Now that the Hawks have finally played some teams with a pulse and where Rebraca isn't the biggest guy on the court, it's pretty clear just how badly the staff failed the current players by not recruiting the transfer portal harder to fill the glaring holes on an otherwise fantastic roster.
Iowa's centers had a grand total of 3 points vs. Illinois. Why Fran made that poor Mulvey kid graduate a year early so that he can "contribute" can only be chalked up to lazy recruiting. Why he gave a scholarship to Austin Ash, who will not see a meaningful minute all season, is incompetence. This team has too much talent going to waste as a result of missing one or two pieces that were readily available in the transfer portal. How many small conference all Americans would have killed for the chance to have Ash's scholarship this year? Or Mulvey's?
Fran would have needed to jettison one of the assistants and hire that Minnesota 7ft center's (robbins?) uncle to get a true impact center. It is hard to replace assistants whose only job is to say "yes" to playing Fran's kids more than they should, or saying yes to defense optional, or more zone please.
The other option was re-recruiting Nunge with some NFT money and guaranteed green light to shoot 3pt shots at at a 30% clip but Fran already has that greenlight given to his two boys . I get that Nunge wanted to go back home and it might not be possible, but Xavier is not super close.
The glaring hole in Fran's portal recruiting is quality. Uthoff was a stud but he was returning home, not Fran.. Rebracca is a little bit step forrward over Bakari --so good pickup. However, not the impact player that Illini got with that shooting guard that basically did in Iowa.
This Iowa team can be NCAA tourney team and maybe even win a sweet 16 game, but Fran will have to make some decisions that go against his tendencies and I doubt that will happen.
Playing time for Fran starts with DNA connection and then seniority is next in line. There is no other coach in country that would not start both Murrays and Perkins or make CMAC the 6th man on the team.