Too many Iowa fans are trapped in this idea that fans should just be happy not being awful. As if Iowa only has 2 options, above average or awful. Fran isn't terrible, and does a good job beating bad teams, but it's becoming clear what his ceiling is.
Thank God the Hawkeyes were reading Hawkeyereport.com
- Thread starter Roy Ellefson
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Elite….if a person coaches D1 and has racked up over 400 wins….rises to the level of coaching a successful program in the Big 10…..consistently producing a top level offense, that’s high level.
This makes sense to me. Fran runs a solid mid- level program in an elite league. I would rank him around number 6 in the B1G which is usually about where his team ends up.
Izzo
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Howard
Holtmann
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Fran
Ulis was playing well earlier in the season, but has really struggled and been quite tentative the past few games. He was tentative last season as well. Sort of the yin to Joe's yang. Fortunately, Joe hasn't been going 100 mph the whole time this season, but is becoming adept at changing speeds as fits the situation.
See what happens when you live too close to Nebraska? Look at the examples they set.
I get what you are saying but, he stares down a lot of good shots late in the clock, which isn't ideal. He is far from overmatched athletically and is a solid defender, so I don't see it as a skills issue. Like Joe, we need Ulis and Perkins to force the issue a bit. The team isn't overflowing with guys capable of stepping up if Keegan has an off night and teams will sell out to keep him in check.
That’s clearly not accurate. There’s a number of us fans that understand the History of Iowa athletics in a different way. Not many years ago people were saying this about Kirk, suggesting his time was up…..the next year he orchestrated an undefeated regular season and came within an eyelash of winning the B10 championship….Tom Davis got criticized for almost the identical issues or in the same way you’ve now framed Fran…he was forced out, but in that last year produced our last sweet 16? And we know the basketball misery that happened after that. Yes, Alford had some good runs but generally was a turd in the punch bowl.
Fran seems to be recruiting at a slightly higher level and has infused some defensive play into this team….so, I’m not satisfied but I know it’s not that simple either.
Good post. Fran does not help when he makes crazy comments like you referenced about Connor showcasing his offense / improved shooting. I guess many fans are good with Fran making $2.9 million to not be Lickliter or Alford and be better than Nebraska. Year 12 and Fran's biggest accomplishment is an NIT runner up banner.
I am not asking for Final 4 runs or big ten championships. I would like to see Iowa be in the mix for a big ten title every 4-5 years, make a run in the BTT and not get boot stomped by halftime in a 2nd round NCAA game. If Fran couldn't do it with last year's team, I am not sure why people think he will fare better after another 20+ million is flushed down the drain for the next 6-years.
Good post Perry. We don't agree on a lot of things, but you frame up articulate perspectives, which I appreciate.
I don't think it's simple, but we are 12 years in and have yet to sniff a big ten championship, get to the final 4 of the BTT or compete in a 2nd round game. Meanwhile, Wisconsin, with, IMO, identical talent (maybe even less) is proving once again that coaching matters.
This sounds nearly identical to the Kirk discussions on the football board. Both programs are solid but they always leave the fans wanting just a little bit more. It's linda like Fandom purgatory. Not good enough to win championships. Not bad enough to consider a change in leadership.
