That surprises me. She would have gone down as a legend in Ames, now it will be complicated. It will be interesting who takes a shot on her. Very talented in her unique way, but if you bring her in, you need to be willing to build your system around her because she cannot fit in most systems.
Audie Crooks in transfer portal
- Thread starter CP87
- Start date
SmokeTownHawk
Well-Known Member
It's got to be much more than $$$ for nearly the entire women's bb team to up and leave. Is there anyone left?
Fryowa
Administrator
It's the coach.
Glass1/2fullguy
Well-Known Member
She'll find a home but i do not expect it to be for an elite program. Great offensively but a massive liability on the defensive end of the floor.
SmokeTownHawk
Well-Known Member
There's so many ways to interpret that.
Westernhawk
Well-Known Member
Wow. Between FB and WBB, ISU is having quite the fire sale.
NorthKCHawk
Well-Known Member
While I agree that her defense is not awesome, I don't know that its that bad. She needs a slower system for sure. Like McCollum slow.
I certainly do not agree that she won't find an elite program. She is not leaving ISU, where she is a folk hero, to play at Wyoming for a year. These kids have agents. I have to believe she knows there will be options, and there is already a big bag of money waiting for someone who can put up 20+ a night in a major conference team with not much around her.
If I were Jan, I would take a shot at seeing what sort of money trail it would take to get her from Ames to IC.
Her and Heiden together? High low. That would be hard to stop.
NorthKCHawk
Well-Known Member
I agree with Fry. The coach has been fine and been there a while, but he has hit a ceiling and there has got to be a culture issue with that big of an exodus. Then again, Ames does suck balls.
99topdawg
Well-Known Member
I took out a few words to simplify what I think you were trying to say and I agree 100%. Their FB team needs more players.
99topdawg
Well-Known Member
Brent Blum was pushed out of the head of their NIL because he disagreed with Pollard on how it should be run. Campbell and TJ were pissed because a mega donor wanted a certain amount of money to go to certain programs, but Pollard wanted to keep it as percentages for each program. Campbell bolted and TJ was on his way out. This is all according to a person that is VERY much an insider.
My theory is this. Pollard pulled NIL money from programs like WBB and FB and is giving it to MBB make sure TJ stays and to make sure the donors are happy. They will have a massive payroll for MBB, an elite coach, and a shit-ass FB conference where they can win a few games in every year, beat West Delaware and DMACC JV in the preseason and maybe get to the Lewinski Bowl and play another team that sucks/blows. The rubes will flock to the bowl game and talk about how it's an even better bowl than whatever bowl Iowa's playing in. Fennelly will take his millions to the nursing home and they'll try to find a coach that can be around .500 every year.
My theory is this. Pollard pulled NIL money from programs like WBB and FB and is giving it to MBB make sure TJ stays and to make sure the donors are happy. They will have a massive payroll for MBB, an elite coach, and a shit-ass FB conference where they can win a few games in every year, beat West Delaware and DMACC JV in the preseason and maybe get to the Lewinski Bowl and play another team that sucks/blows. The rubes will flock to the bowl game and talk about how it's an even better bowl than whatever bowl Iowa's playing in. Fennelly will take his millions to the nursing home and they'll try to find a coach that can be around .500 every year.
SwirlinLingerie
Well-Known Member
It'll be super interesting to see where she ends up.
I tend to think Iowa isn't the best fit, because Heiden is already a star and well on her way to being a super star, and I'm not sure if you can play them together. It'd definitely be an experiment, and I don't know if that's what Jan is looking for next season.
That said, if I were Crooks, I would beg Jan for a long sit down meeting together. I'd want to hear everything she had to say, the good and the bad.
If Crooks was open to being coached hard - including off-season conditioning - I'd love to know what Jan could do with her.
There is a reason she is considered one of the best post coaches in the world, men or women. She's gotta have some interesting - and strong - views on Crooks.
#1DieHardHawk
Well-Known Member
She is a half-court talent, no doubt.
It's hard to see her fitting into our current system, which includes a lot of running and gunning. One of Iowa's trademarks is releasing a big after a possession change for the long pass. That's not gonna happen in any universe with Audie.
It's hard to see her fitting into our current system, which includes a lot of running and gunning. One of Iowa's trademarks is releasing a big after a possession change for the long pass. That's not gonna happen in any universe with Audie.
What the Hell, let's just go for it. Heiden, Crooks, and Hayes in the front-court, Stremshow and Wright in the backcourt. Nothing but 2-3 zone. Pray the other team cannot shoot 3s, and then brutalize them underneath and on the offensive glass.
I think this is a terrible idea, but it is fun to see teams think outside the box.
Last edited:
SwirlinLingerie
Well-Known Member
Ha, yeah, I am mostly just amusing myself. I would love to know what Jan thinks though.
kameltoez102
Well-Known Member
Coming from someone that mainly watches highlights of her career. My biggest concern with her is it seems she has gotten bigger every year while not really offsetting that with any type of physical improvement in terms of quickness or stamina. Her defense is a big liability and not sure how she would handle it at this stage in her career if she was not a 1A option. Don’t think she would want to be a 1B or second or third option. I would be deal is already done ir she goes to a smaller school to be the alpha
NorthKCHawk
Well-Known Member
Crooks and Heiden are different post players. Heiden is a bit of a one trick pony with either her quick move baseline or spin back to the paint, but she is an old fashion, Robert Parish, back to the basket post player. Crooks has range for as big as she is. She can shoot from the foul line, turn around Js, but also be a traditional post. I could see her playing the high and Heiden low, similar to Stuelke's positioning this year. Plus, if you have her more as the high post, she is in better position to get back on D. Can you imagine trying to stop those two in the paint? They would have a hundred pounds against anyone they face.
It would for sure be a different offense than what Jan has run, but she is the zen master coaching the post.
It would for sure be a different offense than what Jan has run, but she is the zen master coaching the post.
judzeehawk
Well-Known Member
You lost me with the one trick pony with Heiden. That right there shows me you didn't watch very many games this season.
