2-16

[1977Hawkeye]

ColumbusHawk - you clearly don't remember that George Raveling was the coach in between Lute and Mr. Davis. Mr. Davis took the same players that George Raveling had (Raveling was never really above .500 IIRC) and went 30 - 5 the next year.

In a perfect world, we would have Mr. Davis as the Head coach teaching the full court pressure and offense and George Raveling as the Asst Head Coach whose main responsibility was recruiting and teaching rebounding.

That would be a perennial Top 10 tandem.

Or somehow just kept Lute for all those years...

The Raveling days are a bit early for me, but I believe he got us to the NCAA's in 1985 & 1986 but lost in the first round both times. 20-10 type material. Raveling was another coach that could recruit up a storm, but was not really a great COACH.

We always used to talk about that - Tom Davis as head coach and Raveling as an assistant. That would've been a dynamite setup.

Too bad Lute moved on - I'm too young to recall Iowa's last Final Four.

 

[jfwolfe]

That is a joke. The Chris Street incident is a very tragic. But to think that Iowa was a "great team" with Street is delusional. It is a very tragic event, I feel sorry for his parents. Not to dismiss the incident, but Lester's knee injury was far more significant in terms of basketball.

Actually, not delusional at all. The week prior to Street's death, Iowa was discussed on ESPN as a projected Final Four team. Dick Vitale and Digger Phelps said it at that time. Iowa was, in fact, ranked 7th or 8th in the country from 12/7 - 1/4 (7 total weeks in the top 10). So, they actually were a great team that year. It's unfortunate that people just want to disparage Tom Davis.

 

[WindsorHawk]

Actually, not delusional at all. The week prior to Street's death, Iowa was discussed on ESPN as a projected Final Four team. Dick Vitale and Digger Phelps said it at that time. Iowa was, in fact, ranked 7th or 8th in the country from 12/7 - 1/4 (7 total weeks in the top 10). So, they actually were a great team that year. It's unfortunate that people just want to disparage Tom Davis.

And I'm pretty sure everything we had done up to that point was with Russ Millard being ineligible 1st semester. He was going to be eligible 2nd semester and make us that much better. Can anyone confirm that I'm remembering this correctly?

 

[eveningnewsteam]

And I'm pretty sure everything we had done up to that point was with Russ Millard being ineligible 1st semester. He was going to be eligible 2nd semester and make us that much better. Can anyone confirm that I'm remembering this correctly?

You are correct. He was ineligible and his first minutes were at Michigan State, the first game after Street's death.

 

[FRANAMANIAC]

Will we look back at ferentz with the rose colored glasses of the past?

 

[Bigtenchamp]

I've heard the same stories & much worse from my friends. Alford was an a$$ & a complete jerk. Alford not showing up at a charity golf event sponsored by the car dealership that provided his family free cars, expecting free snow blowers, etc. But as Leo said "nice guys finish last."

It's about results. Heck, I'd take Himmler as Iowa's coach if he could do what Wooden did. At least Alford won something!

Alford won something? not really.

One NCAA tournament game in his entire time here.

 

[homes]

Will we look back at ferentz with the rose colored glasses of the past?

Maybe Orange-colored glasses, but not Rose-colored. At least not yet.

 

[pmchawk]

If he wins 7 he ties Mr. Davis's 1st 6 years conference win total

 

[blubberhawk]

If he wins 7 he ties Mr. Davis's 1st 6 years conference win total

It is all about the NCAA tourney appearances and wins.

 

[Hawknigh]

Alford won something? not really.

One NCAA tournament game in his entire time here.

Tied with Fran. Just sayin'

 

[Hawknick]

The are both good coatea, but one cannot put this record entirely on Tom Davis. Hus is record in these years is skewed downward because of year 4. That year there are situations beyond his control. Ray Thompson and Brian Garner will both declared ineligible. Matt Bullard was injured for much of the year. Michael Ingram and Rodell Davis were both coming off some serious injuries. I still liked that team despite the low overall in Big Ten record. They did beat North Carolina, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa State and Purdue. Les Jepsen had one heck of a year!

Few teams ever have to deal with so many problems in one year so I am more confident about next year than 1988-1990.

 

[Bigtenchamp]

Tied with Fran. Just sayin'

Alford coached for 8 years... one at large NCAA bid.

I'm not making any conclusions about Fran yet.

But people say Alford got fired because he was an arsehole... but not because he didn't win.



He didn't win and that's a big part of why he is gone.

 

[kameltoez102]

I am not trying to shill for Mr. Davis but he had 5 finishes in the top 3 in the B1G in his 13 years which isnt bad. And remember while this was going on he was beating the fab five a couple times IIRC even though they were pretty much a bought and paid for team. One might say that except for Izzo Mr. Davis went up against much tougher coaches in Knight, Keady, heathcote and then Izzo, and our favorite comb-over from Illinois.
Yes the only thing Davis missed was a championship.

It is hard to compare when it is my opinion that the competition and talent in the BIG10 from now to when Davis was coaching isn't even close. I think Fran has done a great job with what he has had except for last years collapse at the end of the year. The Big Ten in the late 80s and 90s was just awesome especially the teams at the top. Just watching the Illinois Elite Team on Big 10 network the other night really brought back how many great players and teams they had at one time. I think both did and are doing a geat job. I just hope Fran can get some good recruits and develop them.