Is it possible the Iowa job isn't as bad as we are making it out to be?

[BSpringsteen]

We've all talked about how we should temper expectations and that Iowa isn't a great job right now. But are we being unfair?

Consider:

• Our entire starting 5 returns next year... assuming they all stay
• We have (depending on who you read) a top 30-50 recruiting class coming in... assuming they all stay.
• New facilities are being built as we speak. It will be complete next year correct?
• A fanbase that is absolutely starving for an entertaining competitive basketball team.
• A history that shows how good the job can be if you can turn it into a winner.
• An athletic department that is essentially a printing press for money.
• The opportunity to be the second most popular person in the state.

On Iowa City

No, we aren't selling warm weather or ocean front property, but Iowa City is a GREAT college town, and I've seen basically all of them.

You can't tell me that a coach would rather live in West Lafayetter, East Lansing, Ann Arbor or Urbana. We are on par with Madison, Bloomington and State College. Evanston, Minneapolis and Columbus are better only if you prefer a bigger city.

Even amongst the Big XII I would guess that people would prefer Iowa City to Ames, Manhattan, Columbia, Stillwater, Waco, Lubbock, College Station etc...

So while we certainly have a lot of marks against us, I do think that there is something at Iowa that would be attractive to any coach.

 

[Rawkhawk73]

We've all talked about how we should temper expectations and that Iowa isn't a great job right now. But are we being unfair?

Consider:

• Our entire starting 5 returns next year... assuming they all stay
• We have (depending on who you read) a top 30-50 recruiting class coming in... assuming they all stay.
• New facilities are being built as we speak. It will be complete next year correct?
• A fanbase that is absolutely starving for an entertaining competitive basketball team.
• A history that shows how good the job can be if you can turn it into a winner.
• An athletic department that is essentially a printing press for money.
• The opportunity to be the second most popular person in the state.

On Iowa City

No, we aren't selling warm weather or ocean front property, but Iowa City is a GREAT college town, and I've seen basically all of them.

You can't tell me that a coach would rather live in West Lafayetter, East Lansing, Ann Arbor or Urbana. We are on par with Madison, Bloomington and State College. Evanston, Minneapolis and Columbus are better only if you prefer a bigger city.

Even amongst the Big XII I would guess that people would prefer Iowa City to Ames, Manhattan, Columbia, Stillwater, Waco, Lubbock, College Station etc...

So while we certainly have a lot of marks against us, I do think that there is something at Iowa that would be attractive to any coach.

No, it's not as bad as we thought.....it's worse. Watching the tournament this year, it's becoming more obvious that we aren't even close to fielding a competitive team. Look at a team like Murray State and all the athletes and shooters they have. They would beat us by 20 and they are a 13 seed.

Before the tournament I thought we were maybe a player or two away.....but I don't know that we have a player that would be a starter on any tournament team this year.

 

[tmurph2643]

We've all talked about how we should temper expectations and that Iowa isn't a great job right now. But are we being unfair?

Consider:

• Our entire starting 5 returns next year... assuming they all stay
• We have (depending on who you read) a top 30-50 recruiting class coming in... assuming they all stay.
• New facilities are being built as we speak. It will be complete next year correct?
• A fanbase that is absolutely starving for an entertaining competitive basketball team.
• A history that shows how good the job can be if you can turn it into a winner.
• An athletic department that is essentially a printing press for money.
• The opportunity to be the second most popular person in the state.

On Iowa City

No, we aren't selling warm weather or ocean front property, but Iowa City is a GREAT college town, and I've seen basically all of them.

You can't tell me that a coach would rather live in West Lafayetter, East Lansing, Ann Arbor or Urbana. We are on par with Madison, Bloomington and State College. Evanston, Minneapolis and Columbus are better only if you prefer a bigger city.

Even amongst the Big XII I would guess that people would prefer Iowa City to Ames, Manhattan, Columbia, Stillwater, Waco, Lubbock, College Station etc...

So while we certainly have a lot of marks against us, I do think that there is something at Iowa that would be attractive to any coach.

You are a posting machine these days!!! I agree with what you are saying, but I don't think we are making it out to be a bad job. Just a tough situation to turn around that is coupled with a fanbase that has high expectations. I think it depends on the coach you are looking at.... I would say Drew is a reasonable draw because Waco is a craphole... anybody who has ever been there wants to get out ASAP. But I think Iowa City is a good draw for anybody who is midwestern at heart.... that being said... Drew is a midwestern kid and so is Forbes. We shall see what happens.. but I don't think any Iowa fans think it is a BAD job.. just a tough one to take RIGHT NOW.

 

[BSpringsteen]

I'm a fair weather poster... as soon as we hire a coach, you won't hear from me again until August

 

[urohawk]

I really think with the internal struggle between the players that the Iowa job is even in a worse position than we thought. We lack talent and height. Plus the natural player defections when a new coach arrives. Now add in the fact that Gatens is leading one faction of hawks and Payne another with the coach having to either decide between one or the other and you have an absolute train wreck. Plus our fans are not good and if the new coach can't win within two years he will be run out of town. I think it could get very ugly.

 

[silvanthalas]

Also consider that we're in the Big 10... only 11 schools compared to some of these other absurd basketball conferences like the Big East with 16 teams.

 

[DDThompson]

"We"?

The only "we" I've heard say that is Perault according to his coaching
(ie Dana Altman and Todd Lickliter) sources. Even Ben J wouldn't think Iowa is a step up.

"Coaches won't come here."

 

[jshawks]

I don't think the Iowa job is a bad job, and certainly not coaching suicide as some in the media have suggested. We have some serious issues that is true, but I think they are being addressed. With the right head coach and a new practice facility it will only be a matter of time before the Iowa job is deemed an upper tier career once again.

 

[hawkcigar]

The thing to worry about isn't how we as Iowa fans perceive the job. I worry about the perception of the Iowa job from those on the outside. As someone earlier today said, perception is reality. I worry that the perception is that getting rid of Lickliter after three years means we will not give a new coach time to turn it around.