I am still surprised so many hawks went portal before finding out who the new coach would be.

[uihawk82]

Of course, they might be welcomed back to the hawks, not sure if that would happen.

But I thought the bigger guys would have a place on next year's team. Since college bball is more a pt guard and shooting guard oriented game I figure a new coach might be more picky about the guards on their team but would welcome any big guys willing to work and play hard

 

[Legs94]

Freeman- no surprise, he’s a dbag who quit on his team, or at the very least getting poor advice from dad.
Harding- buddies with Freeman, probably didn’t have the best fan experience , apparently can get paid elsewhere.
Dix- Looking for a bag of cash and can get it.
Sandford- SOP open to coming back but talented enough to explore options
Koch- See above
Dembele- can play a larger role at mid-major
Mulvey- See above

No major surprises to me

 

[Zooropa_NCR]

Think it’s better to get your name out there, see what interest and $ are knowing there’s option to come back if the new coach and staff are good fit / show promise

 

[Hawkins63]

There is a saying "The answer to all your questions is MONEY". I bet some will try to return and the coach would prefer not to have them. I bet some return and the coach is on board with it. I bet a few leave for more cash and what they think is a better situation for them. Time will tell on that one!

 

[StormHawk42]

They get a head start on the portal over everyone else with the coaching change. I’d be more surprised if they didn’t enter the portal.

 

[MeetTheFerentzes]

Maybe they all figured out that they weren't B1G caliber players and knew that Iowa would be getting a coach that probably expected that.

 

[desihawk]

the portal entries ironically might even have smoothed the way to get ben. he can shape his first class now exactly as he wants

 

[onlyTheObvious]

$
End of thread

 

[ItsAllBallBearingsNowadays]

Think it’s better to get your name out there, see what interest and $ are knowing there’s option to come back if the new coach and staff are good fit / show promise

As well they should. Freeman is the only one that has an outside chance at playing in the NBA. Might as well make what you can while you can.

 

[Hawkins63]

As well they should. Freeman is the only one that has an outside chance at playing in the NBA. Might as well make what you can while you can.

He has little to no chance. G league for a few years perhaps, maybe overseas but honestly most of his basketball money will be made in college i think.

 

[ItsAllBallBearingsNowadays]

He has little to no chance. G league for a few years perhaps, maybe overseas but honestly most of his basketball money will be made in college i think.

I don’t disagree, but the rest of the roster has zero chance.

 

[Hawkins63]

I don’t disagree, but the rest of the roster has zero chance.

100% agree!

 

[HawkLogic]

Going into the Portal is easy way to make a gesture to Fran and the coaches and put out a message thanking Fran/coaching staff. The reality is it is mostly about money/other things like winning/playing time vs who is the coach. In Dix and Freeman case, they were going to Portal either way. For guys like Pyce and Koch, getting into the portal a week or two early makes much difference in the money they'll get. I suppose it also is better emotionally to quit on Iowa first vs waiting for the new coach and finding out he doesn't want them.

 

[BurgHawk87]

As an incoming coach I'd almost rather have a "clean slate" to begin with. Recruit the former players if you like what you see but otherwise get guys who want to play for you and your style. The first season or 2 may be rough with a short turn around but this isn't Kentucky or Kansas that has the allure for stars anyway.

 

[Gonzo Bloor]

I'm fine with it. We need to move on from being a program built on lanky 6'8 unathletic shooters who can't defend.

 

[Hawkeye1984]

Ben is a much better coach and he will attract better overall talent. He is a winner and players want to play for winners. We are going to get better players you can count on that.

 

[MeetTheFerentzes]

Ben is a much better coach and he will attract better overall talent. He is a winner and players want to play for winners. We are going to get better players you can count on that.

That had to be "called"?

 

[BioHawk]

It would be dumb to not find out if there is value for your services anywhere.

 

[Hawksfor3]

We'll have to wait and see if any who entered the portal truly wish to play for the University of Iowa. If they return, then we'll know where their heart truly is. A lot of players dream of playing for a particular school, but how many players dream of playing for a particular coach?

 

[MeetTheFerentzes]

It would be dumb to not find out if there is value for your services anywhere.

Considering how many players are stuck in the portal without a place to go every year, I'd say that giving up your scholarship because maybe there's a better situation somewhere else can also be construed as "dumb."

 

[83Hawk]

Considering how many players are stuck in the portal without a place to go every year, I'd say that giving up your scholarship because maybe there's a better situation somewhere else can also be construed as "dumb."

This is one reason why I never agreed with Rico’s “NIL is the most important thing” stance.

There are only so many roster spots available at high level schools. Each year there are many players who end up either with no place to go, or at a lower level school. There are decent players in this group. And a school doesn’t need millions of dollars to pay them.

The important thing is you need a coach who can find the right guys and coach them up to their potential. I believe McCollum is that man.

 

[oldxbbc]

$
End of thread

Unfortunately truth!

 

[Letsgohawks411]

Of course, they might be welcomed back to the hawks, not sure if that would happen.

But I thought the bigger guys would have a place on next year's team. Since college bball is more a pt guard and shooting guard oriented game I figure a new coach might be more picky about the guards on their team but would welcome any big guys willing to work and play hard

The new coach needed to clean house anyway.

 

[Fan In Black]

i don't know why would wouldn't enter the portal after a coaching change. Surprised me zero.

 

[jberesford]

I think the fact that everybody bailed kind of exemplifies the lack of toughness that became Iowa basketball under McCaffrey. Oh you fired my coach? Fine I'm gonna cry about it and leave. The kind of players I want to stay are the ones that say they're excited for a new brand of basketball and want to be contenders. The days of video games basketball and jacking 3s and playing zero defense are over.

 

[NorthEndzoneCrew]

I think the fact that everybody bailed kind of exemplifies the lack of toughness that became Iowa basketball under McCaffrey. Oh you fired my coach? Fine I'm gonna cry about it and leave. The kind of players I want to stay are the ones that say they're excited for a new brand of basketball and want to be contenders. The days of video games basketball and jacking 3s and playing zero defense are over.

Exactly to a point.

If you want to stay and compete, awesome….if not I’m not going to lose much sleep over losing anyone from the Fran era.

 

[Hawksfor3]

The kind of players I want to stay are the ones that say they're excited for a new brand of basketball and want to be contenders.

 

[jonesy5960]

As well they should. Freeman is the only one that has an outside chance at playing in the NBA. Might as well make what you can while you can.

I disagree. If you're looking at the current roster, I think that Dix has a better chance of ever seeing the league than does Freeman. He's a very good defender and a 3 level scorer. Freeman isn’t.

 

[InsaneHawkJJP]

Not surprised at all. It’s the new norm.

 

[Ladell-hawk]

Of course, they might be welcomed back to the hawks, not sure if that would happen.

But I thought the bigger guys would have a place on next year's team. Since college bball is more a pt guard and shooting guard oriented game I figure a new coach might be more picky about the guards on their team but would welcome any big guys willing to work and play hard

It’s because they have the opportunity to get more nil. Freeman, Dix and Pryce are going to get a lot of money.

 

[Ladell-hawk]

That had to be "called"?

Hope you are right about that. Except for Stirtz, I doubt we get anyone as good as Dix and Freeman.

 

[Ladell-hawk]

As well they should. Freeman is the only one that has an outside chance at playing in the NBA. Might as well make what you can while you can.

Dix has a much better chance of playing in the NBA . He has a complete game and is a huge loss for us.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

Unless Dix does a 180, and can be had for a reasonable price, I'm just fine with complete roster turnover.
There is no player from this past season that is a must have going forward.
Most of them needed to move on to make room for players better suited to McC and what he wants. If a few come back under McCs terms, and can be had for little to no hit to the payroll, then fine.

 

[Hawkstate1]

After years of Fran, and Connor and Sandfort bitching and moaning about every little call I am looking forward to having a coach that instills a little discipline and class into the team.

 

[Hawksfor3]

Dix has a much better chance of playing in the NBA . He has a complete game and is a huge loss for us.

Will he get a combine invite? He's not currently on Sporting News' top 60 prospects.

 

[BioHawk]

Considering how many players are stuck in the portal without a place to go every year, I'd say that giving up your scholarship because maybe there's a better situation somewhere else can also be construed as "dumb."

I guess that depends on how confident you are that another school will take you.

 

[hawkirugged17]

 

[tdburg11]

Of course, they might be welcomed back to the hawks, not sure if that would happen.

But I thought the bigger guys would have a place on next year's team. Since college bball is more a pt guard and shooting guard oriented game I figure a new coach might be more picky about the guards on their team but would welcome any big guys willing to work and play hard

It’s only a PG and SG game if somebody can beat the defense off the dribble. Iowa hasn’t had that guy in over a decade (Fran couldn’t land one to save his life). We need speed out there offensively and defensively.

 

[tdburg11]

It’s only a PG and SG game if somebody can beat the defense off the dribble. Iowa hasn’t had that guy in over a decade (Fran couldn’t land one to save his life). We need speed out there offensively and defensively.

And let the disgruntled players leave. They aren’t good enough to lose sleep over. Hopefully we can find a core in the portal.

 

[hawksense]

Maybe they all figured out that they weren't B1G caliber players and knew that Iowa would be getting a coach that probably expected that.

Or they’d be playing more defense/working harder.