I haven't read a post where anyone is "bashing" McCaffrey's recruiting. The biggest challenge any coach has taking a job like Iowa is to lure talent to a state void of east / west coast enticements. To make matters worse, we have sucked for a long time and are significantly less appealing than Butler, Creighton, Wichita State and many other mid majors that not too long ago had to sneak a kid in the back door to get him past the big boys.
I went to 8 games this year and am contemplating buying partial season tickets next season based on the outcome of the recruiting class. Does that make me fan of the year? Of course not, but my point is that I am 100% behind McCaffrey and went to more games this year than the last three combined. My wife was even converted to an Iowa hoops fan because of Basabe and Cartwright. With that being said, even she recognized those guys are about it as far as big ten talent goes.
McCaffrey has a big budget, nice salary, veteran staff, new practice facility, rennovated CHA, and had 11,500 fans show up to watch a 10th place team in the big ten. So yes, I think fans expect a bit more than they did when Lickliter was the coach. In lieu of a winning record, these expectations shift to recruiting and I think it is safe to say we have 3 nice project players on the way, but no difference maker.