Iowa: Top 25 2017, Top 10 2018

[HawkNole09]

Guys, simply look at the coaching development we've seen out of players that have come thru this system.

We have the standouts Gatens, Marble, White, Uthoff, Jok. And then there are the unheralded guys that came in and flat out improved as the seasons changed: Woodbury, Olaseni, McCabe, Gesell, Baer

Now, if you consider that Moss is going to take the next step and be the primary wing scorer that Jok was and get 25 minutes per game at least his scoring is probably going up to 13-14 points per game.

Tyler Cook has the ability to take over certain games on the blocks. His minutes will probably stay about flat, but increased FG% and increased volume probably push his scoring average above 16 ppg.

Beyond that, we know what we have. Guys who take good shots, and who may be a half step slow in defending.

Fortunately this year we'll be able to protect the rim a bit better. And with that added protection we should be able to extend the defense and make shooting more difficult. Garza will be asked to defend first, and then ease into the offense and he's easily capable of scoring 6-8 ppg. Having Garza will probably lead to scoring averages being down 4 points or so.

Dont listen to the prognosticators. They don't have a good feel for how well this roster is going to be able to take advantage of mismatches.

 

[Legend12]

And then there are the unheralded guys that came in and flat out improved as the seasons changed: Woodbury, Olaseni, McCabe, Gesell, Baer.

Anyone who typed the above sentence should quit posting about Iowa basketball for 2 years.

Woodbury and Gesell were 2 of the most heralded recruits Fran has had, and to think otherwise is just plain asinine.

 

[HawkNole09]

Unheralded was the wrong word choice.

They had a lower athletic ceiling, which is what I was trying to get at. Not pro ball players.

 

[Legend12]

Unheralded was the wrong word choice.

They had a lower athletic ceiling, which is what I was trying to get at. Not pro ball players.

Are you trolling, or just really dumb?

 

[HawkNole09]

Dumb, I guess.

Look the point is players develop in Fran's system, with few exceptions.

This year he has a bunch of eager overachieving sophomores hungry to make a mark, moving Iowa Basketball to the next level.

 

[unoHawkeye]

Unheralded was the wrong word choice.

They had a lower athletic ceiling, which is what I was trying to get at. Not pro ball players.

Link to Mike Gesell's lower athletic ceiling

 

[HawkNole09]

Mike Gesell is one of my favorite all time Hawks, and he did have decent athleticism, and he was a good PG.

The point I'm trying to make is that...oh forget it.

Suffice it to say I think the roster has potential, and part of that potential is already proven.

My apologies to Mike and Adam who set the foundation for what Fran is slowly building.

 

[mtdew_fever]

Is Fran developing his roster better than other programs?

My initial thought is Fran and staff has been about average in that area. Not terrible, but definitely not coaching players up at a crazy rate either.

Then again, I don't really follow a ton of teams, so my lack of knowledge for comparison is limited.

Dumb, I guess.

Look the point is players develop in Fran's system, with few exceptions.

This year he has a bunch of eager overachieving sophomores hungry to make a mark, moving Iowa Basketball to the next level.

 

[Ronman]

Of the four straight players that Iowa placed on the First Team All-Big Ten roster, only Uthoff came out of HS highly rated. Marble and White were lightly regarded and Jok was a major question mark due to his injuries. Kudos to the players, who obviously worked extremely hard to advance their games, but I think you have to give some credit to the coaching staff for the improvements as well. I don't feel like doing the research, but I would bet that a lot of the players that joined them on the All-Big Ten teams, came into college with high expectations and lofty rankings.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

Fran has done a nice job with the program. I love the style of ball they play on offense. They are a ton of fun to watch. Heck, I even enjoy watching some of the losses due to the push the pace offense always looking to score.
I do agree with mtdew, though, that Fran is OK but not spectacular in the player development department.

As for top 25, if you mean by the end of season then maybe. Hope so. I could see them anywhere from 20-50 by March 2018.

 

[mtdew_fever]

Let me also state, Fran isnt doing a poor job. He has been able to retain his top players, they stay out of trouble and his incoming recruiting classes have not lacked talent.

They shouldnt be considered a preseason top 25 team, but that's not to say they wont be playing like one in spurts throughout the year.

Fran has done a nice job with the program. I love the style of ball they play on offense. They are a ton of fun to watch. Heck, I even enjoy watching some of the losses due to the push the pace offense always looking to score.
I do agree with mtdew, though, that Fran is OK but not spectacular in the player development department.

As for top 25, if you mean by the end of season then maybe. Hope so. I could see them anywhere from 20-50 by March 2018.

 

[unIowa]

Is Fran developing his roster better than other programs?

My initial thought is Fran and staff has been about average in that area. Not terrible, but definitely not coaching players up at a crazy rate either.

Then again, I don't really follow a ton of teams, so my lack of knowledge for comparison is limited.

I think they develop players at a pretty good clip but what they do even better is identify players that will work really well within Fran's system that may be overlooked by other schools.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

The one major, glaring area that Fran has flopped at so far is the Big Ten Tourney. I hate to see "the haircut"'s name on the winningest coaches list in the BTT. That tool was 13-6 for the third best winning percentage among coaches(per wikipedia).

Fran's teams have won all of 2 games. I hope that turns around this year.

 

[unIowa]

The one major, glaring area that Fran has flopped at so far is the Big Ten Tourney. I hate to see "the haircut"'s name on the winningest coaches list in the BTT. That tool was 13-6 for the third best winning percentage among coaches(per wikipedia).

Fran's teams have won all of 2 games. I hope that turns around this year.

I do think Fran tends to run the players legs dead by the end of the season, he could certainly improve by figuring that out.

 

[hawk-i bob]

Mike Gesell is one of my favorite all time Hawks, and he did have decent athleticism, and he was a good PG.

The point I'm trying to make is that...oh forget it.

Suffice it to say I think the roster has potential, and part of that potential is already proven.

My apologies to Mike and Adam who set the foundation for what Fran is slowly building.

no reason to apologize...maybe the "experts" who ranked them before they stepped on the floor in an Iowa uniform should apologize or the "expert posters" who didnt understand what their strengths were or weaknesses... For me I dont care about the rankings..Gesell & Woody had really good careers at Iowa. 1st Team All-Big Ten guys...no....but they had a huge impact in the 4 years they were here in helping Fran get this program moving back in the right direction.

I agree the current roster has a great deal of potential. Might take a little while for Fran to sort things out...but we will be really good....hopefully from day 1.

 

[hawk-i bob]

The one major, glaring area that Fran has flopped at so far is the Big Ten Tourney. I hate to see "the haircut"'s name on the winningest coaches list in the BTT. That tool was 13-6 for the third best winning percentage among coaches(per wikipedia).

Fran's teams have won all of 2 games. I hope that turns around this year.

damn you......you'd have to bring the BTT up. Yes we need to be playing on the weekend in the BTT...hopefully soon.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

damn you......you'd have to bring the BTT up. Yes we need to be playing on the weekend in the BTT...hopefully soon.

I really like what Fran has done; don't take this as being down on him because that's absolutely not the case. This one thing, unfortunately, sticks out like a gangrenous toe that needs to be amputated.
I'm rather lukewarm on the BTT as an event in and of itself, but it is very important toward the bigger goal of a good seed and sweet 16 or better in the NCAA tourney.

 

[hawkeye bb n fb fan]

If only we could do this in football

 

[nitewing]

If only we could do this in football

since its clear you know nothing about Iowa FB, Iowa has been in the Top 25 313 times 24th best out of 130 teams, 30 bowl games 31st with just 2 coming from Evy in the 50's HF and KF have the other 28 out of 38 seasons.

that's pretty darn good. you don't like it go follow Bama or OSU