I've seen enough from Fran and his staff. I don't want to hear He's Not Lickliter as a reason to keep him as the coach for years down the road. I don't want to hear that Iowa cannot win big in basketball. Is it very difficult? Yes. Can a conference title or at the very least top 2 to 3 finish with a team like this be accomplished? Yes. If Wisconsin can win conference titles, then so can Iowa. Keep the standards high. I think a decade is enough time to see what Fran can do and whether he can get the program to those heights. With this year's team, other coaches with any kind of mindset for defense, effort, or better use of player rotations would still have this team in the conference race. This is the year that Fran had what was needed to make the run that needed to be made conference-wise. I don't want to hear that Fran will get it figured out next year or the year after. This was the year to find out if he has what it takes to get it done. So when Fran's teams falter even more in the next few years after Garza is gone, I'll be ready for a coaching change.
Fran's Had Enough Time
- Thread starter River-Hawk
- Start date
I agree I think originally the measuring stick or success was a S16 and conference title OR an elite 8 no title. Only of those they control at this point. Don’t see it happening but I’m willing to let it play out (don’t have a choice I guess) but I’d like to see Iowa move on for sure if we don’t make it past the first weekend.
This is where I'm at. Assuming they still make the tourney ( I don't know if they can if the free fall continues), a sweet 16 and elite 8 appearance would heal a lot of wounds (maybe even just short term).
For me....there will still be things that are frustrating, disappointing.. -insert any word - such as D. These things will continue to be awful under Fran. Its just the way its going to be. But getting further in the tourney will help and provide some hope/spark with the fanbase. I just don't see it happening right now. But hell maybe the hawks can salvage the current spiral...
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anon_qczsdwtnv6esw
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Seems to me the measuring stick with the athletic director is:
-have the team finish in the top half of the big 10. most years.
-keep the program out of the news regarding bad press.
-avoid racial issues at all costs.
If Fran keeps doing these 3 things, he's not going anywhere. He is NOT being measured by making the tournament or winning the big 10!
-have the team finish in the top half of the big 10. most years.
-keep the program out of the news regarding bad press.
-avoid racial issues at all costs.
If Fran keeps doing these 3 things, he's not going anywhere. He is NOT being measured by making the tournament or winning the big 10!
I can't think of one other coach at any level that is as aloof as Fran is with his roster. Ok great, you have a core group of veteran players you "trust". That is admirable, but your job is to utilize the players you have on scholarship to put the best lineup on the floor relative to performance and matchups. Perplexing that Fran could find minutes for guys a lot less talented than Ulis, Perkins and Joe T. CJ's injury opened the door for Murray or he would probably be on the list of guys not being utilized.
Watch any college game and you will see freshman playing major roles, starters getting less PT if someone playing better and new guys being sprinkled in with veterans situationally. Ohio State can find minutes for a 17 year old that joined the team in January at the point, but Fran can't find time for Ulis, Perkins or Joe T.
Watch any college game and you will see freshman playing major roles, starters getting less PT if someone playing better and new guys being sprinkled in with veterans situationally. Ohio State can find minutes for a 17 year old that joined the team in January at the point, but Fran can't find time for Ulis, Perkins or Joe T.
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For better or worse, Fran is not going anywhere. He's here until the team sucks or until he retires. I'm not happy or sad about that - it's just a fact.
Three B1G losses (Minny there, IU there and OSU at home) were excruciating. Joe T makes one more FT, the team makes a few more FT's (OSU) and a few point-blank shots that rolled off the rim against IU actually go in.
Playing Perkins and Ulis more, JBo and CMac less - the Hawks win those games? IDK.
I just know it is frustrating as hell to have players that aren't making the plays that are needed to win games. Minny and IU hit jumpers in the last few seconds to win games against the Hawks. OSU made several in the last 2 minutes to win that one.
Just another disappointing February in Hawkland. Davis, Alford, Lick, now Fran - Iowa basketball just can't get over the hump.
Three B1G losses (Minny there, IU there and OSU at home) were excruciating. Joe T makes one more FT, the team makes a few more FT's (OSU) and a few point-blank shots that rolled off the rim against IU actually go in.
Playing Perkins and Ulis more, JBo and CMac less - the Hawks win those games? IDK.
I just know it is frustrating as hell to have players that aren't making the plays that are needed to win games. Minny and IU hit jumpers in the last few seconds to win games against the Hawks. OSU made several in the last 2 minutes to win that one.
Just another disappointing February in Hawkland. Davis, Alford, Lick, now Fran - Iowa basketball just can't get over the hump.
A couple years ago after that 2017-18 season I would have been totally on board, but he's gotten us to the Tournament the last 3 years. 2 years ago, I give him credit for last year since COVID cancelled the tournament, and I'm assuming they still get in this year FWIW.
Right now, I want to see a move mode only if a clear upgrade is already lined up and basically ready to take the job. I don't see Barta doing this.
Don't get me wrong, I'm tired of these February collapses too, and feel Fran has taken us as far as he can. Next year is gonna be a step back without Garza and JBo, and we'll see what Joe W decides. It wouldn't crush me if Fran were replaced, but I want it to be with someone who is a clear upgrade. I'm guessing that is not likely.
What I don't want is just to fire Fran and have Barta going out there hoping to find an upgrade somewhere. Seems like a good way to get Lickliter'ed again.
Right now, I want to see a move mode only if a clear upgrade is already lined up and basically ready to take the job. I don't see Barta doing this.
Don't get me wrong, I'm tired of these February collapses too, and feel Fran has taken us as far as he can. Next year is gonna be a step back without Garza and JBo, and we'll see what Joe W decides. It wouldn't crush me if Fran were replaced, but I want it to be with someone who is a clear upgrade. I'm guessing that is not likely.
What I don't want is just to fire Fran and have Barta going out there hoping to find an upgrade somewhere. Seems like a good way to get Lickliter'ed again.
Im going to speak out of both sides of my mouth, sorry:
I dont think anything is going to happen mid season.
If your stance is "it is an always has been about the tourny" you hopefully will have the backbone to call this season a massive disaster when inevitably they fall out in the first or 2nd round.
I dont think anything is going to happen mid season.
If your stance is "it is an always has been about the tourny" you hopefully will have the backbone to call this season a massive disaster when inevitably they fall out in the first or 2nd round.
You "don't think" anything is going to happen mid-season? Anyone that thinks Fran is going to get fired mid-season is high. Anyone that thinks he is going to get fired at the end of the season is simply kidding themselves.
Here is how Fran can salvage what was supposed to be a special season, any of these will do:
Win out
Win the BTT
Get us to at least the Elite 8
Ball is in your court White Magic.
Win out
Win the BTT
Get us to at least the Elite 8
Ball is in your court White Magic.
Ok. Maybe you should be. Maybe we all should get a little high to put some smiles on our faces. 😉
Good post. I may be giving myself too much credit here, but I think I would be less po'd if Fran got creative and put Joe T. in for the last couple of minutes in games to see what a quick guard can do. Iowa can barely get a contested deep 3 off in late game situations. It's painful to watch and has to be worse to be a player. Dribble around burning shot clock, trying a dribble hand off 25 feet from the basket at the 10 second mark and leaving the ball with Jbo or Joe W in hopes the defense falls asleep appears to be the strategy.
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