Poll: How confident are you that this is Fran's last season at Iowa?

[BirdistheWord]

Every fan here would trade all of those middle of the pack years for just 2 or 3 good NCAA tourney runs. Who gives a shit about Iowa finishing 6th or 7th every year in the BI G?

Where did I say I was happy with it? My point was that we have not made a sweet 16 despite being consistently decent. Like the football team we need to find a way to make noise in the playoff/tourney or what’s the point. We are all ready for change.

 

[Bank of Hawk]

As ridiculous as it sounds, I sense the narrative is shaping up at the higher levels of Iowa admin and boosters and even the Iowa media, is that Fran gets retained. Citing recruiting and Owen’s injury as the main reasons.

I don’t agree but that’s the sense I get.

 

[BirdistheWord]

As ridiculous as it sounds, I sense the narrative is shaping up at the higher levels of Iowa admin and boosters and even the Iowa media, is that Fran gets retained. Citing recruiting and Owen’s injury as the main reasons.

I don’t agree but that’s the sense I get.

This team probably doesn’t win an ncaa tourney game (w/ Freeman) unless we played a 16 seed. 15 seed opponent and below is either a dogfight or a blowout.

 

[Macbride79]

As ridiculous as it sounds, I sense the narrative is shaping up at the higher levels of Iowa admin and boosters and even the Iowa media, is that Fran gets retained. Citing recruiting and Owen’s injury as the main reasons.

I don’t agree but that’s the sense I get.

Retaining Fran would be a signal that Iowa has given up on the men’s basketball program. Next year’s attendance would be the worst since WWII era. Lost revenue will be more than the amount of Fran’s buyout (since that can be spread out over several years).

 

[TampaHawkfan]

As ridiculous as it sounds, I sense the narrative is shaping up at the higher levels of Iowa admin and boosters and even the Iowa media, is that Fran gets retained. Citing recruiting and Owen’s injury as the main reasons.

I don’t agree but that’s the sense I get.

If Freeman's injury is used as the excuse, I will be livid, because this team was a failure even before the injury.

You can at least make an argument from the recruiting side of it, even if I don't necessarily think it's enough justification.

 

[mizzy2442]

If Freeman's injury is used as the excuse, I will be livid, because this team was a failure even before the injury.

You can at least make an argument from the recruiting side of it, even if I don't necessarily think it's enough justification.

You knew the injury excuse was going to be used, but this team stunk with Freeman. The recruiting is average as well, no reason to keep him. Just burn it down if he’s back next year.

 

[GunnerHawk]

Sad how quickly this team has gone downhill.

No NCAA tourney last year and now no BIG tourney this year. I use to look forward to men's basketball but not anymore. No defense, poor half court offense, and our rebounding is horrific. FWIW, defense and rebounding requires effort, I see that from Dix and Thelwell.

 

[HawkBall23]

As ridiculous as it sounds, I sense the narrative is shaping up at the higher levels of Iowa admin and boosters and even the Iowa media, is that Fran gets retained. Citing recruiting and Owen’s injury as the main reasons.

I don’t agree but that’s the sense I get.

I hope you're wrong, because from before Thanksgiving through March '26 is a long time to have to find things to fill all that open space in my schedule.

Just like Lick's last year, I will likely be so completely apathetic I won't even know the Hawks are playing until I get score updates on my phone.

 

[MikeyHawk]

If Freeman's injury is used as the excuse, I will be livid, because this team was a failure even before the injury.

You can at least make an argument from the recruiting side of it, even if I don't necessarily think it's enough justification.

What is the recruiting argument?

 

[intrepodor]

There is the fact that his son Jack is scheduled to play for
Butler next season. Fran and his wife will want to watch his
games in person. This will happen when they move to Indiana.
Fran will be 66 years old this May. His coaching days are over
and he will negotiate with Beth for a reasonable departure.

Bottom Line: This is Fran's last season at Iowa.

 

[RocknRollface]

What is the recruiting argument?

The incoming class is all black and some people who don't really understand how the game works think that things like defense will automatically improve despite the coaching

College basketball teams almost never play better defense than their coach demands of them.

 

[iahawks10]

Is that saying Bball is top 33 in the country in revenue. If so that's pretty damn good.

33rd in expenses
29th in generated revenue

 

[Rustys Dad]

As ridiculous as it sounds, I sense the narrative is shaping up at the higher levels of Iowa admin and boosters and even the Iowa media, is that Fran gets retained. Citing recruiting and Owen’s injury as the main reasons.

I don’t agree but that’s the sense I get.

Uh no… even one of the main beat reporters for Iowa said it’s time for a change… I served on the local IClub board … still share group texts with many current and former board members …. people who “hear” different things from people they know/contacts …. I can say with confidence - there is zero talk about keeping Fran … Zero. He’s gone … His buyout is minimal … Fan apathy dangerously approaching Lick … Fran will 100 percent be gone … ZERO chance he is back … ZERO

 

[TampaHawkfan]

What is the recruiting argument?

Top 40 recruit just committed, more athletic looking commits (black, not the usual white guys).

But like I said, that's not really enough to sway me at this point.

 

[TampaHawkfan]

The incoming class is all black and some people who don't really understand how the game works think that things like defense will automatically improve despite the coaching

College basketball teams almost never play better defense than their coach demands of them.

Yeah I don't buy it, either.. But I'm saying some will point to that as the reason to bring back Fran.

 

[hawkdave007]

I voted 75% on the off chance Iowa somehow makes the Big Ten Tournament, and then makes a flukey deep run in it.

 

[MikeyHawk]

Top 40 recruit just committed, more athletic looking commits (black, not the usual white guys).

But like I said, that's not really enough to sway me at this point.

Top 40 based on what service? 247 has him around 70

 

[tippet1]

Top 40 based on what service? 247 has him around 70

Rivals has him at 37, On3 40, 247 68 and ESPN 62.

 

[Hawksfor3]

I put 100% gone. As the song "Too Many Rivers" says, "There's too much water that's gone under that old bridge..." He's stocking the cabinet IMO, which is good, but he's gone.

 

[Rambler Hawk]

I voted 75% on the off chance Iowa somehow makes the Big Ten Tournament, and then makes a flukey deep run in it.

Yeah, that was my worry until….Freeman went down. Put a fork in this team….

 

[Mohawkeye]

Top 40 based on what service? 247 has him around 70

Ok. That’s still pretty high.

 

[Max_Rebo]

I know that message boards don’t always accurately reflect the sentiment of the overall fan base, but I can’t remember a time when fans have appeared so united in the notion that it’s time to move on from a coach.

Even in year 3 of Lickliter, it seems like there were at least a few folks still actively suggesting that more time would yield improved results.

I personally put my confidence that Fran is not back at around 62%. But if he returns, it’s going to get ugly around here.

 

[TampaHawkfan]

I know that message boards don’t always accurately reflect the sentiment of the overall fan base, but I can’t remember a time when fans have appeared so united in the notion that it’s time to move on from a coach.

Even in year 3 of Lickliter, it seems like there were at least a few folks still actively suggesting that more time would yield improved results.

I personally put my confidence that Fran is not back at around 62%. But if he returns, it’s going to get ugly around here.

Yeah, I recall the message boards being more divided on whether to let Lickliter go after that 3rd year. Going further back, it was the same with Alford. I remember alot of arguing about it.

Now, it seems like it's as close to a consensus as you're going to get, that it's time to move on.

 

[TRHawkeye145]

Helps when the lame duck coach got 15+ instead of 3. Even the "give him more time" crowd knows it ain't changing after this long.

Could have hired 4 coaches in the same time...and Iowa bball would be no worse than it is now but potentially more upside. But you can't convince the chicken little crowd

 

[SDHawkDoc]

Every fan here would trade all of those middle of the pack years for just 2 or 3 good NCAA tourney runs. Who gives a shit about Iowa finishing 6th or 7th every year in the BI G?

Exactly.
Whenever it's brought up about Fran's teams regularly finishing 6th or 7th in the league, my response is who gives a f#$k?
I don't care what place they finish in the conference. It's where they finish in the NCAA tourney that matters. I'll take a few sh!tty seasons if you follow it up with a final four.
Point is, I completely disagree with the fans that think consistently mediocre is a better option than having to put up with some bad seasons to get a few standouts.