Be prepared to hear...

[FreddyBrown]

...plenty of advice and probably some flack from the talking heads about Lick's possible termination if you're watching Big Ten tournament games this weekend. I doubt that Iowa is relevant enough beyond the league to start catching flack unless and until a change is made--but at that point we'll have the Dickie V's weighing in as well.

It goes with the territory.

 

[clicheusername3]

...plenty of advice and probably some flack from the talking heads about Lick's possible termination if you're watching Big Ten tournament games this weekend. I doubt that Iowa is relevant enough beyond the league to start catching flack unless and until a change is made--but at that point we'll have the Dickie V's weighing in as well.

It goes with the territory.

Dickie V: "how can you fire a guy after 3 years, ahhhhhh, i mean cmon, this guy has done this and this and this and the kids love him. I mean look at Coack K at Duke, he's a perfect example, he's been there forever and they are great!"

 

[storminspank]

The talking heads know nothing about what's happening in Iowa City. They can yap all they want.

 

[HawkPrdatr40]

The talking heads know nothing about what's happening in Iowa City. They can yap all they want.

I'm wondering if anyone really knows what's going on in Iowa City.

 

[hoffahawk]

I'm wondering if anyone really knows what's going on in Iowa City.

Great point, there are plenty of people on here that think they do but that's another story.

 

[storminspank]

I'm wondering if anyone really knows what's going on in Iowa City.

I'm pretty sure there are people in Iowa City that know.

 

[hawkeyescott]

I'm wondering if anyone really knows what's going on in Iowa City.

I do, the basketball equipment is being put away since there is no post season tournament for 20 loss teams.

 

[DFaceHawkeye]

I do, the basketball equipment is being put away since there is no post season tournament for 20 loss teams.

Ouch

 

[Hawknole]

I'm wondering if anyone really knows what's going on in Iowa City.

I'm sure everyone remembers how the Lick hire went down - it caught almost everyone off guard. I doubt we'll hear much regarding any possible terminations. Barta (and whatever crew he has around him) seem to keep these things close to the vest.

 

[clicheusername3]

I'm sure everyone remembers how the Lick hire went down - it caught almost everyone off guard. I doubt we'll hear much regarding any possible terminations. Barta (and whatever crew he has around him) seem to keep these things close to the vest.

I think Miller and Deace mentioned it this AM but Iowa settled for Lickliter when they hired him. It was just a bad time to be looking for a coach...I don't know if it is any better of a time right now but I think the positive is that Iowa learned their lesson on settling for something you don't really want...

 

[TheFinalGun]

I think Miller and Deace mentioned it this AM but Iowa settled for Lickliter when they hired him. It was just a bad time to be looking for a coach...I don't know if it is any better of a time right now but I think the positive is that Iowa learned their lesson on settling for something you don't really want...

Don't know if now is any better for finding a coach, but if Lickliter is fired then Barta has to hit a HR with the next hire. I think he'll have a tough time getting the fans back if he "settles" for another mid-major coach. A "name" coach can get the fans back initially (or at least long enough to buy him some time to get the program going in the right direction), but in the end they'll still need to win and get to the Dance.

 

[storminspank]

I think Miller and Deace mentioned it this AM but Iowa settled for Lickliter when they hired him. It was just a bad time to be looking for a coach...I don't know if it is any better of a time right now but I think the positive is that Iowa learned their lesson on settling for something you don't really want...

No kidding. It's like, why settle for the reigning Coach of the Year. Stupid settling.

 

[NewMexHawk]

Lickliter stated that this team was better than the two previous teams and that he does his job well...he should be fired for just making those two statements!

He also thinks Tinker Bell rides on his shoulder...

 

[clicheusername3]

No kidding. It's like, why settle for the reigning Coach of the Year. Stupid settling.

So you are saying that it was always Lick and only Lick in that coaching search?

 

[storminspank]

So you are saying that it was always Lick and only Lick in that coaching search?

No. In fact, Barta went to Pearl first.

What I am saying is that Lickliter wasn't Iowa settling. I am saying he was coming off a NCOTY season, how is that settling?

 

[FreddyBrown]

I think we did settle. Coach of the Year provided pretty good cover. As it turns out, I don't think the due diligence was very good. I'd put it this way: If I were the AD, an introvert like Lickliter would never have been considered for what the Iowa job needed at the time, and still needs today.

The people who keep pointing to the COY award as a validation for all that Lickliter is are taking the easy way out to avoid dealing with the harsh reality we've observed over the last three years.

 

[clicheusername3]

No. In fact, Barta went to Pearl first.

What I am saying is that Lickliter wasn't Iowa settling. I am saying he was coming off a NCOTY season, how is that settling?

If the car you really want at the dealership is out of stock and you can't get it right now...so you decide to go with your second choice that you can drive off of the lot, what is that called? Sure maybe you like some things about the second choice but in the end its not what you really wanted. I would call that settling.

 

[FreddyBrown]

If the car you really want at the dealership is out of stock and you can't get it right now...so you decide to go with your second choice that you can drive off of the lot, what is that called? Sure maybe you like some things about the second choice but in the end its not what you really wanted. I would call that settling.

Better still, if you're an AD making your first major hire at your new school, do you take the easy way out and hire a NCOTY, which will become the lead of every story on the hire and is the best insulation against second-guessing, or do you bust your *** to find the best guy for the job but take a chance on being second-guessed at first because he might be an assistant somewhere else?

Hell, hiring the NCOTY is still providing cover to Barta, even after the guy failed miserably!

 

[parquet]

No. In fact, Barta went to Pearl first.

What I am saying is that Lickliter wasn't Iowa settling. I am saying he was coming off a NCOTY season, how is that settling?

I guess it could be settling if he was down the wish list a bit, like "We had to settle for our third choice" or whatever.

 

[storminspank]

Good points by all. It really depends on how far down the list Lickliter was.

If he was in the Tier A list of coaches, then it's not settling. If he was down in Tier C, then it's settling. However, I do remember Barta saying in his presser that he targeted Lickliter. Whatever that means.