1) There have been discussions of how long it should take to build a program. Two or three years? Five? I feel like one never finishes building a program. It's the nature of the business. If Iowa can win 23 games this year Coach McCaffery and team will have won ninety games in the last four years! That's year three to year six. Was the program built then when we won 25 games in year three?
2) So where does Tyler Cook fit in? Other than Gesell, who was just a river away from being an Iowan, Cook will be the first out of state recruit ranked in the top 150 by Rivals that Fran has brought into the program. Significant? Yes, just like opening up Chicago was last season. Just like taking back the state as McCaffery and staff did before that. And just like winning some recruiting battles for less heralded players that some big name programs were after was also significant.
3) In the end, it appears that it was a matter of time and the brick and mortar of building that lead to the commitment of Cook. (Assuming he does.) Each step of the way, the close misses, it just seemed like we had just not enough to offer. But we were always findings ways to increase what we had. Potential? NIT by the second year. Promise? Nearly an NCAA invite and second in the NIT? Progress? That NCAA invite. Proof? A Seventh Seed, an NCAA win, and Third Place in the Big Ten! Brick and mortar, and a matter of time.
4) Looking behind, we did this while Iowa suffered a drought of instate talent. Four years now without a Rivals top 150 in our State. 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. Maybe only three years as Cordell Pemsl isn't don't yet and if he comes back from that knee surgery and the corrective measures taken to protect it...he could play his way back from close to, to in the top 150! But didn't we do it.
Better, year after year. Despite the drought.
5) Looking ahead. And things can only get better when NOW the state of Iowa is producing some top players. I'd mention that should Cook commit we only have one scholarship left for 2017 and 2018! We're that far ahead in recruiting! That's a darn good team for years to come, from my vantage point. The thing is, we might lose a couple guys who don't earn playing time. Because it will be tough to earn time with the ceiling that our recruits come in with! But should we lose one or two? Opportunities to recruit not to sign five guys, four guys...but an additional scholarship here or there and looking for talent, not position. It's a tremendous opportunity, one that years ago Lute Olson mentioned when he had reached that point.
Conclusion. The question has always been the ceiling. It was pretty clear McCaffery could create a competitive program. But how far up the ladder? I'm feeling very optimistic. The best Big Ten program West of the Michigan's? That would put us in some elite company. Possible? I don't think it is beyond imagination. Just gotta keep building.
2) So where does Tyler Cook fit in? Other than Gesell, who was just a river away from being an Iowan, Cook will be the first out of state recruit ranked in the top 150 by Rivals that Fran has brought into the program. Significant? Yes, just like opening up Chicago was last season. Just like taking back the state as McCaffery and staff did before that. And just like winning some recruiting battles for less heralded players that some big name programs were after was also significant.
3) In the end, it appears that it was a matter of time and the brick and mortar of building that lead to the commitment of Cook. (Assuming he does.) Each step of the way, the close misses, it just seemed like we had just not enough to offer. But we were always findings ways to increase what we had. Potential? NIT by the second year. Promise? Nearly an NCAA invite and second in the NIT? Progress? That NCAA invite. Proof? A Seventh Seed, an NCAA win, and Third Place in the Big Ten! Brick and mortar, and a matter of time.
4) Looking behind, we did this while Iowa suffered a drought of instate talent. Four years now without a Rivals top 150 in our State. 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. Maybe only three years as Cordell Pemsl isn't don't yet and if he comes back from that knee surgery and the corrective measures taken to protect it...he could play his way back from close to, to in the top 150! But didn't we do it.
Better, year after year. Despite the drought. 5) Looking ahead. And things can only get better when NOW the state of Iowa is producing some top players. I'd mention that should Cook commit we only have one scholarship left for 2017 and 2018! We're that far ahead in recruiting! That's a darn good team for years to come, from my vantage point. The thing is, we might lose a couple guys who don't earn playing time. Because it will be tough to earn time with the ceiling that our recruits come in with! But should we lose one or two? Opportunities to recruit not to sign five guys, four guys...but an additional scholarship here or there and looking for talent, not position. It's a tremendous opportunity, one that years ago Lute Olson mentioned when he had reached that point.
Conclusion. The question has always been the ceiling. It was pretty clear McCaffery could create a competitive program. But how far up the ladder? I'm feeling very optimistic. The best Big Ten program West of the Michigan's?
That would put us in some elite company. Possible? I don't think it is beyond imagination. Just gotta keep building.
