Fran's first 4 Years

deanvogs

deanvogs

Well-Known Member
Initial Reaction:
Who the ****is this guy?

First Impression after press conference:
Seems like he gets it. Very personable and confident. Knows how to build a program

Year one:
Did what he could with the talent he had. Finished the season on a high note with the upset of #6 Purdue, and played Michigan St. tough in the B1G tourney
Recruiting- Kept the top 125 Iowa player home in Ogelsby. Signed a very under the radar Aaron White, and a project in Gabe. Not too bad overall recruiting wise

Year two:
Really moved the team forward a big step after stubbing their toes at the beginning of the season. Beat top 20 teams in Wisconsin twice, Michigan, and Indiana. Made the NIT, and won a first round game.
Recruiting - Killed it recruiting wise. Beat Roy for a top 50 kid, kept another top 100 kid home, and filled in with Meyer, Ingram, and Clemmons. Top 25 recruiting class, and the program has some momentum. Then gets another break and has a top 125 kid transfer into the program in Uthoff.

Year Three:
Missed opportunity really. Team was improved on the year before, but still only made the NIT. Blowing a big lead to Nebraska at home later in the year really hurt. Created some momentum though by getting to the NIT finals.
Recruiting - Only 1 scholarship to give out in Jok. Seemed to have a little momentum on the recruiting trail, as they missed on their top targets.

Year Four:
Made the NCAA tourney, so goal accomplished. At the same time the season just seemed to be one big missed opportunity. Iowa slide from a potential 4 seed to a low seed. They still had a chance in the B1G to turn it around, but instead continued the slide with a head scratching loss to jNW. They then had another opportunity to salvage things in the NCAA, but lost to Tenn. The whole season seemed like an opportunity lost.
Recruiting - Mixed bag. Missed on all of its top targets with the bad break of Kentucky offering Ulis. Seems like all recruiting momentum is gone when he missed on transfers as well at the end of the year. Still brought in Ellingson and Uhl and Dickerson and I'm not writing any of these guys off, but like I said, none of them were top targets.

Overall:
While Fran has obviously move the program out of the dark Lick ages, and has improved each year, it seems like some opportunities were lost. I think this looks entirely different if Iowa makes the NCAA in year 3, I just don't see the collapse happening if this occurred. While the team did make the NCAA this year, it seemed like overall they under performed with the talent they had. Nobody could have guessed that late season collapse was gonna happen.

Year five, and the future:
This team need to make the NCAA. It will be a tough task losing it best scorer, and toughest inside players. Yet in order to show that Fran can coach up what he has, it needs to happen. He has an All B1G performer in White, a top 50 kid in Woody, a top 100 kid in Gesell, and two top 125 kids in Ogs and Uthoff. That is a good enough roster to win with, Fran just has to get it done.
Recruiting - Very excited that Fran got Hutton to sign, and Pemsl as well. Those are both good gets. Fran absolutely needs to follow it up by getting a top 150 kid or two as well for '15
 
deanvogs said:
Initial Reaction:
Who the ****is this guy?

First Impression after press conference:
Seems like he gets it. Very personable and confident. Knows how to build a program

Year one:
Did what he could with the talent he had. Finished the season on a high note with the upset of #6 Purdue, and played Michigan St. tough in the B1G tourney
Recruiting- Kept the top 125 Iowa player home in Ogelsby. Signed a very under the radar Aaron White, and a project in Gabe. Not too bad overall recruiting wise

Year two:
Really moved the team forward a big step after stubbing their toes at the beginning of the season. Beat top 20 teams in Wisconsin twice, Michigan, and Indiana. Made the NIT, and won a first round game.
Recruiting - Killed it recruiting wise. Beat Roy for a top 50 kid, kept another top 100 kid home, and filled in with Meyer, Ingram, and Clemmons. Top 25 recruiting class, and the program has some momentum. Then gets another break and has a top 125 kid transfer into the program in Uthoff.

Year Three:
Missed opportunity really. Team was improved on the year before, but still only made the NIT. Blowing a big lead to Nebraska at home later in the year really hurt. Created some momentum though by getting to the NIT finals.
Recruiting - Only 1 scholarship to give out in Jok. Seemed to have a little momentum on the recruiting trail, as they missed on their top targets.

Year Four:
Made the NCAA tourney, so goal accomplished. At the same time the season just seemed to be one big missed opportunity. Iowa slide from a potential 4 seed to a low seed. They still had a chance in the B1G to turn it around, but instead continued the slide with a head scratching loss to jNW. They then had another opportunity to salvage things in the NCAA, but lost to Tenn. The whole season seemed like an opportunity lost.
Recruiting - Mixed bag. Missed on all of its top targets with the bad break of Kentucky offering Ulis. Seems like all recruiting momentum is gone when he missed on transfers as well at the end of the year. Still brought in Ellingson and Uhl and Dickerson and I'm not writing any of these guys off, but like I said, none of them were top targets.

Overall:
While Fran has obviously move the program out of the dark Lick ages, and has improved each year, it seems like some opportunities were lost. I think this looks entirely different if Iowa makes the NCAA in year 3, I just don't see the collapse happening if this occurred. While the team did make the NCAA this year, it seemed like overall they under performed with the talent they had. Nobody could have guessed that late season collapse was gonna happen.

Year five, and the future:
This team need to make the NCAA. It will be a tough task losing it best scorer, and toughest inside players. Yet in order to show that Fran can coach up what he has, it needs to happen. He has an All B1G performer in White, a top 50 kid in Woody, a top 100 kid in Gesell, and two top 125 kids in Ogs and Uthoff. That is a good enough roster to win with, Fran just has to get it done.
Recruiting - Very excited that Fran got Hutton to sign, and Pemsl as well. Those are both good gets. Fran absolutely needs to follow it up by getting a top 150 kid or two as well for '15
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Losing a 'play-in' game for a #10 seed is not making the tourney. If they'd had won that game, they'd have been in the tourney - that is why it is called a 'play-in'.
 
imported_ankle23 said:
Losing a 'play-in' game for a #10 seed is not making the tourney. If they'd had won that game, they'd have been in the tourney - that is why it is called a 'play-in'.
Click to expand...

Before this becomes another 5 page thread on whether Iowa made the tournament I want to make one comment. Regardless of the term used to label this game it is possible to win the NCAA Championship from this game. It is not possible to win the NCAA Championship from the NIT. So it's a step up from the NIT berth last year. That's all.
 
Year 3, Sure thought we beat Neb. at home. Like last game of the year or so. Or maybe I drank to much before going inside Carver
 
imported_ankle23 said:
Losing a 'play-in' game for a #10 seed is not making the tourney. If they'd had won that game, they'd have been in the tourney - that is why it is called a 'play-in'.
Click to expand...

It is the first round, delta bravo. And we were an 11 seed, not a 10 seed. Do you even watch Iowa basketball?
 
I'd say the OP summed it up pretty well. Not to focus on the negative, but I really felt that years 3 & 4 (even though they were still improvements over 1 & 2) still go down as "missed opportunities". Year 3, Iowa had way too many close losses and late leads get away. Ditto for year 4, including the final game of the year against TN. I feel that recruiting momentum could've been SO much better if Iowa had taken better advantage of that, and got into the NCAA's in year 3, and had a better seed this year and won a game or two, and get to the Sweet 16.

Then there's Nebraska, and Tim Miles getting them to the dance in year 2 (Hey, you can't do that! The rebuilding formula says that it takes 4 years!)

I also agree that with a good handful of Top 100-150 players coming back, there's no reason to think that Iowa can't make the NCAA tournament in 2014-15. Some will surely disagree with me, but maybe we should EXPECT Iowa to make the dance. Not like this roster is devoid of talent, despite losing a couple guys from this past year's team. We should technically be able to start a full compliment of Top 100-150 players. That isn't bad.
 
WindsorHawk said:
Before this becomes another 5 page thread on whether Iowa made the tournament I want to make one comment. Regardless of the term used to label this game it is possible to win the NCAA Championship from this game. It is not possible to win the NCAA Championship from the NIT. So it's a step up from the NIT berth last year. That's all.
Click to expand...


we might be able to agree that iowa's position then was akin to 'purgatory'. neither in the nit, or the ncaa tourney.

and i stand corrected - 11 seed it was.

delta bravo out.
 
imported_ankle23 said:
we might be able to agree that iowa's position then was akin to 'purgatory'. neither in the nit, or the ncaa tourney.

and i stand corrected - 11 seed it was.

delta bravo out.
Click to expand...

If Iowa could of won the NCAA tournament they were in the NCAA tournament. They lost a game in the NCAA tournament so they were in the NCAA tournament. They will have a better team next year, and they will probably be in the NCAA tournament again.
 
Good summary. Hit it on the head. Momentum is everything for a new coach and Fran built on it from day one....but 2014 was a huge recruiting class for us, and we basically whiffed, which has stalled our momentum. Now, if we recover with a huge 2015 class and make the tourney again, we are back on track, but I have concerns about our chances of making the tourney next season. Not sure how we could possibly be ''better'' when we lose three 4 yr starters (at times) and replace them with a skinny shooter from Wis who will need at least a year to be strong enough to play and Uhl, who is a nice looking prospect but no Melsahn next year...Dickerson is a wildcard...if he exceeds Cartwright, then fine, he will help, but Dev is a shooting guard and we did not replace him. I expect improvement from the returners, but I think they are close to their ceilings already....gonna be tough to improve without a proven scorer like Dev. As for 2015 class, we better hope we impressed the recruits with last season, because they will be signing in November before we really can change our image before then.
 
JHHawk said:
Good summary. Hit it on the head. Momentum is everything for a new coach and Fran built on it from day one....but 2014 was a huge recruiting class for us, and we basically whiffed, which has stalled our momentum. Now, if we recover with a huge 2015 class and make the tourney again, we are back on track, but I have concerns about our chances of making the tourney next season. Not sure how we could possibly be ''better'' when we lose three 4 yr starters (at times) and replace them with a skinny shooter from Wis who will need at least a year to be strong enough to play and Uhl, who is a nice looking prospect but no Melsahn next year...Dickerson is a wildcard...if he exceeds Cartwright, then fine, he will help, but Dev is a shooting guard and we did not replace him. I expect improvement from the returners, but I think they are close to their ceilings already....gonna be tough to improve without a proven scorer like Dev. As for 2015 class, we better hope we impressed the recruits with last season, because they will be signing in November before we really can change our image before then.
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McCabe was a 4 year starter you say?
 
1977Hawkeye said:
I'd say the OP summed it up pretty well. Not to focus on the negative, but I really felt that years 3 & 4 (even though they were still improvements over 1 & 2) still go down as "missed opportunities". Year 3, Iowa had way too many close losses and late leads get away. Ditto for year 4, including the final game of the year against TN. I feel that recruiting momentum could've been SO much better if Iowa had taken better advantage of that, and got into the NCAA's in year 3, and had a better seed this year and won a game or two, and get to the Sweet 16.

Then there's Nebraska, and Tim Miles getting them to the dance in year 2 (Hey, you can't do that! The rebuilding formula says that it takes 4 years!)

I also agree that with a good handful of Top 100-150 players coming back, there's no reason to think that Iowa can't make the NCAA tournament in 2014-15. Some will surely disagree with me, but maybe we should EXPECT Iowa to make the dance. Not like this roster is devoid of talent, despite losing a couple guys from this past year's team. We should technically be able to start a full compliment of Top 100-150 players. That isn't bad.
Click to expand...

This is exactly where I am at as well. I think this year will tell us a lot. If Fran can somehow make the NCAA tourney again this year with a tougher schedule, and losing key players, then he righted the ship and somewhat over performed instead of under performing. If we do slide back to the NIT (or God forbid, worse), then I don't know how a case can be made that the program is moving forward any longer.
 
imported_ankle23 said:
Losing a 'play-in' game for a #10 seed is not making the tourney. If they'd had won that game, they'd have been in the tourney - that is why it is called a 'play-in'.
Click to expand...

ISU fan sez: "no one cares about play-in games"
(unless ISU is in a play-in game, in which case they represent a vital program milestone)
 
Good summary, OP. I fear Fran has plateaued a bit, maybe even regressed. White Magic needs to get his mojo working again.
 
Good summary.

I've said it a few times now but just beat a bad Nebraska team and a bad NW team and this tenure could have a very different feel.

We would be talking 2 NCAA tournaments and not debating if a play in game counts.
 
imported_ankle23 said:
Losing a 'play-in' game for a #10 seed is not making the tourney. If they'd had won that game, they'd have been in the tourney - that is why it is called a 'play-in'.
Click to expand...

The thing is that it's called the first round now a 'play-in' game... You obviously aren't aware that 68 teams make the turny now.
 
ibahawkeye said:
Good summary.

I've said it a few times now but just beat a bad Nebraska team and a bad NW team and this tenure could have a very different feel.

We would be talking 2 NCAA tournaments and not debating if a play in game counts.
Click to expand...

Please remove "play-in game" from your vocabulary. We were in the first round of the tournament.
 
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