ie what players might come with him. Any with any eligibility left? Does anyone know what talent is there? Same with DeVries? These days it is a big consideration when hiring imo
What is Ben McCollum’s ‘portfolio’
- Thread starter Lakerswillbeback
- Start date
McCollum is not Iowa’s top choice.
From a dollars and cents standpoint, he should be.
He may come cheaper and with less buyouts than other candidates. He’s from IC. Not sure if that factors in or not
DeVries would come with Tucker I'm assuming. Who is miles better than any of the former coach's kids to have played at Iowa.
I hope you’re right. His style of play does not excite me at all.
All the dude does is win. Bring him in.
McCollum brings an 80+% win % over nearly 500 games, 12 conference championships, 4 national championships, just brought Drake its first outright conference title in 18 years and set a school record with 30 wins and got them to the Tourney with a roster of D-II guys. The guy can flat out coach.
BM is a great coach. We don’t have a good NIL for basketball yet and will not attract great recruits right now. We need a great X and O guys that stresses defenses and fundamentals just like him. He adjusts his offensive style to his personnel. He is exactly what we need.
He’s not married to it. I’ve read where with roster he’s playing slower than normal would. Supposedly he’s good at adjusting to his personnel and how his teams play. Granted don’t expect high tempo like Fran but don’t think he’s a Lick 2.0.
He’s won 13 conference titles as a head coach, 12 and counting consecutive. Plus the four national titles.
Iowa has only won 8 conference titles in history, with no national titles.
Iowa has only won 8 conference titles in history, with no national titles.
That’s good to hear. I loved Fran’s offense, it was the obvious lack of D and rebounding that killed us. I’m not really into the prospect of being the slowest team in the country.
I'm not going to cry if its Devries but the upside with McCollum is higher.
Part of the reason Frans offense was so good is because they obviously spent all their time on that at the expense of knowing how to play team defense.
College basketball is biased towards physical defensive teams. Being a physical defensive team is iowas best shot to be competitive.
Drake’s KenPom O ranking this year was 76 and their D was 46. By contrast, WVU O ranking was 134 and their D ranking was 14.
So those worried that McCollum isn’t as focused on O as DD needn’t be worried.
Oh I forgot to mention. He’s only lost 13 conference games in the past 7 seasons combined. The same number we lost this year alone.
And he did most of that at a school that didn’t have much tradition before he took over. They were ok under the previous coach, with a few deep tournament runs. But he turned them into a national powerhouse. Tells me the guy knows how to coach. He’s like a 10 year younger version of Bo Ryan, but did it at D2 instead of D3 like Bo.
I also see his team was ranked #1 with only one loss when the 2020 tourney was cancelled. He may very well have won a fifth title, and 4 straight, if not for the pandemic.
And he did most of that at a school that didn’t have much tradition before he took over. They were ok under the previous coach, with a few deep tournament runs. But he turned them into a national powerhouse. Tells me the guy knows how to coach. He’s like a 10 year younger version of Bo Ryan, but did it at D2 instead of D3 like Bo.
I also see his team was ranked #1 with only one loss when the 2020 tourney was cancelled. He may very well have won a fifth title, and 4 straight, if not for the pandemic.
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I'm not against Devries, I just have this fear that if Beth doesn't take a chance on McCollum, he is going to go somewhere else and turn that P4 program into a real powerhouse.
And it would really, reallly suck if that was either Indiana or Minnesota.
And it would really, reallly suck if that was either Indiana or Minnesota.
All the top transfers come broken. Gotta get that sweet sweet UIHC NIL deal.
I think this is true but he'd be the first call if they can't get DeVries (assuming he hasn't already taken something like Indiana before then). I think McCollum is the better pure basketball coach of the two but DeVries is a little more proven as a recruiter and would probably excite boosters more, which they need. Both great options.
A friend of mine’s son played for him at NWMS…they loved him. “Great coach!”
Oh, and let the bitching start on that poor kid...
Take a look at the football board and tell me a great defense means the bitchers remain silent....just fill in Ferenz wherever you see Fran McCaffrey...
Will be interesting to see Drake and WV in the NCAA tournament. And, the correlation with each team's out to the potential new coach announcement.
If DeVries had stayed at Drake for 1 more year, we would not be having this discussion. But maybe he thought Fran isn’t going anywhere for at least 2-3 years, so he should
take the D1 job when it came along or miss his window to ever advance. Then McCollum comes in and turns everyone’s heads.
From what I’ve read, people in WVa don’t want him to leave. I think that’s a good indicator.
Do you talk yourself into changing your answer on a test or go with your first thought.?
take the D1 job when it came along or miss his window to ever advance. Then McCollum comes in and turns everyone’s heads.
From what I’ve read, people in WVa don’t want him to leave. I think that’s a good indicator.
Do you talk yourself into changing your answer on a test or go with your first thought.?
We don't even have a coach yet and you're doing nothing but bitching.
This is the tricky part when coupled with concerns about style of play. Everyone is so worried about hiring the next Todd Lickliter.
I think McCollum is worth taking a chance on, especially if he doesn’t require a long-term lucrative deal to start out with. If he earns it, great. Pay the man. But the last thing Iowa needs is a Nebraska football-sized buyout if three years in it’s not working out.
Agree think McCollum definitely worth the chance and potential for great upside. Lot of factors with Lick were obvious barta didn’t do his homework. He saw national coach of the year and threw an offer out. His style of play, recruiting philosophy (aau especially) and inexperienced staff big red flags then what we figured out later Stevens the brains behind the operation. Which with McCollum I understand concerns with recruiting D1 guys but his b-ball IQ top notch from everything I’ve read. Would be interesting to see how he fills out his staff if he gets the job. Curious if guy like gatens would be kept on.
Lastly if memory serves correct as long as we aren’t paying 3 coaches at once we haven’t screwed up as bad as Nebraska. Believe frost first year was last year paying of Pelini and of course Riley.
You mean his style of play that won three D-II national titles? You mean his style of play that emphasizes defense and rebounding? You mean his style of play that, in his first season, led Drake to the MVC regular season and conference tourney titles? You mean the style of play that brought Drake a 30-3 record and a spot in the NCAA Tourney? THAT style of play? LOL
Or maybe you prefer the style of play where you score 94 points and lose by 12, or that style where you have no fundamentals in rebounding or defense, that style where you're nearly dead last among over 350 teams in rebounding margin. THAT style of play? LOL
McCollom knows how to coach. He's taken 4 D-II players and a transfer from Wyoming who started 9 games last season and put up that 30-3 record on his way to the NCAA Tourney. Who the hell wants THAT style of play? Besides me, of course . . .
His portfolio is the “mob” wants him.
I was done with Fran, also. I didn’t carry a torch and scream for his dismissal. Demand! his dismissal.
Squeaky wheels bother me. Never happy. Always self centered.
I want to see more stability in the program, also. Not at the cost of vilifying an entire family who gave their all to the state and program, to the best of their abilities. Mistakes were made, but who hasn’t?
A bunch of couch ADs.
I was done with Fran, also. I didn’t carry a torch and scream for his dismissal. Demand! his dismissal.
Squeaky wheels bother me. Never happy. Always self centered.
I want to see more stability in the program, also. Not at the cost of vilifying an entire family who gave their all to the state and program, to the best of their abilities. Mistakes were made, but who hasn’t?
A bunch of couch ADs.
Winning a championship at any level is difficult and takes great coaching and recruiting. McCollum not only won a championship but 4 of them. He’s my #1 choice.
Best description I’ve read for detractors is he plays a winning style. If Iowa gets him good comparisons with history of taking over a D1 job can hope for his Bo Ryan. 15 yrs Wisc-plateville and 3 at UW Milwaukee. His Wisconsin teams didn’t always play most appealing style but were smart, disciplined (always one of lowest turnover teams) and most importantly they won. Winning cures all. Now if Bo’s team just avg lot harder to stomach that play. Kind of like Iowa football
