The One Thing That Has Excaped McCaffery.....

[buttermypancakes]

Statistics to back up what claim? That Iowa has had poorly ranked recruiting classes since he's arrived at Iowa (the current FR class ranked liked 10th or 11th in the conference). I know some people here think stars and rankings don't matter but it's been shown they do.

I get it, Fran inherited a mess. So did Alford. The lame duck year (Dr. Tom) was a killer for a coach recruiting wise. It doesn't take 5-6 years to turn a basketball program. You need 1-2 studs and you can be a good team.

Again, I'm not saying Fran is a bad coach. I think he's Alfordesque. Ok, but nothing special. If I had to rank him against other B1G coaches he'd probably fall in the middle/bottom half of the conference. Until I see Iowa closing out close games, I'm not impressed with Fran's coaching. IF the game is decided by 5 pts or less, I don't like Iowa's chances of winning with Fran coaching. I'm not convinced Fran is a good game manager. Just my opinion though.

JFC not this guy again. Why are you harping on recruiting when Fran has turned 3 stars into 1st team all BIG players, 6th man of the year, etc. Yes in general you'd like to have the higher rated player but Fran has shown he can identify talent better than most.

We're past the point of talking about what Fran inherited because he has established a quality program at this point. That being said comparing Alford's situation to Fran is rather stupid.

You did the same thing last year when we lost a couple early. Let's just freak out and not put things in perspective. Dayton and Notre Dame will look much better than Syracuse and Texas did last year. But maybe it's the fact that you overrate every other coach in the conference, and think we can't compete. Outside of Izzo, Ryan, and maybe Beilein there isn't a coach you could say is much better than Fran. As I did last year, I'll encourage you to watch some other BIG teams before you get too outraged.

 

[hawknut]

I think Fran has done wonders so far. Have other guys turned around programs quicker? Of course. Have there been alot worse? Yes. He needs to recruit better, especially at guard. He has shored up his roster with shooters, which was lacking previously. I guess I don't know enough about basketball to determine if its a coaching problem or a talent problem. He has his guys play hard. His real challenge this year will be to make guys 6-8 play at a high level. I think Baer can play at a high level. Ellingson has shown flashes, and we need him to be able to play. Jones and Wagner will play, so we need them to step up. Next year? well, he better try and keep the schedule easy.

 

[PhantomFlyer]

Would you not agree that Aaron White was vastly under ranked? He should have been a 4 star at least, top 50/75 type recruit. It isn't Fran's fault the doofuses that rank players can't see what he sees.

So, it's just by accident that Duke, Ky, are among the best teams in the country every year with great recruiting classes every year. Come on, this point isn't arguable. Nobody is saying some players are "under ranked". Do you think your chances of getting players is greater or not if you have more or less top 100 players on your team?

 

[PhantomFlyer]

Are Jok and Ellingson guards? If so they are among the best shooters in the league.

You're not serious, are you? Jok shot .343 from beyond the arc last year and shooting .375 this year. Neither player plays good defense and Jok doesn't have very good handles (his A/TO ratio last year was 1 and it's just slightly higher this year). They are bench players on the better B1G teams, they would not be starting material.

 

[PhantomFlyer]

Your claims of having the worst record in the league when leading at halftime or in the last 5-10 minutes. Have not seen any statistics. You can argue recruiting if you want. I tend not to rate recruits until they have played in the league for a couple of years. Fran can certainly recruit better but like everything else, it has improved steadily since he arrived.

I can't find it but it was posted last year and I'm sure someone could verify it. Fran had the most (or was 2nd) losses among B1G coaches with a lead at halftime.

 

[PhantomFlyer]

JFC not this guy again. Why are you harping on recruiting when Fran has turned 3 stars into 1st team all BIG players, 6th man of the year, etc. Yes in general you'd like to have the higher rated player but Fran has shown he can identify talent better than most.

We're past the point of talking about what Fran inherited because he has established a quality program at this point. That being said comparing Alford's situation to Fran is rather stupid.

You did the same thing last year when we lost a couple early. Let's just freak out and not put things in perspective. Dayton and Notre Dame will look much better than Syracuse and Texas did last year. But maybe it's the fact that you overrate every other coach in the conference, and think we can't compete. Outside of Izzo, Ryan, and maybe Beilein there isn't a coach you could say is much better than Fran. As I did last year, I'll encourage you to watch some other BIG teams before you get too outraged.

STFU. Seriously. I'm expressing an opinion. Hell, you were one of the clowns who was overhyping this freshman class this summer and went ballistic when I tried to temper expectations. You thought they were the next Fab Five and I was trying to say that they look like decent players, but let's give them time and wait and see how they do at the college level.

"Outside of Izzo, Ryan, and maybe Beilein there isn't a coach you could say is much better than Fran."

And you base this on what? Matta isn't better? LOL. Don't trust me. Why don't you talk to non-Iowa fans, or read what others (who are unbiased) have to say about the other coaches in the league. I'm sorry it hurts your feelings that I think Fran isn't a special coach, and I'd rank him in the Alford class of coaches.

I hardly "freaked out', but you certainly did. Why are you incapable of reading? I said Dayton and ND were good teams and not bad losses. What concerns me is how they lost, but I've offered NO prediction on how Iowa will do this year outside of saying they look like a bubble type team to me. It was poor defense and for a team that has 4 seniors and a junior starting, with the number of start they've made, defense shouldn't be the problem early in the season. In fact, Iowa should have a huge advantage in chemistry early in the season. So, chill out. If can avoid freaking out and post a reasonable, rational response, maybe we can discuss the issue. However, if you are going to just bitch and stomp your feet then don't bother responding.

 

[hawkeyeguy69]

is the fact that his teams almost always fail to close the deal in close games. This has been a reoccurring theme since he arrived here at Iowa. Time after time his Iowa teams have either held a lead or have come from behind to tie or take a lead late in games only to come up short. Don't know how he can ever get this monkey off his back either, his coaching staff seems to be solid, but something is missing besides talent....what you say?

Fran needs a guard or forward that can finish. He has been looking for that person since he has been here. MG certainly is not a finisher. Nor AC or Jok or anone else. Maybe one of the yutes will emerge. But that is sometime down the road, not this year... Uthoff is all we got. And he has no help.

 

[MepoDawg#]

Fran can't shoot their free throws for them. Is it his fault 80%+ free throw shooters suddenly forget hiw to shoot free throws?

And I love how some think Fran will bring in 4* and 5* athletes like the blue bloods. He won't, it's Iowa. Seriously Fran has turned the program around, give it a rest as it's only 5 games into the season.

 

[revkev73]

Gosh...do we need another "Iowa needs an elite PG" thread?

 

[jthawk]

I can't find it but it was posted last year and I'm sure someone could verify it. Fran had the most (or was 2nd) losses among B1G coaches with a lead at halftime.

Oh. I will just have to accept it then I guess.

 

[PhantomFlyer]

Gosh...do we need another "Iowa needs an elite PG" thread?

How about Iowa needs an above avg PG, and an avg backup PG?

 

[PhantomFlyer]

Oh. I will just have to accept it then I guess.

No, you don't have to accept it but you've provided no evidence that I'm wrong. I'm sure there's more than one person here that can remember the posts about this topic last year. If you think it's easy to find this information you can quickly look this up and prove me wrong. I welcome the information.

 

[revkev73]

Iowa needs some good and consistent production out of the PG position...to get to another level.

 

[herkI]

Same here. But if it wasn't for losing close games, missing free throws, a bad front court, a bad backcourt, too many small bigs, something unintelligible about Dr. Tom teaching recruiting, giant worms in the Nevada desert, complicated five latch bras and most importantly that game two years ago!!! If it wasn't for all that we'd be peachy!

Well said, Daniel.

 

[cleotishaywood]

We expected a little bit of a drop-off after losing White and Olaseni. It will take some time for them to figure out how to replace that productivity. White just naturally took things into his own hands a lot and that's just something that somebody or others are going to have to step up and try to fill that void.

 

[HawkeyeDenny]

Iowa would have been sweet 16 or final 8 with a true point guard the last 3 years...Frans achilles tendon...

 

[GenericHawk]

Bippity Boppity Bump.