It's officially official--Walk BMC is coming to Iowa
- Thread starter 99topdawg
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InGoodCo
Well-Known Member
Huge for Iowa Men's basketball. Probably the most positive thing we've had happen since we hired Fran if I can be honest. When that happened, we got who we could get, this time around we got who we wanted. Iowa basketball is in a better spot now and I feel pretty confident of that. IMO, Iowa just hired the next Bo Ryan.
Now the fun part starts. Ben won't have time to set a box down in his new office and he should be burning up the phone lines trying to rerecruit whomever he might want to bring back. His own kids at Drake that he might want to bring which he probably has a good idea of. And then the portal overall. Todays gonna be about as busy of a day as he's had in awhile.
InGoodCo
Well-Known Member
Right, and in the past, this might not have been announced until Tuesday out of respect for the women and not taking away from that spotlight, not anymore, every day counts.
IMO, if Stirtz comes along, if Iowa can recoup 1 or 2 of maybe Pryce, Dix or Koch, that would be a good start.
trj
Well-Known Member
Pryce seems like the only one that was publicly open minded about coming back. Full disclosure, I didn’t read every press release or comments made on social media, so I may have missed someone.
ChosenChildren
Well-Known Member
This is great news.
I just put down a deposit for season basketball tickets. Haven't had them in many years, but this young coach is going to stir it up a little bit. I think you are going to be amazed at the energy of the Iowa basketball fan base that has been dormant for many years.
Now, get those students on the floor and we will be on to something.
I just put down a deposit for season basketball tickets. Haven't had them in many years, but this young coach is going to stir it up a little bit. I think you are going to be amazed at the energy of the Iowa basketball fan base that has been dormant for many years.
Now, get those students on the floor and we will be on to something.
Zstatman
Well-Known Member
The most positive thing I can say about Fran's tenure is that the talent cupboard was really bare when Fran arrived. He pulled MBB up by its bootstraps and made us competitive again. Then we started waiting and waiting and here we are.
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That's what I'd assumed too with the timing of how this all laid out. Not just out of respect for the women but just for the logistics of Beth herself traveling around. She may have been home in IC yesterday/this morning and traveling back down to OK today. I think the game is at 3 pm so she's got time. But had they waited till tomorrow it wouldn't have been crazy.
But with the portal opening up today for everyone and all that goes with that locking this up last night/this morning was certainly the ideal thing to do.
InGoodCo
Well-Known Member
for sure, and he had good players and a great eye for talent who could develop. I feel like we just got an upgrade on the x's and o's though.
SwirlinLingerie
Well-Known Member
I think part of the reason this hire is so exciting is that he must see the unique aspects of the Iowa job - good and bad - and yet this is the one he wants.
Because I think he could have easily found a job with better salary and payroll. If not now, then next year. He had his best player coming back and things rolling at Drake - and his name was just starting to get out there. He most likely would have had some great opportunities between now and next year at this time. But he wanted the Iowa gig for all of it's various upsides, despite the challenges. That would seem to indicate a pretty good understanding of what he's walking into and also a pretty good fit.
Because I think he could have easily found a job with better salary and payroll. If not now, then next year. He had his best player coming back and things rolling at Drake - and his name was just starting to get out there. He most likely would have had some great opportunities between now and next year at this time. But he wanted the Iowa gig for all of it's various upsides, despite the challenges. That would seem to indicate a pretty good understanding of what he's walking into and also a pretty good fit.
Yep, the DM Registe
I agree. It's obvious we need improved defense and rebounding. Offense? Probably not going to top Fran in that area but the tradeoff was necessary.
InGoodCo
Well-Known Member
This gives Iowa something it just hasn't had in a while in hoops, positive momentum. I've maintained that hiring the right coach could turn around Iowa's situation almost over night. If BM puts together a roster that can sneak into the dance next season, Iowa fans will come back, the NIL will increase and Iowa's situation in Men's BB can change in a hurry. They will never compete monetarily with Indiana or UCLA or places with better resources, but with the right coach, you can get a guy who can outcoach other guys. IMO, Iowa basketball could look a lot different in 5 years and instead of it taking giant steps back, I think this hire has the ability to take giant steps forward.
Zstatman
Well-Known Member
One question I've had, and it's not basketball related, is how did he come to be born in Iowa City? The obvious assumption is that his parents were students at the university, which could mean they werer Hawkeye fans and he grew up one.
Or it could have been they needed access to university hospitals for whatever reason. Just curious on this one, I hope it gets answered at some point.
Zstatman
Well-Known Member
It was interesting in reading his bio, that one of his title teams finished 38-0 and averaged 82 points per game. he stated that he doesn't necessarily play a slowdown game but rather adapts his style to the talent he has AND the talent and style of the other team.
InGoodCo
Well-Known Member
Over Ben McCollum's final 9 seasons at Northwest, he averaged 80+ pts 3x and never below 73. Only twice he allowed more than 63 ppg. Every year, NWMSU shot better than 50%; only once allowed more than 45%.
Zstatman
Well-Known Member
OK, let the real speculation begin.
What will be his firt order of business? I'd guess put together his staff. It stands to reason he'll bring some of his Drake staff with him, which he also brought with him from Maryville. Often coaches keep one holdover from the old staff and I think this is a good idea. If he does this Matt Gattens seems like the best candidate but who knows.
Get the staff together then you''ve got to work on the roster. He's got his work cut out for him in this area. You've got to meet all the guys coming back or that could come back if they choose. He might not want some of them back, but I don' think he'll be too picky. There's a good chance he'll bring some players with him so he'll have to work on that as well. I do hope he brings his PG along for the ride. He'll also need to meet with the recruits, even those who have decommitted I'd think.
Then you also need to look at the portal. The screaming need to me is getting a big to replace Freeman, who I don't see coming back. There should be some good 5s in the portal, get a couple if you can. A good guard from the portal would be good as well.
I see us having a solid roster this upcoming season. It will be fun watching it unfold. We won't win all the battles but I'm guessing we win our share.
What will be his firt order of business? I'd guess put together his staff. It stands to reason he'll bring some of his Drake staff with him, which he also brought with him from Maryville. Often coaches keep one holdover from the old staff and I think this is a good idea. If he does this Matt Gattens seems like the best candidate but who knows.
Get the staff together then you''ve got to work on the roster. He's got his work cut out for him in this area. You've got to meet all the guys coming back or that could come back if they choose. He might not want some of them back, but I don' think he'll be too picky. There's a good chance he'll bring some players with him so he'll have to work on that as well. I do hope he brings his PG along for the ride. He'll also need to meet with the recruits, even those who have decommitted I'd think.
Then you also need to look at the portal. The screaming need to me is getting a big to replace Freeman, who I don't see coming back. There should be some good 5s in the portal, get a couple if you can. A good guard from the portal would be good as well.
I see us having a solid roster this upcoming season. It will be fun watching it unfold. We won't win all the battles but I'm guessing we win our share.
The types of players needed to do what he did at Drake this yr will need to be long smart athletic and tough. Versatile is another word I'd use. Guys that can guard multiple positions. It'll be an interesting thing to see how it translates.
Offensively I don't think he wants to do the drastically slow style that he did this yr. I think he did that mostly out of necessity with the types of kids he had. Granted I don't think he'll be a run n gun put 90 up every night kind of coach either. But this yr wasn't indicative of what I expect the O to look like in a couple yrs.
