Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
It's somewhat puzzling to me to see all the excitement and enthusiasm over all these "grad transfer" players. Not one of them has even considered the NBA Draft. Rather pedestrian I'd say.
And for the 1,000 time, he is not a high level PG when it comes to defending and breaking down the Defense off the dribble or creating his own shot when necessary.Connor is probably going to be a lot better than you think. He is a great, great passer and he gets the ball where it needs to be. Connor is not a slasher but he has good size and has a monster basketball IQ.
These people have classic Iowa fan syndrome. The Iowa coach is always right and above reproach. I was on this board when some of these "real fans" where defending Lick in his 3rd year. Every player wearing an Iowa uniform can't be criticized and unlike every other player in the country they have potential and just need time to get better. Plus there's always next year philosophy. We're just Iowa philosophy. Remember when Tom Davis resigned philosophy. I've lived in Michigan my whole life and Iowa fans truly are unique which can be a good thing and a bad thing. Michigan fans would not put up with KF.
And for the 1,000 time, he is not a high level PG when it comes to defending and breaking down the Defense off the dribble or creating his own shot when necessary.
These statements would not be accurate. Fran is simply going to only go after players who would be a good fit for the program. He's not going to take a guy simply to take a guy and frankly that's what desperate folks do and the results are generally not good when they do.
Understand Tom, but when you finish 13th, win 4 conference games, and get blown out in 3/4 of them, is Fran in a position to act like we are some tropical paradise destination? It's pretty clear to me that it's time to act with some urgency, desperation, practicality...whatever you want to call it. Bringing back the same roster + 3 freshman essentially given CM's limited PT does not fill me with optimism for next season. (If Cook returns)
None of which are even warm to Iowa in 247Well, how you feel in terms of optimism isn't Fran's job. That's something he cannot control. He apparently feels comfortable with the roster and says he is addressing issues like team defense. He seems to be focused on recruiting prospects in 2019 and 2020. You can certainly disagree with his mode of operation, but how do you know that internally he's not acting with urgency on the issues that need to improve?
None of which are even warm to Iowa in 247
Usually is. I'll wait and see, thoughWell, gosh, if 247 says it's true in April it must be true. SMH.
Well, gosh, if 247 says it's true in April it must be true. SMH.
Usually is. I'll wait and see, though
4-14 is true and nearly the worst P5 defense in the country. Cook and maybe Pemsl leave and Fran has serious problem recruiting/keep any African American players on his roster.
247 predictions are usually true? Only if you check their forecast 24-48 hours prior to the prospect's decision, when the connected sources are reporting and the announcement is imminent. Otherwise, its laughable.Usually is. I'll wait and see, though
Well, how you feel in terms of optimism isn't Fran's job. That's something he cannot control. He apparently feels comfortable with the roster and says he is addressing issues like team defense. He seems to be focused on recruiting prospects in 2019 and 2020. You can certainly disagree with his mode of operation, but how do you know that internally he's not acting with urgency on the issues that need to improve?
Fran should be focused on 2019 and 2020 recruiting, absolutely. But he also needs to focus on the 2018 season. While I'm glad in public he's saying he's comfortable with the roster, I sure hope that he's not comfortable in private. He should always be looking to improve the team if he can. Even if we had finish in Penn St's position, I still would want him to be looking for a player who can come in to help get to the next level. Wagner and BE did Fran a huge favor by moving on. I would hope that Fran would take advantage of that.
Have written extensively on the defensive issues. Was on that relatively early in the season. That's not news to me. But, if it makes you feel better to bring it up and fire towards me, then so be it. Fran says it's what they are focused on in the off-season and we will see if it improves.
He has basically said he wasn't comfortable with the results, which is why he is looking different ways to do things in every aspect of the program (offense/defense/training). Those are ways he's looking to improve the team.
Have written extensively on the defensive issues. Was on that relatively early in the season. That's not news to me. But, if it makes you feel better to bring it up and fire towards me, then so be it. Fran says it's what they are focused on in the off-season and we will see if it improves.
Agreed. Even Ohio State added a transfer player, and they finished 3rd in the BIG I believe it was. Not sure if it was a grad-transfer player but regardless, I've heard he was maybe the best on the marketFran should be focused on 2019 and 2020 recruiting, absolutely. But he also needs to focus on the 2018 season. While I'm glad in public he's saying he's comfortable with the roster, I sure hope that he's not comfortable in private. He should always be looking to improve the team if he can. Even if we had finish in Penn St's position, I still would want him to be looking for a player who can come in to help get to the next level. Wagner and BE did Fran a huge favor by moving on. I would hope that Fran would take advantage of that.
That sounds good, I just wish you/him have included "personal" in your list of what he's looking at.
"personal"?????? Did you mean personnel?
Having 3 true perimiter players vs 3 bigs on the court at once will help some but I dont believe that the same staff and mostly the same players are going to come up with any significant changes in defensive efficiency.
One of those two parts of the equation needs to change.
The numbers during the McCaffery era on defense suggest it won't. Good four year stretch defensively when Woody, Gesell, Sapp, and to some extent Uthoff were around. Rest of the time, they have been below avg to poor defensively. Those guys aren't walking through the door and putting on the Iowa jersey again.
To me, it suggests a scheme change from Fran would be the smart thing to do. I still think the roster has talent, particularly on offense. Throw in Wieskamp and Fredrick for shooting and Connor will help in the backcourt as well. But, they need a different approach on defense. I know many will disagree, but I don't think you have to be super athletic to be a solid defensive team. Had last year's team been middle of the road defensively, I think they would have been much better overall because they were pretty solid scoring the ball.
Well, how you feel in terms of optimism isn't Fran's job. That's something he cannot control. He apparently feels comfortable with the roster and says he is addressing issues like team defense. He seems to be focused on recruiting prospects in 2019 and 2020. You can certainly disagree with his mode of operation, but how do you know that internally he's not acting with urgency on the issues that need to improve?
Which is why Michigan sorta sucks at football.
Tom, if you saw the defensive issues early in the season (and so did everyone else, including Fran), why wasn't something done. They had the whole season to work on it. What is Fran going to do differently next year than what he's done in the past. Has he brought in a new coach? Has he changed his defense? If we have the same player, same coaches, same defense, how are things going to change.
Fair points and you are right, it is my subjective opinion vs. fact. However, actions speak louder than words and and what action has Fran taken to address the gaps after the season ended? If you are in the camp that thinks Fran and his staff can simply "coach better" defense, then why didn't they do this before or during the season? Hard to improve defensively when you can't guard on the perimeter and get dismantled by quick guards. I remember sitting in CHA for the Chicago State game watching their guards shred the D and thinking "this is going to be a long year".
Second point, how many 4-5 star prospects (who will have attractive offers) will be interested in coming to Iowa if it's another bottom 3 finish in the big ten? This will be a team without 1 of its 2 best players (Cook) and nobody to fill in that has demonstrated any consistency (Pemsl if he stays, Kriener or Nunge). It may not be Fran's job to pedal optimism, but it is his job to take the necessary steps to improve Iowa basketball.
4-14 is true and nearly the worst P5 defense in the country. Cook and maybe Pemsl leave and Fran has serious problem recruiting/keep any African American players on his roster.
You can ask Fran that question. The defense was discussed many times in our pressers and several times, Fran pointed to the offense not performing well. Eventually he did say they didn't guard well, but it took a while. His philosophy, which he has spoken about many times is he prefers man to man. Will switch to 2-3 and some 3/4 court 1-3-1 from time to time. Finds something that is working and sticks with it. That's been what he's done basically his entire coaching career from what I understand.
You know he hasn't brought in a new coach, so I'm not sure why you would even ask that question.
They haven't played a game, so we don't know if he has changed his philosophy. All we know is he has said that they are looking at everything, including their approach on defense. if nothing changes, expect more of the same, unless the amount of effort on defense changes. The issue this past season, IMHO, was more effort and understanding than it was overall scheme.
TK, want to start by saying all of my responses to you are meant as a response to TK the poster, not TK the admin or reporter. I'm not trying to say you're not asking the right questions to Fran and/or expecting you to ask my questions.
I honestly don't know if he's brought in a new coach or not. Didn't think so but really not sure. But really that was just a general question asking what has changed to make people think things will be better.
It's somewhat puzzling to me to see all the excitement and enthusiasm over all these "grad transfer" players. Not one of them has even considered the NBA Draft. Rather pedestrian I'd say.
Wisconsin teams were never super athletic but very good on the defensive end, defense starts with heart effort and guts, Iowa has none of that on the defensive end.The numbers during the McCaffery era on defense suggest it won't. Good four year stretch defensively when Woody, Gesell, Sapp, and to some extent Uthoff were around. Rest of the time, they have been below avg to poor defensively. Those guys aren't walking through the door and putting on the Iowa jersey again.
To me, it suggests a scheme change from Fran would be the smart thing to do. I still think the roster has talent, particularly on offense. Throw in Wieskamp and Fredrick for shooting and Connor will help in the backcourt as well. But, they need a different approach on defense. I know many will disagree, but I don't think you have to be super athletic to be a solid defensive team. Had last year's team been middle of the road defensively, I think they would have been much better overall because they were pretty solid scoring the ball.
yea and the last All American at Iowa was whiteLast I checked brady is white and Pemsl is half white.
The numbers during the McCaffery era on defense suggest it won't. Good four year stretch defensively when Woody, Gesell, Sapp, and to some extent Uthoff were around. Rest of the time, they have been below avg to poor defensively. Those guys aren't walking through the door and putting on the Iowa jersey again.
To me, it suggests a scheme change from Fran would be the smart thing to do. I still think the roster has talent, particularly on offense. Throw in Wieskamp and Fredrick for shooting and Connor will help in the backcourt as well. But, they need a different approach on defense. I know many will disagree, but I don't think you have to be super athletic to be a solid defensive team. Had last year's team been middle of the road defensively, I think they would have been much better overall because they were pretty solid scoring the ball.
I agree. I think the team was setup to fail at defense because of the scheme. Consistently leaving guys open for 3's does work in today's world when 4 out of the 5 guys on the floor can shoot a three and are actively wanting to shoot a 3.
Wisconsin teams were never super athletic but very good on the defensive end, defense starts with heart effort and guts, Iowa has none of that on the defensive end.
Why do you continue to want to make this about me? I'm simply reporting stuff. I get that you are frustrated with Fran and this past season. That's a big boat of vocal folks right now, but you have to understand when someone like myself is simply reporting information and you make it into a pitched battle like I am defending it or have a say in how things go with the Iowa basketball program. I'm in the reporting information camp.
Heck, I think I was the first person to really take a deep dive into the defensive issues and point out that the only years they have been really good were the Woody years. I try to stick to facts and stats in my reporting, particularly when I am going to be critical.
As far as recruiting, hopefully you are aware that most prospects will be committed/signed to a school before the season tips off in November, so it will be impossible for another bottom three finish to impact any decision.
Bit of advice for you, since we are a little over a month since Iowa's season ends and six or seven months until the season gets going, maybe wait and see what Fran comes up with and then decide if it's good or bad. I know society doesn't operate like that anymore because we have to know everything yesterday, but perhaps give it some time and see what it looks like and judge it at that point.