Hey i think the players put out the effort, and I think its just frustration to get personal but there is nothing wrong with critical objectivity
Season First half was fun for the first time in a long time. We were an up and down the floor team and looked with the development of a couple of players (Uhtoff) to maybe be very good by year end. I guess the close losses didnt stick out then but as the year went on it became apparent we couldnt finish against good teams. last ten games as big a tank job as you will see. Overall you have to say a huge dissapointment.
Coaching Fran brought an exciting brand of basketball. The first 3 seasons you have to give him a pass as we were not good enough to get into the tournament. This past season you have to give the Coach some of the credit for how it went. Cant blame the collapse on injuries as we were very lucky there. The big question you have to ask (and Fran mentions it all the time) Did we get better as the season progressed? I would have a very difficult time answering yes to that one. Did players develop? Jok sure looked like he has come a long ways. Woody had a great game but he had 0 rebounds and 0 points against NW. 5 points and less than 4 rebounds per game. Gessel who I thought mid year was really coming on really struggled late. Someone needs to tell him to maybe kick the ball occasionally instead of throwing up a shot with 6'11' guys waiting to stuff him. Basabe really was a non factor in the later games. Olgesby had a game or two. Overall I think it was mixed in terms of player development.
Recruiting Not easy for a program that is down. You do have to remember that our first team all big ten player was not recruited by McCaffrey. His biggest year was Gessel and Woody. Probably had an advantage as they were kids that followed Iowa and wanted to play there. I think they will be good players but the jury is probably still out.
Other than that recruiting has been tough. Fran has not been able to break through on a top level recruit and hasnt taken advantage of the transfers out there. He really needs to have some success this year in getting another player that can help right away and then next year becomes a huge year.
Future Its going to be very difficult to develop a program that can compete with the upper level of the Big Ten. Im not sure anyone can get the level of players needed to do that to come to Iowa. George Raveling being the exception. Iowa has prospered when they had great coaches: Ralph Miller in the late 60s and early 70s, Lute Olsen when he took a team of role players and Ronnie Lester to the final four. Tom Davis (with George Raveling recruits) Maybe it will happen with Fran? The next 2 years will tell. With the 4 years he has had at Iowa I dont think you can call it a given.
Season First half was fun for the first time in a long time. We were an up and down the floor team and looked with the development of a couple of players (Uhtoff) to maybe be very good by year end. I guess the close losses didnt stick out then but as the year went on it became apparent we couldnt finish against good teams. last ten games as big a tank job as you will see. Overall you have to say a huge dissapointment.
Coaching Fran brought an exciting brand of basketball. The first 3 seasons you have to give him a pass as we were not good enough to get into the tournament. This past season you have to give the Coach some of the credit for how it went. Cant blame the collapse on injuries as we were very lucky there. The big question you have to ask (and Fran mentions it all the time) Did we get better as the season progressed? I would have a very difficult time answering yes to that one. Did players develop? Jok sure looked like he has come a long ways. Woody had a great game but he had 0 rebounds and 0 points against NW. 5 points and less than 4 rebounds per game. Gessel who I thought mid year was really coming on really struggled late. Someone needs to tell him to maybe kick the ball occasionally instead of throwing up a shot with 6'11' guys waiting to stuff him. Basabe really was a non factor in the later games. Olgesby had a game or two. Overall I think it was mixed in terms of player development.
Recruiting Not easy for a program that is down. You do have to remember that our first team all big ten player was not recruited by McCaffrey. His biggest year was Gessel and Woody. Probably had an advantage as they were kids that followed Iowa and wanted to play there. I think they will be good players but the jury is probably still out.
Other than that recruiting has been tough. Fran has not been able to break through on a top level recruit and hasnt taken advantage of the transfers out there. He really needs to have some success this year in getting another player that can help right away and then next year becomes a huge year.
Future Its going to be very difficult to develop a program that can compete with the upper level of the Big Ten. Im not sure anyone can get the level of players needed to do that to come to Iowa. George Raveling being the exception. Iowa has prospered when they had great coaches: Ralph Miller in the late 60s and early 70s, Lute Olsen when he took a team of role players and Ronnie Lester to the final four. Tom Davis (with George Raveling recruits) Maybe it will happen with Fran? The next 2 years will tell. With the 4 years he has had at Iowa I dont think you can call it a given.
