My issue with the Iowa MBB program right now is that there's just so little excitement.
Usually, at the start of a season, you want to have new reasons for hope. Maybe it's a returning starter who has upped his game and looks great in the exhibition games. Maybe it's a bench guy from last year who looks like he's going to be a strong contributor. Maybe it's a newcomer, who looks like he's going to be a big-time player for you. Maybe it's a recruit you have committed, who looks like he has the potential to be a star when he arrives.
Right now, Iowa has very little of that. Sure, the big 3 (Payton, Dix, and Freeman) look pretty good, and I am happy about that. Among new contributors, the only guy who's really shown much is Pryce Sandfort, which again, is nice ... but doesn't really feel like the type of impact that turns us into a Sweet 16 team. Our point guards -- Harding and Thelwell -- have both had moments, but neither look like guys who are ready to help the team make it to the next level. Dembele has shown no improvement. Traore has been hurt. Koch seems OK, but just that ... "OK." It doesn't look like Tadjo is even going to see the court much this year.
In short, I don't necessarily think the team looks awful, I just don't see much to be excited about. Maybe we're a bubble team. Cool.
As a contrast, take a look at the women's team. You just lost a generational player and a historic senior class from the year before. But in just a couple of games, you see numerous things that give reason for optimism and make me want to watch to see how the season unfolds. Lucy Olsen looks like a star in the making. Addie O'Grady just recorded a career-high against a solid Virginia Tech game. Hannah Stuelke's game looks to be evolving nicely as she adapts to a new role. The freshman class, including Teagan Mallegni, Taylor Stremlow, Ava Heiden, and Callie Levin, clearly has several members who can contribute this year, and potentially be stars down the road. Looking ahead, you have players like Aaliyah Guyton returning from injury later this year and recruits like Addie Deal and Layla Hays joining the team next fall, who give you hope for the future.
In terms of "reasons to be excited," there is a chasm of difference between the two programs.
And, to be clear, I think Fran has had a solid tenure at Iowa. He deserves credit for consistently putting Iowa in a position to finish in the top half of the conference and qualify for post-season play. That's not something that should be dismissed. But an equally notable part of his record is that we've never reached the second weekend of the tournament. And I'll also note that I don't think Fran has always represented the university in a positive manner with some of his sideline antics. I know that bothers some folks more than others, and that's OK, but I've never been a fan.
To everything, there is a season, and I join others in wondering if Fran's season at Iowa is nearing an end. We probably ought to see how the season plays out, but it just feels like it might be time to turn the page. Following a sports team is supposed to be exciting, but the Iowa men's basketball team has grown stale. At least for me.
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