Some perspective on CJ

[Pepperman]

I don't really follow recruiting, but what evidence is out there to suggest he's either lazy or tireless? How does anyone actually know? I just look at the results.

heres how I look at it:

1) any given kid, it’s a crapshoot obviously

2) over a period of a few years, it seems obvious to me we miss more times than not on major targets.

3) after 11 years, if you don’t already realize we’re going nowhere with this staff, not sure what else you need.

we just had the two time NPoY and we accomplished nothing. Nothing.

 

[nyhawk52]

i thought cj was very good and there was no one i would rather see taking the crucial three point shot. however given his history of injuries, i thought it was dangerous to count on him being the focal point of next year's team

 

[fivecardstud14]

Huh? We didn't make the tourney in 17 and 18 so he would have made it 3x in 5 years but if Garza doesn't choose Iowa would he have made any? Probably, but even in 19 Garza was a point from being our leading scorer. Dude has carried the program last couple years and that's because of his dad and an unreal off-season work ethic. Fran has only made the field of 64 twice in 8 years without Garza being a big contributor. He's not great and he's not awful, the next few seasons will show what Fran is as a coach. My theory is nepotism and joke defense is already contributing to his future mediocrity

Lol at "if Garza doesn't choose Iowa" well what if nobody chose the Hawks?! You can only go so far with Garza as your defensive anchor.

 

[33hawkfan]

Lol at "if Garza doesn't choose Iowa" well what if nobody chose the Hawks?! You can only go so far with Garza as your defensive anchor.

What if no one choose Iowa? Could the school force kids to play? Could the women’s team play the men’s schedules as well?

 

[longliveCS40]

There seems to be a lot of revisionist history about CJ on this board currently. Go back 2 weeks in posts and you won't find a word disparaging him or questioning how big of a piece he was set to be next season. Now, all of a sudden, he was just a role player with little upside that wasn't going to make that much difference next season and we're happy he's gone because Perkins is better anyway?

It's OK to admit it's a big loss, people. No need to try to delude yourselves.

 

[BBHawk]

There seems to be a lot of revisionist history about CJ on this board currently. Go back 2 weeks in posts and you won't find a word disparaging him or questioning how big of a piece he was set to be next season. Now, all of a sudden, he was just a role player with little upside that wasn't going to make that much difference next season and we're happy he's gone because Perkins is better anyway?

It's OK to admit it's a big loss, people. No need to try to delude yourselves.

I agree, but we did put CJ on a pedestal based on what he did when perfectly healthy. For me that was the issue - he was rarely healthy when Iowa needed him the most. But when he was healthy, he was really good.

 

[HawksRMe]

CJ got plenty of touches. The pump faking is old and passing up decent looks is old. CJs a good shooter when he actually pulled the trigger, but in my opinion, he was passive during his time at Iowa, not near aggressive enough. Maybe that changes down the road for him, idk. Who knows if he's ever healthy enough to play a full season, that also remains to be seen.

This 100%. For someone that shoots 45% from 3 he should of been shooting every time he was open.

 

[AuroraHawk]

College sports fans will need to adjust their feelings/expectations in what is already developing into a markedly different "landscape." The transfer portal is one thing but NIL will add yet another dimension. IMO, we've only scratched the surface of what college sports will be looking like in a few years. And I'm fully prepared that the changing landscape will not inure to the benefit of Iowa football or Iowa basketball. That written, I think that the former will be less adversely affected than the latter. Generally speaking and IMO, losing a key basketball player via the portal is far more devastating to a program than losing a key football player. I also cannot help but wonder what it might do to Heller's program. He's done a nice job with Iowa baseball but I envision that he might see some attrition via the portal if certain players see a chance to transfer to programs which have traditionally been invited to the NCAA regionals and/or qualified for the CWS.

 

[Douglas C. Neidermeyer]

He also has a terrible hair cut. And looked like a chubby 12 year old.

 

[hawkosx]

Maybe "lazy" isn't the right word for it, but he's not particularly talented at it.

Maybe he’s not “talented “ at it cus he doesn’t cheat?

 

[Rustys Dad]

CJ is one of 1,200 + players in the portal. Life goes on... Yes, he could have started... Reality is he knew this year’s team had the best chance of success ... CJ witnessed the best Fran has to offer ... and that was another early exit.. I don’t blame him...

 

[kceasthawk]

For being a poor recruiter AND a poor coach he sure has somehow managed to win quite a few games over his tenure.

I always find that funny as well, because we hear that about KF from some people also. Guy can't coach, and can't recruit, or doesn't put any effort into recruiting yet that guy has teams end up in the top 10 or 15 in the country. For whatever his faults its still hard to say being in the top 10 ALL year and being a two seed was a bad year. YES we all know how it finished. The fact though if I guy was that bad a coach, and didn't recruit at all then how do they win games in the best conference in the country? And before we head down the "well we had the POY the last two years" road, who recruited that guy?

 

[BBHawk]

CJ is one of 1,200 + players in the portal. Life goes on... Yes, he could have started... Reality is he knew this year’s team had the best chance of success ... CJ witnessed the best Fran has to offer ... and that was another early exit.. I don’t blame him...

Considering that he missed a sizeable portion of his time at Iowa, he witnessed a lot of it from the bench.

 

[Steve Waite]

Fran is ANYTHING but a lazy recruiter. He is a tireless recruiter.

I think he was getting confused with Lickliter..
I mean Little Lick, Cougs, Brommer, Tucker. That there is some McDonald’s All American type recruiting!

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

College sports fans will need to adjust their feelings/expectations in what is already developing into a markedly different "landscape." The transfer portal is one thing but NIL will add yet another dimension. IMO, we've only scratched the surface of what college sports will be looking like in a few years. And I'm fully prepared that the changing landscape will not inure to the benefit of Iowa football or Iowa basketball. That written, I think that the former will be less adversely affected than the latter. Generally speaking and IMO, losing a key basketball player via the portal is far more devastating to a program than losing a key football player. I also cannot help but wonder what it might do to Heller's program. He's done a nice job with Iowa baseball but I envision that he might see some attrition via the portal if certain players see a chance to transfer to programs which have traditionally been invited to the NCAA regionals and/or qualified for the CWS.

Yep, I'm expecting college sports to change considerably over the next 3 years and, going from there, who knows? If they make headway on the whole revenue sharing thing, it'll change radically.

What I'm curious about is if I'll lose even more interest in college sports. This is my first foray onto the BB board in quite awhile because I only casually follow Hawkeye BB these days. I'm bored, so the CJ transfer meltdown is interesting, but I've watched maybe 5 BB games in the last 5 years. It used to be can't miss stuff before that.

It's hard to imagine, but maybe I'll be the same way about football too someday.

 

[Slim45]

I always find that funny as well, because we hear that about KF from some people also. Guy can't coach, and can't recruit, or doesn't put any effort into recruiting yet that guy has teams end up in the top 10 or 15 in the country. For whatever his faults its still hard to say being in the top 10 ALL year and being a two seed was a bad year. YES we all know how it finished. The fact though if I guy was that bad a coach, and didn't recruit at all then how do they win games in the best conference in the country? And before we head down the "well we had the POY the last two years" road, who recruited that guy?

The big10 is crazy, its a great conference but brutal physically. As a coach you have to try’n form your team around the rigors of that, yet also try to have a formidable team come ncaa tourney, when the style of other conferences is pretty different. Fran hasn’t figured out how to make that work...yet. Hoping this new cast of better athletes may help. Kind of goes for a lot of the conference in the lack of success they’ve had of late

 

[icantfindausernamethatisntused]

There seems to be a lot of revisionist history about CJ on this board currently. Go back 2 weeks in posts and you won't find a word disparaging him or questioning how big of a piece he was set to be next season. Now, all of a sudden, he was just a role player with little upside that wasn't going to make that much difference next season and we're happy he's gone because Perkins is better anyway?

It's OK to admit it's a big loss, people. No need to try to delude yourselves.

I generally agree with your sentiment, but I also believe two things can both be true:

1. CJ is a tremendous player; and
2. Iowa can replace his production

Similar to when Tyler Cook left early for the NBA - he was a tremendous player, but Iowa had the talent to replace him. I don't think there's that big of a drop off from CJ to Tony Perkins overall. They're different types of players for sure, but what we lose in shooting from CJ, we gain in rebounds, steals, and athleticism with Tony.

With that said, we do lose depth, and I am concerned about the lack of perimeter shooting talent, but I don't think losing CJ necessarily sinks this team next year.

 

[longliveCS40]

I generally agree with your sentiment, but I also believe two things can both be true:

1. CJ is a tremendous player; and
2. Iowa can replace his production

Similar to when Tyler Cook left early for the NBA - he was a tremendous player, but Iowa had the talent to replace him. I don't think there's that big of a drop off from CJ to Tony Perkins overall. They're different types of players for sure, but what we lose in shooting from CJ, we gain in rebounds, steals, and athleticism with Tony.

With that said, we do lose depth, and I am concerned about the lack of perimeter shooting talent, but I don't think losing CJ necessarily sinks this team next year.

It's a fair assessment. The loss of depth and upperclassmen leadership I find more troubling than maybe the individual player itself. I'm not suggesting CJ was going to be a Luka Garza that could put the team on his shoulders and be the number 1 focal point next season.

I really hope the young guys can surprise us and play above expectations. I just know how difficult the Big Ten can be for freshman and sophomore players with limited playing experience in that environment. We really need to fill out the roster with transfers for depth and needs at shooting guard and center.

 

[kconnell10]

CJ smartest player in the room.....He got out

 

[kceasthawk]

CJ smartest player in the room.....He got out

Well in truth he slid out the back door under the cover of darkness so......

 

[kconnell10]

Sliding all the way to UCLA ........ Plenty of light in LA

 

[jonesy5960]

I don't know why CJ left and neither does anyone else on this board it seems. The fact of the matter is that CJ was an excellent open 3 point shooter. He was not a great scorer as his statistics bear out. He wasn't a great defender and he didn't deliver assists. He never collected rebounds and his FT shooting was bad this year. The biggest reason Iowa will miss him next year is because they are so short right now experience-wise and the experience they have coming back hasn't shown an ability to score consistently with the possible exception of Keegan who deserved way more minutes than he got. He had the best all around game this year outside of Luka and he and JW were close until JW went on a tear towards the end of the year.

In short, CJ was probably going to have a bigger role next year but he wasn't going to be some huge difference maker. Losing Nunge was way bigger IMO. Keegan, Perkins, JT, and PMac have all shown that they have more natural ability than CJ. The rest of the roster is pretty much completely unknown but it will be fun to see what a young athletic team will do. At a minimum we know they will have the athleticism to defend at a higher level than what was lost.

 

[Roy L Fuchs]

We have an athletic, defensive, minded roster now. It is almost the exact opposite of what Fran seems to have had to date.
Can we get some opposite results in the postseason?

Very few scorers. Maybe we can win some 46-45 games.

 

[BBHawk]

Very few scorers. Maybe we can win some 46-45 games.

This team will average ~70+ ppg next year. It's their defense that will win or lose games.

 

[St78I81]

I think he was getting confused with Lickliter..
I mean Little Lick, Cougs, Brommer, Tucker. That there is some McDonald’s All American type recruiting!

Not disagreeing with you at all, but your post sparked the memory of the game in which Iowa under Lickliter actually beat MSU.

 

[iahawks10]

@Douglas C. Neidermeyer

And like life imitating art, this is who the 12 year old fat kid married:

 

[Ihawkhoops]

You know 20 Million over 10 years is a very mediocre salary compared to many, right? Why do you even care about his salary? You hate Fran, we all get it, nobody is claiming him to be the best ever, but in the last 5 years, he would have taken us to 4 NCAA tourneys. How can you possibly think he shouldn't have been extended? Have you looked around us at the other similar midwest Bball programs? Minny, NW, ISU, Nebraska, Missouri, Indiana, KSU and even Illinois before the last two years with ample recruiting ground compared to Iowa. Again, if Fran wasn't extended, how does he recruit with 2 years left on a contract?

Agree to disagree. You could give Fran a 20 year contract and it wouldn't impact recruiting. He is no closer to making the Sweet 16 now than he was 2, 4, 6, years ago. Does Fran embrace the portal / transfers like every other coach? Nope. He consistently trashes it despite transferring back in his playing days. Oh he has to protect the sanctity of team chemistry and the locker room. Right.

The teams you list above haven't had a coach and staff in place for 10 years. No debate from me that Fran has Iowa in better shape than dumpster fire programs, but that comparison's shelf life ended a couple recruiting classes post-Lickliter. Would you bet on Iowa making a Sweet 16 before ISU, Minnesota, Missouri, Indiana or KSU? I wouldn't and there in lies the problem IMO.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

Fran is ANYTHING but a lazy recruiter. He is a tireless recruiter.

I would really like to believe this but why is he so bad at it? I mean we all know we aren't Duke, UNC, KU, KY, etc., but why is Fran seemingly relegated to these under-recruited guys? Don't the recruiting stars line up once in a while where Fran lands a couple guys that aren't the fall back x 3 option?

NPOY leaves and Fran can't find a big on the globe who wants to come here? So now it's the NAIA guy from Shawnee State? Typically a coach who is a good recruiter develops some pipelines at high schools / AAU programs / juco's. Correct me if I am wrong, but Fran is 0-3 unless you count IC West. Where is the talent from Florida (Speraw) and Dillard (Texas) we hear about when these guys were hired? Programs that named coaches in the last 30-days are pulling more transfers than Fran has in 10 years.

 

[TJFant]

He averaged 7 a game and missed half the year. Michael Jordan is not leaving the program

Nobody busted his balls more to get open but he was normally JoBo’s 4th option which is Franball. I am guessing CJ was fed up with Franball by the end of the year.

 

[BBHawk]

Nobody busted his balls more to get open but he was normally JoBo’s 4th option which is Franball. I am guessing CJ was fed up with Franball by the end of the year.

Uh, ok. And CJ passed up more open shots than he took. That's definitely NOT "Franball".

 

[SDHawkDoc]

When he wasn't injured, which seemed infrequent, he was quality perimeter shooter. Add to that he wasn't a great, but at least capable, defender on a bad defensive team with one of the worst defensive pgs among power programs as his back court mate.
On top of losing a quality player, he supposedly had an underlying "strong" personal connection to the coach through past family relationships.
Of course he is just one player, and not a superstar, but this doesn't send a positive message about the program. I don't have a burning need to know, but I'd be interested in him being candid about why he's leaving.

 

[33hawkfan]

Nobody busted his balls more to get open but he was normally JoBo’s 4th option which is Franball. I am guessing CJ was fed up with Franball by the end of the year.

CJ wouldn’t shoot when he was in, he passed up shot after shot. He has no one to blame except himself for not getting more shots.

 

[icantfindausernamethatisntused]

I don't know why CJ left and neither does anyone else on this board it seems. The fact of the matter is that CJ was an excellent open 3 point shooter. He was not a great scorer as his statistics bear out. He wasn't a great defender and he didn't deliver assists. He never collected rebounds and his FT shooting was bad this year. The biggest reason Iowa will miss him next year is because they are so short right now experience-wise and the experience they have coming back hasn't shown an ability to score consistently with the possible exception of Keegan who deserved way more minutes than he got. He had the best all around game this year outside of Luka and he and JW were close until JW went on a tear towards the end of the year.

In short, CJ was probably going to have a bigger role next year but he wasn't going to be some huge difference maker. Losing Nunge was way bigger IMO. Keegan, Perkins, JT, and PMac have all shown that they have more natural ability than CJ. The rest of the roster is pretty much completely unknown but it will be fun to see what a young athletic team will do. At a minimum we know they will have the athleticism to defend at a higher level than what was lost.

I don't know that I ever saw people talk about Fredrick's rebounding. Fredrick's rebounding rate was abysmal. He grabbed just 2.3% of all rebounds when he was on the floor. As a comparison, Bohannon grabbed 5.6%.

 

[Jizzer]

Agree to disagree. You could give Fran a 20 year contract and it wouldn't impact recruiting. He is no closer to making the Sweet 16 now than he was 2, 4, 6, years ago. Does Fran embrace the portal / transfers like every other coach? Nope. He consistently trashes it despite transferring back in his playing days. Oh he has to protect the sanctity of team chemistry and the locker room. Right.

The teams you list above haven't had a coach and staff in place for 10 years. No debate from me that Fran has Iowa in better shape than dumpster fire programs, but that comparison's shelf life ended a couple recruiting classes post-Lickliter. Would you bet on Iowa making a Sweet 16 before ISU, Minnesota, Missouri, Indiana or KSU? I wouldn't and there in lies the problem IMO.

It would impact recruiting, because it would make it worse. Is this really what you think, if we had a coach with one year left on his contract, it wouldn't impact recruiting? It's what you have to do as an AD nowadays, it's part of it, and if you don't understand that, it's because you don't want to. This is the first year it makes sense for Fran to use the transfer portal in years, he's not done, give it a chance. Honestly, when is the last time you saw a coach just run out of a contract? I mean come on, is this your logic?

As far as the teams I listed above, it's not how long those coaches have been there, it's the state of the basketball programs due to constantly firing coaches, using transfers, etc, which is exactly my point.

FYI, Pitino was at Minny for 8 years. Prohm 6 years. Weber 9 years. Plenty of time as well.

So just so we all know, you would fire Fran this year after sitting in the top 15 the entire year? You wouldn't extend a coach after making the tournament 4 of the last 5 years? That's what you would want? Your entire argument is centered around making the sweet 16?

 

[Stormn Norman]

CJ got a bunch of playing time and he got it while not being 100 % healthy I bet a few guys would have loved those minutes and them getting the minutes would have helped the future of the team a lot! What is strange to me with CJ’s departure is that Fran will have no choice but to play the kids that can attack the basket more this coming year and suck defenders in on the them unlike JBo and Conner, leaving a marksman like CJ the benefit of more open looks.

At times I thought CJ should have had more time on the bench this year due to being hurt, not playing the greatest D right along with two other starters and not looking to score more so while him leaving is somewhat disappointing because he does have to ability to shoot it I hope this will be good addition by subtraction for Iowa.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

It would impact recruiting, because it would make it worse. Is this really what you think, if we had a coach with one year left on his contract, it wouldn't impact recruiting? It's what you have to do as an AD nowadays, it's part of it, and if you don't understand that, it's because you don't want to. This is the first year it makes sense for Fran to use the transfer portal in years, he's not done, give it a chance. Honestly, when is the last time you saw a coach just run out of a contract? I mean come on, is this your logic?

As far as the teams I listed above, it's not how long those coaches have been there, it's the state of the basketball programs due to constantly firing coaches, using transfers, etc, which is exactly my point.

FYI, Pitino was at Minny for 8 years. Prohm 6 years. Weber 9 years. Plenty of time as well.

So just so we all know, you would fire Fran this year after sitting in the top 15 the entire year? You wouldn't extend a coach after making the tournament 4 of the last 5 years? That's what you would want? Your entire argument is centered around making the sweet 16?

And your entire argument is centered around some hope, dream, or fantasy that Fran somehow has another gear to shift into? Fran has needed to use transfers well before this season. Did you think Jbo would be 'the' point guard when Fran backed into offering him? Did you miss that last season was Fran's best team at Iowa with NPOY and a guy declaring for the draft and that resulted in getting wrecked in the second round (again)?

You make some valid points above but has Fran ever parlayed anything into recruiting success? Top 15 all year and NPOY but he can't get a big interested in Iowa? CJ, JW and Jbo gone and Fran can't find a 2 or 3 scorer who wants to join? I thought Fran's system would appeal to the up tempo, shoot 3's, aspiring NBA players he has offered for 11 years and not gotten. I am waiting for Fran to tell us Jbo is coming back so he isn't looking in the portal. There is a reason Fran has only put one guy in the NBA (as of what 2-weeks ago) in 10 years--recruiting.

 

[Eburghawk]

I am waiting for Fran to tell us Jbo is coming back so he isn't looking in the portal.

and JBO's only coming back if the money's right

 

[Ihawkhoops]

and JBO's only coming back if the money's right

I would be surprised if Jbo doesn't come back. As much as he complains about the NCAA, he craves the stage it provides him. Maybe he already has a gig lined up with the BTN so he can trade barbs with Brust.

 

[Jizzer]

And your entire argument is centered around some hope, dream, or fantasy that Fran somehow has another gear to shift into? Fran has needed to use transfers well before this season. Did you think Jbo would be 'the' point guard when Fran backed into offering him? Did you miss that last season was Fran's best team at Iowa with NPOY and a guy declaring for the draft and that resulted in getting wrecked in the second round (again)?

You make some valid points above but has Fran ever parlayed anything into recruiting success? Top 15 all year and NPOY but he can't get a big interested in Iowa? CJ, JW and Jbo gone and Fran can't find a 2 or 3 scorer who wants to join? I thought Fran's system would appeal to the up tempo, shoot 3's, aspiring NBA players he has offered for 11 years and not gotten. I am waiting for Fran to tell us Jbo is coming back so he isn't looking in the portal. There is a reason Fran has only put one guy in the NBA (as of what 2-weeks ago) in 10 years--recruiting.

We are 3 days into CJ announcing his departure, we don't know if Jbo and JW are gone, and you're upset Fran hasn't pulled someone in to replace them?
As far as players coming into this program, I don't really care if they go to the NBA. I care how they play and how they help our program win games. If they go, cool, but I don't care. I'd rather have Luka Garza, then have had Horton-Tucker.
Let me clarify, that I'm not a big Fran fan. If they had fired him, I'd be fine. I'm not a Fran apologist, I see how his recruiting lacks. I see his subbing is suspect. I don't think Connor needs a lot of minutes, and should come off the bench. With that said, what I'm pointing out, are just common sense things. You can't fire a coach after making the NCAA tourney if you're Iowa. UNC, Kansas, Duke, maybe. But not at Iowa. You have to extend him out to match the years of graduation of those kids you are trying to come play for you. It's just common sense and happens in every program. You claim my argument is fantasy, while you pretend someone else would pull in great transfers and recruits to Carver Hawkeye. In the last 25 years, what makes you think that? Our fans suck, both on here(like you), on social media, and in the stands. They just lack common sense and perspective. I'd love to make Final 4's and win big ten titles, but IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! We are Iowa, we've made one sweet 16 in 25 years. We just had one of our greatest regular season's ever, and losing in the tourney second round has many of you sprinting to bash our players and coaches anonymously. I understand being pissed after the game, maybe even the next week, but then it wears off. Normal people should sit back and realize what a fun, exciting season that was. It took a hell of a coaching job and development program to get there. I hope, this propels us a bit in recruiting, but I also realize, it probably won't.
Again, I ask, you said Fran should have been fired a few years back. When? He's put us in the tourney 4 of the last 5 years, so tell me when he should have been fired.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

We are 3 days into CJ announcing his departure, we don't know if Jbo and JW are gone, and you're upset Fran hasn't pulled someone in to replace them?
As far as players coming into this program, I don't really care if they go to the NBA. I care how they play and how they help our program win games. If they go, cool, but I don't care. I'd rather have Luka Garza, then have had Horton-Tucker.
Let me clarify, that I'm not a big Fran fan. If they had fired him, I'd be fine. I'm not a Fran apologist, I see how his recruiting lacks. I see his subbing is suspect. I don't think Connor needs a lot of minutes, and should come off the bench. With that said, what I'm pointing out, are just common sense things. You can't fire a coach after making the NCAA tourney if you're Iowa. UNC, Kansas, Duke, maybe. But not at Iowa. You have to extend him out to match the years of graduation of those kids you are trying to come play for you. It's just common sense and happens in every program. You claim my argument is fantasy, while you pretend someone else would pull in great transfers and recruits to Carver Hawkeye. In the last 25 years, what makes you think that? Our fans suck, both on here(like you), on social media, and in the stands. They just lack common sense and perspective. I'd love to make Final 4's and win big ten titles, but IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! We are Iowa, we've made one sweet 16 in 25 years. We just had one of our greatest regular season's ever, and losing in the tourney second round has many of you sprinting to bash our players and coaches anonymously. I understand being pissed after the game, maybe even the next week, but then it wears off. Normal people should sit back and realize what a fun, exciting season that was. It took a hell of a coaching job and development program to get there. I hope, this propels us a bit in recruiting, but I also realize, it probably won't.
Again, I ask, you said Fran should have been fired a few years back. When? He's put us in the tourney 4 of the last 5 years, so tell me when he should have been fired.

Where did I call for Iowa to make the Final 4? My expectation going into this year was to compete in a 2nd round game. Is that crazy unrealistic? Why do Fran's team fail in postseason? Guard play. How long has Fran had to address this? 10 years. Regarding JW, if you think I am full of crap, then listen to TK's podcast from the other day. He said 99% sure JW is not coming back.

I agree in principle with the challenges you mentioned re: Iowa. So how has Fran demonstrated a creative approach to overcome this? Transfers seem like common sense. Fran has positioned transfers as 'risky' and potentially damaging to team chemistry and the locker room. I think this is bs. There are plenty of good kids out there and I am not advocating Fran go rogue with an ISU, KSU, Nebraska approach. How much risk do you have with a kid who has already graduated looking to spend their final year playing at a higher level? Run it by the team like other coaches (Mark Few comes to mind with Nemhard and Cook Jr.). Fran positions this like it's some nuclear option and I think that is ridiculous.