Overhaul

[hexumhawk]

Iowa basketball needs a complete overhaul imo. Start with finding a new coach that can recruit like a mother. Fran has had his time here and you cant say that Iowa didn't give him a fair shake. He will NEVER make us into a conference title contender, let a lone a national title contender. Those are just the facts people and he has been given a ton of time.

Secondly, you have to do something about the situation with Carver and the fan apathy. Move the students, reconfigure the arena, give away tickets, blow the place up and start over. Something.

 

[83Hawk]

I agree Fran has peaked, and I agree we need better recruiting. I don't think Barta is unhappy with Fran and the program though, and doubt he will do anything. Fran is probably here until he decides to retire, however long that may be.

As for Carver, Iowa has the absolute worst sports marketing department in the country. Something needs to be done and I've seen a lot of great ideas suggested by fans....but very little attempt is made by the powers that be. Not sure why that is. I'm sure they care....but they don't seem to show it.

 

[DodgerHawki]

I agree Fran has peaked, and I agree we need better recruiting. I don't think Barta is unhappy with Fran and the program though, and doubt he will do anything. Fran is probably here until he decides to retire, however long that may be.

As for Carver, Iowa has the absolute worst sports marketing department in the country. Something needs to be done and I've seen a lot of great ideas suggested by fans....but very little attempt is made by the powers that be. Not sure why that is. I'm sure they care....but they don't seem to show it.

Serious question for folks. The team this year is definitely heading in the wrong direction. But Fran has had 4 straight good seasons (NCAA tournament caliber teams). The 2020 COVID year Iowa was in the NCAA tournament when things got shut down. Iowa hasn't made the NCAA tournament 4 straight times since the last year of the Raveling era and Dr. Tom's first 3 years (1986-89). So if Fran has peaked, it's at a place Iowa hadn't been in more than 30 years. And just about 9 months ago Iowa won the Big Ten Tournament. That is not the same as winning the Big Ten regular season, but it's not nothing either.

Carver I have no answers for. My opinion is that a generation and more of Iowa fans has been lost due to what happened of the Alford/Lickliter years, followed by the university's overall apathy toward filling the arena. I get that they have promised things to the long-time ticket holders and donors, but at some point the focus has to be on getting people in the seats vs maximizing revenue.

 

[GOHOX69]

@Rifler will be on soon to tell you how terribly wrong you are and how things are just fine under Fran. Let the countdown begin.

 

[TheTruthTheWholeTruth]

I think you give Fran the opportunity to hit the portal hard now that The Swarm is fully operational. Last year Iowa was at a clear disadvantage. That’s not the case anymore.

If he refuses/fails to bring in the necessary athletes to improve the roster, and we see a repeat of this year’s results(thus far) then it’s time to move in a different direction.

 

[Herklejerk]

If you don't love Fran and all of his sons, you want Todd Lickliter back.

That's just a fact.

 

[jonesy5960]

Well right now things are trending towards a couple of rough seasons with no NCAA, but the portal can change all of this in a hurry. In basketball one or two players make a huge difference.

 

[EZ2BJZ]

I think you give Fran the opportunity to hit the portal hard now that The Swarm is fully operational. Last year Iowa was at a clear disadvantage. That’s not the case anymore.

If he refuses/fails to bring in the necessary athletes to improve the roster, and we see a repeat of this year’s results(thus far) then it’s time to move in a different direction.

I agree in part, but the problem of Fran refusing to adequately address defensive deficiencies has not changed. That is not a recipe for sustainable success regardless of who he might get in the portal.

 

[83Hawk]

Serious question for folks. The team this year is definitely heading in the wrong direction. But Fran has had 4 straight good seasons (NCAA tournament caliber teams). The 2020 COVID year Iowa was in the NCAA tournament when things got shut down. Iowa hasn't made the NCAA tournament 4 straight times since the last year of the Raveling era and Dr. Tom's first 3 years (1986-89). So if Fran has peaked, it's at a place Iowa hadn't been in more than 30 years. And just about 9 months ago Iowa won the Big Ten Tournament. That is not the same as winning the Big Ten regular season, but it's not nothing either.

Carver I have no answers for. My opinion is that a generation and more of Iowa fans has been lost due to what happened of the Alford/Lickliter years, followed by the university's overall apathy toward filling the arena. I get that they have promised things to the long-time ticket holders and donors, but at some point the focus has to be on getting people in the seats vs maximizing revenue.

You make good points about the NCAA tournament appearances. Those are accomplishments to be sure. To play devil's advocate.....he did nothing with those bids. Either 0 or 1 win. No Sweet 16s.

I understand that is fine with some people, and not fine with others.

 

[Incredible Hawk]

No one gives 2 S's what the arena is like if the product on the floor is worth watching.....

Take a look at Phog Allen Fieldhouse - it's a dump, a (literal) fire hazzard, and old - yet they don't have problems selling tickets.....

 

[littlez]

No one gives 2 S's what the arena is like if the product on the floor is worth watching.....

Take a look at Phog Allen Fieldhouse - it's a dump, a (literal) fire hazzard, and old - yet they don't have problems selling tickets.....

You’re kidding right? It’s possibly the most iconic arena in college basketball. Cmon.

 

[the24fan]

You make good points about the NCAA tournament appearances. Those are accomplishments to be sure. To play devil's advocate.....he did nothing with those bids. Either 0 or 1 win. No Sweet 16s.

I understand that is fine with some people, and not fine with others.

83 you need to get over to on3…
Don’t want to lose your good stuff

 

[Rudolph]

No one gives 2 S's what the arena is like if the product on the floor is worth watching.....

Take a look at Phog Allen Fieldhouse - it's a dump, a (literal) fire hazzard, and old - yet they don't have problems selling tickets.....

Holy shit.

 

[RocknRollface]

Serious question for folks. The team this year is definitely heading in the wrong direction. But Fran has had 4 straight good seasons (NCAA tournament caliber teams). The 2020 COVID year Iowa was in the NCAA tournament when things got shut down. Iowa hasn't made the NCAA tournament 4 straight times since the last year of the Raveling era and Dr. Tom's first 3 years (1986-89). So if Fran has peaked, it's at a place Iowa hadn't been in more than 30 years. And just about 9 months ago Iowa won the Big Ten Tournament. That is not the same as winning the Big Ten regular season, but it's not nothing either.

Carver I have no answers for. My opinion is that a generation and more of Iowa fans has been lost due to what happened of the Alford/Lickliter years, followed by the university's overall apathy toward filling the arena. I get that they have promised things to the long-time ticket holders and donors, but at some point the focus has to be on getting people in the seats vs maximizing revenue.

This is a valid point.

Counter point would be he had the best player in the country 3 years in a row and thats not likely to happen again.

Kris will probably be the 3rd best player in the Fran era and they have a slim chance at the tournament now with a roster full of upperclassmen.

The way it looks to a lot of people is the peak has come and gone.

 

[DodgerHawki]

This is a valid point.

Counter point would be he had the best player in the country 3 years in a row and thats not likely to happen again.

Kris will probably be the 3rd best player in the Fran era and they have a slim chance at the tournament now with a roster full of upperclassmen.

The way it looks to a lot of people is the peak has come and gone.

I get it. I do. But as we have seen, things can change quickly. Including within a season. I just think it's useless energy to expend on calling for Fran's job. Not going to happen, nor should it happen. Dude made NCAA tournament 4 years in a row, which hasn't happened in 30 years. He's not getting canned for a year following htat when he doesn't make the tournament.

I totally appreciate that fans don't appreciate the run of Garza and Keegan Murray (and to a lesser extent Kris) and how good they really were. And that it would be nice to have a 2nd weekend of the NCAA tournament to show for having Garza/Murray on the roster. But Fran is going to be given a very long leash, as he should. And I haven't given up on this season. It's highly unlikely that Iowa makes it to the NCAA tournament. But haven't closed the door on that yet.

 

[RocknRollface]

I get it. I do. But as we have seen, things can change quickly. Including within a season. I just think it's useless energy to expend on calling for Fran's job. Not going to happen, nor should it happen. Dude made NCAA tournament 4 years in a row, which hasn't happened in 30 years. He's not getting canned for a year following htat when he doesn't make the tournament.

I totally appreciate that fans don't appreciate the run of Garza and Keegan Murray (and to a lesser extent Kris) and how good they really were. And that it would be nice to have a 2nd weekend of the NCAA tournament to show for having Garza/Murray on the roster. But Fran is going to be given a very long leash, as he should. And I haven't given up on this season. It's highly unlikely that Iowa makes it to the NCAA tournament. But haven't closed the door on that yet.

You're right. A coach coming off the seasons he's just had isn't going to be fired.

It is a waste of time to get upset because he's not going anywhere for a while and that's the reality.

But if he doesn't start utilizing the swarm starting next year Iowa basketball is just killing time until he's gone and it will get ugly.

 

[83Hawk]

83 you need to get over to on3…
Don’t want to lose your good stuff

I'm there....just haven't posted much yet.