**2017-2018 Iowa Hawkeye Basketball Season Thread**

[Carter Page]

Yeah. He's gone. Would like to know what his gripe is. He was as bad defensively as anyone on that team. They didn't lose because they couldn't score.

Someone posted something (i think it was here but couldn’t find it) a few weeks ago about the lack of black guys and the situation only getting worse the next two classes. It was one of the rubs about fran preferring Connor to Williams.

I don't get this. Connor was redshirting. I thought this was common knowledge?

 

[douglasbader]

I'll say this, Cook has already decided he's leaving, so he handled those questions well. If he was leaning towards staying or was genuinely 50/50 on staying, those answers would have been a lot different.

If that is the case, then I think Fran might still be at the bargaining stage and thinks he can fix it given his comments.

 

[douglasbader]

Get in here @HiawathaHawk !!

 

[HiawathaHawk]

Get to steppin’. We ain’t in the business of keepin players that don’t wanna be kept.

Yep. With Cook all-in next year they're a better team but they can be greatly improved without him also. He's a good player who improved a ton from last year and has a lot of potential. In a perfect world he explores the process and understands he needs another year and can accomplish everything he needs at Iowa. Seems like a good kid but one who already has a foot out the door.

Fran had built a really strong culture which seemed to take a hit this year. Get that fixed first and foremost.

 

[RZAHawk]

Had a friend that hired an ex-walk on as a summer intern a few years ago when Marble was still playing. Said walk on was still on the team while working for my friend and he loved Fran. He said Fran definitely favored guys who worked their asses off and had no problem benching guys who were more talented but didn’t bring it in practice. This kid made it sound like Fran is relentless if somebody is slacking which may explain Cook thinking about sitting out a year to get out of program if he is incurring wrath of Fran. Iowa Basketball is starting to feel a little like Iowa Football a la 2007.

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

I'll say this, Cook has already decided he's leaving, so he handled those questions well. If he was leaning towards staying or was genuinely 50/50 on staying, those answers would have been a lot different.

If that is the case, then I think Fran might still be at the bargaining stage and thinks he can fix it given his comments.

I get why Fran doesn't want to him to go for multiple reasons but as a teammate, it'd be hard for me to not say fuck that guy.

 

[Herky823]

These threads always bring out peak Doug

 

[Carter Page]

He’s fun to watch but the metrics say that Cook is far from irreplaceable on offense. Nunge is a totally different player despite playing out of position and not being athletic and was probably close to as good on defense. Nunge deflected more passes this year in limited time than Cook did his whole career.

A team with a core of Jordan, joe, moss, and Garza can be good.

Spoiler

this is trumps America!!!!!

Being close to as good on defense as Cook is a strange way of saying he was absolutely dog shit on defense.

The team will be better next season with or without Cook. But perhaps better without him if his attitude is divisive (I would think they would be bubble material at least.

Obviously wish he would stay and be happy, but if he has some kind of burr up his ass then that could go a ways toward explaining this inexplicably painful season - team chemistry and all. Perhaps it is kinda telling that a gangly true freshman has to emerge as the emotional leader of the team instead of someone like Cook.

Or someone like literally anyone else. He is a sophomore on a team of sophomores, why is it telling he isn't a vocal leader?

Cook is certainly the player on the team who is most confident in his abilities, at least based on his interviews. We run everything through him. I would expect him to be the emotional leader. It isnt in everyone's makeup to do so, but seems like it would fit his personality. All I'm saying is that if he has been disgruntled, it explains a lot.

 

[douglasbader]

These threads always bring out peak Doug

I'm aware of myself and will post that MacGruber gif often.

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

Had a friend that hired an ex-walk on as a summer intern a few years ago when Marble was still playing. Said walk on was still on the team while working for my friend and he loved Fran. He said Fran definitely favored guys who worked their asses off and had no problem benching guys who were more talented but didn’t bring it in practice. This kid made it sound like Fran is relentless if somebody is slacking which may explain Cook thinking about sitting out a year to get out of program if he is incurring wrath of Fran. Iowa Basketball is starting to feel a little like Iowa Football a la 2007.

Outside of Jordan (which was a necessity) Cook had all the freedom in the world to do whatever the fuck he wanted to on the floor. He would get pulled only when in foul trouble.

 

[Hawkstrat]

Fran was asked about staff changes and said no, unless someone get a head coaching gig.

Doesn't mean anything, it isn't as if Fran is going to put it out there that he is expecting to let a coach go prior to actually doing it. Just leave those three mofos twisting in the wind.

Nevertheless, I report, you decide.

 

[Shpadoinkle]

The team will be better next season with or without Cook. But perhaps better without him if his attitude is divisive (I would think they would be bubble material at least.

Obviously wish he would stay and be happy, but if he has some kind of burr up his ass then that could go a ways toward explaining this inexplicably painful season - team chemistry and all. Perhaps it is kinda telling that a gangly true freshman has to emerge as the emotional leader of the team instead of someone like Cook.

This is true. All of it.

 

[douglasbader]

If Cook does transfer, then hopefully he has the respect for Iowa and Fran to shut his fucking mouth and not feed any sour grapes and play the race card when that is total bullshit.

Say thanks and move on.

 

[douglasbader]

Fran was asked about staff changes and said no, unless someone get a head coaching gig.

Doesn't mean anything, it isn't as if Fran is going to put it out there that he is expecting to let a coach go prior to actually doing it. Just leave those three mofos twisting in the wind.

Nevertheless, I report, you decide.

I thought his actual quote was interesting and somewhat indicating he might be pushing one of them to go find another job.

 

[HiawathaHawk]

bohannon is tough as nails. He had moments that were frustrating but he played through a lot and has had a ton on his plate. Garza is the man. Joe does everything right and will be a stud. They're your core to get this thing back on track.

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

I'll be the old guy that yells at cloud but the rampant take my ball and go home attitude of players these days is pretty sad. Soft, delicate little flowers.

 

[douglasbader]

Man this fucking sucks. Those stupid fucking 2014 and 2015 recruiting classes. If one of those losers pans out this is a totally different conversation.

 

[douglasbader]

I'll be the old guy that yells at cloud but the rampant take my ball and go home attitude of players these days is pretty sad. Soft, delicate little flowers.

That is because they are all emotionally and socially closer to Howler at this point than they are a player like Chris Street.

 

[Hawk_Kegmasters]

I’ll mostly be bummed if/when Cook leaves because his dunks are just fucking fun to watch.

 

[HiawathaHawk]

I'll be the old guy that yells at cloud but the rampant take my ball and go home attitude of players these days is pretty sad. Soft, delicate little flowers.

That is because they are all emotionally and socially closer to Howler at this point than they are a player like Chris Street.

Luka is a throwback. Think Joe will be too.

 

[douglasbader]

I'll be the old guy that yells at cloud but the rampant take my ball and go home attitude of players these days is pretty sad. Soft, delicate little flowers.

That is because they are all emotionally and socially closer to Howler at this point than they are a player like Chris Street.

Luka is a throwback. Think Joe will be too.

Joe is a confirmed throwback. He doesn't say shit and is all business. He could act like a diva and talk more shit than anyone next to Harrison Barnes in Iowa if he wanted but is like a machine.

He is also extremely loyal and had every chance to go to Iowa City to play but stuck it out at home.

 

[Geese]

If Cook leaves and Brady comes back I'll... be really upset!!

 

[douglasbader]

If Cook leaves and Brady comes back I'll... be really upset!!

Oh yeah, if Cook leaves and Fran brings Brady back then I officially am off the Fran bandwagon. Fuck him.

 

[Fletch]

That is because they are all emotionally and socially closer to Howler at this point than they are a player like Chris Street.

Luka is a throwback. Think Joe will be too.

Joe is a confirmed throwback. He doesn't say shit and is all business. He could act like a diva and talk more shit than anyone next to Harrison Barnes in Iowa if he wanted but is like a machine.

He is also extremely loyal and had every chance to go to Iowa City to play but stuck it out at home.

This is what impressed me most. A couple things stood out in the game I saw him play. In warmups, most of his teammates were fucking around. He did everything with a purpose.

Second, there were multiple moments where he could have freaked out during the game. He even got smacked in the face/eye and went down (to the point where I did an oh fuck) but he got back up and just kept coming.

Cannot wait for him to put the Iowa uniform on.

 

[CamelTones]

I watched Frans postgame media thing and his quotes are not as straight forward as what the articles make them out to be.

When they asked him about his returning roster he kinda avoided the question and just said they expect everyone back.

As far as coaches he said he hopes they get a head coaching job first then followed it up with saying they would all be back.

 

[HiawathaHawk]

Bill Maxwell might be in trouble given the tone of what Fran was saying today. I think he had basketball when Alford was here, then got reassigned to Olympic sports under Lick, then took basketball back under Fran.

I don't know enough about assistant responsibilties to know what would be best. It would be ideal to add a defensive guy who can overhaul things like Michigan did. But I don't know how married Fran is to his concepts and if that's an option. If Francis were to leave you basically need to replace him with a young-ish black dude.

 

[douglasbader]

I watched Frans postgame media thing and his quotes are not as straight forward as what the articles make them out to be.

When they asked him about his returning roster he kinda avoided the question and just said they expect everyone back.

As far as coaches he said he hopes they get a head coaching job first then followed it up with saying they would all be back.

I heard this the same way as you did. It felt a lot more like "time for one of these guys to go look for a head coaching job" than it felt like they would all be back.

Andrew Francis needs to move the fuck on, but my guess is he makes more now with less work than taking some other smaller head coaching job.

 

[Stu Beagle]

Would hate to lose Cook but I don’t think it will hurt as much as some think. Garza is going to be damn good.

 

[HiawathaHawk]

Luka is a throwback. Think Joe will be too.

Joe is a confirmed throwback. He doesn't say shit and is all business. He could act like a diva and talk more shit than anyone next to Harrison Barnes in Iowa if he wanted but is like a machine.

He is also extremely loyal and had every chance to go to Iowa City to play but stuck it out at home.

This is what impressed me most. A couple things stood out in the game I saw him play. In warmups, most of his teammates were fucking around. He did everything with a purpose.

Second, there were multiple moments where he could have freaked out during the game. He even got smacked in the face/eye and went down (to the point where I did an oh fuck) but he got back up and just kept coming.

Cannot wait for him to put the Iowa uniform on.

Yep. I've seen him play in person twice and love everything about his demeanor and the way he handles himself.

 

[douglasbader]

Bill Maxwell might be in trouble given the tone of what Fran was saying today. I think he had basketball when Alford was here, then got reassigned to Olympic sports under Lick, then took basketball back under Fran.

I don't know enough about assistant responsibilties to know what would be best. It would be ideal to add a defensive guy who can overhaul things like Michigan did. But I don't know how married Fran is to his concepts and if that's an option. If Francis were to leave you basically need to replace him with a young-ish black dude.

I hate to agree with @nolookpass but think they do need to change something up with the strength and conditioning.

 

[Thanksgiving Dinner]

I’ll mostly be bummed if/when Cook leaves because his dunks are just fucking fun to watch.

I'll mostly be bummed because Kakert will have been right. I want to throw garbage at his face as hard as I can.

 

[LifelongHawk]

More about Mike Hlas, the National Enquirer of Iowa sports. From day 1 at the Gazette, he's taken petty cheap shots to be edgy or sound urbane (he's from Burlington btw) and often fails miserably attempting to be cute or funny. Without fail (well maybe not without fail, but way too often) he goes for the low hanging fruit and takes the lazy story, and despicably stirs pots about college kids that do not deserve to be stirred.

Admittedly, my disdain was accelerated during the 15 years I knew 2 of his co-workers well, but 95% remains substantive (exact opposite of Morehouse, whose work I rarely criticize). It was the co-workers who pointed out the Hawkeye hats in a far away airport stories on repeat for example. Pretty long list of other examples. No, actually a very long list.

Perhaps the best example of Hlas being journo scum was after Woody's second eyepoke at Wisconsin. That dick played up that story shamelessly for multiple days despite knowing damn well it was unwarranted. Then later in that week, when the hysteria got out of hand, he went on 1600 and had the gall to suggest people were overreacting and "everybody needs to settle down." That one fucking day after he started a column with this:

"Sometimes, people just find themselves in bizarre situations.

This Adam Woodbury/eye-poking saga isn’t tragic or criminal. But it is bizarre, and bizarre sells, so who am I to let it go without trying to milk it a little more before returning to actual basketball?"

Of course Woody didn't do it on purpose, and Hlas knew it, but who gives a fuck if the 21 year old kid suffers bails of unfair shit, Dakich mentioned me!

No surprise he went with this question of Cook, this column, or that Harty and Morehouse are circling the wagons around him. Fucking ghouls.

 

[CamelTones]

I don’t want to rip on Maxwell because he has every fucking sport other than football and wrestling. I walk through the Carver weight room for work a couple times a week and there’s always a different team in there that he’s working out.

 

[Bonner]

More about Mike Hlas, the National Enquirer of Iowa sports. From day 1 at the Gazette, he's taken petty cheap shots to be edgy or sound urbane (he's from Burlington btw) and often fails miserably attempting to be cute or funny. Without fail (well maybe not without fail, but way too often) he goes for the low hanging fruit and takes the lazy story, and despicably stirs pots about college kids that do not deserve to be stirred.

Admittedly, my disdain was accelerated during the 15 years I knew 2 of his co-workers well, but 95% remains substantive (exact opposite of Morehouse, whose work I rarely criticize). It was the co-workers who pointed out the Hawkeye hats in a far away airport stories on repeat for example. Pretty long list of other examples. No, actually a very long list.

Perhaps the best example of Hlas being journo scum was after Woody's second eyepoke at Wisconsin. That dick played up that story shamelessly for multiple days despite knowing damn well it was unwarranted. Then later in that week, when the hysteria got out of hand, he went on 1600 and had the gall to suggest people were overreacting and "everybody needs to settle down." That one fucking day after he started a column with this:

"Sometimes, people just find themselves in bizarre situations.

This Adam Woodbury/eye-poking saga isn’t tragic or criminal. But it is bizarre, and bizarre sells, so who am I to let it go without trying to milk it a little more before returning to actual basketball?"

Of course Woody didn't do it on purpose, and Hlas knew it, but who gives a fuck if the 21 year old kid suffers bails of unfair shit, Dakich mentioned me!

No surprise he went with this question of Cook, this column, or that Harty and Morehouse are circling the wagons around him. Fucking ghouls.

 

[Bonner]

Oops

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

Bill Maxwell might be in trouble given the tone of what Fran was saying today. I think he had basketball when Alford was here, then got reassigned to Olympic sports under Lick, then took basketball back under Fran.

I don't know enough about assistant responsibilties to know what would be best. It would be ideal to add a defensive guy who can overhaul things like Michigan did. But I don't know how married Fran is to his concepts and if that's an option. If Francis were to leave you basically need to replace him with a young-ish black dude.

I hate to agree with @nolookpass but think they do need to change something up with the strength and conditioning.

Yes! Jordan needs to get a lot stronger especially. He gets bumped around all over the court, both ends. He's never going to be quick but he needs to get to the point where he can dictate where he wants to take the ball.

Nunge, Garza both need to get a lot stronger.

 

[howler]

To 2.

Yep, the racial makeup of IC must the the problem.

Thankfully, Ames is such a cosmopolitan place, like a mini-Chicago really.

View attachment 9944

Was my thought through the entire "black culture in Iowa City" discussion. You know some other really black cities? Lubbock, Texas:

West Lafayette, IN:

Spokane, WA:

All three of these teams are located in whiter places than Iowa City and all are ranked in the Top 12 in the country.

This is what I can't figure out. Sure, once in a while, the numbers just shake out that way, but this has been an Iowa "thing" for almost as long as I've been following the team. Getting shut out of the CPL didn't help, but that was a long time ago. Point being, you have to almost try to field a predominately white team to end up with the usual racial makeup of a Hawks team. Football is only marginally better. It's a weird phenomenon.

Throw a dart at pretty much any Iowa team in the last 30 years and the core guys are usually white.

1994? Millard, Bowen, Settles, Kingsbury, and Bartels.

2002? Recker, Hogan, Boyd, Reiner, Sonderleiter.

And so on.

Next year you're looking at significant minutes from Wieskamp, Garza, bohannon, Connor, Baer, Nunge, Kriener, (maybe CJ?)

If a white guy from Lansing notices this, so do black recruits from St. Louis, Chicago, etc.

 

[BBK]

Was my thought through the entire "black culture in Iowa City" discussion. You know some other really black cities? Lubbock, Texas:

West Lafayette, IN:

Spokane, WA:

All three of these teams are located in whiter places than Iowa City and all are ranked in the Top 12 in the country.

This is what I can't figure out. Sure, once in a while, the numbers just shake out that way, but this has been an Iowa "thing" for almost as long as I've been following the team. Getting shut out of the CPL didn't help, but that was a long time ago. Point being, you have to almost try to field a predominately white team to end up with the usual racial makeup of a Hawks team. Football is only marginally better. It's a weird phenomenon.

Throw a dart at pretty much any Iowa team in the last 30 years and the core guys are usually white.

1994? Millard, Bowen, Settles, Kingsbury, and Bartels.

2002? Recker, Hogan, Boyd, Reiner, Sonderleiter.

And so on.

Next year you're looking at significant minutes from Wieskamp, Garza, bohannon, Connor, Baer, Nunge, Kriener, (maybe CJ?)

If a white guy from Lansing notices this, so do black recruits from St. Louis, Chicago, etc.

You are from Lansing?

 

[HiawathaHawk]

That '06 Iowa team that finished 1st in the country in defense wasn't overly athletic obviously. Having Hansen on the back line was huge and Henderson was good defensively. Halsuka was a good athlete and good defender. But those guys fucking locked in and committed to it and were connected and were sick of being mediocre.

It has to start with the coaching staff but regardless, these guys need to fucking commit to it and have more pride on that end. There's no reason Cook not to be better and especially for his laziness boxing out. Moss and Dailey have all the tools to be really good defenders. Kriener does as a center. Garza and Nunge just need to get stronger. bohannon and Connor aren't stud athletes but neither was Jeff Horner.

 

[howler]

This is what I can't figure out. Sure, once in a while, the numbers just shake out that way, but this has been an Iowa "thing" for almost as long as I've been following the team. Getting shut out of the CPL didn't help, but that was a long time ago. Point being, you have to almost try to field a predominately white team to end up with the usual racial makeup of a Hawks team. Football is only marginally better. It's a weird phenomenon.

Throw a dart at pretty much any Iowa team in the last 30 years and the core guys are usually white.

1994? Millard, Bowen, Settles, Kingsbury, and Bartels.

2002? Recker, Hogan, Boyd, Reiner, Sonderleiter.

And so on.

Next year you're looking at significant minutes from Wieskamp, Garza, bohannon, Connor, Baer, Nunge, Kriener, (maybe CJ?)

If a white guy from Lansing notices this, so do black recruits from St. Louis, Chicago, etc.

You are from Lansing?

Born in Iowa, but grew up in Lansing, MI (1981-1984, 1989-2004)

 

[Bonner]

More about Mike Hlas, the National Enquirer of Iowa sports. From day 1 at the Gazette, he's taken petty cheap shots to be edgy or sound urbane (he's from Burlington btw) and often fails miserably attempting to be cute or funny. Without fail (well maybe not without fail, but way too often) he goes for the low hanging fruit and takes the lazy story, and despicably stirs pots about college kids that do not deserve to be stirred.

Admittedly, my disdain was accelerated during the 15 years I knew 2 of his co-workers well, but 95% remains substantive (exact opposite of Morehouse, whose work I rarely criticize). It was the co-workers who pointed out the Hawkeye hats in a far away airport stories on repeat for example. Pretty long list of other examples. No, actually a very long list.

Perhaps the best example of Hlas being journo scum was after Woody's second eyepoke at Wisconsin. That dick played up that story shamelessly for multiple days despite knowing damn well it was unwarranted. Then later in that week, when the hysteria got out of hand, he went on 1600 and had the gall to suggest people were overreacting and "everybody needs to settle down." That one fucking day after he started a column with this:

"Sometimes, people just find themselves in bizarre situations.

This Adam Woodbury/eye-poking saga isn’t tragic or criminal. But it is bizarre, and bizarre sells, so who am I to let it go without trying to milk it a little more before returning to actual basketball?"

Of course Woody didn't do it on purpose, and Hlas knew it, but who gives a fuck if the 21 year old kid suffers bails of unfair shit, Dakich mentioned me!

No surprise he went with this question of Cook, this column, or that Harty and Morehouse are circling the wagons around him. Fucking ghouls.

TL/DR

 

[L. Wade Childress]

I’m not sure we need to get stronger. We need to get tougher.

 

[AZmessDAWG]

Has Doug come double full circle?

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

I don’t want to rip on Maxwell because he has every fucking sport other than football and wrestling. I walk through the Carver weight room for work a couple times a week and there’s always a different team in there that he’s working out.

Just looking at the two teams today, Michigan, who is what i would consider a finesse team, has players with way stronger builds than anyone not named Cook or Wagner. Iowa looks just like they play - soft.

 

[douglasbader]

Like I said....

 

[howler]

Has Doug come double full circle?

At minimum...

 

[douglasbader]

Has Doug come double full circle?

No, I still think Cook goes and tests the NBA waters and is back.

 

[HiawathaHawk]

Bill Maxwell might be in trouble given the tone of what Fran was saying today. I think he had basketball when Alford was here, then got reassigned to Olympic sports under Lick, then took basketball back under Fran.

I don't know enough about assistant responsibilties to know what would be best. It would be ideal to add a defensive guy who can overhaul things like Michigan did. But I don't know how married Fran is to his concepts and if that's an option. If Francis were to leave you basically need to replace him with a young-ish black dude.

I hate to agree with @nolookpass but think they do need to change something up with the strength and conditioning.

Today was by far the most I've heard Fran address it as a program beyond "we just need the young guys to get in the weight room and get stronger." Kriener said something along the lines of Fran telling them late this season that they're making an overhaul to strength and conditioning.

 

[BBK]

Throw a dart at pretty much any Iowa team in the last 30 years and the core guys are usually white.

1994? Millard, Bowen, Settles, Kingsbury, and Bartels.

2002? Recker, Hogan, Boyd, Reiner, Sonderleiter.

And so on.

Next year you're looking at significant minutes from Wieskamp, Garza, bohannon, Connor, Baer, Nunge, Kriener, (maybe CJ?)

If a white guy from Lansing notices this, so do black recruits from St. Louis, Chicago, etc.

You are from Lansing?

Born in Iowa, but grew up in Lansing, MI (1981-1984, 1989-2004)

I didn't know you are older than I am.

What a world.

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

I’m not sure we need to get stronger. We need to get tougher.

Getting stronger will magically make you play tougher.