Lunardi is smoking something...

[SSG T]

Zero top 100? That’s incorrect.

None that were part of the four straight All B1G were. IIRC, Uthoff was the highest ranked at like 119ish.

 

[Lone Clone]

I think the even more ridiculous placement is ISU as a #4 seed considering all the people they are losing like 5 of their top 7 scorers.

I agree. I don't think the season is going to be the disaster that some on this board are hoping for, but a #4 seed makes a lot of favorable assumptions.

 

[CP84]

Not saying it can’t happen. However, until Fran’s teams improve defensively, you are going to continue to see 8-12 to 12-8 in the BIG Conference.

Fran finished 12-6 in the Big Ten in '14-15 and '15-16 seasons (3rd place both times) and 10-8 in the '16-17 season (5th place). He's shown the ability to win in the conference.

He's now 3-1 in first round NCAA games with the only loss coming against an underseeded Tennessee in the play-in game.

In the second rounds we've lost to Villanova (eventual national champ) who subsequently destroyed #3 seed Miami and #2 seed Oklahoma worse than they beat Iowa.

We lost to Gonzaga who eventually lost to champ Duke in the elite 8.

Now we lost to Tennessee (rated #1 for a month) in OT.

I really don't understand the perpetual complaining. It's like the complainers started watching basketball post Lickliter.

 

[Obviously Oblivious]

Making the tournament more, and not making it past the 2nd round more. Maybe someday we will be on par with Cincinnati.

Oh JFC! Nice cherry picking there. Depending on your metric, one can easily argue that Cincinnati is easily an all-time top 15-20 program. Easily. You also have to keep in mind Iowa plays in the Big10 and has for a very, very long time. Cincinnati has vagabonded around from the Buckeye, Mid-American, Mo Valley, Metro, C-USA & CAA.

 

[CJ_Lucky]

Fran has had some good defensive teams. Two years ago was atrocious. This past season was much improved. Next year will be even better. It’s not a big leap to think this team will be pretty darn good next year. It’s the year Fran has had circled for a while now. Nothing is a given, but this is the part of the cycle for programs like Iowa when things come together.

 

[Cydkar]

True. Best example is ISU as a 4 seed with everything they lose. He really doesn’t do any research.

I refuse to click but that would be a good example. ISU's roster is anyone's guess.

 

[VicHawkeye]

Top 12 sounds right to me.

 

[Raptorpeeps]

.. If we're being honest, it was a hell of a comeback but Tennessee phoned it in at halftime. Iowa and Tennessee play 10 times and Tennessee most likely wins all 10 ...

Yup.

Fans are investing that second half performance with a lot more significance than it actually warrants.

 

[SotaHawk87]

Yup.

Fans are investing that second half performance with a lot more significance than it actually warrants.

Couldn’t agree more!! Only the halves that Iowa plays like shit matter.. oh wait! Idiots..

 

[Hawkeyegrad2006]

Had to look up "sycophant" to make sure that I understood the meaning. That was and probably will be the only time I use it in a sentence. You might want to make sure you understand it, before you use it again, Mr. Hindsight.

It makes perfect sense, dickhead.

 

[anon_wic6m41528ao4]

Yup.

Fans are investing that second half performance with a lot more significance than it actually warrants.

Tennessee wasn't the only team we played in the tournament. We also beat a 28-6 Cincinnati team two days before that. That game might be contributing to the optimism as well.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

Sure, Fran dug out us out of the Lick fiasco. Looking at his overall body of work:

Overall record at Iowa: 174-132 (.569)
Big 10 record (79-86 (.488)

I do hope Fran has turned the corner. As a fan of Iowa athletics for 40+ years, I am passionate about the Hawks and I think Iowa can and should expect to do better. Maintaining the status quo should not be the norm ... Even Nebraska basketball has said 'we want to win and we think we can with Fred Hoiberg.' And I will bet within 2 years Fred will elevate Nebraska to a new level. It can be done and we should expect more than just making it to the tournament. That's like 'making it to a bowl game.'

Fran shouldn't continue to get any passes. No more 'wait until next year.'

He is by far the worst defensive coach Iowa has had in my 40+ years of watching Iowa basketball ... and it's not even close. Let's not just focus on our comeback against Tennessee ... If we're being honest, it was a hell of a comeback but Tennessee phoned it in at halftime. Iowa and Tennessee play 10 times and Tennessee most likely wins all 10 ...

Many things need to change and it should not take 10 years for it to happen:

Namely: a true PG
Defense
We need more athletes ... Joe T is a start. He looks great in his highlight reels and I hope he develops into a Power 5 player. After 9 years, Fran has to continue to elevate the program ... No more one step forward, two steps back ... The clock is ticking.

He’s also the best offensive coach.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

It makes perfect sense, dickhead.

In the future, you might want to think a little before you make stupid posts. Using big words isn't nearly as important as making sense.

 

[Hawkeyegrad2006]

Yea, you make mucho sense. I’ll take your advice....NEVER

 

[Raptorpeeps]

Couldn’t agree more!! Only the halves that Iowa plays like shit matter.. oh wait! Idiots..

A friendly word of advice: Less emotion, more logic. You’ll embarrass yourself less often.

 

[IowaNiceHawk]

Yup.

Fans are investing that second half performance with a lot more significance than it actually warrants.

Pure conjecture............OK, I'll say that Iowa mailed it in, during th
first half and TENN was on fire from 3.
Come on, man.

 

[HawkRugged17]