Bennett Stirtz

[trj]

The thing I take solace in is that yeah we pretty much flipped the whole roster. But he's brought in the best of who he had at Drake and those guys all have built in chemistry with each other and coaches. So it's more like we are adding in a few guys like Hausen and Folgueras to sprinkle in that are gonna be totally new to what's going on that'll be playing big roles.

Sounds like you and I balance each other out I'll be glass 3/4th full guy then and we'll hopefully meet in the middle and have a better then expected yr by most anyway.

Continuity

That is what wins in today’s college basketball. You need a roster with guys who have played 2,3,4 years together. In the transfer portal era, getting guys who have played together multiple years is HUGE. It will win you games you have no business winning. That is why I am okay with BM bringing in the Drake guys.

I am the complete opposite of @InGoodCo…I see short term and long term success. Do I see BM as some savant, an all-timer? No. You do the homework on BM, and it is easy to project them winning enough games to be a 8 or 9 seed in the tournament.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

Continuity

That is what wins in today’s college basketball. You need a roster with guys who have played 2,3,4 years together. In the transfer portal era, getting guys who have played together multiple years is HUGE. It will win you games you have no business winning. That is why I am okay with BM bringing in the Drake guys.

I am the complete opposite of @InGoodCo…I see short term and long term success. Do I see BM as some savant, an all-timer? No. You do the homework on BM, and it is easy to project them winning enough games to be a 8 or 9 seed in the tournament.

That's exactly what it can do. You can sneak out wins on the road that ESPN will tell you that you have no business wining at all. When those guys have situational chemistry and don't have to look down at their feet and wonder what play are they running and just play reactive ball with one another it can steal you multiple possessions a game. It doesn't hurt that Stirtz is just a pretty damn good player to boot.

 

[trj]

That's exactly what it can do. You can sneak out wins on the road that ESPN will tell you that you have no business wining at all. When those guys have situational chemistry and don't have to look down at their feet and wonder what play are they running and just play reactive ball with one another it can steal you multiple possessions a game. It doesn't hurt that Stirtz is just a pretty damn good player to boot.

Yep.

Obviously, we have to let all this play out. If you are asking me in early September the following question: “ If Iowa missed the tournament would you be disappointed?” My answer would be a strong ‘yes’.

 

[BigD]

It will still be fresh. Sort of like the smell of fresh manure at the county fair.

LMAO!!! Driving through the State of Iowa and smelling that as we passed by many farms, my father who grew up on a farm would always tell us that, that was the smell of money. Hopefully our defenses will be able to stink up the opponents offense. SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!

 

[BigD]

I am right there with you, I just have no idea what to expect and I think anointing the hire before a single shot is taken is setting ya up for disappointment. I think Ben's the guy, and I already met him and I really like him....but Iowa could be in a few bleak years as he rebuilds. We have almost 100% turnover with our roster, and even if Iowa would have pulled in a top 25 class or something heading into this season, I would still have some heavy skepticism. Winning the Big Ten is hard, it's humbled a lot more sought after, better pedigree coaches than Ben. I would say we have a lot better shot of not being good then being very good.

That's fair, but I hope you are wrong. I would wager to bet that you hope you are wrong also. I understand where you are coming from. If not for the guard he brought with him from Drake I would be in agreeance with you. Will he be enough to be the "X" factor we shall see.

 

[BigD]

1000X, I was a Fran loyalist but I had a breaking point as well. I maintained that I would be happy as long we were making the dance regularly. Can't miss it 2 years in a row 15 years into your tenure. I turned on Fran before the B1G season started last year. I saw them play Utah St in KC and I knew it was one of Fran's worst teams in a decade and I was ready for Iowa to move on.

I have to admit it was surprising to me to see you change your tune towards Fran. You were very much one of his biggest supporters on here. Although I didn't agree with you on that I understood where you were coming from. Even Fran's worse teams were head and shoulders above what we suffered and endured under the Lickliter regime. No one wants to EVER go back to that again.

If Ben somehow gets his first year's team to the NCAA tournament IT WILL BE HUGE for him in his recruiting moving forward. Give Ben talent and he will be a major factor in the Big Ten. This coach knows his shit. It will come down to recruiting.

 

[BigD]

I feel like it could be worse than last years, not just as bad. I have no idea if this roster is made to compete in the B1G, last year I felt like they had the talent, they were just awful. This year I think we might lack a little of that talent but have a better X's and O's guy.

I am firmly in a wait and see mode. I would LOVE if they are good right out of the gate, I just have skepticism because I think Iowa lacks size, or the size is younger and unproven and I don't know how that will translate. The B1G is brutal, and Iowa definitely isn't near the top of the conference as far as commitment, athleticism, recruiting stars, etc... we just have what we think is a savant, what some national guys think is a savant as a HC. I think MN has had a few of those right? I think Indiana have had a few of those right?

I'm hopeful, and maybe that is half empty take.... but I feel like it's more align with reality from my point of view.

The booster's better open their wallets if this is going to work. Pay to play baby!!! If we give Ben the talent I think he will be one of the best in college basketball. I'd hate to see him at Duke, Indiana, Kansas, North Carolina and any other college that puts their money into their basketball program. Time to pony up boosters. It's on you.

 

[BigD]

The thing I take solace in is that yeah we pretty much flipped the whole roster. But he's brought in the best of who he had at Drake and those guys all have built in chemistry with each other and coaches. So it's more like we are adding in a few guys like Hausen and Folgueras to sprinkle in that are gonna be totally new to what's going on that'll be playing big roles.

Sounds like you and I balance each other out I'll be glass 3/4th full guy then and we'll hopefully meet in the middle and have a better then expected yr by most anyway.

If Ben buys a large farm and tears out all his crops and puts up a basketball court then we might have the right guy, lol.