Team thoughts...

loesshillshawk

loesshillshawk

Well-Known Member
Guys are running quality sets, like the stuff Fran is doing with the guys. We just are not as athletic as everyone else. You see holes that MSU and teams like that can exploit...we are a step slow. I still like Fran...right guy for the job, give us some East Coast boys that can play...like Bassabe.
 
I think eventually we will be very glad Fran is at Iowa. I think it hurt us a lot not having Payne even though I think Cartwright is much better. Our guys lack ball handling skills. Everyone aside from Cartwright look nervous on the dribble this makes it hard to run and gun. We will get there it will be painful, but we will get there.
 
Alford brought to program down below what it was under Davis. Lickliter basically destroyed it.

It is going to be very difficult to dig out of the hole the program is in. It is not going to be easy for Fran to get the players we need. He just needs a couple of upgrades from what we have. Once Iowa starts to be more competitive, he'll be able to get better players.

I believe Fran will get it done. But it is probably going to take 3 years to contend for the NIT (or better) and a lot of PATIENCE by the fans.

I think there are a lot of fans who really don't realize how bad a shape the Iowa BB program is in.
 
I like this thought the most... "The Hawkeye basketball team isn't very good, but they will get much better next year because they only lose Cole."
 
The program is in bad shape, however, it is a positive that we only lose Cole, but I know people hope Archie is gone after this season as well. Again, not a bad thing if that happens as well, the flexability to bring in 5 new players.

OP is correct, we need more East Coast kids that can play, like Basabe, here is a novel concept...The high school Basabe played for is a perrenial power and if Basabe continues to do well, could Iowa have a pipeline to that school, one current player who is a Jr. has Iowa on his list even though the Hawks haven't offered him and there are plenty more good prospects from that school. That high school has a C and SG rated in the Top 150 in the 2012 class the gaurd is the one that has Iowa on his list.

Also, Andrew Francis has reached out to his old high school in looking at Shaquille Stokes. Fran has a lot of good connections there in the East Coast, so it bodes well.

Other areas Iowa is reaching out to other states as well like: Texas and Georgia. The 2012 class offers Iowa has out there with the new staff: 2 kids in TX (6-10, C and a 6-2 SG) and 2 kids in Georgia (6-9 C and a 6-7 PF). This staff is going to recruit everywhere. These are Sherm Dillard and Kirk Speraw kids with their connections.

The thing about basketball is one better than average recruiting class can allow a team to improve dramatically. How the staff goes about this is going to be interesting, stick with bringing in freshman or go the JUCO route.

Iowa basketball will be back sooner than some expect, the program is down, but the right class can accelerate the process.
 
As we know, recruiting is the name of the game. I definitely think Fran was the right choice to resurrect Iowa basketball. He just needs a couple of decent recruiting classes. I think the year after next we should qualify at least for the NIT. And hopefully, we will keep moving forward.

It is tough seeing an Iowa team that looks like a junior college team at times against stiff competition. Reminds me of when Saban was coach at MSU and the Spartans throttled Iowa. I think it was right at the time Kirk was taking over, or possibly could have been at the end of the Fry era.

It takes a while to establish connections and convince kids they should come play for the University of Iowa, a program that has been non-existent in the lives of many of these kids.
 
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