Michigan State game

I have watched the women's team this year more than the men's. The women have been hard to watch at times this year, but they have really come together the last ten games or so. They are entertaining, there is a crowd there, they can play defense, no one is really outclassing them even when they lose, and they seem to play and win with genuine joy. Opposite of the men's team right now. Excited for tonight. Beat those Bucknuts, ladies!!
 
One of the tougher hurdles for her is going to be that pretty much every casual Iowa fan wants Fran gone BAD. These are the fans who typically don't know about sports or any of the dynamics like recruits and current commits, difficulty (and high stakes) of coaching changes, etc. These people see "losses bad = coach bad, new coach fix problem..."

Those people outnumber hardcore fans who actually know how sports work at a deep level 100 to 1 I'm guessing and she has to in part listen to them too.

I do think it's probably time for a change. I wish Fran would just retire, but if he doesn't want to it's going to cost the same amount of money but just drag out longer. I also think there's going to be like 2-3,000 people in the seats next year if he does come back, and some of that is an opportunity cost to consider. Even if a new coach sucks, at least for the first part of the season you're going to fill the house and make a little of that money back.
Winning is the great deoderizor, right? So, if Beth has not already made up her mind that she is parting ways with Fran, but is open to it, I would sit Fran down at the end of the year and explain all the problems with the program that we see, and ask him to sell her on why she should give him another season. Is Freeman going to return for certain? Are your studs that are incoming as good as they appear on paper and are you going to for sure get all of them on campus and keep them on campus through next year? Is Dix for sure saying? Is there enough talent on this team to win early and often and get the fans excited again? Is this a Sweet 16 roster?

The crowds are a factor for sure, but if Beth truly believes that Fran will have a formidable team next year, she should keep him. If not, move on.
 
Winning is the great deoderizor, right? So, if Beth has not already made up her mind that she is parting ways with Fran, but is open to it, I would sit Fran down at the end of the year and explain all the problems with the program that we see, and ask him to sell her on why she should give him another season. Is Freeman going to return for certain? Are your studs that are incoming as good as they appear on paper and are you going to for sure get all of them on campus and keep them on campus through next year? Is Dix for sure saying? Is there enough talent on this team to win early and often and get the fans excited again? Is this a Sweet 16 roster?

The crowds are a factor for sure, but if Beth truly believes that Fran will have a formidable team next year, she should keep him. If not, move on.
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. I was also thinking that maybe she should ask him to come prepared with a list of changes he thinks are needed to improve the program for next season, whether they are in his control or not. And see what he comes up with.

At the meeting, if I'm Beth, I'd also have a list of the changes I'd like to see and how similar the lists are.

I'm just making this up right now, but it could include wanting Fran to call this list of 30 donors over the next month and explain the changes that are in store and why he's excited about Hawkeye basketball. It could be calling BJ Armstrong and asking him to join you and these 10 other donors for a dinner one night. It might mean hiring a defensive minded coach and turning some control of defensive philosophy over to him, even if it means letting another coach go. It probably also needs to include a long April press conference with Iowa media where he sets a transparent and accessible tone and outlines the improvements he plans to implement.

There needs to be a pivot like Kirk had in January of 2015.

If he's defensive and not open to changes, then I think you have your answer (if she hasn't already made up her mind).
 
Whether Fran stays or leaves, I'm happy to hear he still likes being here. There's a lot of talk thar he's checked out, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
 
I might be a severe masochist because I watch almost every game

It is a sickness but at least it cures my positivity

At least I have that to look forward to
If I live long enough to retire I’ll probably subject myself to more punishment like that. I’m an outside type of guy and in the winter there isn’t much else to do.
 
While I think Fran's time is drawing to a close, if he does come back and keeps the players he has, plus that transfer from Miami, and those two freshmen studs, Iowa could be damn good next year. There is an infusion of talent coming, but again, he and Beth have to commit to each other and hold on to all the pieces. Tall order with deficient NIL and fan engagement.
Think i saw that transfer from Miami in the postgame handshake line. Assuming he is eligible to practice with the team.
 
Whether Fran stays or leaves, I'm happy to hear he still likes being here. There's a lot of talk thar he's checked out, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
He hasn't been anywhere near as animated on the sideline as we're used to seeing-and that isn't necessarily a bad thing. In any case I think that's where the "checked out" narratives are originating.
 
He hasn't been anywhere near as animated on the sideline as we're used to seeing-and that isn't necessarily a bad thing. In any case I think that's where the "checked out" narratives are originating.
Very true. But it seems he has gotten slowly less animated over the last few years or so.
 
He hasn't been anywhere near as animated on the sideline as we're used to seeing-and that isn't necessarily a bad thing. In any case I think that's where the "checked out" narratives are originating.
You should have seen him last night. Good grief! He was all over the refs. Came within a heartbeat of a T on two occasions. Matt is in charge of pulling him back. Sherm was all over the refs, too.
 
If we can save $2M by keeping Fran for 1 more year and some of those savings go to the women's NIL BASKETBALL team then I'm all for it. Otherwise he has to be gone
 
You should have seen him last night. Good grief! He was all over the refs. Came within a heartbeat of a T on two occasions. Matt is in charge of pulling him back. Sherm was all over the refs, too.
So was Izzo. Not a well officiated game on either side. Peyton was denied clean at the rim twice and both were called fouls.. on the other side Dimbele was tripped and no foul called and MSU was getting away with their usual grabs and hip checks.
 
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