While I am in the group that has been frustrated with the past three years of Iowa baskeball under Todd Lickliter, Gary Barta has been publicly very supportive until this week. Why the sudden change?
Perhaps, Barta was swayed by the Wisconsin and Minnesota games last week:
1) Hard for him to continue to make the argument of program improving during the year when the Hawks lose their last games by 27 and 35 points respectively (worst losses ever to each rival).
2) These two losses could have been the breaking point for the big money donors
3) In watching the games on TV (assuming Barta was either at the Big 10 wresting tourny or the Women's BB tourny), he sensed that the team had quit on their coach, and therefore felt compelled to meet with players without Todd Lickliter.
In any event, it appears that feedback from the player meetings was that there were going to be additional transfers (including starters) if Lickliter stays the coach. By this point, Barta may have figured that if the program has to start over again next season (given the team decimated by the lost players), he might as well change coaches. Otherwise, it's just "Groundhog Day" for Hawkeye basketball (another year of starting over).
Perhaps, Barta was swayed by the Wisconsin and Minnesota games last week:
1) Hard for him to continue to make the argument of program improving during the year when the Hawks lose their last games by 27 and 35 points respectively (worst losses ever to each rival).
2) These two losses could have been the breaking point for the big money donors
3) In watching the games on TV (assuming Barta was either at the Big 10 wresting tourny or the Women's BB tourny), he sensed that the team had quit on their coach, and therefore felt compelled to meet with players without Todd Lickliter.
In any event, it appears that feedback from the player meetings was that there were going to be additional transfers (including starters) if Lickliter stays the coach. By this point, Barta may have figured that if the program has to start over again next season (given the team decimated by the lost players), he might as well change coaches. Otherwise, it's just "Groundhog Day" for Hawkeye basketball (another year of starting over).
