Second Four Star Recruit Badara Diakite Decommits

HawkeyeHypnosis said:
This is why I didn’t think it was the right time. This recruiting class was very good. Hope we can pull enough players for a team.

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2025 Four-Star Forward Badara Diakite Decommits

On Friday, 2025 four-star forward, Badara Diakite shared with Hawkeye Beacon that he has decommitted from Iowa.
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Really. Even Fran at his best had his foibles and we would see the unexpected loss or two that hurt, the up and down play, lack of solid "D", perhaps a blowup or anger scene and head scratching subbing. What would he have done at that point with him looking checked out with a supposed good class. More of the same? It was past time and worked out to get seemingly the right coach at this time. When would the right time have been??
 
ajdwhs87 said:
Really. Even Fran at his best had his foibles and we would see the unexpected loss or two that hurt, the up and down play, lack of solid "D", perhaps a blowup or anger scene and head scratching subbing. What would he have done at that point with him looking checked out with a supposed good class. More of the same? It was past time and worked out to get seemingly the right coach at this time. When would the right time have been??
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If results were better then you don’t. I’m happy with the hire, haven’t said anything otherwise. If we would have swung and missed on Ben as DeVries, it was looking pretty bleak.
 
I was always a supporter of Fran, but the more I reflect upon it, I think it was the right time.

There's never a "good" time to fire a coach. Almost all recruits immediately take a step back and reevaluate. Many go elsewhere. That's just the nature of college sports. If an AD fires a coach after recruits sign, there is an air of deceitfulness that turns off recruits, their parents and HS coaches. And, the NCAA allows them to back out anyway. It's a bad look.

Fran's a good coach and person, but for whatever reason, the last few seasons he gave off a negative vibe and appeared as if he was just going through the motions. Sometimes, programs have to take a step backwards to move forwards. Hopefully, Ben is the guy that can pull it off.
 
Fran recruited guys who thought their skills and/or temperment fit an up-and-down offensive game. They'd been shown tape of how their game would mesh with Iowa's fast pace. So, I wouldn't expect ANY of those guys to stay with Iowa now -- they're not dumb, they understand pace of play. If Iowa had brought in a coach with an up-tempo offense, MAYBE 1 or 2 of the recruits would have stayed. But I certainly wouldn't expect them to stay with such a dramatic change of style.
 
I took the comment as tongue in cheek but we don’t see multiple 4 stars in a class usually. And 9 players and 3 recruits is probably the most attrition I’ve ever seen from a single school minus the death penalty. I really hope he can recruit because I know Fran could bring players here.
 
HawkeyeHypnosis said:
I took the comment as tongue in cheek but we don’t see multiple 4 stars in a class usually. And 9 players and 3 recruits is probably the most attrition I’ve ever seen from a single school minus the death penalty. I really hope he can recruit because I know Fran could bring players here.
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Exactly,
It was a tongue in cheek quip. "I have to play defense? Hell no I am out of here!"
 
Think it was certainly time. Don't think there will be much difference in win total next year. Not like Fran would win 25 and now we will win 11 games. Probably be within 5 games and think it won't be a losing season. Fran might have hit 20 but the apathy and game or two we shouldn't lose or need and don't get would be there again. Time to change and try to turns things around esp. with regards to the fandom and outlook becoming more positive instead of the rut we fell into.
 
ajdwhs87 said:
Think it was certainly time. Don't think there will be much difference in win total next year. Not like Fran would win 25 and now we will win 11 games. Probably be within 5 games and think it won't be a losing season. Fran might have hit 20 but the apathy and game or two we shouldn't lose or need and don't get would be there again. Time to change and try to turns things around esp. with regards to the fandom and outlook becoming more positive instead of the rut we fell into.
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Well. Nope.
 
ajdwhs87 said:
Think it was certainly time. Don't think there will be much difference in win total next year. Not like Fran would win 25 and now we will win 11 games. Probably be within 5 games and think it won't be a losing season. Fran might have hit 20 but the apathy and game or two we shouldn't lose or need and don't get would be there again. Time to change and try to turns things around esp. with regards to the fandom and outlook becoming more positive instead of the rut we fell into.
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the rut we fell into? We were 5th in the conference and won the Big Ten tourney 2 years ago, will be 3.
 
HawkeyeHypnosis said:
the rut we fell into? We were 5th in the conference and won the Big Ten tourney 2 years ago, will be 3.
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Earlier before with this team of which much was expected they were 7-7 during a 14 game stretch. Then they had a good run then they have that sad loss to Richmond. That up and down is certainly the rut over the Fran tenure. Don't just pick out the good stuff then question why the apathy or why knock on Fran. It is your whole resume not just cherry picking. The good times are good but can't pretend the issues weren't there.
 
ajdwhs87 said:
Earlier before with this team of which much was expected they were 7-7 during a 14 game stretch. Then they had a good run then they have that sad loss to Richmond. That up and down is certainly the rut over the Fran tenure. Don't just pick out the good stuff then question why the apathy or why knock on Fran. It is your whole resume not just cherry picking. The good times are good but can't pretend the issues weren't there.
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I never just picked out the good. Never claimed Fran era didn’t have some issues, every single coach in the world will have them. A “rut” isn’t what we were in no matter how you flush it. There weren’t even rumblings last season about hot seat. As stated a million times, I am happy with the hire but the firing was done at the drop of a hat. The amount of coaches even on the market is very limited this season.
 
HawkeyeHypnosis said:
I never just picked out the good. Never claimed Fran era didn’t have some issues, every single coach in the world will have them. A “rut” isn’t what we were in no matter how you flush it. There weren’t even rumblings last season about hot seat. As stated a million times, I am happy with the hire but the firing was done at the drop of a hat. The amount of coaches even on the market is very limited this season.
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I don't know about drop of a hat. Could have dropped him earlier than this year and wow did he look like a dead man walking much of the year. Plus if that is your guy you gotta go. You can't tell coach X to wait till the end of a contract and you don't hold onto a coach if it is time cause you hurt your program and he is getting the $$ he is owed. Doubt he is hugely broken up about leaving Iowa.

Speaking of that year 21-22, 14-7 start was kinda of weak. 12-8 in the conference with 4 teams with 6,6,7 and 7, wins only including Maryland and Indiana down and just above the bottom was Michigan and MSU with meh years. Not like a killer Big Ten that year. Then they seem to put it together but then Richmond was a blow and I think the last straw for many thinking Fran would do anything above a certain point. At last some sort of conference title but also another slow start. Not that they needed to be 18-3 but the talent could have been more than 14-7 with a 20 point loss to the Clowns only scoring 53 points. You get tired of the good being a 12 game stretch and has to come along with several weaker than the potential points.
 
Regardless if it was a “killer” big ten or not, Fran had no control over the competition the conference does or doesn’t put on the court. You have a different opinion. That’s fine.
 
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