I have got some pretty good intel that Harding, Freeman, Dix, Dembele, and Trajore are all entering the portal ASAP! Again this is coming from someone that has good intel. I’ll take heat if it doesn’t happen but it’s looking like a completely different team regardless if Fran stays or not!
Mass Exodus
- Thread starter nosok23
- Start date
Hate to see Dix go. He'd really shine with a competent coach.
I agree Dix has been one of the bright spots. Creighton is what I’m hearing… Sounds like his mom’s health isn’t the best so it would make sense to be back home if that was the case! He’s a high character kid who didn’t have much of a supporting cast to help him on this team!
Will miss JD, but that's it.
Could miss Traore too, but only if Fran either leaves on his own or is helpfully forced to 'retire'.
Something tells me Fran's departure is imminent, and the news has been leaked to the team. Man, I hope so at least.
A couple of guys portaling out, ok sure, but 5+ at one time?
And Dembele leaving makes little sense, if not, because he has a pretty long leash in FM's system.
Good. Burn it down and start over
Freeman and Dix probably could land at arguably a better program. Dembele and Traore probably have to settle mid major. Harding is a mystery...perhaps lower tier P5 but most likely mid major.
Hopefully Dix returns, the rest can leave as there are probably better options in the portal anyway. Freeman is efficient on offense but is a terrible defender so his loss would be a wash IMO
Hopefully Dix returns, the rest can leave as there are probably better options in the portal anyway. Freeman is efficient on offense but is a terrible defender so his loss would be a wash IMO
Also hearing that there is a lot of tension between some of the players. Owen Freeman is at the center of it! Sounds like some of the players thought he could’ve played with his finger injury. It’s a perfect storm for a new staff to come in clean house and start building culture of winning at Iowa!
Whether or not the intel is correct, I'm all for a house cleaning.
Keeping Josh would be good, but that has seemed less likely as the season progresses. Freeman leaving has been a foregone conclusion for a while.
An AD on top of this would have the search plan all laid out with top candidates identified and ready to contact ASAP.
My position has remained unchanged. The new hire should be a youngish coach with a prior proven track record who will bring players with him. McCollum is the obvious type they should be looking for. And I'd be fine if it's him; he's my number one choice at this point. But it doesn't have to be him, just someone that fits those parameters.
A complete program reboot is long overdue.
All things considered, 100% roster turnover would still be a move in the right direction.
Keeping Josh would be good, but that has seemed less likely as the season progresses. Freeman leaving has been a foregone conclusion for a while.
An AD on top of this would have the search plan all laid out with top candidates identified and ready to contact ASAP.
My position has remained unchanged. The new hire should be a youngish coach with a prior proven track record who will bring players with him. McCollum is the obvious type they should be looking for. And I'd be fine if it's him; he's my number one choice at this point. But it doesn't have to be him, just someone that fits those parameters.
A complete program reboot is long overdue.
All things considered, 100% roster turnover would still be a move in the right direction.
Wowzer! Some may not like this, but I am hoping the younger Sandfort leaves too….I really don’t want him to be part of the re-building blocks…😎
Is the hammer about to drop? Paging soaker....
The mass exodus needs to include Fran.
Aw shucks. Isn't it more important to find an ex Iowa player who understands Iowa culture?
am I the only one that thinks this is good news?
Good news, but only great news if FM is one of the ones leaving too.
He’ll be along with a vague “prediction” that will apply to any scenario, then afterwards boast about how right he was and how he “told us” what would happen.Is the hammer about to drop? Paging soaker....
There's gonna be a coaching change. When that happens there's going to be a whole new roster. Happens everywhere now.
Other than Dix I'm not going to be too broken up about losing any of those guys. Freeman is obviously a good player but he has a lot of flaws and the writing has been on the wall with that one for a long time. They need a coaching change. Having a lot of roster turnover is part of that in this day and age. The next guy is going to want an opportunity to bring in his own guys and I really doubt they want the non-Freeman and Dix names mentioned all that badly anyway.
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I read the title of this thread and figured you were referring to the fanbase. 😎
The smoke on the coaching change and most of the rumored transfers has been out there for a long time, doesn't have anything to do with last night.
If there’s a coaching change, you just have to assume you’ll lose 80% of the roster and all currents recruits. Just how it is. The new coach needs to not be shy about using the transfer portal.
Oh no, we are losing guys off of a team that can’t even make the BIG tournament? Tragedy!!
This.
Dix is the only player that will be able to transfer to a tourney level power conference team.
I wish the rest the best of luck but will not be following them at their next stops.
Unless he insists on being tied to Harding Freeman will most likely find a good landing spot. He's was a productive major conference player who still has two years left, and basically everyone gets overrated in the portal. He is going to make a lot of money (and could have last year as well)
Agree. I was already considering Freeman gone after the catastrophic finger owie. Dix and Freeman are both legit power conference contributors.
I hope Cooper Koch sticks around if/when the coaching change happens. He's a good shooter and seems to have a high BB IQ from the limited minutes I have seen him play.
I learned long ago never to root for players to leave. I think all of these guys could be valuable contributors under the right coach/system, provided they are in a position to play a role they are suited for.
That said, roster turnover is part of the game these days, and there's not anyone mentioned who I would lose much sleep over.
Time to turn the page on this program, one way or another.
That said, roster turnover is part of the game these days, and there's not anyone mentioned who I would lose much sleep over.
Time to turn the page on this program, one way or another.
Honestly, if I’m recruiting there will be no more players from two parent households or 3.0 gpa’s. Look at the way Iowa State has built over the years. Give me Jamaal Tinsley, Deandre Kane, Brice DeJean Jones, Royce White and Talon Horton Tucker. All with talent and all with a rap sheet a mile long. That’s how you win ball games, not with the Sanforts, Dix, Freeman and Harding.
No dissension inside the locker room according to previous Fran pressers. But I could see players leaving that want more playing time & a bigger role offensively. I.E. Traore, Tadjo.
March 24. We'll see. Not worried about any of it. They leave, they stay. Ho hum. None of these guys are bringing people to the arena or causing people to watch them on TV. No have-to-have-him guys on this team. Maybe a couple could become those guys. Maybe. The new coach will figure it out. That's what will interest me about next year.
For sure. If there's a Caitlin Clark equivalent, I'm telling him to go take a hike.
Girls basketball is different. You don’t need to be able to run and jump to be good.
Maybe McCaffery came clean with players about his future and the rumors being reported are the players immediate reactions.
I guess it is not surprising to hear the noise, but always a bummer when players leave (not all). SWAG, but maybe Freeman/McCabe along with Dix will be a package deal at Nebraska or Creighton, just a thought. Creighton is losing their center and point guard to graduation this year and have a very good program. I have watched Dix closely this year and he has not looked happy (understand his mother is ill recently) and seems to be less than enamored with the Pa Sandfort show (not to mention PM last two years). BH is understandable given the fan animosity and/if Freeman leaves.
If most of this happens it should be the end of the McCaffery era and IMO that is a good thing for Iowa MBB. The Iowa MBB needs an infusion of new blood and energy. The program is essentially become dormant at this point. Kind of a replay of the end of Lickliter era and several players leaving.
Only time will tell, and we will ultimately see the results. The good news is the transfer portal allows the right coach an opportunity to get the program back on track very quickly.
BTW this is all just my take from my recliner and I have zero inside information.
I guess it is not surprising to hear the noise, but always a bummer when players leave (not all). SWAG, but maybe Freeman/McCabe along with Dix will be a package deal at Nebraska or Creighton, just a thought. Creighton is losing their center and point guard to graduation this year and have a very good program. I have watched Dix closely this year and he has not looked happy (understand his mother is ill recently) and seems to be less than enamored with the Pa Sandfort show (not to mention PM last two years). BH is understandable given the fan animosity and/if Freeman leaves.
If most of this happens it should be the end of the McCaffery era and IMO that is a good thing for Iowa MBB. The Iowa MBB needs an infusion of new blood and energy. The program is essentially become dormant at this point. Kind of a replay of the end of Lickliter era and several players leaving.
Only time will tell, and we will ultimately see the results. The good news is the transfer portal allows the right coach an opportunity to get the program back on track very quickly.
BTW this is all just my take from my recliner and I have zero inside information.
The fanbase exodus has already happened...
In response to the OP, it seems normal these days to have a player or two transfer after each season. But five? Especially guys that get meaningful minutes? Yeah. If there's any truth to this at all, I'd say Fran is as good as gone.
Maybe they are pulling a page from the Matt Gatens playbook and threatening to leave unless there is a coaching change.
(Doubt it ... players seem fond of Fran.)
