Sad

[NorthKCHawk]

The schedule is an issue not talked about enough when considering fan indifference. Just by adding games with UNI and Drake, and maybe some teams above the mid-200s in ranking, would give the program a lift. The current formula is doing the team no favors performance or ranking wise.
I do like their neutral site games like in Sioux Falls and KC, remember they sold out their game in Moline.

Agreed. The noncon has been an issue. That said, even conference games had poor attendance.

Your point is a good one. There is a need for a comprehensive review of every aspect of the program.

 

[Gander Hawk]

Agreed. The noncon has been an issue. That said, even conference games had poor attendance.

Your point is a good one. There is a need for a comprehensive review of every aspect of the program.

If they can build some excitement early, maybe attendance at conference games would pick up, worth a try.

 

[PCHawk]

Iowa is a long way from being a top half of the conference team, regardless of who comes back next season and I would say chances are high that MOST of it won't return even if Fran is back. I mean, a lot of us expected Iowa to be pretty good this year, they aren't, and they aren't really close. So, the question arises in my mind, what is the upside of keeping Fran other than to NOT pay his buy out?

A long way from top half? I don't know about that. A long way from top third tho.

Once Fran started making the tournament, he made three in a row, missed two in a row, made five in a row (once got cancelled) and now missed two in a row. Only twice since his first two years has he missed the tournament badly. The last time, we missed the sweet 16 by a point the very next year. This year we missed the tourney less bad than we did last time and we had injuries for an excuse and also have the best recruit of the Fran era coming in. If Beth gets rid of him it better be because attendance or because he has a great coach lined up already.

 

[CP87]

Iowa averaged just over 5k in scanned tickets a game this season. It's not even a minority anymore. Iowa fans are voting with their pocket book.

https://hawkeyeswire.usatoday.com/s...ed-data-displays-fan-disinterest/82287020007/

You can also judge fan interest by NIL and healthy donor money is for the program. It is also considered to be at the bottom of the B1G

https://hawkfanatic.com/2025/03/07/...ange-wouldnt-fix-iowas-most-glaring-weakness/

I love Fran, he's a great coach IMO, but he's fostered this, he's had a huge hand in things being the way they are and Iowa needs to stop the bleeding at all costs....again, unless they are not committed to Iowa basketball's future. Beth is currently trying to raise 65 million dollars for a Carver Renovation... and as you can imagine, they aren't doing well with that.

This is exactly what Dochterman and Leistikow said on their podcast last week...they both think the guy can coach, but there is just too much Fran-fatigue to ignore. The constant end-of-year disappointment, the unwillingness/inability to change up defensive philosophy, and the unwillingness to serve as a hype-man for the program. I get that he just wants to coach BB, but in this day and age, you absolutely have to be a salesman at the same time. Apparently he is not well liked by most of the media (he is prickly, unlike the affable Ferentz), and he acts like the NIL situation is just an unfortunate headwind, not something he can actually impact positively.

They suggested that he could come back with guarantees to hire a new defensive assistant and to get out of their way, as well as a guarantee to do more glad-handing around the state. At this point, those do not seem like terms he would agree to.

Fran has put together lots of good teams here (final season results not withstanding), and he has had some very entertaining teams. But we are not trying to replace Dean Smith or Mike Krzyzewski, here. There is a big bucket of guys that can replicate these results while increasing the excitement around the program.

 

[Westernhawk]

the loud minority can ruin a lot of things. Not just in this instance. Fran shouldn’t go anywhere. To those saying we don’t have players for next season, check out the recruiting rankings.

Yeah, that's the interesting thing for me. I see that they have young talent on this team, and arguably better talent coming in next year. I'm of two minds about all of this. I wouldn't be shattered if Fran left, but maybe they have the makings a good team in the next couple of years.

Last year's Freshman of the Year (and our best player) has been out as well.

 

[Gander Hawk]

This is exactly what Dochterman and Leistikow said on their podcast last week...they both think the guy can coach, but there is just too much Fran-fatigue to ignore. The constant end-of-year disappointment, the unwillingness/inability to change up defensive philosophy, and the unwillingness to serve as a hype-man for the program. I get that he just wants to coach BB, but in this day and age, you absolutely have to be a salesman at the same time. Apparently he is not well liked by most of the media (he is prickly, unlike the affable Ferentz), and he acts like the NIL situation is just an unfortunate headwind, not something he can actually impact positively.

They suggested that he could come back with guarantees to hire a new defensive assistant and to get out of their way, as well as a guarantee to do more glad-handing around the state. At this point, those do not seem like terms he would agree to.

Fran has put together lots of good teams here (final season results not withstanding), and he has had some very entertaining teams. But we are not trying to replace Dean Smith or Mike Krzyzewski, here. There is a big bucket of guys that can replicate these results while increasing the excitement around the program.

Is he unwilling to be a hype man or is the university just bad at marketing? He has a role in promoting the program but there are a lot of people being paid to do only that, how are they doing?

 

[CP87]

Is he unwilling to be a hype man or is the university just bad at marketing? He has a role in promoting the program but there are a lot of people being paid to do only that, how are they doing?

Well, wrestling, FB, and WBB are pretty popular, for what it is worth. On the flip side, Iowa soccer and FH should probably be more popular, based upon recent success.

 

[HawkeyeHypnosis]

Gotcha. So, you, an anonymous poster on a message board, have spoken to people "in real life," and based upon that smattering of conversations you can definitively say that "an extremely large" majority of the fans want Fran to return next season. Well, that some scientific shit your just laid on us there!

I will go with ticket sales and NIL funding as perhaps better indicators of fan engagement than good

If you want more NIL money, firing a coach and paying him, and paying for someone “better” to come in without already having the NIL money is moot. As I said before defensive analyst would be best situation. Butts were in the seats when we were winning.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

Is he unwilling to be a hype man or is the university just bad at marketing? He has a role in promoting the program but there are a lot of people being paid to do only that, how are they doing?

Personally, I find Fran much more interesting than KF. Except that one time KF threatened to fart on a reporter, his press conferences are boring as hell. And he is pretty boring. I love seeing Fran get interviewed. He actually says things, not just coach speech. And, I miss him getting T'ed up and having Frantrums. That shit was fun.

But, whether I like Fran or not, the empty seats and lack of NIL dollars speak volumes.

 

[InGoodCo]

A long way from top half? I don't know about that. A long way from top third tho.

Once Fran started making the tournament, he made three in a row, missed two in a row, made five in a row (once got cancelled) and now missed two in a row. Only twice since his first two years has he missed the tournament badly. The last time, we missed the sweet 16 by a point the very next year. This year we missed the tourney less bad than we did last time and we had injuries for an excuse and also have the best recruit of the Fran era coming in. If Beth gets rid of him it better be because attendance or because he has a great coach lined up already.

I feel like Iowa is pretty far from it this year, only chance of making the dance for Iowa is winning the BTT this season. They also lost games like 116-85 and 94-70 and 82-65 and 101 -75 and 81-61 ...just games they weren't even a threat to compete in. Most games, Iowa was out of it before the 10 minute mark. They didn't really beat ANYONE at home this year. That's pretty rare for Fran. He typically gets a giant or 2 at home...this year, not really close. Every decent team came into Carver and beat us pretty handedly. This is one Fran's least competitive teams IMO.....

 

[InGoodCo]

A long way from top half? I don't know about that. A long way from top third tho.

Once Fran started making the tournament, he made three in a row, missed two in a row, made five in a row (once got cancelled) and now missed two in a row. Only twice since his first two years has he missed the tournament badly. The last time, we missed the sweet 16 by a point the very next year. This year we missed the tourney less bad than we did last time and we had injuries for an excuse and also have the best recruit of the Fran era coming in. If Beth gets rid of him it better be because attendance or because he has a great coach lined up already.

Also, I think attendance is reason #1, I think reason # 2 is no post season success to lean on and #3 the last 2 seasons being let downs.

I think Fran is a good coach, you know that. I think he's better than Iowa. Unfortunately, we're past that now.... having your gym 33% full against conference foes is glaring.

 

[BigD]

I feel like Iowa is pretty far from it this year, only chance of making the dance for Iowa is winning the BTT this season. They also lost games like 116-85 and 94-70 and 82-65 and 101 -75 and 81-61 ...just games they weren't even a threat to compete in. Most games, Iowa was out of it before the 10 minute mark. They didn't really beat ANYONE at home this year. That's pretty rare for Fran. He typically gets a giant or 2 at home...this year, not really close. Every decent team came into Carver and beat us pretty handedly. This is one Fran's least competitive teams IMO.....

I agree.

 

[BigD]

I was right there with you during the Lick years. The only good thing was that I ended up with a season ticket that I still have dead center court 25 rows up.

Lol, that's awesome!!!

The real agony was that there was no hint that they were planning on getting rid of Lickliter. I was listening to an interview with Iowa's AD back then and it was the second to last game of the year and what was being said in that interview what that no changes were being planned. GAWD NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Liar, liar, Lick's pant on fire.

 

[thedukeofearl]

I will pray for your mental recovery.

After watching and following every Lickliter game I have straitjackets in a variety of colors. Do you have a preference?

Peter has a preference, for certain

 

[thedukeofearl]

I am not so sure its a minority anymore. I am a Fran guy, and do believe he is unfairly critiqued at times and I have him right there with Davis and Olson on Iowa's MBB Mount Rushmore. That all said, and assuming he keeps what he has and gets the incoming guys on campus, are we all ok with those players taking the court in front of 3,000 people for the first non-con against Directional U? And then less than 6,000 scanned tickets for home conference games? We cannot ignore the elephants in the room of fan and donor apathy with this program right now. Iowa's MBB is the third most popular winter sport on campus right now. Just true.

Friend of mine who owns a plumbing business in Ottumwa says that one of the Drake assistant coaches
is Tyler Sash's brother

"Drake coach is good. He took our IHCC coach as assistant last year. Josh Sash, Tyler Sash”s brother"

 

[thedukeofearl]

It’s an extremely large minority. Only people that want him gone are the people who are on anonymous message boards. Everyone I have spoken to in real life think it would be a waste of money to fire him at this juncture. No players have claimed they are leaving and a top 25 recruiting class incoming. Hire a defensive analyst and save the money. Winning will put butts back in the seats.

Damn, are you still in a trance...?

Entirely too much common sense here...

 

[thedukeofearl]

Losing Freeman was devastating

Zero inside presence

Perhaps a NIT bid would have been in the works

I anticipate a loss to the Illini and season over today

For me the main thing is perhaps missing out on the Drake coach possibly coming to Carver

 

[HuckFinn]

I tried to find an article that quoted the difference in actual attendance among games played mid week nights vs games on weekends, but I can’t find it. The difference was significant, but attendance was still not great even on weekends. Maybe the biggest conclusion to draw about poor attendance is that there are a lot of reasons. Add them all up and it’s devastating.

 

[PCHawk]

I am not so sure its a minority anymore. I am a Fran guy, and do believe he is unfairly critiqued at times and I have him right there with Davis and Olson on Iowa's MBB Mount Rushmore. That all said, and assuming he keeps what he has and gets the incoming guys on campus, are we all ok with those players taking the court in front of 3,000 people for the first non-con against Directional U? And then less than 6,000 scanned tickets for home conference games? We cannot ignore the elephants in the room of fan and donor apathy with this program right now. Iowa's MBB is the third most popular winter sport on campus right now. Just true.

Carver won't probably be rocking again in men's basketball until the Lute crowd is gone. Woman's basketball stealing the men's crowd is probably the biggest factor right now tho.

 

[PCHawk]

I was right there with you during the Lick years. The only good thing was that I ended up with a season ticket that I still have dead center court 25 rows up.

And this right here is why the crowd sucks. Not singling out one person here. But the Lute crowd lived through really good times and became life long fans. They're the only ones who held out through the Lick years and ended up with all the good seats. Fran has revived the program enough to bring back new fans. But the atmosphere sucks because all the good seats are the old people.