As much as we like to discuss Ferentz one area that I think we could agree is that he does a good job of evaluating talent (the 2 and 3 star Players) and then developing them. really thats what has made him successful since he really has a hard time recruiting the 4 and 5 star kids. McCaffrey has also recruited the kids that were not highly rated as he also has a difficult time recruiting the top kids. The difference seems to be that Fran doesnt find the sleepers and does a bad job of developing what he does recruit. I think this current team really highlights it, and Uhl is a glaring example. I really dont see Fran changing this and I dont see him suddenly recruiting a number of top players. Hope I am wrong but I see the next couple of years as very tough on fans and coaches alike.
Evaluation and Development
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ClintonIAfan
Well-Known Member
Aaron White
1977Hawkeye
Well-Known Member
Well, that's one over 7 years. Who else?
ClintonIAfan
Well-Known Member
Peter Jok
ArvadaHawk
Well-Known Member
In hoops, there rarely are sleepers. There is so much AAU ball that it's hard for a kid to go unnoticed. But look at what Fran has done in offering kids first, Tyler Ulis, Charlie Moore. No he hasn't landed an elite pg, but we were competing with UK and MSU for Ulis and Moore was leaning Iowa until a sudden parting of ways.
We just spent the last 3 seasons with the same players and now we are (almost) turning over the entire roster. We have 3 kids with D1 experience: Jok, Baer (frmr walk-on) and Uhl. Four if you want to count Williams. This team is so young, right now, they literally need to learn how to play D1 hoops, particularly, on defense. They'll get there. They just need time.
Guys like Besabe, Olaseni, and Clemmons fit into this category. Ferentz gets the occasional really good players (like White and Marble) but most of the other ones are just pretty good (like the ones I mentioned).
With unbalanced scheduels, injuries, and close games, a lot has to go your way to win a conference title. The job of the coach is to put the pieces in place to be able to compete for one. Fran had us in that position 2 of the last 3 years. It sucks that it didn't turn out well for us but we had our chances. Especially last year where we had a really difficult schedule and Indiana had an easy one. Even with the unbalanced schedule, we were still just a close loss to them and either one more win from us or one more loss from them away from winning the Big 10.
With unbalanced scheduels, injuries, and close games, a lot has to go your way to win a conference title. The job of the coach is to put the pieces in place to be able to compete for one. Fran had us in that position 2 of the last 3 years. It sucks that it didn't turn out well for us but we had our chances. Especially last year where we had a really difficult schedule and Indiana had an easy one. Even with the unbalanced schedule, we were still just a close loss to them and either one more win from us or one more loss from them away from winning the Big 10.
Good point about having the same players for so long. It's hard to recruit the right players when they see intrentched starters. His first class where he could guarantee immediate playing time looks pretty good. Every player he has after that class (5) are look to be really good players.
QChawkness
Well-Known Member
Fran definitely has an eye for talent. His track record shows that he's consistently targeting high end talent but due to Iowa being the program that it is he has to settle for 2nd or 3rd tier players. Uhl was probably plan G in that 2014 class but can you blame Fran for taking a chance on him? For as bad as he's been Uhl has a great deal of potential. Fran recognized it wasn't panning out and responded by landing Cook, Pemsl, Garza. Replacing 4 starters at a program like Iowa is a timely process and even at 3-5 I think Fran has us headed in the right direction.
I agree. He's finding really good players but has trouble getting his top choices to commit (weird as bad as we've been). But now that we're a respectable program again (he's not having to fall back so mucheck in recent years. Hopefully no more plan G's.
lightning1
Well-Known Member
This is not accurate. Anyone with marginal basketball insight could see Jok's upside as an offensive threat from almost anywhere on the court. The only real question was could his knee hold up. That was why a lot of high major programs backed off of him.
BigD
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This is correct.
BigD
Well-Known Member
This is also correct.
BigD
Well-Known Member
Where have Frans recruiting classes finished in relation to the conference foes since he has been here? Hasn't he averaged around eleventh place? If that is correct that is not good. Even though recruiting isn't a perfect science you still want to finish in the top half of your conference.
