kmajhawk
Well-Known Member
Good post. At what point does the progress become defined as "competitive in the conference" versus simply "better than Lickliter"?
I hate to say this, but this loss official ends the Fran Honeymoon for me.
- Thread starter HaydenHawk56
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Good post. At what point does the progress become defined as "competitive in the conference" versus simply "better than Lickliter"?
HaydenHawk56
Well-Known Member
Then please tell what you would do rather than ask about one's qualifications on a message board.
HaydenHawk56
Well-Known Member
I rarely post here but find this topic of interest so will add my two cents. I see some red flags in some of the things we have seen happening in these conference games. It ultimately falls on Fran to figure out to close these games out and as pointed out by others in the thread we've seen a pattern of bizarre line-ups and questionable strategic moves when it comes down to crunch time. These kids play their guts out and Fran has to put them in the best position to win with the game on the line. I wrote in a thread over at HR that the window of opportunity for maintaining the perception of a rising program has only so long of a shelf life. We haven't built on the momentum that we came into this season with and next season becomes a critical year for Fran IMO.
Two very good posts here and further articulates my point at what I'm getting at. I think Fran is clearly better than Lickliter (and probably Alford). But, I see some red flags and I'm calling them out early.....probably a year earlier than some of you would like. All will be well if we reach the NCAAs next year, but if some of these red flags don't get resolved, don't book your post season NCAA tickets next year as well. If they can't close out games and Jok and Jared Utohoff don't help out with the outside shooting and this team does not evolve consistent outside shooting, this team will face being on the bubble again.
I still will give Fran the benefit of the doubt and say it will likely happen (getting into the Big Dance). But, I'm no longer completely gaga and in the honeymoon anymore. Now it is time to start proving things and finishing games with physical and mental toughness. Might as well start now because it is going to be *hit or get off the pot next year.
It is time to grow up and prove it. The jury is still out if we have truly found Mr. Davis's successor.
Two very good posts here and further articulates my point at what I'm getting at. I think Fran is clearly better than Lickliter (and probably Alford). But, I see some red flags and I'm calling them out early.....probably a year earlier than some of you would like. All will be well if we reach the NCAAs next year, but if some of these red flags don't get resolved, don't book your post season NCAA tickets next year as well. If they can't close out games and Jok and Jared Utohoff don't help out with the outside shooting and this team does not evolve consistent outside shooting, this team will face being on the bubble again.
I still will give Fran the benefit of the doubt and say it will likely happen (getting into the Big Dance). But, I'm no longer completely gaga and in the honeymoon anymore. Now it is time to start proving things and finishing games with physical and mental toughness. Might as well start now because it is going to be *hit or get off the pot next year.
It is time to grow up and prove it. The jury is still out if we have truly found Mr. Davis's successor.
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twinlaker
Well-Known Member
Really? So you are ready to get rid of him? How about we give him more time to recruit "his" team? Good gawd.... are you 16, and want immediate satisfaction?
HaydenHawk56
Well-Known Member
Where did I say get rid of him. Where? That's right....no where. Read the thread to get the complete message. This thread is more about deficiencies and fixing them so we keep progressing (and the shine on the armor is no longer as bright). Yes, recruiting will also be a part of that too, especially getting better shooters for this team.
Nobody is asking for a removal here....just that Fran may or may not be the God some make him out to be. He still has to prove more things to earn that title. I hope the stars align bright for Fran because he has a lot of good qualities.
But, he could also be the next Bill Carmody as well (good coach, but falls short of the NCAAs for various reasons). This should not happen, but you never know if you don't seize the moments when they are there.
He has another year. But, if no NCAAs, there is going to be a hole in that armor (or boat) and then it starts to take on water.
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bcl20
Well-Known Member
I can't really turn on Fran at all. The program is much, much better in just 3 years and it's because of him.
Everything about this Big Ten season is hair pulling frustrating right now. We've lost 3 games by one possession and in all of those games we had the lead late. We hold on to those leads or find a way to win those one possession games. We're 6-3, probably going to the tournament and would have an outside shot at winning the conference as our remaining schedule is pretty easy.
And that doesn't include the 4 point loss to Indiana and a 9 point loss to Ohio State in which we were down 4 with just a couple minutes to play (though it's hard to be too angry about that one as we were down 23 in the second half of that)
I need to stop playing the what if though as it's disappointing Hopefully we have a monster win streak in us and maybe we'll get over the hump vs Wisconsin an notch a good road win.
Everything about this Big Ten season is hair pulling frustrating right now. We've lost 3 games by one possession and in all of those games we had the lead late. We hold on to those leads or find a way to win those one possession games. We're 6-3, probably going to the tournament and would have an outside shot at winning the conference as our remaining schedule is pretty easy.
And that doesn't include the 4 point loss to Indiana and a 9 point loss to Ohio State in which we were down 4 with just a couple minutes to play (though it's hard to be too angry about that one as we were down 23 in the second half of that)
I need to stop playing the what if though as it's disappointing Hopefully we have a monster win streak in us and maybe we'll get over the hump vs Wisconsin an notch a good road win.
tm3308
Well-Known Member
Compared to football, I think this is more like 2001 or 2008, when the team learns the hard way how to win the close ones. I'm not confident they will figure it out this year, but I don't think that's the end of the world or a bad omen, either. It's just frustrating to watch because you see the potential for next year.
Right now, White is the most puzzling player to me. I believe Devyn is hurt and its severely holding him back. But White has really struggled from the free throw line in conference play, and I can't figure out why. If you take out the Wisconsin game (which is a clear outlier at this point), he's shooting something 50% in the B1G, after shooting almost 80% in the OOC. Never seen anything like it.
Right now, White is the most puzzling player to me. I believe Devyn is hurt and its severely holding him back. But White has really struggled from the free throw line in conference play, and I can't figure out why. If you take out the Wisconsin game (which is a clear outlier at this point), he's shooting something 50% in the B1G, after shooting almost 80% in the OOC. Never seen anything like it.
tm3308
Well-Known Member
Sucks for me to. The storyline has gotten pretty repetitive, to the point that my recap focused on how this was same ****, different day.
twinlaker
Well-Known Member
C'mon tork.... you should be better than this.
HaydenHawk56
Well-Known Member
I really hope that is the case tm3308. And, it probably is. This team could still get hot to end this season and who knows. It is just my dial has just moved back to cautiously optimistic from being a full blown believer. This is coming from after being at the NIT game in person at Carver last year and thinking the sky was the limit after that game.
tm3308
Well-Known Member
We keep getting the same lines in post game. We've gotta learn from this, we fought hard, etc. which is all true. But I can't keep writing the same story over and over. I know I'm better than THAT.
twinlaker
Well-Known Member
You have only been watching sports for just a short period of time. Ask Brooksie, Zabel, Dolph, Harty, Rick Brown, Peterson, you have to be neutral! You can not have a favorite...as hard as it now for you.
tm3308
Well-Known Member
I don't think it's unobjective to point out that they keep following the same ******. Dig early hole, make a dramatic comeback to make things interesting, choke in the clutch.
I used more delicate language than choke, but the sentiment was there. Nobody is writing happy stories right now, because that wouldn't be true to what we are seeing and what should take center stage. We had the same problem in football this year. Things get repetitive, and you have to come up with a different angle than they came close and tried really hard. At some point, their failure to get over he hump has to be the story.
I think things get better next year. But this year, they are simply that team that can do quite enough to win the games it needs to.
I think its pretty normal for a team thats starting three freshmen to struggle. Purdue will be a lot better next year, and so will Iowa.
tm3308
Well-Known Member
I think they'll be better, too. But I'm not supposed to always see the silver lining. That would a loss of objectivity, and that's what hawkeyesports.com is for.
I agree that Iowa basketball is close.
tm3308
Well-Known Member
I'm a beat writer, but we also occasionally do commentaries. But, for the purposes of this recap, I didn't exactly write about how the team continues to struggle and how I don't think they'll get past that this year. But there were elements of that, mainly because it tells a more complete story. The fact that Fran looked frustrated as he delivered the same lines that he's been giving for 3 weeks is relevant. You can tell this is starting to weigh on the team and coaches, and the best way to paint that picture is to give those details some context.
I make no claims that they won't get over the hump in the recap, although that is my opinion. But I'm trying to convey the obvious frustration as these close losses keep piling up.
tednugentfan
Banned
I think McCaffrey has done all he can from a coaching perspective. Certainly questionable putting Marble in, but that ultimately wasn't their downfall. They had multiple chances to put the game away, or at least make it very difficult for MN, but they just can't close. A couple free throws or a tip in and the outcome would have been different. That was about as good as Iowa can play and they got contributions from May, McCabe and Oglesby to offset Marble's injury / struggles. Woodbury and Olaseni being non contributors on offense really hurts, as both got good looks and came up with 0 baskets. Woodbury seems better catching on the move in space vs. in the post. He holds the ball too long and is slow to make his move.
