How good has Fran been this year?
- Thread starter BlackNGoldBleeder
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Not sure about that, but he is definitely a candidate for B1G COY. Coaches at PSU, Illinois, and Rutgers also have a good case.
Pretty decent minus a few dust ups with Harb. He hasn't been on HROT nearly as much recently outside of the occasional AmyK thread. Pretty solid posting year for him.
NCoY.
Although I've maintained that we'd have a good year, identical record to last season was my prediction, I saw us scrapping for one of the final 4-8 spots with a chance to win one in the round of 64. Did not think we'd win more than 10 B!G games but I'm thinking 12 and one, possibly two in the BTT now. We are definitely in shooting distance of going into the NCAA with 22 or 23 wins.
Although I've maintained that we'd have a good year, identical record to last season was my prediction, I saw us scrapping for one of the final 4-8 spots with a chance to win one in the round of 64. Did not think we'd win more than 10 B!G games but I'm thinking 12 and one, possibly two in the BTT now. We are definitely in shooting distance of going into the NCAA with 22 or 23 wins.
Lost Moss, Cook and Baer. Lost Bohannon, Nunge, PMac. Most enjoyable sports team in a long time
It's his best coaching job at Iowa. He's managed a ton of attrition, injuries, and a really tough schedule, and as of Feb. 20 he's got Iowa playing for seeding.
This whole season it has seemed like we're one step ahead of the reaper. But when adversity strikes, the team finds a way and keeps on going. After CJ goes down in a loss to PSU, it seemed like everything was collapsing with the Nebraska loss. Then we turn around and whip Maryland. Lose CJ again, and we beat Minnesota on the road and #25 OSU at home.
This team is tough and resilient. It's awesome to watch.
This whole season it has seemed like we're one step ahead of the reaper. But when adversity strikes, the team finds a way and keeps on going. After CJ goes down in a loss to PSU, it seemed like everything was collapsing with the Nebraska loss. Then we turn around and whip Maryland. Lose CJ again, and we beat Minnesota on the road and #25 OSU at home.
This team is tough and resilient. It's awesome to watch.
Did you think, at the time, that the B10 would be this deep, though? Much better B10 conference this year compared to last year.
Context and circumstances (hand delt to you) matter.
9.8 on a 10 scale.
9.8 on a 10 scale.
Good enough to make some of his harshest critics on this board disappear.
There aren't very many teams that would make the NCAA tournament after losing 2 players early, then losing 2 starters before game 11, and having another starter out for multiple games.
Also, for as much as Garza's off season workouts have been documented, this coaching staff should be highly praised for talking a good recruit and turning him into the National Player of the Year.
Also, for as much as Garza's off season workouts have been documented, this coaching staff should be highly praised for talking a good recruit and turning him into the National Player of the Year.
Im guessing not much. Having a much more polished Garza and the right mix of players can make any coach look pretty darn good.
IMO it starts with Luka. He has set the tone for the entire team.
I haven't been a big fan - especially with game management - timeouts, subs, etc. But I think he finally (after 9 years) has change some things up. No choice on the players used, but the last few weeks he seems to be staying away from sitting JoeW, Garza, and CJ at the same time. Also, he has recently called a few timeouts when we have several left and need to stop a run by opponent. And he is much better at controlling his temper. I don't think I have seen him beet red this year - he still rants and gets T'eed up some, but nothing like previous years.
Fran has been phenomenal!!!
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Fran has been a B-/C+ coach most of his time at Iowa. Not bad, but coming into this season probably most fans would be indifferent if he moved on for any reason. Not a great place to be with the arrow neither pointing up or down.
The final grade for the season has yet to be determined, but he has things pointed towards an A with the arrow pointed up for the future.
The final grade for the season has yet to be determined, but he has things pointed towards an A with the arrow pointed up for the future.
Off the top of my head:
1) He's been more 'strategic' in the use of 3/4 and 1/2 court press / traps.
2) He's been better switching defenses.
3) Maximizing player's rests with TV timeouts.
Clearly his best year at Iowa. It may have actually helped him having only 7-8 players to deal with. He should absolutely be in the discussion for coy both nationally and BIG.
1. 4 guard lineup has been huge.
2. It has also helped on the defensive side of the ball.
3. He is learning (because he has no choice) that full line shifts with a basketball lineup don't do much for continuity or consistency.
The reason he doesn't blow up as much is because in year 10 you get a lot more calls then the early years. Its BS, but that's B1G officiating. After watching Lick sit on the bench crying to himself it's nice to have someone fight for calls.
Being forced to only use 7-8 players has been a blessing in disguise. Hopefully he doesn’t revert to the line changes next year.
Of course having good players makes the coach look better. That's true of every team and every sport. That's also why it can be ridiculous to blame the coach too much in bad years.
A bad coach wouldn't have Iowa in this position with all of the issues and obstacles this year. So at the very least, I think it verifies that Fran might have a decent idea of what he is doing.
I think this is pretty fair. I have been fine with keeping Fran over time but have always been somewhat indifferent if he left. However, I was perfectly fine and content keeping him because of the 305 or so years I have watched Iowa basketball, he has pretty much achieved close to the top end of what we have seen coaches reach at Iowa and I haven't heard anyone give a viable answer on who Iowa could bring in to make this a regular Sweet 16 type program.
Fair enough. Not saying he’s done a bad job by any means, I just think we have the right mix of guys this year that’s helping.
Getting better than a 7 seed.
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Haven't heard much from ole Roy L Fuchs in a while.
I was told Luka and Joe and Connor and and CJ and Ryan were too white to be good at basketball.
lets start with Fran getting Luka to commit to Iowa in the 1st place, W/O Fran Luke ends up on the EC.
W/O Fran these don't come to Iowa
Weezy, Connor, JT, plus the other players. so lets start there.
if you are going to blame Fran for the recruiting. then you better give him credit for the recruits he has gotten that has put Iowa into the position it is in.
But that's the thing. This isn't even Fran's most talented team. But it is probably his toughest and grittiest. And the cornerstone of that is Luka Garza.
Still, Fran's team on paper from top to bottom is not close to being in the upper echelon of the B1G Ten. And when you factor in how much offense was lost from last year's team, for Iowa to lead the best conference in scoring average this year is nothing short of amazing. Fran deserves a great deal of credit for that.
MAYBE MAYBE NOT
as he committed to Fran as a SO.
it is Fran's style of play that is getting these players to come to Iowa.
Barnes wanted no part of the Lick offense
the Bohannon brothers wanted no part of Alford,
Paige left for UNCHeats
finally got top 50 Woodbury to stay home BECAUSE of Fran.
Fran got Gesell to come to Iowa over Stanford and Creighton and he was a Mr. Nebraska BB.
Luka is the cornerstone of that. It’s also telling that guys like Cook, Moss, and Dailey have been replaced in the main rotation by guys like Frederick, Touissant, and Evelyn with a much healthier dose of Connor. I would guess those changes have played a big part as well.
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