Interestingly, the argument that we lose Connor and Patrick if Fran is fired really doesn't hold water. We don't have them as it is, given Connor's abbreviated season.
The question becomes, can a new coach recruit well enough, quickly enough? Before giving a resounding, "Of COURSE!", remember, this isn't Coach K or Dean Smith or Roy Williams coming in. It's most likely an up-and-comer who may not have enough "juice" if he is at a place like Iowa.
And if/when it happens, it will probably be similar to Alford or even Archie Miller, at first. Wild swings of losing to a Loras, followed by an upset over an MSU.
Assuming the season continues to play out like it has do you want to see Fran fired after this season? I vote yes because I think if we don't do it this year we ended up keeping him one year too long.
If things keep going like this for the rest of the year, I would support a change, for reasons I've stated in other threads. Fran made us competitive again but on the whole, I am not overly impressed. A couple 7 seeds and quick exits in 8 years.. Meh. In short, I see more than one disappointing season in Fran's tenure, but I guess that's just my own fault for having expectations out of this program, right? I'm not out there screaming for a change but wouldn't be brokenhearted if it happened, either.
That said - I'd only support a change if we have another good plan in place and THEN pull the trigger. If Fran is fired and we have to trust Barta to go out there and just hope to find someone better, I could see that ending very poorly. Why fire Fran and end up with another mistake of a coaching hire that we'd have to buy out in another 3-4 years. I'm just saying - have something more or less lined up first as much as possible.
Same result? So, if we finish 12th next year instead of 13th, you'll be ok with him sticking around? Not trying to bust your balls, just trying to determine how much improvement needs to happen to keep him. I suspect most people that want to give him one more year won't expect a whole lot of improvement to be satisfied. Am I wrong?I will give him 1 more year but if we see same result next season Fran definitely needs fired. IMO something is going on internally with this team. Season makes no sense!!!!
It's nothing internal. We are the least talented team in the conference. Of all the years I have been watching Iowa basketball I have never seen players this slow and unathletic as some of these players on the current roster. Some of these guys make Seth Gorney look like a speed demonI will give him 1 more year but if we see same result next season Fran definitely needs fired. IMO something is going on internally with this team. Season makes no sense!!!!
Same result? So, if we finish 12th next year instead of 13th, you'll be ok with him sticking around? Not trying to bust your balls, just trying to determine how much improvement needs to happen to keep him. I suspect most people that want to give him one more year won't expect a whole lot of improvement to be satisfied. Am I wrong?
No. I'm not happy with how this season is going and Fran can definitely shore up some things but firing him would seem to conform to what our culture does now when something doesn't go right or we disagree with someone. We should fire them, mock them, think the absolute worst of them, get rid of them, etc because they have failed to meet our standards or offended us in some way.
The context of this year, in Fran's case, within his whole career, is irrelevant because I'm so offended that he hasn't led the basketball team I root for to better things so I demand that my complaint is answered to my satisfaction.
It's the sign of the times now, that in a disposable culture, we would demand Fran to be fired after one bad season. Ridiculous.