You're right, he should be gone for a history of no tourney success.
Exactly. But this thread was built on what happens in this one tournament. Asinine.
You're right, he should be gone for a history of no tourney success.
Uh, yeah. 13 years of not having a top 16 team in the country is the aggregate factor. As an Iowan/Iowa fan I expect better.
To think otherwise, in my opinion, is akin to the soft bigotry of low expectations.
Not quite true. I think the thread is based on this year being the "last chance" after 13 years of NCAA tournament failures.Exactly. But this thread was built on what happens in this one tournament. Asinine.
Barta may be gone no matter our one and done NCAA appearance this season.If we don't go on a run in the NCAA's this season, it's definitely time..
..to fire Barta,
Based mostly on shooting luck? WTF? So you're saying the programs that have a solid track record in the ncaa tourney are just lucky? That is one of the dumbest things I've heard on here in awhile, and that is really saying something.It really is amazing. Especially a tournament that is based mostly on shooting luck. I do think people hate Fran and want him gone in large part because of how he acts. I think that’s a fair argument but why can’t they just say it?
Some new ADs want their own guys when they take over. People are focusing on Ferentz and son if this were to happen but Fran's future could be just as up in the air. If a new AD came in and this was a typical university, I could see end game planning for Ferentz and some stipulations for Fran such as some more success and no more temper tantrums. Who knows though.Barta may be gone no matter our one and done NCAA appearance this season.
You forgot;For me it is not just about the lack of NCAA success.
It is IMO:
Never finished higher than tied for third in BIG regular season in 13 years
Never reached S16 in his career at Iowa or anywhere else
Terrible in game coaching and substitutions
His game behavior when he goes off has become tiresome and not a good look for Iowa
Inability to recruit guards that can compete in BIG (passing, ball handling, vision, penetration, and shooting)
Obvious nepotism and playing of his sons at the expense of the team/recruiting (JMO)
Never coaching up the defense to be at least adequate year after year
Never capitalized on Luka, Murrays, Wieskamp teams except one BIG tourney (KM)
Pretty much an average program overall in the BIG
Seems to never deviate from his game plan no matter how the game is trending
I was being facetious in my post and I agree luck plays maybe the biggest factor in postseason success. The narrative is Fran will never win because his recent teams don't play defense, which I think is false. Iowa 2006 and Virginia 2018 are examples of that.The one that ended in the first round?
Look I agree with you but this board only seems to think that a coach should be evaluated on a two week one and done tournament that often comes down to shooting luck. No one who points to Fran’s NCAA record(which is about as good as TD minus the Raveling player years)as a reason why he should be fired should talk about 2006 as a great year. That year was an utter disaster. We lost on a fluke shot in a tournament predicated on luck. That is the only tool you should use to evaluate a coach.
You're right, he should be gone for a history of no tourney success.
Iowa shot the ball really well last year…….until they didn’t. Yes the tournament is mostly luck that is won by the team usually with the best players and catches the most breaks.Iowa is never going to have the best players the recruiting ranking show that. Iowa hasn’t gotten lucky shooting it needed in order to make a run.(even when they have great shooting teams like last season). Not sure why you have to go towards the personal insults. Here’s an article on luck in basketball. Ken Pomeroy has also done extensive research on this and even has a “luck” stat on his website.Based mostly on shooting luck? WTF? So you're saying the programs that have a solid track record in the ncaa tourney are just lucky? That is one of the dumbest things I've heard on here in awhile, and that is really saying something.
If you think shooting a basketball consistently well is a matter of luck you might want to find another sport to follow because you seem to be clueless about this one.
Again here’s one more. The tournament has essentially become how hot you can get from 3 and/or how cold your opponents are from deep.Based mostly on shooting luck? WTF? So you're saying the programs that have a solid track record in the ncaa tourney are just lucky? That is one of the dumbest things I've heard on here in awhile, and that is really saying something.
If you think shooting a basketball consistently well is a matter of luck you might want to find another sport to follow because you seem to be clueless about this one.
I love the SVI. I feel number of shots trumps everything because that means 1) you offensive rebound and 2) you turn your opponent over. Just being an average shooting team with a high SVI in the regular season should get you enough success to make the tournament. Then it comes down to luck from there on out. High SVI teams who shoot well win and advance.Again here’s one more. The tournament has essentially become how hot you can get from 3 and/or how cold your opponents are from deep.
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Threes, luck, and volume in the NCAA tournament
Michigan State was the final team to reach the 2019 Final Four, thanks to a Kenny Goins three with 39 seconds remaining against Duke. By virtue not only of Goins’ heroics but also the fact th…johngasaway.com
Too many people stuck in the 80s/90s mindset get stuck on vague terms like “toughness” “clutch” etc…. when the data tells the story. At some point you hope all the bad luck iowa has had in the second round of the tourney(or first round last year)under Fran will even out. Unfortunately I don’t think we have the talent this year to even test out that luck. Last year was the year(great draw to sweet 16, team playing well and shooting well going in, NBA lottery player)and the shooting gods unfortunately denied us.I love the SVI. I feel number of shots trumps everything because that means 1) you offensive rebound and 2) you turn your opponent over. Just being an average shooting team with a high SVI in the regular season should get you enough success to make the tournament. Then it comes down to luck from there on out. High SVI teams who shoot well win and advance.
Per Gasaway's website, in 2019 7 of the top 8 SVI teams made the Sweet 16. But as luck indicates, Iowa last year shot like garbage and lost.
Iowa ranks 81st in the nation in 3pa. It’s 2023, every team shoots a lot of 3s.If he goes to a Final 4, would it change what you think of him as a coach? Whether he ever does or not, he should never be considered anything more than an above average college coach. Has interesting teams that live by the 3, die by the 3, but are usually wildly inconsistent in their play at both ends. He not a bad coach but has had enough time to show he will never be a great one. That being said, Fran is not going anywhere, and I don't expect to see many changes in his teams. They always have a puncher's chance of making a short run, because of their 3-pt. shooting attempts, but it won't be due to coaching.
Guess we should shoot more, then!Iowa ranks 81st in the nation in 3pa. It’s 2023, every team shoots a lot of 3s.
Seems to check out.Again here’s one more. The tournament has essentially become how hot you can get from 3 and/or how cold your opponents are from deep.
![]()
Threes, luck, and volume in the NCAA tournament
Michigan State was the final team to reach the 2019 Final Four, thanks to a Kenny Goins three with 39 seconds remaining against Duke. By virtue not only of Goins’ heroics but also the fact th…johngasaway.com
And ranks 152 in shooting percentage. Let's toss up a few more...clank!Iowa ranks 81st in the nation in 3pa. It’s 2023, every team shoots a lot of 3s.
Iowa has the third best offense in the country. Stats don’t match with your perception. Iowa is consistently one of the better shooting teams in the country, just not this year. This team is naturally going to shoot a lot of threes with a lack of post presence. It’s also 2023 there aren’t many teams who don’t shoot a ton of threes. It’s usually a pre-requisite to success in the modern age.And ranks 152 in shooting percentage. Let's toss up a few more...clank!
...and REMEMBER TOM DAVIS!!
There. Ol' Doodle finished it for you.
Bob Bowlsby took a ton of heat for not extending TD, but it would pale in comparison to the the embarrassment Iowa would face if they fired Fran.
Not going to happen,
Next season could be a Turd.Agreed won't happen unless Fran gets himself fired with a few turd seasons. The Turd seasons happened midway his his stint, but he already had gotten a contract extension.
Fran managed to keep the string down to a couple bad seasons before we hit our current Golden Age of Iowa B-ball.
You have to get them!They're just banging at the door to come here!
What kind of defense should they play?How about actually play f'ing defense, if Fran does not want to fix the D he needs to go.
I would not mind seeing Iowa in the round of 32 this year.Fran > Alford.
This will be Iowa's 5th NCAA Tournament team in a row (counting the 2020 tournament where Iowa was a lock), and that hasn't been done since the 80s. Iowa will now have made the NCAA Tournament in 8 out of 10 years. Alford did not come close to that sustained success. The Big Ten is much stronger now than it was when Alford was coach, and Fran's Big Ten record is better.
I think it's reasonable for fans to want to move on from Fran given the lack of NCAA tournament success. Fran is a good coach, but it seems like he's reached his ceiling. Even in our best year when we got the #2 seed, we looked outclassed by #7 seed Oregon.
It's a weird situation, because nobody can credibly say Fran has done a bad job. Over the last 5 years, Iowa has a better overall winning % and Big Ten winning % than it did when Lute Olson was at Iowa. But the program hasn't been to a Sweet 16 in over 20 years and unless Fran can deliver that this year, fans are justified in being restless.
Something that requires slowing down or challenging the opponent from scoring...What kind of defense should they play?
Next season could be a Turd.
No Rebracca, CMac or Kris?
Need Mulvey to blossom (possible), or get some help from the portal (unlikely) or the freshmen need to be ready to contribute ( 🤷♂️).
I hope you are right. But the "strong group of veterans (Perk, Sandfort, PMac, Ulis)" are still very inconsistent. I'm not seeing much potential for this group to "step up" - I think they are what they are. Hope I'm wrong.I see Iowa as a bubble team next year, assuming Kris leaves. I don't think it will be a turd year. In the last turd year, the only significant veteran contributor was Nicholas Baer (junior). Everyone else was freshman/sophomores.
Next year we return a relative strong group of veterans (Perkins, Sandfort, PMac, Ulis). I think Dix and Bowen can make big strides - Bowen in particular has shown flashes of really high potential if the game can slow down for him a bit. I also think each of the incoming freshman can be solid contributors. Pryce is higher rated than Payton was, and Peyton was an efficient offensive player as a freshman. It will be very nice to have a non-undersized center with Owen Freeman (I have zero hope for Ogundele, and almost zero hope for Mulvey). Dembele can add some needed depth in the frontcourt, and I think Harding is going to be a very good guard.
I expect Iowa's 4-year run of having a 20 point scorer will likely end (Pa. Sandfort may have the best chance?), and so the contributions will need to be more evenly spread like it was in '19. All of the pieces have some limitations. Perkins and Ulis struggle with outside shooting, PMac struggles in the half court offense, Sandfort is limited off the dribble, etc. But there's enough pieces that produce value that next year's team should still be competitive for an NCAA berth.
Edit - and I still have hope that we could land a high quality player in the portal. Iowa's NIL offering is stronger than ever with the Iowa Swarm which should make Iowa much more competitive in the portal.
What kind of defense should they play?
I see Iowa as a bubble team next year, assuming Kris leaves. I don't think it will be a turd year. In the last turd year, the only significant veteran contributor was Nicholas Baer (junior). Everyone else was freshman/sophomores.
Next year we return a relative strong group of veterans (Perkins, Sandfort, PMac, Ulis). I think Dix and Bowen can make big strides - Bowen in particular has shown flashes of really high potential if the game can slow down for him a bit. I also think each of the incoming freshman can be solid contributors. Pryce is higher rated than Payton was, and Peyton was an efficient offensive player as a freshman. It will be very nice to have a non-undersized center with Owen Freeman (I have zero hope for Ogundele, and almost zero hope for Mulvey). Dembele can add some needed depth in the frontcourt, and I think Harding is going to be a very good guard.
I expect Iowa's 4-year run of having a 20 point scorer will likely end (Pa. Sandfort may have the best chance?), and so the contributions will need to be more evenly spread like it was in '19. All of the pieces have some limitations. Perkins and Ulis struggle with outside shooting, PMac struggles in the half court offense, Sandfort is limited off the dribble, etc. But there's enough pieces that produce value that next year's team should still be competitive for an NCAA berth.
Edit - and I still have hope that we could land a high quality player in the portal. Iowa's NIL offering is stronger than ever with the Iowa Swarm whishould make Iowa much more competitive in the portal.
Well, there is all of that tooFor me it is not just about the lack of NCAA success.
It is IMO:
Never finished higher than tied for third in BIG regular season in 13 years
Never reached S16 in his career at Iowa or anywhere else
Terrible in game coaching and substitutions
His game behavior when he goes off has become tiresome and not a good look for Iowa
Inability to recruit guards that can compete in BIG (passing, ball handling, vision, penetration, and shooting)
Obvious nepotism and playing of his sons at the expense of the team/recruiting (JMO)
Never coaching up the defense to be at least adequate year after year
Never capitalized on Luka, Murrays, Wieskamp teams except one BIG tourney (KM)
Pretty much an average program overall in the BIG
Seems to never deviate from his game plan no matter how the game is trending
In the last turd year roster, your forgot Peter Jok who was All-B1G type talent.
So Nicholas Baer--solid guy + Peter JOk, then JBO, Cook, Isaiah moss.
Bowen/Dix are a pretty good pair for next year, but I think Bowen likely not happy that he was passed over by Dix and played very little in B1G, so high probability he is gone based on what typically happens in Spring. Maybe Swarm NIL can retain a couple guys like Perkins and Bowen that probably have pretty good free market value/options.
The 6'8 Freshman coming in next year will start. I don't see anyone that can rebound/play uber physical next year other than Mulvey and Fran has rarely played Mulvey this year JoshO is a giant, but if he can only play 2-3 minutes at a time, then he doesn't really fit.
Is an 9-11 or 8-12 B1G record a Turd year? Yeah, a little bit....we have high floor with Fran, but unfortunately low ceiling.
"no tourney success". Jesus. You mean no "sweet 16 success". He's won games in the tourney.You're right, he should be gone for a history of no tourney success.
I see Iowa as a bubble team next year, assuming Kris leaves.