So you are saying that Fran failed because he wasn't able to beat these guys out for Pritchard. Got it.
Listen, I think Iowa needed a better player than Seth Gourney a few years back but sometimes it's just not in the cards. I'd love for Iowa to be able to out recruit MSU, Nova or Kansas and who knows, maybe it will happen someday. Iowa is currently not on their level and won't be for some time. They have made vast improvements over the last few years but to say you are disappointed in Fran's efforts is simply naive.
Correct--they have definitely made vast improvements -- nobody can disagree with that. But I disagree that the expectation should be that it "won't be for some time" -- yes, it's easier to recruit at a perennial winner or schools in warm weather (FL, USC, UCLA etc.) however, Iowa is a top 20 school in hoops attendance, have poured money into the facilities, have consistency at the coaching position, and have a pipeline of really good kids coming in-- Cook, Fran's kids, JW, and maybe even some of their friends.
Compare it to what Gregg Marshall has done with the Shockers. He is bringing in a couple of Top 100 kids to Wichita State every year or every other year and is competing at high levels. He's been in Wichita for 9 years vs. 6 for Fran in Iowa. In 3 years, would it be safe to say if Iowa is not consistently battling for high recruits and winning 1-2 a year while making consistent appearances in Sweet 16s that you can say this staff might want to rethink their approach / coaching staff to get stronger at recruiting?
I'm stoked he's locking down the state and Prohm isn't getting the kids that Iowa wants. But to hit that next level of elite, he's going to have to start winning some border wars and bringing in some recruits out of market. You've seen football have to do that. In the early 2000s they were bringing in kids from FLA and now they have started to go after Texas. At some point you have to bring in other kids who want to be apart of what you're building. Maybe St. Louis / Chicago could be that secondary market for the basketball program. Trying to fight for relevance out east is going to be continually difficult.
It's the constant battle of striving for excellence and I am hopeful that this staff can get there. But you've seen a lot of coaching staffs do it in the same amount of time in lesser markets and I think a portion of the fan base would like to see that happen here rather than "just hoping to make it to the tourny."
IMO The sweet spot for targets are kids ranked somewhere between 50 and 150 because those are the kids most likely not to be 1 and done and will stick around for 3 years. Iowa will never be in a position where they can bring in blue chip kid after blue chip kid and then restock after they turn pro early. It's just not that type of program.