Time for some perspective

[NEIChawk]

thanks Deanvogs. I still believe in Fran. Always have.

However, as far as this season goes, I've given up hope for the afternoon soaps and a bottle of cold brew. [You youngsters can google that reference]

Not me 1H1....I got it immediately. ..

 

[1977Hawkeye]

Was that sweet 16 season the year after Ricky Davis went pro? I don't remember ever thinking how bad that sucked he didn't stay another year.

Yep - RD was here 1997-98, and he went pro after that year. Then the Hawks made the Sweet 16 in the 1998-99 season.

Would've been interesting if RD was on that Sweet 16 team, but I don't think he was ever staying more than that one year. He was a head case, but had a ton of talent.

 

[trj]

So you're saying all of TD's big men played back to the basket? Brad Lohaus would beg to differ. Les Jepsen didn't post up much. His big men typically were high post big men. Initially back to the basket at the elbow but face up when they got the ball.

Valid point. However, Jepsen was down on the block more than you think. Jepsen and Acie Earl couldn't walk and chew gum at the same time when then they arrived at Iowa they both left NBA draft picks. The game is just different now. Imagine Earl, Jepsen and even Lohaus were forced to play out on the perimeter the way Woody has to, the way most big men are now required to. I think we are arguing the same thing just in a different way.

 

[Bluesman]

If you look at the season as a whole I think Iowa finished about where expected. The early success and #3 ranking got everyone's hopes up making where they finished a real disappointment. I'll admit though that the late season collapses are getting tiresome and leave a foul odor on what is overall a pretty decent season.

I don't know if the inability to win close games over the years is an indictment of Fran or this group of seniors. Maybe it's both. It does seem to be a recurring theme for Iowa basketball. My opinion is that Fran may not be the best end of game coach; he does seem to be a decent recruiter. Also most of his players have stayed, he's had very few defections which is a big change from previous regimes so his players must like playing for him.

I think if they had won a few less games over the first part of the season and a few more in the last part people wouldn't be so upset. The first round exits in the Big Ten tourney are a problem too and I don't understand why Fran's teams have been so pathetic there. I fully expected them to lose to Illinois because that's what Fran's teams do in the Big Ten tourney.

When you look at the overall picture a pretty good season. However with the way they finished I do expect them to lose their first game in the NCAA tourney.

 

[PCHawk]

If you look at the season as a whole I think Iowa finished about where expected. The early success and #3 ranking got everyone's hopes up making where they finished a real disappointment. I'll admit though that the late season collapses are getting tiresome and leave a foul odor on what is overall a pretty decent season.

I don't know if the inability to win close games over the years is an indictment of Fran or this group of seniors. Maybe it's both. It does seem to be a recurring theme for Iowa basketball. My opinion is that Fran may not be the best end of game coach; he does seem to be a decent recruiter. Also most of his players have stayed, he's had very few defections which is a big change from previous regimes so his players must like playing for him.

I think if they had won a few less games over the first part of the season and a few more in the last part people wouldn't be so upset. The first round exits in the Big Ten tourney are a problem too and I don't understand why Fran's teams have been so pathetic there. I fully expected them to lose to Illinois because that's what Fran's teams do in the Big Ten tourney.

When you look at the overall picture a pretty good season. However with the way they finished I do expect them to lose their first game in the NCAA tourney.

Winning close games is pressure. Playing as a top 10 team is pressure. Winning in a survive and advance tournament is pressure. They were fine in the Big 10 Tournament before this senior class played big rolls. I assume Fran was winning his conference tournament to get into the NCAA'S at his other schools so it's not like he has some mental block in tournaments.

 

[WindsorHawk]

Perspective...I'm not sitting hear wondering if Iowa's name will be called today. Those Selection Sundays were not fun at all. I know we will be 1 of the 68 teams playing in the NCAA Tournament. I'm looking forward and hoping we play well.

 

[deanvogs]

It is all good. I will never be the sharpest tool in the shed. That being said, just a couple of years ago you were one the saying if you can't rebuild a program in 3 years, you need to go. You weren't advocating FM needed to go, but you were leaning heavily that way. You were that dude. So what exactly changed? The 3 tournament appearances are enough for you to back off? Are you getting invited to FM for dinner and now you are getting perspective on things?

Busy weekend, but I saw this and wanted to respond.

I was unabashedly saying during last season that Fran needed to make the tournament. That is the baseline for college BB these days, that you make the NCAA tournament. I said IF HE DIDN'T make it that he is failing. I said that if you make the tourney 1 time in 5 years, that isn't getting it done. I also said it was kind of moot, as we were looking like we were going to make the NCAA's.

What? Where have I ever gotten "off" the bandwagon? Everything I have said was clearly stated in the context that IF WE DIDN'T MAKE THE NCAA this year. I still stand by it, if we can only make the NCAA 1 time in 5 years, that just isn't good enough.

We clearly need to finish strong. I said at the beginning of the year this is a NCAA quality team, and hopefully we finish like we are capable

 

[PCHawk]

Busy weekend, but I saw this and wanted to respond.

I was unabashedly saying during last season that Fran needed to make the tournament. That is the baseline for college BB these days, that you make the NCAA tournament. I said IF HE DIDN'T make it that he is failing. I said that if you make the tourney 1 time in 5 years, that isn't getting it done. I also said it was kind of moot, as we were looking like we were going to make the NCAA's.

Man you hated Fran last year.

 

[deanvogs]

Man you hated Fran last year.

LOL, you and I went round on round on this one didn't we PC. I think you remember though that I always clearly stated that if we got to the NCAA's that I didn't have a gripe at all.

 

[tweeterhawk]

You do realize that I posted this before the B1G championship was set right? Post fail on your part Tweets.

How is when you posted your inanity relevant to how this team choked away the last half of the season?

 

[deanvogs]

Another stat you conveniently overlook, Dean: Iowa was 4-0 (and quite handily at that) against the teams playing for the B1G championship.

How is when you posted your inanity relevant to how this team choked away the last half of the season?

You said I overlooked something that had yet to come to pass. Complete fail on your part, now you are doubling down on that fail???

I posted Iowa's record for the entire year, because you know the whole year counts. You seem to be under the delusion that only 7 or 8 games count for some reason?

 

[PCHawk]

LOL, you and I went round on round on this one didn't we PC. I think you remember though that I always clearly stated that if we got to the NCAA's that I didn't have a gripe at all.

Oh yea it was fun debating. My arguement always made more sense tho!

 

[Knight78]

Was that sweet 16 season the year after Ricky Davis went pro? I don't remember ever thinking how bad that sucked he didn't stay another year.

Ricky wasn't coming back either way. He didn't attend a single class after the first semester was done. Tons of talent, milligrams of common sense.

 

[Knight78]

I'm not sure I get your point. Clearly Lickliter was a bad hire, probably the worst of any sport in Iowa history. Not sure how that relates to our current situation.

Pointing out that there is no plan offered by those who advocate the firing of Fran. We actually had a plan (that completely and totally backfired) when we hired Lickliter, who was National Coach of the Year.