Most 10+ Win Conference Seasons, in Iowa Hoops History
- Thread starter Franisdaman
- Start date
Just for the record, when you play 20 Big Ten games it's a little easier to win 10 than it was when teams only played 14 . . . like in 1970 when Iowa went 14-0 under Ralph Miller, the team that averaged over 100 points per game despite NOT having the 3-point shot.
So winning 10 is cool, but don't forget the historical context. The number of games played matters . . . it matters quite a bit.
So winning 10 is cool, but don't forget the historical context. The number of games played matters . . . it matters quite a bit.
Not exactly apples to apples. Lute was 50% or better with wins at Iowa in 7 of 9 years.
18 game seasons: all 9 of Lute's years
18 game seasons: first 11 years of Tom Davis' tenure
16 game season: last 2 years of Tom Davis' tenure
18 game seasons: first 8 years of Fran era
20 game seasons: last 4 years of Fran era
B1G Records:
56%: 91-71, Lute Olson
55%: 126-104, Tom Davis
52%: 115-108, Fran McCaffery
18 game seasons: first 11 years of Tom Davis' tenure
16 game season: last 2 years of Tom Davis' tenure
18 game seasons: first 8 years of Fran era
20 game seasons: last 4 years of Fran era
B1G Records:
56%: 91-71, Lute Olson
55%: 126-104, Tom Davis
52%: 115-108, Fran McCaffery
So, Tom Davis was shown the door after 13 seasons and still has a better conference winning percentage than Fran. 🤔
Lol, I’m kidding on this point. Dr. Tom inherited Raveling’s recruits. Fran was handed the Lickliter mess. Not apples to apples.
😁
this year it only took Fran the man 17 games to get to 10
Fran has done a good job overall at Iowa. It's not an easy place to win with the lack of in-state talent.
I view Iowa basketball as I do Iowa football. With a good coach, we will be above average to good most years and it takes a couple in state surprising talents (Murray brothers) to push us over the top to great.
I view Iowa basketball as I do Iowa football. With a good coach, we will be above average to good most years and it takes a couple in state surprising talents (Murray brothers) to push us over the top to great.
Wikepedia has Fran with 5-10 record in BTT.
So that puts Fran at 120-118, or 2 games over 0.500 for all Big10 games including BTT.
Fran took a team picked 9th to a position where Iowa is now among 8 teams with 7 or fewer losses.
I could see Fran getting coach of the year if Iowa closes out winning 2 of final 3 or better.... but Gard was picked 10th and currenty is alone in 1st place, so that seem better.
I would want to see Fran do better in BTT and get to a sweet16 before I annoint him at even Tom Davis level. Clearly Fran is behind Lute Olson.
Lute was an exceptional, I would even say elite coach. There aren’t many of those around.
silly stat
getting ten wins now is going .500
the stat should be on % 🙄
getting ten wins now is going .500
the stat should be on % 🙄
Usually a once in a generation thing at Iowa. 2002 football. 1987 basketball.
Things just have to fall into place right. If all the juniors from last year's squad would have returned for instance. Or, if Keegan and Kris somehow are in Iowa uniforms next season.
That's the point, Iowa will never be a Duke that just reloads 4* talent at every position every year. Things have to work out just right.
This is worth noting for contextualizing Bucky, but comparing Lute, Dr. Tom and Fran is worth a look.
The reality is that it’s theoretically possible. An elite coach could absolutely win at Iowa. The trick is finding said elite coach and having him stay long enough to turn the program into a blue blood. MSU was a good-to-very-good program under Jud Heathcoate, but became elite with Izzo. Coach K made Duke elite. Dan Monson elevated Gonzaga, but Mark Few made them a blue blood. Brad Stevens had Butler at that level. Jim Calhoun made UConn elite……but the search for an elite coach can leave a lot of wreckage in its wake. Even mighty UCLA has spent decades between top coaches looking for the right fit.
I agree with this. I'm just not willing to suffer through the Steve Alfords and Lickliters for that small chance you hit the lottery and get that elite coach. I also think that unless said elite coach has some type of historical ties to Iowa, he'd be gone for greener pastures when the opportunity presented itself.
Now queue all the "yOu sEttLe FoR mEdiOciTy!" posts.
ExactlyI agree with this. I'm just not willing to suffer through the Steve Alfords and Lickliters for that small chance you hit the lottery and get that elite coach. I also think that unless said elite coach has some type of historical ties to Iowa, he'd be gone for greener pastures when the opportunity presented itself.
Now queue all the "yOu sEttLe FoR mEdiOciTy!" posts.
Much of the leadership on Frans better teams have been Iowans. Woodbury, uthoff, geselle (close enough), jok, Bohannon, Wieskamp, Murray...i really don't think that's holding Fran back as much as not getting more bigger targets outside of Iowa like Garza and TC. Most good programs are dependent on out of state talent, we get most of the iowa kids we want. I don't think Fred had hardly any Iowans his sweet 16 team, I just don't buy that excuse in basketball as much as fball
100%
I lold when I read it.
What's next? Tied for 3d place finishes? Whoo hooooo!!!
smh
I disagree. Look at the star ratings of all the players you mentioned coming out of high school. Credit to Fran and crew, they made them great players but most were not super highly rated.
Iowa produced zero of the top 100 recruits in the past 5 years. And that's not an anomaly...that's just the norm.
And you say not getting out of state prospects is the issue but that's the point I'm making. It's far easier to recruit kids from in-state that are closer to home and have a soft spot for a program they've been rooting for their whole lives. If you had more of those in-state kids that were top level recruits, you would be a much better team. Other teams have many more in-state options.
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