Fran Lost me today!!

[QuadCityHawkeye]

Y'all are overreacting. White went 1-12. I'm not going to go through the game logs for his entire career but I'm assuming that's the worst offensive performance of his career. He'll play much better the rest of the year.
These kinds of losses happen. Iowa State lost to Tech. Wisconsin lost to Rutgers. It happens. This loss doesn't change the fact that the remaining schedule is very easy and 4 wins is not out of the question. Win four games here and win a game in the B1G tourney and an NCAA bid is likely.

I guess the difference is Iowa State has consistently made the NCAA tournament under Fred and Iowa has made it once (as a play in team) under Fran. Wisconsin has been a power house under Bo Ryan. Iowa hasn't won an NCAA game in years. Losses like this put Iowa on the bubble where those other teams mentioned are NCAA locks. Iowa can't lose these type of games because they already lost some ones they shouldn't have this season.

 

[ForrestEvy]

We are now going to top out for the 3rd straight year of being a bubble team. The wins and losses are what they are but what bothers me is there is no emotion from this team. The players come out looking like they're going to a root canal and Fran looks like he's tired of coaching. I get the feeling after the BIG suspended him and Barta told him to back off Fran said he'd cash his paycheck until his contract runs out then he'll go back to a mid major. Same old excuses don't work when you use them all the time. I'll be interested to hear what he has to say after the games this week.

 

[bogeyman]

I was going to say Gabe as well, it just doesn't make sense. Fran is a very poor in game manager.

Between Fran and Kirk, do we possibly have the 2 worst in game managers of the two big sports of any college out there?

 

[ForrestEvy]

There was no doubt that Collins was more engaged than the Hawk coaches were. Fran is engaged only when he is losing his temper, but there are several other, more positive, ways to get your team going. Good coaches can do it. The Hawk assistant coaches don't look "into"the game, maybe because Fran doesn't let them make decisions.

 

[HawkeyeWalker]

Agree totally. It was the same thing under Alford, and now Fran. A team that is playing well going into a full blown meltdown, winning a big game or two and then following it with a disastrous loss (or multiples). We've seen it time and time again. They just can never play with any consistency and put it all together.

Then there was Lick, where Iowa just lost all the time.

It's gotten old.

What's Tom Davis up to these days?

If you recall, Mr. Davis "couldn't get it done" or "get over the hump" either. I remember when not getting past the second round of the NCAA's had gotten old and "Davis had to go".

 

[1977Hawkeye]

If you recall, Mr. Davis "couldn't get it done" or "get over the hump" either. I remember when not getting past the second round of the NCAA's had gotten old and "Davis had to go".

I'd gladly take Mr. Davis's results these days.. We haven't had a coach come anywhere near that level of consistent success since. I'm not going to pretend that his program was more elite than it really was, but 9 NCAA Trips in 13 years, and always at least to the second round.. People (myself included) didn't appreciate it as much as they should have. They were nearly always competitive, and were fun to watch, even if they often couldn't compete with the elite teams in the country. Main thing was that we could count on being in the dance most years, and that was fun.

Coming up on 15 years since Iowa has even won an NCAA game.

 

[TheIowaHawkGuy]

Y'all are overreacting. White went 1-12. I'm not going to go through the game logs for his entire career but I'm assuming that's the worst offensive performance of his career. He'll play much better the rest of the year.
These kinds of losses happen. Iowa State lost to Tech. Wisconsin lost to Rutgers. It happens. This loss doesn't change the fact that the remaining schedule is very easy and 4 wins is not out of the question. Win four games here and win a game in the B1G tourney and an NCAA bid is likely.

Iowa State and Wisconsin can afford those types of loses, in fact a few of them because they don't have 10 losses already and PROVE to be consistently tournament participants and top conference teams. HUGE difference.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

Iowa State and Wisconsin can afford those types of loses, in fact a few of them because they don't have 10 losses already and PROVE to be consistently tournament participants and top conference teams. HUGE difference.

Right. And it's now back-to-back "WTF?" kind of losses, especially after looking equally as good the previous two games. It isn't "just one game" when you're on a 2-game losing streak in games you should have easily been favored to win.

Now if Iowa gets their stuff together, finishes strong, makes the dance.. Then great. Myself, I'm expecting another meltdown and missing the dance. I fear it's already been underway the last 2 games.

Our RPI is 55 this morning. Iowa has work to do if they want to get in the dance.

 

[TheIowaHawkGuy]

Between Fran and Kirk, do we possibly have the 2 worst in game managers of the two big sports of any college out there?

No question. But this is what the administration wants, low risk - high reward for them. Good enough to not be terrible but not good enough to be great. Make money without having to do much.

 

[HawkeyeWalker]

I'd gladly take Mr. Davis's results these days.. We haven't had a coach come anywhere near that level of consistent success since. I'm not going to pretend that his program was more elite than it really was, but 9 NCAA Trips in 13 years, and always at least to the second round.. People (myself included) didn't appreciate it as much as they should have. They were nearly always competitive, and were fun to watch, even if they often couldn't compete with the elite teams in the country. Main thing was that we could count on being in the dance most years, and that was fun.

Coming up on 15 years since Iowa has even won an NCAA game.

Agreed. These last 2 games are the ones that are difference between a lock and struggling for the bubble. Frustrating to be this close and not getting there.

The biggest difference in the last couple years and the Mr. Davis years is consistency, which I guess can be put on coaching and not getting the level of talent improved.

I am notoriously overly loyal to coaches, maybe to a fault, when I like them, so take this with a grain of salt...but I think Fran should get 1-2 more years. Just my opinion. Imagine recruiting to this team in Fran's first 2-3 seasons(yeah, I know I know...Hoiberg). Now imagine we don't get legacy recruit Marble.

Uthoff, Jok, Uhl are going to be very good in my opinion. Gesell is a good pg if he's not forced to be a scorer. Woody hasnt reached his promise. It appears we have shooters coming (Oglesby also appeared to be that so who knows).

We'll see. Beat Rutgers....go from there.

Go Hawks.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

Agreed. These last 2 games are the ones that are difference between a lock and struggling for the bubble. Frustrating to be this close and not getting there.

The biggest difference in the last couple years and the Mr. Davis years is consistency, which I guess can be put on coaching and not getting the level of talent improved.

I am notoriously overly loyal to coaches, maybe to a fault, when I like them, so take this with a grain of salt...but I think Fran should get 1-2 more years. Just my opinion. Imagine recruiting to this team in Fran's first 2-3 seasons(yeah, I know I know...Hoiberg). Now imagine we don't get legacy recruit Marble.

Uthoff, Jok, Uhl are going to be very good in my opinion. Gesell is a good pg if he's not forced to be a scorer. Woody hasnt reached his promise. It appears we have shooters coming (Oglesby also appeared to be that so who knows).

We'll see. Beat Rutgers....go from there.

Go Hawks.

I agree with everything you just wrote. Good post.

It doesn't seem like Fran's teams are all that far away from Mr. Davis level, but I think you are spot on when you mention "consistency". Except for maybe in the rebuilding years, I don't remember Davis' teams often losing to bottom feeders. They beat the teams they should, usually lost to the teams that they shouldn't beat, and 50/50 against everyone else. Just like in football, where they lose to ISU, etc. - those are the games that would turn 7-5 into 9-3 and everything looks totally different. I'm just not sure where the disconnect is.

I too feel that Fran should get at least 1-2 more years.. Not because I'm so loyal, but given where the program was, I just think he's done enough to warrant some more time to see how far he can take it. Even though I feel the teams have underachieved the last few years (this one included), he's taken things in the right direction, so I don't want to bail on Fran too soon. It's HIS program now, though, so the honeymoon is over.

 

[HawkeyeWalker]

I agree with everything you just wrote. Good post.

It doesn't seem like Fran's teams are all that far away from Mr. Davis level, but I think you are spot on when you mention "consistency". Except for maybe in the rebuilding years, I don't remember Davis' teams often losing to bottom feeders. They beat the teams they should, usually lost to the teams that they shouldn't beat, and 50/50 against everyone else. Just like in football, where they lose to ISU, etc. - those are the games that would turn 7-5 into 9-3 and everything looks totally different. I'm just not sure where the disconnect is.

I too feel that Fran should get at least 1-2 more years.. Not because I'm so loyal, but given where the program was, I just think he's done enough to warrant some more time to see how far he can take it. Even though I feel the teams have underachieved the last few years (this one included), he's taken things in the right direction, so I don't want to bail on Fran too soon. It's HIS program now, though, so the honeymoon is over.

We're are on the same page. That may be a scary thing for you...

 

[HawkPrdatr40]

Iowa State and Wisconsin can afford those types of loses, in fact a few of them because they don't have 10 losses already and PROVE to be consistently tournament participants and top conference teams. HUGE difference.

Exactly!!

 

[lightning1]

I like Fran enough that i want to give him 2 more years but I cant justify it. Next seasons roster doesnt offer much NCAA tourney hope and our front line will be a mess.

 

[FranklinHawk]

It's on Fran for having a team full of guys that aren't that good.

there isn't that much of a difference between Jok and JO or Woody and Gabe one way or the other.

The only good player on this team that is clearly better than his backup is Uthoff.

You lost me out of the gate with that one. Granted Pete's shot was off yesterday, but that's a bit over the top. One guy had a good game (for him) with 6 points on 33% shooting, the other was coming off 3 straight double figure games where he shot over 50%. JO used to somewhat make up the difference with defense and passing, but I'd say defense is pretty close to a wash at this point and Pete is probably the better passer.

 

[SheagleHawk]

Northwestern has had a lot of close losses against some pretty good teams. Iowa has some talent, but they aren't the most talented team in the conference. White made third team all conference as a sophomore and junior, but it remains to be seen if he will repeat this year. Uthoff might make one of the three teams, but I can't think of anyone else. Iowa needs an upgrade of more athletes which they should get next year. It would be interesting to see how they would be doing if it wasn't for that idiot Dakich making the comments about Woodbury that he did. Woodbury doesn't seem like the same player since the Maryland incident. Announcers should be terminated for berating players on national television. I'd like the University and the conference to stand up for their players. I haven't heard one word. The big ten network hasn't either.

Woodbury would probably be avg 20 and 10 the last few games and Iowa move up into the top 10 if it weren't for that big meanie Dakich. Smfh.

 

[deanvogs]

You lost me out of the gate with that one. Granted Pete's shot was off yesterday, but that's a bit over the top. One guy had a good game (for him) with 6 points on 33% shooting, the other was coming off 3 straight double figure games where he shot over 50%. JO used to somewhat make up the difference with defense and passing, but I'd say defense is pretty close to a wash at this point and Pete is probably the better passer.

Yeah, playing Ogs extended minutes just because he made two shots was a total FAIL. Don't get me wrong it was nice to see Ogs finally hit a shot in B1G play, but common you seriously sit one of your starters for that long just because one of your pet projects finally hits a shot? Fran's rotations are *ucked, and he finally got them straightened out in a couple wins, and then he ditches what was working cause dude hits a 3.....finally.....like he is supposed to, so he gets extended minutes. I mean a down game for Jok (2-7 shooting) is a lights out performance for Ogs (2-6 shooting) and earns Ogs extended minutes.

 

[PCHawk]

Iowa State and Wisconsin can afford those types of loses, in fact a few of them because they don't have 10 losses already and PROVE to be consistently tournament participants and top conference teams. HUGE difference.

As far as the point he was trying to make, there is no difference as all. His point was that all teams lose to inferior opponents, so it's not like there is something out of the ordinary when we lose to Northwestern . I would argue that it's a lot more embarrassing for Wisconsin to lose to Rutgers than it is for iowa to lose to Northwestern.

Now if he was trying to make the point that it won't hurt our tournament resume losing to Northwestern because ISU and Wisconsin lose to bad teams too, then i would agree with you.

 

[HawkPrdatr40]

You lost me out of the gate with that one. Granted Pete's shot was off yesterday, but that's a bit over the top. One guy had a good game (for him) with 6 points on 33% shooting, the other was coming off 3 straight double figure games where he shot over 50%. JO used to somewhat make up the difference with defense and passing, but I'd say defense is pretty close to a wash at this point and Pete is probably the better passer.

Glad you clarified good game for him because shooting 2-6 from the field, scoring 6 points and one really bad ill advised foul late isn't good in my book.

 

[blubberhawk]

On the bright side..Northwestern went into the Kohl Center last year and beat Wisconsin. Wisconsin made it to the Final Four. **** happens. We can still make the dance. Beat Rutgers and everyone will shut up about Fran. I'm not happy about these last 2 games at all..but there's still plenty of opportunity for Fran and this team over the next month. Go Hawks!

Are you serious? Beating a bad Rutgers team will do NOTHING to shut up people about Fran. They had better win out or it's NIT.