step. Everything is in place for step forward next year...hope he sticks around for it, but if he leaves I'm not going to lose sleep over it.