Just wrapped up a Zoom with Fran to discuss the upcoming game with Rutgers and more. Here are some rough quotes from what he had to say.
Q: Keegan Murray’s success. How did he go from being good to great?
FRAN: He kept working and getting better. He was committed to getting better. A lot of it is his mindset. He wasn’t seeking notoriety in high school, he just kept working to get better. Think that’s a credit to him, his brother, and parents. He got bigger and worked on his skill set and the fact that he was recognized wasn’t his fault. Eventually the big boys will figure it out. They find it at this level and eventually in the pros.
Q: Rutgers this year. What is your evaluation of why they are playing better now?
FRAN: They have Geo Baker now. They weren’t the same without him. He think’s Cliff has come along in the place of Miles Johnson. They have other good players coming along too. Feels like they should be higher in the NET. When they started 4-4 they didn’t have Geo Baker.
Q: You talked about Rebraca and his adjustment. How can Sunday’s game help him?
FRAN: You are seeing his complete skill set. He can drive the ball and defend ball screens and defend smaller guys. We needed to find someone to replace Luka and no one can do that completely, but he’s doing some good things and is capable of playing like he did on Sunday in every game.
Q: Asked about scheduling and Iowa had only three weekend games while others have many more. Is that something the league should be looking at?
FRAN: Yeah there is a lot that I could say about it. The answer is it’s something that should be looked it because it’s not right.
Q: Asked about rankings. Are they fair right now?
FRAN: It’s crazy to look at it right now. We have some monster games coming up. League is as tough, top to bottom, this year. Maybe tougher than last year. At the end of the day you have to win games. You can look at all these things in a formula, but you have to do the work and the scouting and win games. The numbers will look different in March.
Q: What do you have to do better beyond winning games…to win games?
FRAN: You have to keep getting better because teams scout you. You have to keep developing players. That’s what we will continue to try and do.
Q: What impresses you the most about Rutgers?
FRAN: They really compete and defend. They have always been unselfish and have shot makers. You think of Harper and Geo, but Mulkay is really improved. They have a couple of transfers that are playing well.
Q: Tomorrow is the 29th anniversary of Chris Street’s death. How important is it to honor him?
FRAN: We will never forget him and we constantly remember him. He honor him with the award at the banquet and the golf outing where a lot of former players return to play in. His parents came to IC West to watch our son and other former plays sons play last week. We have his jersey in the locker room and we always want to stay connected to his family.
Q: Keegan Murray’s success. How did he go from being good to great?
FRAN: He kept working and getting better. He was committed to getting better. A lot of it is his mindset. He wasn’t seeking notoriety in high school, he just kept working to get better. Think that’s a credit to him, his brother, and parents. He got bigger and worked on his skill set and the fact that he was recognized wasn’t his fault. Eventually the big boys will figure it out. They find it at this level and eventually in the pros.
Q: Rutgers this year. What is your evaluation of why they are playing better now?
FRAN: They have Geo Baker now. They weren’t the same without him. He think’s Cliff has come along in the place of Miles Johnson. They have other good players coming along too. Feels like they should be higher in the NET. When they started 4-4 they didn’t have Geo Baker.
Q: You talked about Rebraca and his adjustment. How can Sunday’s game help him?
FRAN: You are seeing his complete skill set. He can drive the ball and defend ball screens and defend smaller guys. We needed to find someone to replace Luka and no one can do that completely, but he’s doing some good things and is capable of playing like he did on Sunday in every game.
Q: Asked about scheduling and Iowa had only three weekend games while others have many more. Is that something the league should be looking at?
FRAN: Yeah there is a lot that I could say about it. The answer is it’s something that should be looked it because it’s not right.
Q: Asked about rankings. Are they fair right now?
FRAN: It’s crazy to look at it right now. We have some monster games coming up. League is as tough, top to bottom, this year. Maybe tougher than last year. At the end of the day you have to win games. You can look at all these things in a formula, but you have to do the work and the scouting and win games. The numbers will look different in March.
Q: What do you have to do better beyond winning games…to win games?
FRAN: You have to keep getting better because teams scout you. You have to keep developing players. That’s what we will continue to try and do.
Q: What impresses you the most about Rutgers?
FRAN: They really compete and defend. They have always been unselfish and have shot makers. You think of Harper and Geo, but Mulkay is really improved. They have a couple of transfers that are playing well.
Q: Tomorrow is the 29th anniversary of Chris Street’s death. How important is it to honor him?
FRAN: We will never forget him and we constantly remember him. He honor him with the award at the banquet and the golf outing where a lot of former players return to play in. His parents came to IC West to watch our son and other former plays sons play last week. We have his jersey in the locker room and we always want to stay connected to his family.
