What about Fran's coaching?

[HomerChampless]

So you're giving Fran 2 years to react, to rectify?
Hasn't he gotten experience doing this from previous coaching gigs?

 

[bcl20]

So you're giving Fran 2 years to react, to rectify?
Hasn't he gotten experience doing this from previous coching gigs?

Who was this directed at?

 

[HomerChampless]

bcl's comment, I guess, about a trend not occuring.

 

[bcl20]

bcl's comment, I guess, about a trend not occuring.

Unless Fran has a history of teams not closing out other teams than at this point, the close losses could just be evidence of **** happening as opposed to bad coaching. If it's something happens in future seasons than more could be taken from it.

Iowa played mostly good basketball in all those close games for most of the game, to the point where if they continued playing the same basketball they played the rest of the game, they win most, if not all those games. Instead, the team stopped playing good basketball and started doing stupid things they didn't do all game. Too me, that's mental and on the players. I'm not really sure what a coach can do to prevent choking.

 

[DodgerHawki]

You are correct...

Nobody complained last year when those games went Iowa's way...wish they would have waited a year given non-con record compared to last year.

last year Iowa benefited from winning some close games. There were a few games last year where the other team had a shot to tie/win at the end and it didn't go in (Minny's guard missed a shot in the lane last year at the end that would have tied the game). If you are in a bunch of close games, usually the W-L record evens out over time. Bo Ryan is doing a very good job with the Badgers, but the last 2 wins by the Badgers show how much winning one-possession games is based on luck. Against Iowa, Jackson shoots a shot that draws just enough of the front rim to bounce in the air, hit the backboard and go in. Then Oglesby gets an open look at 3 to win the game, the ball rattles around the rim and falls off. Then we all know what happened for Wisky to send the game against Michigan into OT. Don't get me wrong, Ryan is doing his usual outstanding job with his team, but those 2 games were pulled out of the fire, and not be great coaching.

Hopefully the Hawks can rip off another 4 in a row before heading to Indiana, where I hope we have a chance to see Iowa play in a close game again.

 

[bcl20]

I will say that Fran falls in love with iso at the end. The game vs Wisconsin we actually ran a play and had a wide open White under the hope. Of course, the player messed up and didn't see him and we lost.

 

[ChosenChildren]

I've reviewed most of the threads and posts in this forum and nothing has been said about, IMO, Fran's bad coaching.

For example in the second half of last night's game, Woodbury is clogging up the middle while getting rebounds over Bergeron and Kaminsky and Iowa is comfortably in the lead. Woody doesn't need to score, here. I think Woody had maybe one foul. In comes Olaseni to replace Woody and he does an effective job of 'putting a clamp' on Bergeron and clogging up the middle while Kaminsky goes to the bench for the remainder of the game.

Fran then decides to try Basabe at center who is schooled by Bergeron and then Fran decides to try McCabe at center who is also schooled by Bergeron. Wisconsin's one and dones under the basket with Woody and Gabe become tip drills, put backs and new shot clocks.

Why was Woody taken out for the entirety of the rest of the second half? It seems to me Fran has an obsessive-compulsive need to rest Woody for great periods of the game.
Why did Gabe see no duty after that?

Granted, Iowa is a very young team. They're learning quite a lot this year. Why does Fran, IMO, constantly put them in a position of losing? Against Purdue a clearout was called for Marble. Gesell took the last two shots against Minny. Yet, no player on Iowa has proven they consistantly create a mismatch this year.

Fran is a great coach.

I think you actually nailed it with the following statement: "Yet, no player on Iowa has proven they consistently create a mismatch this year."

That is the reason Iowa is losing the close games. We would be 7-4, not 4-7, with a point guard who could create, and make, his own shot. We don't have that this year.

End of discussion. It's not coaching; it's a young team that is going through growing pains.

 

[sportstalent]

Fran is a great coach.

I think you actually nailed it with the following statement: "Yet, no player on Iowa has proven they consistently create a mismatch this year."

That is the reason Iowa is losing the close games. We would be 7-4, not 4-7, with a point guard who could create, and make, his own shot. We don't have that this year.

End of discussion. It's not coaching; it's a young team that is going through growing pains.

It isn't youth when non-freshmen are the ones letting the team down more often than not...youth is not and shouldn't be an excuse. Being a coach myself, I don't buy into it. The fact is Iowa got some breaks last year they haven't gotten this year.

 

[Tmoney12]

Matt Gatens is the reason we aren't winning these close games. Dude could get a shot and hit it when we needed one. It's not Fran's fault he graduated.

 

[PCHawk]

Matt Gatens is the reason we aren't winning these close games. Dude could get a shot and hit it when we needed one. It's not Fran's fault he graduated.

I agree with this to an extent but Marble was the reason we won 2 close games last year. He had the chance to win us a couple this year too, it just didn't work out.

 

[Tmoney12]

I agree with this to an extent but Marble was the reason we won 2 close games last year. He had the chance to win us a couple this year too, it just didn't work out.

True, but I'm guessing here but Gatens was keyed pry dam near every game last year and Marble took advantage of that. This year even in the slump I'm gonna go ahead and guess i do that alot apparently) Marble is still a focus in late game situations for other coaches. Maybe that's why Fran went to MG a few times in late game situations. That being said If I recall Marble wasn't even on the court for one of those games so Ill shutup now

 

[BasketballMan]

Fran is a great coach.

I think you actually nailed it with the following statement: "Yet, no player on Iowa has proven they consistently create a mismatch this year."

That is the reason Iowa is losing the close games. We would be 7-4, not 4-7, with a point guard who could create, and make, his own shot. We don't have that this year.

End of discussion. It's not coaching; it's a young team that is going through growing pains.

Great coach? kinda strong words at this point. I'm not seeing any NCAA title banners hanging anywhere he's been. That being said. He appears to he a "good" coach but the jury is clearly still out.

 

[PCHawk]

True, but I'm guessing here but Gatens was keyed pry dam near every game last year and Marble took advantage of that. This year even in the slump I'm gonna go ahead and guess i do that alot apparently) Marble is still a focus in late game situations for other coaches. Maybe that's why Fran went to MG a few times in late game situations. That being said If I recall Marble wasn't even on the court for one of those games so Ill shutup now

That could have something to do with it but Marble did get pretty much the same shot in the Purdue game that he had to finish off last year's Wisconsin game.

 

[dave3912]

I think Tmoney is right, Iowa misses Gatens shooting in those close games. However, Iowa just hasn't had the ball bounce their way this year. I think that is just the way it goes sometimes, especially when you lean heavily on freshman.

 

[sportstalent]

Great coach? kinda strong words at this point. I'm not seeing any NCAA title banners hanging anywhere he's been. That being said. He appears to he a "good" coach but the jury is clearly still out.

Great is a word that is thrown around in today's society too easily. Now for me to say Fran is a great coach is not going to hinge on an NCAA banner, it just won't. That has never been the ultimate criteria for me, maybe because of obvious reasons.

That said, I think Fran has done a great job, to date, of taking over the worst program at the time that was in the Big Ten. Is his job complete, absolutely not, but he took the route of rebuilding with freshman at a time when no real top prospects would give Iowa a second look.

What Fran has done in 3 years, proves he can coach, unless Iowa has a meltdown in the next few weeks, he will have them in the postseason again. The NIT is not ideal, but it is still a postseason and an opportunity to use it as a spring board for next season. Iowa is not going to lose a starter and will gain two, from what people say, quality players meanwhile the current players get another offseason of growth.