Frans 5 year Anniversary

[DavenportHawk8]

On this date 5 years ago he was introduced as Iowa's Head Coach.

In 5 years he has taken this program from consecutive 20+ loss seasons and turned it into 20+ win program. Back to back NCAA appearances with two stops in the NIT. He has got Iowa back at least into the top half of the Big Ten and they are once again competitive.

Only a miracle worker could bring Iowa back from the depths we were in during the end of the Alford Era and Lickliter years. YIKES those are some bad memories.

Thanks Fran and hopefully we can post on here about your 10-15yr anniversaries in the future.

 

[StormHawk42]

All I know is 14 years was a long effing time to wait for an NCAA win. Now time to build on it

Very intrigued to see what next year's class does. Really the first Fran class that is specifically geared towards the style he was used to playing at Siena.

 

[icwesthawk]

Really excited about Iowa Basketball's future with Fran. There are some things I didn't like at first but you cannot argue that he took over a dumpster fire and has really turned the program around. Patience is really important in college basketball and in life and I, like most, need understand it and embrace it.

 

[Hawks2405]

He's done a great job turning it around. It's really unfortunate that we didn't get into the NCAA tourney 3 years ago because the team that made the run to the NIT finals was playing as well as anyone at the end of the year. Marble was on fire. Fran would have had 3 NCAA tourneys in a row if Valentine hadn't robbed us that year against MSU in the Big Ten tourney. I don't even count the first two years against Fran with what Lickliter left him. He had a great 3 year run and now it will be interesting to see what he does in phase 2 with this new incoming group of 6 players. I'm looking forward to the future under Fran the Man.

 

[iowagator]

Originally posted by Hawks2405:
He's done a great job turning it around. It's really unfortunate that we didn't get into the NCAA tourney 3 years ago because the team that made the run to the NIT finals was playing as well as anyone at the end of the year. Marble was on fire. Fran would have had 3 NCAA tourneys in a row if Valentine hadn't robbed us that year against MSU in the Big Ten tourney. I don't even count the first two years against Fran with what Lickliter left him. He had a great 3 year run and now it will be interesting to see what he does in phase 2 with this new incoming group of 6 players. I'm looking forward to the future under Fran the Man.

And it's not like the first two years were devoid of memorable moments. Jarryd Cole on the home finale against Purdue, Fran's first year, is still one of the most enjoyable wins of the past 5 years.

 

[seer_hawk]

There were plenty of doubters along the way, and some still carrying the banner that you have to out recruit conference opponents to pass them. With one Top 25 recruiting class (2012) Fran moved past several conference teams the last few years. I'd love for Fran to start pulling Top 20 classes, but evaluation, coaching and keeping players in the system for 4 years is more important IMO. Indiana and Illinois have had all the talent you could want, and shown that talent in itself isn't enough.

Go Hawks! I hope Fran can move us into a consistent NCAA Sweet 16+ team with the help of his 2 sons.

 

[DanL53]

Originally posted by iowagator:

Originally posted by Hawks2405:
He's done a great job turning it around. It's really unfortunate that we didn't get into the NCAA tourney 3 years ago because the team that made the run to the NIT finals was playing as well as anyone at the end of the year. Marble was on fire. Fran would have had 3 NCAA tourneys in a row if Valentine hadn't robbed us that year against MSU in the Big Ten tourney. I don't even count the first two years against Fran with what Lickliter left him. He had a great 3 year run and now it will be interesting to see what he does in phase 2 with this new incoming group of 6 players. I'm looking forward to the future under Fran the Man.

And it's not like the first two years were devoid of memorable moments. Jarryd Cole on the home finale against Purdue, Fran's first year, is still one of the most enjoyable wins of the past 5 years.


Good posts. Year two a big one point win over Wisconsin, I think it was 67 to 66 and Gatens scored 33 points for Iowa. It was the second win over a top 20 ranked opponent in a row. That team went 8-10 in the Big Ten. Looking at the roster it is hard to believe we did that well.

 

[unIowa]

Happy Franniversary to us all.

 

[Myvue]

Has anyone tried the Franwich? It looks delicious but I haven't been to an Applebees for awhile.

This post was edited on 3/31 11:14 PM by Myvue

 

[icwestisthebest]

Tried it. Very good! It also comes with a side of half French fries, half onion rings!

 

[BeepBeepInMyJeep]

Originally posted by iowagator:

Originally posted by Hawks2405:
He's done a great job turning it around. It's really unfortunate that we didn't get into the NCAA tourney 3 years ago because the team that made the run to the NIT finals was playing as well as anyone at the end of the year. Marble was on fire. Fran would have had 3 NCAA tourneys in a row if Valentine hadn't robbed us that year against MSU in the Big Ten tourney. I don't even count the first two years against Fran with what Lickliter left him. He had a great 3 year run and now it will be interesting to see what he does in phase 2 with this new incoming group of 6 players. I'm looking forward to the future under Fran the Man.

And it's not like the first two years were devoid of memorable moments. Jarryd Cole on the home finale against Purdue, Fran's first year, is still one of the most enjoyable wins of the past 5 years.

The second year had great moments as well. A sweep over Wisconsin, beating a very good Indiana team as well, Matt Gatens unreal 2 game NBA Jam moments, the home NIT win.

 

[iahawkeyes17]

Originally posted by BeepBeepInMyJeep:

Originally posted by iowagator:

Originally posted by Hawks2405:
He's done a great job turning it around. It's really unfortunate that we didn't get into the NCAA tourney 3 years ago because the team that made the run to the NIT finals was playing as well as anyone at the end of the year. Marble was on fire. Fran would have had 3 NCAA tourneys in a row if Valentine hadn't robbed us that year against MSU in the Big Ten tourney. I don't even count the first two years against Fran with what Lickliter left him. He had a great 3 year run and now it will be interesting to see what he does in phase 2 with this new incoming group of 6 players. I'm looking forward to the future under Fran the Man.

And it's not like the first two years were devoid of memorable moments. Jarryd Cole on the home finale against Purdue, Fran's first year, is still one of the most enjoyable wins of the past 5 years.

The second year had great moments as well. A sweep over Wisconsin, beating a very good Indiana team as well, Matt Gatens unreal 2 game NBA Jam moments, the home NIT win.

All great moments and especially fun to see people back filling up Carver.

It would be fun to see a list of names on here 5 yrs ago of who people wanted and the rumored names were to take over for Lick. Bruce Pearl(reasonable or not), Tony Barbree (sp?) ended up at Auburn lasted only 4 yrs, Forbes a TN asst were 3 names I remember being thrown around a lot.

Long story short we got the right guy in the end.

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

Im anxious to see where recruiting goes now that theyve been in the tournament 2 years straight. Not saying 5 stars will be beating down the door, but it's no longer a hope that if you come to Iowa you will play in the NCAA tournament, that's now a reality they can sell. There's a lot to like to a recruit about being a tournament team in the Big Ten.

 

[Curt Furence]

Originally posted by iowagator:

Originally posted by Hawks2405:
He's done a great job turning it around. It's really unfortunate that we didn't get into the NCAA tourney 3 years ago because the team that made the run to the NIT finals was playing as well as anyone at the end of the year. Marble was on fire. Fran would have had 3 NCAA tourneys in a row if Valentine hadn't robbed us that year against MSU in the Big Ten tourney. I don't even count the first two years against Fran with what Lickliter left him. He had a great 3 year run and now it will be interesting to see what he does in phase 2 with this new incoming group of 6 players. I'm looking forward to the future under Fran the Man.

And it's not like the first two years were devoid of memorable moments. Jarryd Cole on the home finale against Purdue, Fran's first year, is still one of the most enjoyable wins of the past 5 years.

Absolutely. Even though the record that season was not good. That was a great win and awesome for Cole to go out like that. He, like Gatens could have bolted when everyone else was and he stayed and helped get things moving in the right direction.

 

[yiana]

He's as solid as they come and we'll respectable as long as he's here. This season was really fun.
Posted from Rivals Mobile

 

[Hawks2405]

Yeah, I was at the Purdue game in year 2 and it was a great win. You have to really respect Gatens and Cole for what they went through and the fact that they stuck it out. Those two are real men. I love Fran's fire and he has done a nice job thus far. I feel like he hasn't received enough credit for the improvement of the program. This obviously wasn't the greatest Iowa team of all-time but damn did they put together a nice run. 7-3 on the road in the Big Ten is the best we've done ion close to 15 years and they just kept winning when they had to. I really enjoyed the last part of he year and there were some great wins. I thought it was good to be paired up with Gonzaga but looking back on it I was wrong and Kansas or someone else would have been a more winnable game for us. It was one hell of a fun year!

This post was edited on 4/3 1:31 AM by Hawks2405

 

[ft254]

The miracle worker is term disingenuous. It is good coaching. Fran built a foundation, but remember, with 6 games left in the season, fans were very unsettled. That late season surge led by Aaron White put out some smoldering embers, then the loss to PSU in the B1G Tourney ruffled some feathers. The 31 point blasting in game 1 of the NCAA tourney took excitement to levels we haven't seen in decades, and even the eventual elimination at the hands of Gonzaga was not un-acceptable.

W/O that late season surge, who knows what the mood of the fan base would have been, and would be now. We possibly could not have been in the NCAAs. But the situation is what it is, and the recruiting picture looks decent. Optimism is the best descriptor of Iowa basketball right now.

 

[OnceAhawk]

Originally posted by Hawks2405:
He's done a great job turning it around. It's really unfortunate that we didn't get into the NCAA tourney 3 years ago because the team that made the run to the NIT finals was playing as well as anyone at the end of the year. Marble was on fire. Fran would have had 3 NCAA tourneys in a row if Valentine hadn't robbed us that year against MSU in the Big Ten tourney. I don't even count the first two years against Fran with what Lickliter left him. He had a great 3 year run and now it will be interesting to see what he does in phase 2 with this new incoming group of 6 players. I'm looking forward to the future under Fran the Man.

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great points. Teddy V cost us a lot and it cost Fran a $50,000 bonus.

Did you know that Iowa has requested that Teddy V not officiate our games? that is why we have not had him for a couple years now

I feel bad for the team last year. They were on a roll until IU's roof fell in; then Fran had to deal w/ Patrick's cancer situation. Its no wonder last year went into a huge tail spin

 

[OnceAhawk]

Originally posted by seer_hawk:
There were plenty of doubters along the way, and some still carrying the banner that you have to out recruit conference opponents to pass them. With one Top 25 recruiting class (2012) Fran moved past several conference teams the last few years. I'd love for Fran to start pulling Top 20 classes, but evaluation, coaching and keeping players in the system for 4 years is more important IMO. Indiana and Illinois have had all the talent you could want, and shown that talent in itself isn't enough.

Go Hawks! I hope Fran can move us into a consistent NCAA Sweet 16+ team with the help of his 2 sons.

Good points.

Whats going to be interesting is what happens in 2016; we graduate 4 key players--PG Anthony Clemmons, PG Mike Gesell, C Adam Woodbury, SF Jarrod Uthoff

Then the future roster looks like this (a bunch of 3 stars; hopefully they have Aaron White potential):

Graduating Class/Players

2017: 1--SG Peter Jok
2018: 1--6'8" SF Dominique Uhl (***)

2019: 6--6'6" SF Brandon Hutton (***), 6'6" SG Andrew Fleming (***), 6'7" SF Ahmad Wagner (***); 6'5" SF Isaiah Moss (***), 6'4" SG Brady Ellingson (***; was redshirted in 2014-15 season); 6'6" combo guard Christian Williams (***)

2020: 1--6'7" PF Cordell Pemsl (***)
2021: 1--6'5" SG Connor McCaffery (***)


For Fran to continue in the top third in the B1G, he need talent. Hopefully that's what is coming in this summer and moving forward.

 

[OnceAhawk]

Originally posted by icwestisthebest:
Tried it. Very good! It also comes with a side of half French fries, half onion rings!
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False! it comes with Hayden Fries!!!!!!