Too early for the Vast Fran Hatred...

[Hawkeyegrad2006]

It's his 6th year here and he's 2-2 in the Field of 64 (not counting play-in game).

Alford---who inherited a solid program coming off a sweet 16 appearance---was 1-3 in 8 years and effectively quit going into his last year in 06-07 season.

Fran inherited a disaster and has made 2 straight round of 32 appearances

We need more athletes/toughness/clutch play down the stretch but for God sakes slow down people. We aren't a storied program like Indiana or even a Michigan.

Let's see how the next 3 years go, then reassess if necessary.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

It's his 6th year here and he's 2-2 in the Field of 64 (not counting play-in game).

Alford---who inherited a solid program coming off a sweet 16 appearance---was 1-3 in 8 years and effectively quit going into his last year in 06-07 season.

Fran inherited a disaster and had made 2 straight round of 32 appearances

We need more athletes/toughness/clutch play down the stretch but for God sakes slow down people. We aren't a storied program like Indiana or even a Michigan.

Let's see how the next 3 years go, then reassess of necessary.

Yup agreed. He is doing the best with what he has. I think he is starting to make strides on the recruiting front and I think you will see an upgrade in talent here the next couple of years. I realize this incoming class doesn't scream at you athletically, but Cook looks good. The freshman that played looked pretty decent this year and will hopefully be able to come back improved for next year.

 

[Capital1Hawk]

Couldn't agree more. Fran has a new set of players and future looks great.

 

[SotaHawk87]

I really do think it's just a select few on the message boards.. Literally everyone I know outside of these boards love what he's doing at Iowa!

 

[Herkmeister]

Haters gonna hate. Fran hate is stupid. STUPID. L-I-C-K

 

[skydog0784]

I really do think it's just a select few on the message boards.. Literally everyone I know outside of these boards love what he's doing at Iowa!

This is exactly right.

 

[Eburghawk]

I would give Fran my vote of confidence as I think that a majority of the issues can be laid at the feet of the Seniors.

But def. agree Fran has got to keep improving the talent he is bringing in or we have reached the programs ceiling. PG needs major upgrade.

 

[sadiehawkins]

I really do think it's just a select few on the message boards.. Literally everyone I know outside of these boards love what he's doing at Iowa!

I don't know where you live but just about everybody I know were sick and tired of 3 of our 4 seniors about a 7 weeks ago. This includes Fran. They can't believe a coach would start Clemson and Gesell together.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

Saying this season falls at the feet of the seniors is a huge indictment of Fran. These were his guys as we heard 1000 times and he failed to develop talent and / or bring better talent in to help. How many years does he get to address the PG issue? I am certain you could hire Darner from Green Bay or Underwood from SFA and they would find a couple guys. Seriously, did you see worse guard play in the tourney than Iowa's? Did you see other teams whose guards were no threat to score or drive?

I want Fran to succeed here and am not a 'seat is hot' person. In the same breath, we didn't hire a 38 year old coach into his first big time job and Fran needs to remove his head from his back side and get a couple guys with big ten bodies and game in here. Clearly he is more comfortable going after mid-major guys thinking he can coach them up. Meanwhile Wisconsin gets Iverson and Happ, Indiana gets Bryant and Anunoboy, PSU and NE have solid classes coming in and we have Tyler Cook who is a great get and three in-state kids.

I just can't take Fran seriously any more. After today's dismantling, I really think he is detached from reality (his team) relative to the talent good teams have. You can't sink 10 years into a coach who can't recruit or get past round 1 in the tourney and that is where we are headed. He did a hell of a job recruiting for Villanova today that's for sure.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Saying this season falls at the feet of the seniors is a huge indictment of Fran. These were his guys as we heard 1000 times and he failed to develop talent and / or bring better talent in to help. How many years does he get to address the PG issue? I am certain you could hire Darner from Green Bay or Underwood from SFA and they would find a couple guys. Seriously, did you see worse guard play in the tourney than Iowa's? Did you see other teams whose guards were no threat to score or drive?

I want Fran to succeed here and am not a 'seat is hot' person. In the same breath, we didn't hire a 38 year old coach into his first big time job and Fran needs to remove his head from his back side and get a couple guys with big ten bodies and game in here. Clearly he is more comfortable going after mid-major guys thinking he can coach them up. Meanwhile Wisconsin gets Iverson and Happ, Indiana gets Bryant and Anunoboy, PSU and NE have solid classes coming in and we have Tyler Cook who is a great get and three in-state kids.

I just can't take Fran seriously any more. After today's dismantling, I really think he is detached from reality (his team) relative to the talent good teams have. You can't sink 10 years into a coach who can't recruit or get past round 1 in the tourney and that is where we are headed. He did a hell of a job recruiting for Villanova today that's for sure.

You do understand in order for a player to come to your school, they have to WANT TO COME HERE. Sorry but Iowa was a dumpster fire when Fran arrived. Yes he has spent the last years building it up. Do you remember the season before these seniors arrived? We were 17-15 overall and barely snuck (bought our way) into the NIT. The year before we had no post season. What players would want to come to a program that was putting up those numbers? I mean seriously you think the Ben Simmons, Jayson Tatum and company look at Iowa as the final destination? Hell No, they don't even give Iowa a look. In order to get the top guys, you have to be a "blue blood" and Iowa will never be that. These seniors were a top 30 class and since they have arrived they have done well. The guy has taken that program and in 4 years went to the NIT FINAL, NCAA "first four", NCAA rd 32, NCAA rd 32.

I hate to say it, but Fran has to take a "gamble" on a grad transfer I think in the future. The Indiana's will get any top Talent out of Indy that is available. They are a storied program who has won a lot more than Iowa ever has. Indianapolis is a hotbed for basketball. There are recruits everywhere and that's why IU is always good. What major metro area does Iowa have? Des Moines, do they produce top talent every year? No they do not. Fran has made strides into Chicago and St Louis and hopefully will start to get some more players for larger areas.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

Good points, but Fran knew the deal when he took the job. He is paid well and has an experienced staff. No excuse for what he is passing off as recruiting. I agree 100 percent with you on getting a juco or graduate transfer in here, but there are not any spots and Fran doesn't like this or has whiffed in this space as well.

I am sure it helps recruiting when we lose first round in the BTT and get smoked in the second round of the tourney. To get better players, you have to be a place they want to come. Advancing to the Sweet 16 offers that kind of bounce, but I don't think Fran will ever get that far.

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

Vast Fran hate? 10 posts on an anonymous message board, three by one poster and two by another.

 

[Herkuleez]

Couldn't agree more. Fran has a new set of players and future looks great.

Except next year, right? ...that's a rebuilding year where we can most likely expect NIT

 

[Herkuleez]

You do understand in order for a player to come to your school, they have to WANT TO COME HERE. Sorry but Iowa was a dumpster fire when Fran arrived. Yes he has spent the last years building it up. Do you remember the season before these seniors arrived? We were 17-15 overall and barely snuck (bought our way) into the NIT. The year before we had no post season. ...

Good God, are we still blaming our failures on the Lick era???

This was YEAR SIX of the Fran era...not year two or three. At what point are some of you going to let go of your "security blanket" in blaming it all on Lick and start to point at least the little finger in the direction of the guy currently running the show???

 

[championhawk]

It's his 6th year here and he's 2-2 in the Field of 64 (not counting play-in game).

Alford---who inherited a solid program coming off a sweet 16 appearance---was 1-3 in 8 years and effectively quit going into his last year in 06-07 season.

Fran inherited a disaster and has made 2 straight round of 32 appearances

We need more athletes/toughness/clutch play down the stretch but for God sakes slow down people. We aren't a storied program like Indiana or even a Michigan.

Let's see how the next 3 years go, then reassess if necessary.

I agree but this is the first year I have had serious concerns with Frans ceiling. To watch that late season slide and not make any changes is disturbing. To still have MG handling the ball in the final 20 seconds is disturbing. One last disturbing tidbit. Fran said at half that JU needed to be more aggressive. Go watch our first possession out of the half. We don't set a single screen or move JU around to get him a shot. The opening to the half was the AC/MG show again. We have seen that ending too many times and coach didn't do anything to change it. I don't know where our coaches minds were this last half of the year. I have never seen a college level coach not make adjustments when that long of a collapse is going on.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Good God, are we still blaming our failures on the Lick era???

This was YEAR SIX of the Fran era...not year two or three. At what point are some of you going to let go of your "security blanket" in blaming it all on Lick and start to point at least the little finger in the direction of the guy currently running the show???

3 seasons of 20+ losses. Boosters left, fans left. Fran got this senior class in and they developed into a nice program. Are we "elite" yet? Nope, but we are on the way up. I am sorry we were 1 of 32 teams left in the NCAA the past 2 seasons. Maybe you would like to be like Nebbie, or Illinois in basketball. That's a nice stat to have and hopefully will drive the younger guys forward.

But to be honest we have to step up the game in recruiting and personally if your a high school Senior and Indiana comes calling, how can you say no? If ketucky, or any one of the other blue bloods comes calling, how can you say no. Fran is trying to get the top talent, but he had 4 players who were seniors who had been with the program. Did you want Fran to "over recruit" and cut those 4 seniors? High school kids saw that, in this day in age all kids want to do is come in and play right away. No elite player is going to say, "i would love to sit on the bench coach and watch your seniors play." Doesn't work that way.

Fran has the program on the way up. It will get better and we will have a sweet 16 run in us soon.

 

[mplshawkeye21]

He needs to reasses his in-game coaching. He hardly communicates at all with the players on the floor. And some of the offensive sets and lack of defense has to be looked at as well. Get some players that are mentally tougher while he's at it too.

 

[Herkuleez]

Fran has the program on the way up. It will get better and we will have a sweet 16 run in us soon.

But not next year, right....we have to take a step back in year seven of his regime. It's not his fault he couldn't recruit better talent the past three years...we're only Iowa.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

But not next year, right....we have to take a step back in year seven of his regime. It's not his fault he couldn't recruit better talent the past three years...we're only Iowa.

We are losing 4 starters off a 20+ win team.

You show me a "non" blue blood program that can replace that production and get to the Sweet 16. I'll be waiting.

 

[Herkuleez]

We are losing 4 starters off a 20+ win team.

You show me a "non" blue blood program that can replace that production and get to the Sweet 16. I'll be waiting.

Why do schools like Wisconsin seem to not have this problem? ....or Iowa State?

When a coach neglects his recruiting duties is when you see a program in a situation like this.

 

[ryno99]

You do understand in order for a player to come to your school, they have to WANT TO COME HERE. Sorry but Iowa was a dumpster fire when Fran arrived. Yes he has spent the last years building it up. Do you remember the season before these seniors arrived? We were 17-15 overall and barely snuck (bought our way) into the NIT. The year before we had no post season. What players would want to come to a program that was putting up those numbers? I mean seriously you think the Ben Simmons, Jayson Tatum and company look at Iowa as the final destination? Hell No, they don't even give Iowa a look. In order to get the top guys, you have to be a "blue blood" and Iowa will never be that. These seniors were a top 30 class and since they have arrived they have done well. The guy has taken that program and in 4 years went to the NIT FINAL, NCAA "first four", NCAA rd 32, NCAA rd 32.

I hate to say it, but Fran has to take a "gamble" on a grad transfer I think in the future. The Indiana's will get any top Talent out of Indy that is available. They are a storied program who has won a lot more than Iowa ever has. Indianapolis is a hotbed for basketball. There are recruits everywhere and that's why IU is always good. What major metro area does Iowa have? Des Moines, do they produce top talent every year? No they do not. Fran has made strides into Chicago and St Louis and hopefully will start to get some more players for larger areas.

Ben Simmons went to LSU. LSU not exactly a blueblood or even been as good as Iowa last 10 years.

 

[ryno99]

Good God, are we still blaming our failures on the Lick era???

This was YEAR SIX of the Fran era...not year two or three. At what point are some of you going to let go of your "security blanket" in blaming it all on Lick and start to point at least the little finger in the direction of the guy currently running the show???

Thank you Herkuleez for pointing this out. You don't hear ISU fans blaming McDermott or Wayne Morgan for their woes 6 years ago.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Once again comparing a team who went to back to back Final 4's? Sorry but the national attention and media those teams get from that. Players see that, who wouldn't wan to go there? I mean you can, Im going to the school that's played in the last 2 final fours. Its a no brainer. lets see how Wisky does now that Bo is gone. Lets see how they do once this current set of players is gone. They got some good recruits and it helps to have Milwaukee & Chicago so close to campus.

ISU is using a different tactic, they are using the system. They get the transfers and for whatever reason its worked. They get the players from other schools and bring them together kind of like an all star team. Hoiberg was a great coach and Porhm walked into a great situation. Any coach would of loved to that job. Lets see how they do next year when they lose 3-4 starters. I realize they return some solid players, but will they be able to sustain success? Who knows.

We've been to back to back rd 32 appearances. It almost 10 years since we had been and we are starting to call for our coach to get canned.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Ben Simmons went to LSU. LSU not exactly a blueblood or even been as good as Iowa last 10 years.

Do you even know the relationship between simmons and the coaching staff at LSU? Do you know why he went there? His godfather is a coach there. Wonder how he ended up there? Now you know.

 

[ryno99]

Do you even know the relationship between simmons and the coaching staff at LSU? Do you know why he went there? His godfather is a coach there. Wonder how he ended up there? Now you know.

I did know that. Nice of that to work out that way for them. Sure there was no other reason he went there either.

 

[Herkuleez]

Once again comparing a team who went to back to back Final 4's? Sorry but the national attention and media those teams get from that. Players see that, who wouldn't wan to go there? I mean you can, Im going to the school that's played in the last 2 final fours. Its a no brainer. lets see how Wisky does now that Bo is gone. Lets see how they do once this current set of players is gone. They got some good recruits and it helps to have Milwaukee & Chicago so close to campus.

ISU is using a different tactic, they are using the system. They get the transfers and for whatever reason its worked. They get the players from other schools and bring them together kind of like an all star team. Hoiberg was a great coach and Porhm walked into a great situation. Any coach would of loved to that job. Lets see how they do next year when they lose 3-4 starters. I realize they return some solid players, but will they be able to sustain success? Who knows.

We've been to back to back rd 32 appearances. It almost 10 years since we had been and we are starting to call for our coach to get canned.

You are truly an epic excuse maker....and obviously a vip member of the "we're only Iowa" club. You're just one of those frustrating silver lining fans who refuses to criticize the current coach for anything no matter what. You can explain away anything as not being his fault. All the other schools are in far better situations. It would be a truly fascinating case study in classic kool-aid addiction if it wasn't so pathetic.

 

[hawksauce]

You are truly an epic excuse maker....and obviously a vip member of the "we're only Iowa" club. You're just one of those frustrating silver lining fans who refuses to criticize the current coach for anything no matter what. You can explain away anything as not being his fault. All the other schools are in far better situations. It would be a truly fascinating case study in classic kool-aid addiction if it wasn't so pathetic.

Does this mean we're in last place? Damn. I guess if we're in 351st place the only direction we can go is up right?

 

[QCHawkFan]

But not next year, right....we have to take a step back in year seven of his regime. It's not his fault he couldn't recruit better talent the past three years...we're only Iowa.

You have no idea what next year holds, year seven. Absolutely none. You were probably one of the smart ones that had Iowa picked to finish 9th in conference this year and a bubble team in March. Lucky for us the games are played on the court and not on some ESPN or BTN TV set. Iowa actually finished third in conference, were a lock for the dance around mid to late January and won a game when they got there. Sorry if that disappoints you.

If Iowa does regress next season it would be the first time in Fran's regime to do so in what would be his seventh year. Think about that for a second. Fran has been at Iowa for six seasons and has improved or matched EVERY season from the season before. Iowa has not regressed once in his tenure, but you have your torch and pitchfork ready because you THINK Iowa could an NIT team next year. Unbelievable.

As for next year, it's very possible Iowa / Fran could break his streak of improving. Iowa will lose FOUR starters. Two are four year starters and one was a two + year starter who was 1st team all conference. Most schools don't lose that much experience and not take a hit. But I expect Fran to work his tail off this off season, bring in some experience and fill some holes that this class of out going seniors opened. (Yes, I realize there are no available scholarships right now). Also, I fully expect Fran and Iowa to put an exciting basketball team on the court again next year.

I just don't see what the urgency is to run Fran out of town is. Iowa has finished third in conference the last two years, been to the tournament the last three years straight and have won two consecutive opening round games. But hey, Barta should go out and pick up the next hot l mid major coach coming off a nice sweet sixteen run because that has worked so well in the past.

 

[Johnny Uthoff]

He's not on the hot seat, nor should he be. He has brought the program back from the depths of hell.

He's been here 6 years. 2 straight NCAA 2nd round appearances. I still don't count the 2 years ago trip b/c, to me, it was a play-in game. You had to win to play a first round game. Anyway, let's say he's automatically here 4 more years, giving him 10. 10 years is a long time. What do you need to see for you to want to keep him? The same thing he's been doing? Getting farther into the NCAA tourney?

Personally, I want Wisconsin-level success. I don't expect to make the Final Four two consecutive years. But I want to be in the NCAA tourney 8 out of 10 years with a couple deep (deeper than 2nd round) runs in there. Is it inconceivable that we can match their basketball success? I don't care about college football. But from what little I follow, both programs seem to be pretty evenly matched. Why can't that be done with basketball?

So over the next 4 years:

-I'd like to see coaching maturation. I'd like to see him make better decisions in certain situations (use timeouts more effectively, better half-court offense, better end of half/end of game offense, not being blindly loyal to guys who are ineffective, trying a new guy/guys when a guy/guys aren't playing well, etc...).

-I'd like to see better development of players. Wisconsin does this so well. Every year they have Jr's & Sr's who've steadily developed over their time on campus. Way too few Iowa players are markedly better from freshman-to-senior years.

-I'd like to see players play better in clutch situations instead of falling apart at the end of close games (better free throw shooting, hitting clutch shots). There was a stat tonight...Koening is shooting 50% from 3 in the last 5 minutes of game and OT (I think it was 15 for his last 30).

-I'd like to see fewer of these types of losses in big games. That's two years in a row where a team made us look like high schoolers in the 2nd round of the tourney. Why do these UNI's, Wichita State's, VCU's, Stephen F Austin's, Butler's, go out fighting, losing a close game to a much higher seed while Iowa gets destroyed by a slightly higher seed? These other schools mentioned don't look overmatched. They lose close games to better teams. Iowa has looked overmatched, as if our competition has talent that's light years better.

-I'd like to see teams not completely fold down the stretch as has happened 2 out of the last 3 years.

-I'd like to see more success in the B10 Tourney. The loss to MSU was b.s., as the officiating made it look like a fixed game. But Northwestern two years ago? Penn State last year? Illinois this year?

-I'd like to see a deeper than 2nd round run in the NCAA tourney.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

It is painful to read responses from people who think those of us 'concerned' with recruiting expect Fran to bring in Simmons and Ulis type talent. I would take a Bryce Cartwright, Justin Johnson, Doug Thomas or Cy Tate....is that asking too much? Fran came in here talking about playing a brand of basketball he cannot support through recruiting. We would be better emulating Wisconsin than pretending we are an up tempo team based on who Fran has recruited. An up tempo pressure team who shoots 3's with no guards who can score and a big who plays below the rim? Does that make sense?

Late game decision making aside, I think Fran is a good coach. Somehow he got this team to the NCAA tournament, which is no small feat. I just don't see him getting enough 'better' players here at the same time to compete (notice I said not win) in a second round game unless we get some very lucky draw.

 

[MTHawkeyes43]

You do understand in order for a player to come to your school, they have to WANT TO COME HERE. Sorry but Iowa was a dumpster fire when Fran arrived. Yes he has spent the last years building it up. Do you remember the season before these seniors arrived? We were 17-15 overall and barely snuck (bought our way) into the NIT. The year before we had no post season. What players would want to come to a program that was putting up those numbers? I mean seriously you think the Ben Simmons, Jayson Tatum and company look at Iowa as the final destination? Hell No, they don't even give Iowa a look. In order to get the top guys, you have to be a "blue blood" and Iowa will never be that. These seniors were a top 30 class and since they have arrived they have done well. The guy has taken that program and in 4 years went to the NIT FINAL, NCAA "first four", NCAA rd 32, NCAA rd 32.

I hate to say it, but Fran has to take a "gamble" on a grad transfer I think in the future. The Indiana's will get any top Talent out of Indy that is available. They are a storied program who has won a lot more than Iowa ever has. Indianapolis is a hotbed for basketball. There are recruits everywhere and that's why IU is always good. What major metro area does Iowa have? Des Moines, do they produce top talent every year? No they do not. Fran has made strides into Chicago and St Louis and hopefully will start to get some more players for larger areas.

Prior to last year LSU had not been in the tournament since 2009. LSU has been a "Dumpster Fire" for years, but yet they were able to get Simmons. Kids like Ben Simmons will not play for guys like Fran, so get used to it. Fran has never been able to recruit the difference maker. George Ravelling proved you can recruit to Iowa, so please stop with the, "We are only Iowa and Lick left the program in a dumpster fire" monolog because they are all just excuses for settling out of fear that another Lickliter could take over. Of course, Iowa could find the next Ravelling who bring in guys like Ed Horton, Kevin Gamble, Brad Lohaus, Roy Marble, BJ Armstrong, etc...

Here is a link to LSU's tournament history.

this HTML class. Value is http://espn.go.com/m

 

[Herkuleez]

LMAO at all the silver-liners living in denial: We're only Iowa, how dare you expect us to be as successful as Wisconsin and Iowa State. Fran is doing wonderful job when you factor in the extreme disadvantages he has had to work under; not the least of which were those three devastatingly horrible Lickliter years. It will be decades before we can ever hope to recover. Just accept your 20+ wins and the season-ending collapses and stop making waves.

 

[DavenportHawk228]

Prior to last year LSU had not been in the tournament since 2009. LSU has been a "Dumpster Fire" for years, but yet they were able to get Simmons. Kids like Ben Simmons will not play for guys like Fran, so get used to it. Fran has never been able to recruit the difference maker. George Ravelling proved you can recruit to Iowa, so please stop with the, "We are only Iowa and Lick left the program in a dumpster fire" monolog because they are all just excuses for settling out of fear that another Lickliter could take over. Of course, Iowa could find the next Ravelling who bring in guys like Ed Horton, Kevin Gamble, Brad Lohaus, Roy Marble, BJ Armstrong, etc...

Here is a link to LSU's tournament history.

this HTML class. Value is http://espn.go.com/m

Did you not read the post earlier?? Ben Simmons relative is a Assitant coach at LSU. You want Fran to start firing assistants so Joe Blows dad can come be on staff??

 

[Suterman]

But not next year, right....we have to take a step back in year seven of his regime. It's not his fault he couldn't recruit better talent the past three years...we're only Iowa.

Well let's look. Ohio State located in one of the most talent rich areas of the country made the NIT this year. Their coach has been there forever and is very well thought of. Fran has got our program situated very well. If you DEMAND an NCAA trip 100% of the time, you will probably want to ditch Fran, and then the next guy, and then the next guy, and then the next guy and then the next guy.

 

[Hawkeyefan1234]

Ben Simmons went to LSU. LSU not exactly a blueblood or even been as good as Iowa last 10 years.

Iowa needs to land big time difference makers in basketball to be better. Would be nice if they bent the rules in recruiting every once in a while. If they have Ben Simmons, he could play point and they probably are still playing.

 

[MTHawkeyes43]

Did you not read the post earlier?? Ben Simmons relative is a Assitant coach at LSU. You want Fran to start firing assistants so Joe Blows dad can come be on staff??

I did not read all of your posts in this thread. Having gone back and reading it, it does not change the reality that Fran will not attract kids like Ben Simmons. We need a George Ravelling type recruiter here. Iowa was able to do it before; therefore, we know that it can happen again. Fran has never been able to do more than he is right now. Look at his coaching history. In fact, his tenure at UNCG saw a significant drop off after about 3 seasons.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Does this mean we're in last place? Damn. I guess if we're in 351st place the only direction we can go is up right?

Yup hopefully we can have a top 250 finish next year.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Iowa needs to land big time difference makers in basketball to be better. Would be nice if they bent the rules in recruiting every once in a while. If they have Ben Simmons, he could play point and they probably are still playing.

Yeah and if they bend the rules they get punished. They lose scholly's and could even face a "post season" ban. Sorry but there are rules they have to follow. IF they bend the rules even slightly, they can be punished.

I realize everyone wants players like Ben Simmons, hell I would like a starting line up of Simmons, Parker, Jones, and others. We can't get that talent YET! Give it time, we just landed a top 50 recruit in Cook. Look at the top 100 and see what teams have "multiple" players on that list? The Blue Bloods, everyone else is lucky to have 1-2 guys, if their lucky. To think that Iowa can join the ranks of MSU, Kentucky, Indiana, Duke, Syracuse, and other teams is just laughable.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

The team and and staff need a makeover. Fran seems to have surrounded himself with 'yes' men OR Fran does not want suggestions. Whether it's recruiting, lack of toughness, or late game / season chokes, there is no Iowa basketball brand or culture. I don't know if the administration has some extra set of academic requirements or zero tolerance policy that they are holding Fran to, but it seems we are more likely to compete with Yale or Brown for a recruit than another big ten school.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

Yeah and if they bend the rules they get punished. They lose scholly's and could even face a "post season" ban. Sorry but there are rules they have to follow. IF they bend the rules even slightly, they can be punished.

I realize everyone wants players like Ben Simmons, hell I would like a starting line up of Simmons, Parker, Jones, and others. We can't get that talent YET! Give it time, we just landed a top 50 recruit in Cook. Look at the top 100 and see what teams have "multiple" players on that list? The Blue Bloods, everyone else is lucky to have 1-2 guys, if their lucky. To think that Iowa can join the ranks of MSU, Kentucky, Indiana, Duke, Syracuse, and other teams is just laughable.

How about we join the ranks of UNI, Wichita State, Butler, Stephen F, Austin and other teams who compete in the second round? You are framing this in a very dishonest manner. Nobody here is saying Iowa should get the level of recruits you reference....it has never happened and never will. Lots of coaches do more with less than Fran has to work with.