I think any serious observer of Iowa Basketball today...
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Ugh, we were only really embarrassing for the 3 years Lick was here, hate to tell you but this is Alford 2.0, only difference is people don't hate Fran like Steve and there has been incremental progress. After 7 years Alford had reached field of 64 3 times with one win, had two big ten tourney championships including 06 when we got a 3 seed, and had a runner up in the big ten tourney. Get back to me after next year and tell me how much better Fran's resume is......keep in mind Alford didn't play in a watered down Nebraska/Rutgers big ten. Unless we go on a run next weekend this has been no better.....
i agree with the op- fran has to take a lot of the responsibility for these continual late game and late season collapses.
Where did I insinuate Fran's declining successes from year to year? I said that he owns this team and all of its successes and failures. His successes include back-to-back 12-6 B1G finishes, multiple 20 plus win seasons, three 1st team all B1G conference selections in a row, etc... I believe two late season collapses in three seasons is more than a game-to-game perspective. In addition, three straight one-and-done in the BTT is more than just a game perspective. All of the BTT failures were by a team that was the higher seed.
I never defended Lickliter. I did take a wait & see attitude on him at the beginning. You know, because he was a National Coach of The Year and all.
I would also argue that coaches like Bucky O'Conner, Ralph Miller, Lute Olsen and Tom Davis a;; got Iowa farther down the road than Fran has so far.
Fran is not going to be fired. But let me ask you this...are you satisfied with how Iowa plays down the stretch in both games and the season under Fran?
Fair enough. Thought you where implying more there.
I can't tell yet if it's Gessel or Fran or both. I need to see a new point guard. It's athleticism at guard that matters as a season moves into mid February and into March.
Just more food for thought.
Record under Fran in the final 10 games of each season (including post-season)
2010/11: 3-7
2011/12: 5-5
2012/13: 7-3
2013/14: 3-7
2014/15: 7-3
2015/16: 4-6
TOTAL: 29-31
So we're essentially a .500 team down the homestretch overall.
Record under Fran in the final 10 games of each season (including post-season)
2010/11: 3-7
2011/12: 5-5
2012/13: 7-3
2013/14: 3-7
2014/15: 7-3
2015/16: 4-6
TOTAL: 29-31
So we're essentially a .500 team down the homestretch overall.
I agree I just think it's a separate discussion that deserves it's own thread. It's definitely a concern. Despite that record though Fran is building success here. Overall they are getting better if you look at records and Big Ten finishes every year. I'll take 12-6 in the Big Ten in back to back years. I think the big question is, why is that record like that? Is it Fran's coaching ability or the guard play the last 4 years?
I'm on record of being a big McCaffery fan, but he has to find a PG with skills and ice water in his veins. Too much weak play by our guys when the chips are down. Not apparent we will have this solved next season either.
Great let's fire Fran. Bring in someone else. I mean that's what lot of people are bitching about and hoping will happen. Then the next coach will come in and won't be enough. It will never happen but if Fran left not like Iowa is pulling in some elite coach right away.
I remember last year same meltdown bitch fest after psu loss but week later after blowing out Davidson all of a sudden Fran was the best coach ever just like most were praising him for a month ago.
Doodle, it sounds like you are in research mode today. If you can please post how far coaches like Tom Davis and Lute Olsen, or heck, even Steve Alford or George Raveling, had advanced the program to by their 6th year.
It's Gesell, he's going to miss big free throws in some Rec league game in Sioux City next year, it's his thing.
That's an apples and oranges comparison. some coaches like Davis inherited NBA caliber players others not so much. We get it Fran hasn't lived up to your expectations in his first 6 years.
My question is for all posters who think he is an awful coach what if Iowa makes sweet 16 is he great again suddenly?
That is just part of being a fan. Heck I'll bet they are even singing the praises of John Groce in the Land of Lincoln today. I'm confident that 99.9% of Iowa fans who are disappointed today with the Hawks will be cheering them on in the NCAA and hoping for a strong showing by the Hawks...and if Fran could somehow jockey this group of Hawks into the Sweet16 all would be forgiven for now and we would look forward to next year. But that doesn't mean we are wrong to ask questions today about Fran and his style.
GO HAWKS!
Yes, if he takes Iowa to the Sweet16 he will have proved his critics wrong and he will be back in good graces again...its how the business he chose works.
And wish I could win Power Ball, date Miss America and last 3 hrs. In bed like I did when I was 20.
While I agree with your comments, 15-34 is 44%. Hardly 1 out of 3. It's closer to 2 out of 4.
Not good either way.
Any rational observer already knew we were overrated. Those of us within 300 miles of Iowa City were about 4 weeks behind.
Against indiana, Iowa had 2 great looks at the end of the game to tie it. The shots didn't fall. You, evidently blame the coach. Today, Iowa came from 11 down in the last 4 minutes and fell short when we had the chance to win. Gessel totally screwed the pooch again and not just on the inbounds pass. You blame the coach. Last year Iowa won the last 6 games after going 6-6 in the conference. That, however doesn't count in your world. Bucky O'Connor was almost 60 years ago. Ralph Miller didn't like the politics in the athletic department and Lute Olsen never liked the fan environment at Iowa. Alford left because of the fans and Barta's asinine ultimatum. And, yes, you defended Lickliter. I remember calling out those like you who so badly wanted Alford gone. Lickliter was in over his head from day one, but Barta couldn't get anyone else to publicly interview because no one wanted to come to Iowa. So, I have an idea, let's run another coach who is more than respectable out of town. After all, we need to keep up with our championships.
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Yeah, you might be right...but for me and Grandma, we believed.
I'll ask again. Are you satisfied with the way Fran's team finish games and the season?
take another look. a record of 15-34 means you won 15 out of 49 games played. that's less than 1 out of 3
I for one
Why is Iowa down 11 with 4 to go to a 5-13 Illinois club that comes in with a sub 500 record on the year? I believe that is where the criticism starts and getting close and failing just adds to the frustration level.
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I think they would've got something had Illinois not burned the timeout at the end and recognized what Iowa was trying to do. Iowa then changed up their play and basically ran a couple simple pick plays that were too slow to work and Illinois easily switched and denied everything. They over thought themselves on that last play. They should've ran exactly what they were gonna run before the timeout.
I think it is the coach. Just watch the end of these close games. Gessel or Clemens dribble around up high, two guys stand at the edge of the paint, two guys stand around at the edge of the court looking for a three and ocassionally cross under the basket. Time after time. This is coaching.
Other times of the game, the other four are setting screens and cutting constantly.
Just sayin'
Had to listen on radio today and I think that Bobby Hansen summed it up with one simple statement about midway through the second half: "what is going on out there?" Pretty bad when someone that close to the program can't explain this team!
This.
Certainly a pattern here. Making a bad team look good.
Make no mistake.....Illinois is a really bad team.
Not to jump too hard on the Woody bashing train, but he missed 2 layups, 2 other jumpers from point blank range, and went 0-2 on free throws at a crucial point in the 2nd half.
His lack of offense really hurt us today.
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Raveling was only the coach for 3 seasons, including one with a losing record, and zero NCAA tourney wins.
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On the plus side, we can watch March Madness without a lot of tension.
Early in the season Fran was relaxed now he is mad at the players or the refs all the time. The more mad he gets the worse the guys play. Never see him be positive during a game. They are all afraid to make a mistake and he has made it that way.
Yep.
The reality is these guys were huge gets from where Iowa was when they signed. Unfortunately the three original recruits have turned out to be really bad offensive players who choke just about every time they get the chance.
Fran tried to recruit better players to take playing time away from them but it just didn't work out.
When you have two guards who can't shoot or get to the rim and a big guy, who while a good rebounder, is probably the worst finishing 7fter on the planet, you are hamstrung.
Next year will be a learning year but the athleticism and play making ability are now catching up with the rest of the league. We won't have to rely on only two guys hitting jump shots to win games. Iowa will look much more like a normal major conference basektball team.
Now if the problems of the last 4 years are still here in two more years then its time to start thinking about change, but i have a feeling allot of the problems are graduating.
