So many coaches amongst Iowa fans

[Aleksei]

it’s amazing how many people post about who should play and who should get more minutes and who doesn’t deserve to start or come off the bench first or second, etc. I get it that these boards are here so fans can discuss ideas, but most of us have only seen these kids play during the games on TV. So why pretend like we know better than guys who spend thousands of hours with these kids? Who have financial incentives to use the best combination of players to win? If any of those Fran detractors were coaching this season, we’d probably have zero wins! Why all this pretense to knowing better than the guys who have engineered a wonderful season so far?
Go Hawks!

 

[mooresville hawk]

it’s amazing how many people post about who should play and who should get more minutes and who doesn’t deserve to start or come off the bench first or second, etc. I get it that these boards are here so fans can discuss ideas, but most of us have only seen these kids play during the games on TV. So why pretend like we know better than guys who spend thousands of hours with these kids? Who have financial incentives to use the best combination of players to win? If any of those Fran detractors were coaching this season, we’d probably have zero wins! Why all this pretense to knowing better than the guys who have engineered a wonderful season so far?
Go Hawks!

There are some fans that feel they know more than the coaches. It is always easier to second guess the coaches and players from the comfort of our couches. The coaches see these players every day and are doing what they feel is going to help win games. That does not mean that they always get it right, but they are trying to win.

 

[Aleksei]

There are some fans that feel they know more than the coaches. It is always easier to second guess the coaches and players from the comfort of our couches. The coaches see these players every day and are doing what they feel is going to help win games. That does not mean that they always get it right, but they are trying to win.

I just can’t believe that so many people do it. Just browse through the topics of the recent posts and you see what I mean. And all this criticism of JBo!!!! The kid is Iowa’s leading three point shooter and among the top ten in the league. He has had so many glorious moments for our team. And he plays his heart out, even after two hip surgeries. Most of his detractors couldn’t catch a ball if they broke a ****ing nail. I read people advocating for Perkins or Murray to start. Really? Perkins’ and Murray’s time would come, but now, really? What do these people know about these kids that the coaches don’t? Is it necessary to make someone like JBo contemplate transferring out of Iowa? Screw these morons. I know we have some great basketball savvy fans. I have met and talked to them in different arenas around the country. But there are an unbelievable number of idiots on this board.

 

[BBHawk]

Just need to ignore the idiots. Look at the world/US today. It's not hard to find people who are spouting off about things as if they are experts. Just ignore the ignorant where you can, and speak to truth when you cannot. Don't stoop to their level (advice I need to remember, too!)

 

[TheCDiggity]

Tbh any sports teams board is like that not just iowa

 

[pocha444444]

It's crazy! It's almost like this is a sports message board or something.

 

[Aleksei]

It's crazy! It's almost like this is a sports message board or something.

Lol - I’m an older guy, probably way way older than most people here. I remember the discussions used to be more substantive than these nonstop expressions of uninformed opinions as if they were facts. Anyway, sorry for the rant. I want the Hawks to win a championship or at least make the final four. It’s been too long.

 

[chuck285]

You should probably go over to the Wisconsin board. Probably lots of guys jumping off a bridge over there tonight,,
Even Duke and North Carolina have down years....

 

[Aleksei]

You should probably go over to the Wisconsin board. Probably lots of guys jumping off a bridge over there tonight,,
Even Duke and North Carolina have down years....

I think those who call for the coaches’ and the players’s heads after every loss should go over to those sites. These kids and coaches risk their lives/ health every night for our entertainment and I can’t believe that people still treat them like they are owed something. 🙄

 

[Franisdaman]

Tbh any sports teams board is like that not just iowa

$hit, last fall, my dad was questioning the play calls....of the LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH.

 

[mooresville hawk]

Tbh any sports teams board is like that not just iowa

I hear this frequently. I do not believe it makes it right. We as posters should demand better of ourselves and our fellow fans.

I have no problem discussing strategy and game decisions. There is no need to denigrate the players or claim nepotism by the coaches. These are players and coaches for the team we root for. They are all working hard to win as many games as possible. They need our support to pick them up when they do not succeed.

If you feel that you can no longer support this team and/or the coach, then you can notify the administration or support another team. Attacking the players or coaches with idiotic statements is not the answer. We need to respect each other as well as the players and coaches.

 

[mooresville hawk]

It's crazy! It's almost like this is a sports message board or something.

There is a difference between having a discussion and denigrating the coaches and players. I am not accusing you of this, but there are some on this board or are guilty.

 

[24 so far]

Lol - I’m an older guy, probably way way older than most people here. I remember the discussions used to be more substantive than these nonstop expressions of uninformed opinions as if they were facts. Anyway, sorry for the rant. I want the Hawks to win a championship or at least make the final four. It’s been too long.

I'm no spring chicken either, and I do have my own opinions, but you don't have to pass an IQ Test to post (wish that were true) and you can't legally "thin the herd", so this is the result. It's the same from Sea to Shining Sea however, so your vitriol to Iowa Fans is misguided, we're just as dumb and opinionated as the rest of the Country! (i.e. we're not "special") Enjoy!

 

[24 so far]

There is a difference between having a discussion and denigrating the coaches and players. I am not accusing you of this, but there are some on this board or are guilty.

Your perfect World does not exist Sir. Nor mine. My perfect World doesn't have the Internet as part of it, that fixes this problem instantly. Good day.

 

[Aleksei]

I'm no spring chicken either, and I do have my own opinions, but you don't have to pass an IQ Test to post (wish that were true) and you can't legally "thin the herd", so this is the result. It's the same from Sea to Shining Sea however, so your vitriol to Iowa Fans is misguided, we're just as dumb and opinionated as the rest of the Country! (i.e. we're not "special") Enjoy!

Lol ... one of my favorite comments on this board. “We are just as dumb and opinionated as the rest of the country.” I love it 👏👏 And you’re right. I totally agree.

 

[Ronman]

There are some people on this board that obviously know a lot about the game of basketball, but that is NOT the same as running practices, devising game strategies, designing plays and being responsible for ALL game decisions in real time, not watching replays from the couch.

 

[retrodent]

10% of all fans are idiots— and all of them are on fan boards

 

[24 so far]

10% of all fans are idiots— and all of them are on fan boards

This idiot thinks your estimate is extremely conservative.........

But to each his own!

 

[Ihawkhoops]

Where is Iowa without Garza? Credit Fran for finding him and credit Garza for working his ass off but none of the other starters are showing much, if any, development. A strong case can be made for Ulis, Perkins, Joe T. and clearly Murray getting more minutes but Fran continues to roll the same guys out there and give them a ton of minutes even if their performance / effort doesn't merit it.

A 12 minute fg drought and anemic offense with 4 guys standing around while Garza gets swarmed left a lot to be desired in the coaching department. It was pretty clear that Jbo, Joe W. and Connor were not the guys to have on the floor at the same time in the second half.

 

[24 so far]

Where is Iowa without Garza? Credit Fran for finding him and credit Garza for working his ass off but none of the other starters are showing much, if any, development. A strong case can be made for Ulis, Perkins, Joe T. and clearly Murray getting more minutes but Fran continues to roll the same guys out there and give them a ton of minutes even if their performance / effort doesn't merit it.

A 12 minute fg drought and anemic offense with 4 guys standing around while Garza gets swarmed left a lot to be desired in the coaching department. It was pretty clear that Jbo, Joe W. and Connor were not the guys to have on the floor at the same time in the second half.

That same lame group of starters have had Iowa ranked in the Top Ten all year. That doesn't happen that often in these here parts.....

 

[Drmac22]

Right now people are so desperate for something good, they have a hard time when the good thing they love takes the hit or loss. I have a different perspective on the college kids as I have a daughter who plays college sports. We as Fans want so badly for the kids who are playing to be perfect and the coaches to make all the right calls, we always second guess decisions after they were proven to be a bad one. If a player plays bad, the back up is the answer. But people forget these are kids, they have a life outside of the game, they have bad days, they have breakups. stay up to late and perform poorly, maybe drink to much the day before. Who knows. I am as bad as anyone wanting these Hawks to win.. I even voice my opinion on what should have happen.. In truth I don't know crap about playing at that level. I just know what would have worked after I saw what didn't, if that makes any sense. I think when i see people attacking players on this board.. about my kid, how i would feel to see her being dragged in the mud for not making a play or what ever. And try to think about Jbos folks or any of them. Its entertainment and we have to realize this. They are the ones putting all the work in, they feel crappy when they lose.. Believe me they were not trying to. I say give em a break. Be happy we have games to watch. I am.

 

[chuck285]

Where is Iowa without Garza? Credit Fran for finding him and credit Garza for working his ass off but none of the other starters are showing much, if any, development. A strong case can be made for Ulis, Perkins, Joe T. and clearly Murray getting more minutes but Fran continues to roll the same guys out there and give them a ton of minutes even if their performance / effort doesn't merit it.

A 12 minute fg drought and anemic offense with 4 guys standing around while Garza gets swarmed left a lot to be desired in the coaching department. It was pretty clear that Jbo, Joe W. and Connor were not the guys to have on the floor at the same time in the second half.

You have your opinion and I have mine. You'd only last one year ( if lucky) as a coach of a major college team with your brilliant game coaching...JMO

 

[HawkRugged17]

 

[Whiskeydeltadeltatango]

I'm no coach by I do have this opinion. What we get out of the team this year is realistically the high water mark of the McCaffrey coaching era. We have the best player to wear an Iowa uniform ImO, we have 3 really good outside shooters, we have a pretty shifty point guard, 2 coaches son smart type players and are getting a solid contribution from a freshman playing above expectations. We cannot expect his system to have a better situation from a fit and talent perspective. If we fail out of the tournament(s) because the team can't play defense, that is what your going to get out of the McCaffrey brand.

 

[mooresville hawk]

I'm no coach by I do have this opinion. What we get out of the team this year is realistically the high water mark of the McCaffrey coaching era. We have the best player to wear an Iowa uniform ImO, we have 3 really good outside shooters, we have a pretty shifty point guard, 2 coaches son smart type players and are getting a solid contribution from a freshman playing above expectations. We cannot expect his system to have a better situation from a fit and talent perspective. If we fail out of the tournament(s) because the team can't play defense, that is what your going to get out of the McCaffrey brand.

This may very well be the high water mark. If so, I do not think we have a lot to complain about so far with a team that has consistently been in the top 5-10 in the nation.

That being said, I do like the looks of next year’s team as well;

Ahron
CJ
Connor
Jack
Joe T
Joe W
Josh
Keegan
Kris
Patrick
Tony

This has the look of a completely different team than this year. They may not be able to score as well as this year’s team and will definitely miss Luka and Jordan (provided both leave as expected), but I do think they will put up some good offensive numbers. The defense could be a lot better as well. We got a glimpse of the defense the other night against Indiana at the end of the game.

 

[Ronman]

We're in second place in the toughest league in the country and you'd think by some posts on here that we are struggling to keep our heads above water. Is undefeated the only result some of you guys will accept? There are only five undefeated teams left and only two of those have played anyone with a pulse. I want this team to succeed as much as anyone, but good gawd, have some perspective.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

it’s amazing how many people post about who should play and who should get more minutes and who doesn’t deserve to start or come off the bench first or second, etc. I get it that these boards are here so fans can discuss ideas, but most of us have only seen these kids play during the games on TV. So why pretend like we know better than guys who spend thousands of hours with these kids? Who have financial incentives to use the best combination of players to win? If any of those Fran detractors were coaching this season, we’d probably have zero wins! Why all this pretense to knowing better than the guys who have engineered a wonderful season so far?
Go Hawks!

Well.....some of us actually are coaches.

 

[Aleksei]

Well.....some of us actually are coaches.

Well, if “some of you” were coaches, you wouldn’t post some of the bull that clearly shows you are not very good coaches. Teams win and lose, players have good nights and bad nights, teams sometimes seem coherent and sometimes don’t. Every single win or loss doesn’t define the totality of a team or a player. “Some of you” coaches are talking about benching one of the best three point shooters in the country, and starting freshmen you have only seen play for a couple of minutes at the end of blow out games. Some of you coaches are critical of players and coaches who have kept this team amongst the top ten teams in the country all year long..... Give me a break with “some of us are coaches.” I feel bad for the teams you guys coach. 🙄

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Well, if “some of you” were coaches, you wouldn’t post some of the bull that clearly shows you are not very good coaches. Teams win and lose, players have good nights and bad nights, teams sometimes seem coherent and sometimes don’t. Every single win or loss doesn’t define the totality of a team or a player. “Some of you” coaches are talking about benching one of the best three point shooters in the country, and starting freshmen you have only seen play for a couple of minutes at the end of blow out games. Some of you coaches are critical of players and coaches who have kept this team amongst the top ten teams in the country all year long..... Give me a break with “some of us are coaches.” I feel bad for the teams you guys coach. 🙄

Well, if some of us coaches said all that, and you knew which some of us that are coaches are actually coaches, and said all of that..............then you would have a point, now wouldn't you.

Food for thought, my salty fellow Hawkeye fan.

 

[Whiskeydeltadeltatango]

We're in second place in the toughest league in the country and you'd think by some posts on here that we are struggling to keep our heads above water. Is undefeated the only result some of you guys will accept? There are only five undefeated teams left and only two of those have played anyone with a pulse. I want this team to succeed as much as anyone, but good gawd, have some perspective.

We have the best team of my life. At some point you have to meet expectations. This was a dark horse national title contender that appears to be ready to miss the first objective of the season, win the b10. Its not all doom and gloom but calling a spade a spade.

 

[BirdistheWord]

it’s amazing how many people post about who should play and who should get more minutes and who doesn’t deserve to start or come off the bench first or second, etc. I get it that these boards are here so fans can discuss ideas, but most of us have only seen these kids play during the games on TV. So why pretend like we know better than guys who spend thousands of hours with these kids? Who have financial incentives to use the best combination of players to win? If any of those Fran detractors were coaching this season, we’d probably have zero wins! Why all this pretense to knowing better than the guys who have engineered a wonderful season so far?
Go Hawks!

Coaches are human. They are not perfect. Its not rocket science to discuss prioritization of minutes, lineups, etc.
Its not like we are putting our lineup recommendations on billboards around Iowa City, its just discussion among fans.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

We have the best team of my life. At some point you have to meet expectations. This was a dark horse national title contender that appears to be ready to miss the first objective of the season, win the b10. Its not all doom and gloom but calling a spade a spade.

The last team to not win a regular season or conference tourney title, and go on to win the national championship was 2015 Duke.

Of course, UConn also did it the season prior, so while winning the Big Ten would be extremely welcome, it is not necessarily an absolute prerequisite for winning a national championship.

 

[HawkLogic]

We're in second place in the toughest league in the country and you'd think by some posts on here that we are struggling to keep our heads above water. Is undefeated the only result some of you guys will accept? There are only five undefeated teams left and only two of those have played anyone with a pulse. I want this team to succeed as much as anyone, but good gawd, have some perspective.

I imagine a similar post could have been made in 2015-16 when Fran's Hawks were 7-1 and leading the B1G, with wins at MSU and at Purdue.

We won't know how good this team is/was until the end of the year. We do know that Garza is living up to expectation as POY, so any shortcomings in expectations are not Garza related. If someone posts some concerns about the way Fran coached the Indiana game and the result of the game, they may end up being correct.

 

[DodgerHawki]

We have the best team of my life. At some point you have to meet expectations. This was a dark horse national title contender that appears to be ready to miss the first objective of the season, win the b10. Its not all doom and gloom but calling a spade a spade.

Honest question. Do you not think that the players and coaches have these same goals? And that they have not been working to the best of their abilities to achieve these goals? As much as you or I want Iowa to win the Big 10 (I was a youngster when Iowa last won it), the players and coaches have actually invested their lives and way more time and effort into actually doing it than any of us fans do. Bohannon underwent two hip surgeries to play this season. Garza passed on guaranteed money playing overseas to come back. Wieskamp worked on his game and has been better. Nunge rehabbed from a ACL tear and his Dad died suddenly on the eve of the season. The Murray twins went to a prep school in Florida to improve their readiness for college.

What does it mean that at some point you have to meet expectations? Should Iowa give up basketball if this team doesn't win the Big 10? The goal is still to win the Big 10 and go try and win the national title. But sports is interesting because it's not guaranteed. There is a huge element of fortune involved in winning the league and making a deep tournament run. Yes, Iowa has a very good team. But they were never the favorite to win the league, and the odds were never better than 20-25% at best that Iowa would make a Final 4. Yes, I really want this team to win. No, I will not call them failures if they finish 2nd or 3rd in the league and when win 2 games in the NCAA tournament and lose in the Elite 8.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Honest question. Do you not think that the players and coaches have these same goals? And that they have not been working to the best of their abilities to achieve these goals? As much as you or I want Iowa to win the Big 10 (I was a youngster when Iowa last won it), the players and coaches have actually invested their lives and way more time and effort into actually doing it than any of us fans do. Bohannon underwent two hip surgeries to play this season. Garza passed on guaranteed money playing overseas to come back. Wieskamp worked on his game and has been better. Nunge rehabbed from a ACL tear and his Dad died suddenly on the eve of the season. The Murray twins went to a prep school in Florida to improve their readiness for college.

What does it mean that at some point you have to meet expectations? Should Iowa give up basketball if this team doesn't win the Big 10? The goal is still to win the Big 10 and go try and win the national title. But sports is interesting because it's not guaranteed. There is a huge element of fortune involved in winning the league and making a deep tournament run. Yes, Iowa has a very good team. But they were never the favorite to win the league, and the odds were never better than 20-25% at best that Iowa would make a Final 4. Yes, I really want this team to win. No, I will not call them failures if they finish 2nd or 3rd in the league and when win 2 games in the NCAA tournament and lose in the Elite 8.

Sure sports is fun when it's unpredictable.















But I'd still take a guaranteed Iowa national championship..............

 

[Whiskeydeltadeltatango]

Honest question. Do you not think that the players and coaches have these same goals? And that they have not been working to the best of their abilities to achieve these goals? As much as you or I want Iowa to win the Big 10 (I was a youngster when Iowa last won it), the players and coaches have actually invested their lives and way more time and effort into actually doing it than any of us fans do. Bohannon underwent two hip surgeries to play this season. Garza passed on guaranteed money playing overseas to come back. Wieskamp worked on his game and has been better. Nunge rehabbed from a ACL tear and his Dad died suddenly on the eve of the season. The Murray twins went to a prep school in Florida to improve their readiness for college.

What does it mean that at some point you have to meet expectations? Should Iowa give up basketball if this team doesn't win the Big 10? The goal is still to win the Big 10 and go try and win the national title. But sports is interesting because it's not guaranteed. There is a huge element of fortune involved in winning the league and making a deep tournament run. Yes, Iowa has a very good team. But they were never the favorite to win the league, and the odds were never better than 20-25% at best that Iowa would make a Final 4. Yes, I really want this team to win. No, I will not call them failures if they finish 2nd or 3rd in the league and when win 2 games in the NCAA tournament and lose in the Elite 8.

Yes I think they are giving it thier all, my statements have been made with the mindset that this brand of basketball might not be able to win the b10 stylistically.


This team wasn't a favorite to win the b10?

 

[iahawks10]

We have the best team of my life. At some point you have to meet expectations. This was a dark horse national title contender that appears to be ready to miss the first objective of the season, win the b10. Its not all doom and gloom but calling a spade a spade.

How are they not living up to expectations? Everyone knew coming into the season that the B1G was going to be brutal. So far, it’s been exactly as advertised. Iowa was predicted anywhere from first to fourth in most predictions and Michigan was a “dark horse” to win the B1G. It is exactly as predicted by most.

If you thought Iowa was just going to ease through the B1G and win it going away, that’s on you. Anyone that pays attention knew the conference was going to be a grind game in and game out and that’s exactly what we’re seeing every game.

 

[unoHawkeye]

Yes I think they are giving it thier all, my statements have been made with the mindset that this brand of basketball might not be able to win the b10 stylistically.


This team wasn't a favorite to win the b10?

Iowa has been missing a top end two way guard who can lock somebody up on defense, then create and/or get his own shot whenever he wants. We need our own version of Cassius Winston, Marcus Carr, Carsen Edwards, Nate Mason, Yogi Ferrell, Denzel Valentine, Ayo Dosunmu etc.

Elite guard play is what wins championships, whether it’s at the collegiate level, or at the professional level. Look at tournament MVP’s the past decade: Kyle Guy (Virginia - elite two way guard, NBA player), Donte DiVincenzo (Nova - elite two way guard - NBA player), Ryan Arcidiacono, Joel Berry, Tyus Jones, Kemba Walker, Shabazz Napier, etc. The only players who weren’t backcourt players who have won in the past decade are Anthony Davis (one of the most dominant college players ever), and Luke Hancock (whose team beat the Michigan team with Stauskas, Burke, and Hardaway - all NBA guards) in the championship.

The closest that Iowa has had to a two way guard like this under Fran was Devyn Marble, who unfortunately never had the talent around him to make a run. We always have fantastic wings and good-great big men, but all around guard play just hasn’t been there. Here’s to hoping that Fredrick, Toussaint, Ulis, or Perkins can be that guy down the road

 

[Aleksei]

Well, if some of us coaches said all that, and you knew which some of us that are coaches are actually coaches, and said all of that..............then you would have a point, now wouldn't you.

Food for thought, my salty fellow Hawkeye fan.

Ok, the salty fellow Hawkeye fan was cute. 😂 I’ll give you that. I’m assuming you know who I am. But come on, does a coach realistically expect a team to win every single game in the course of a long season in the most competitive league in the country, and second guess a fellow coach’s educated rotational decisions with uninformed judgements? Some of these comments on players and playing time and who should start and who shouldn’t and accusations of nepotism and favoritism are just stupid. I’m sure you wouldn’t appreciate them if they were made about you and your team (if you were a real coach, which I doubt you are. 😂😂) Just kidding with the last comment. Good luck with your team.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Ok, the salty fellow Hawkeye fan was cute. 😂 I’ll give you that. I’m assuming you know who I am. But come on, does a coach realistically expect a team to win every single game in the course of a long season in the most competitive league in the country?.

...............Yes.