***2024-2025 Iowa Men’s Basketball Season Thread***

[L. Wade Childress]

Ben McCollum

Pros:

Extremely successful.
Quite Svelte.
Just watching Drake, even his white players don't seem like limp-wristed wieners.
L.Wade will be proven wrong again.
I think he is right about the KC area being under recruited.
If his success translates, I think he is likely to stick around.

Cons:

Horrible hair.
Little D1 experience.
Pace doesn't matter when good, but if bad, it will be an awful watch.
Wish it didn't matter, but listening to a few interviews, his personality doesn’t come across as a guy who would fire up the donors.


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I would add:

-incredible track record

-he is sort of a dick
-he has a senior who wants to play college basketball

 

[Hawkstrat]

21-2 is still 21-2, but it probably should be mentioned the MVC is really bad. Some people have sort of a residual memory of when the Valley was really solid. Those days are gone.

 

[Fletch]

21-2 is still 21-2, but it probably should be mentioned the MVC is really bad. Some people have sort of a residual memory of when the Valley was really solid. Those days are gone.

They did beat Vandy fairly handily. Vandy’s not bad this year.

 

[kenos]

21-2 is still 21-2, but it probably should be mentioned the MVC is really bad. Some people have sort of a residual memory of when the Valley was really solid. Those days are gone.

Love me some late 70s/early 80s Valley. Richardson, Versace, Smithson, Donewald. Looong gone.

 

[AZmessDAWG]

You didn’t listen.

Who’s DeVreis?!?!?!?

 

[KitKatApples]

A rascal

 

[Fletch]

Who’s DeVreis?!?!?!?

I don’t know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[B19Rob]

McCollum has the highest ceiling of any coach Iowa could get. Winning four national championships at any level isn't luck. His track record shows he can identify talent, develop that talent, and actually control the game and make the best adjustments to give the team the best chance to win every game. There was some question if that would translate to the D1 level, but he has Drake rolling. Their pace of play is atrocious this year because they only have 3 players worth a damn and he needs those 3 to play 40 minutes every game. He is on the Bo Ryan trajectory right now and I think there is a real chance he could be that level of coach at Iowa.

 

[TurdBurgler]

Also the recruiting game has changed, now less about personality and more about cash.

 

[Fletch]

McCollum has the highest ceiling of any coach Iowa could get. Winning four national championships at any level isn't luck. His track record shows he can identify talent, develop that talent, and actually control the game and make the best adjustments to give the team the best chance to win every game. There was some question if that would translate to the D1 level, but he has Drake rolling. Their pace of play is atrocious this year because they only have 3 players worth a damn and he needs those 3 to play 40 minutes every game. He is on the Bo Ryan trajectory right now and I think there is a real chance he could be that level of coach at Iowa.

 

[Hawkstrat]

Also the recruiting game has changed, now less about personality and more about cash.

That cash comes from donors. That's where personality comes into the equation.

 

[TurdBurgler]

Show up your first season and go 21-2 and the donors will open up

 

[Thomas Wolsey]

Show up your first season and go 21-2 and the donors will open up

 

[Thomas Wolsey]

What if he shows up, they play well, and go 17-6? Will the donors line up for that?

 

[Hawkstrat]

Show up your first season and go 21-2 and the donors will open up

Great plan, but why not 23-0?

 

[TurdBurgler]

Hes 21-2 now is my point. Whatever that translates to from the valley to the douche. Field a quality team that wins games and doesn't look like a bunch of pussies.

 

[kenos]

Hes 21-2 now is my point. Whatever that translates to from the valley to the douche. Field a quality team that wins games and doesn't look like a bunch of pussies.

If this current roster was well conditioned and taught to play defense, they'd be ok.

Word to the Turd.

 

[Stu Beagle]

I know we were never getting Pearl, but I still laugh at how many fans wanted nothing to do with him because of baggage or something

 

[L. Wade Childress]

I know we were never getting Pearl, but I still laugh at how many fans wanted nothing to do with him because of baggage or something

Baggage is the main reason I wanted pearl

 

[Verbal]

He recorded a phone call with Deon Thomas almost 40 years ago. He invited Aaron Craft to a cookout at his home during a recruiting visit. Makes my skin crawl just thinking about it.

 

[tallperson54]

McCollum would be a bad hire. DeVries would be a better hire. Give me the Colorado State coach

 

[L. Wade Childress]

McCollum would be a bad hire. DeVries would be a better hire. Give me the Colorado State coach

I have no doubt that he is a good coach, but I agree that McCollum is the most risky hire

 

[Brad Wesley]

I have no doubt that he is a good coach, but I agree that McCollum is the most risky hire

If he sucks, fire after 2-3 years. I think the hire depends on if Beth wants to go cheap. $21 million to athletes, paying back Covid loan, plus Fran’s/Devries buyout could lead them down the penny pinching path.

 

[tallperson54]

Fran's buyout will be covered by donor(s), not the athletic department

 

[Hawkstrat]

The Medved thing was a joke, right?

 

[WestMifflin]

The Medved thing was a joke, right?

Yeah I don't get him as being the top choice. Not a bad coach, but hasn't been much different from his predecessors (Drunk Larry, Tim Miles).

 

[Saul Berkley]

It's basically either DeVries or McCollum. If they aren't willing to spend the money, then just hire Ben for cheap.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

I assume Niko will get Minnesota.

 

[Brad Wesley]

Fran's buyout will be covered by donor(s), not the athletic department

While they’re at it, let’s see if they’ll pony up for some top player talent.

 

[Uli Kunkel]

You'd hope she would cast a wider net than "who did well at Drake?"

 

[L. Wade Childress]

You'd hope she would cast a wider net than "who did well at Drake?"

both of those dudes were on my list before they ever went to drake.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

That sounded like something Diddy would say

 

[AZmessDAWG]

You'd hope she would cast a wider net than "who did well at Drake?"

That’s the best way to look at this whole thing if you ask me.

 

[KitKatApples]

You'd hope she would cast a wider net than "who did well at Drake?"

IN all fairness, it's not easy to win at Drake

 

[Gushawk]

McCollum might be fine, but he might be a barely Lick+ level attractor of talent.

I'd very much prefer to watch great athletes play basketball for my beloved Iowa Hawkeyes as I did as tender, hopeful child.

I'd probably rather we roll the dice and hire a slick talking brother who's got connections and a proven track record of landing talent as an assistant at a successful program. I desire a big change in the profile of our average player.

 

[Thomas Wolsey]

McCollum might be fine, but he might be a barely Lick+ level attractor of talent.

I'd very much prefer to watch great athletes play basketball for my beloved Iowa Hawkeyes as I did as tender, hopeful child.

I'd probably rather we roll the dice and hire a slick talking brother who's got connections and a proven track record of landing talent as an assistant at a successful program. I desire a big change in the profile of our average player.

Unless you are going to fund it, or know someone who will, this seems like a poor strategy at Iowa.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

McCollum might be fine, but he might be a barely Lick+ level attractor of talent.

I'd very much prefer to watch great athletes play basketball for my beloved Iowa Hawkeyes as I did as tender, hopeful child.

I'd probably rather we roll the dice and hire a slick talking brother who's got connections and a proven track record of landing talent as an assistant at a successful program. I desire a big change in the profile of our average player.

Counterpoint: you are still a tender, hopeful child.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

Given the current state of our support, our best hope continues to be a combination of two or three of the best in state kids, 4-5 regional recruits that don’t have blue blood offers, and 2 to 3 transfers that are looking to move up a level and get paid more.

 

[Hawkstrat]

McCollum might be fine, but he might be a barely Lick+ level attractor of talent.

I'd very much prefer to watch great athletes play basketball for my beloved Iowa Hawkeyes as I did as tender, hopeful child.

I'd probably rather we roll the dice and hire a slick talking brother who's got connections and a proven track record of landing talent as an assistant at a successful program. I desire a big change in the profile of our average player.

Of all the things going on with Iowa basketball, the turn in recruiting right after it doesn't matter is so strange.

 

[Saul Berkley]

McCollum might be fine, but he might be a barely Lick+ level attractor of talent.

I'd very much prefer to watch great athletes play basketball for my beloved Iowa Hawkeyes as I did as tender, hopeful child.

I'd probably rather we roll the dice and hire a slick talking brother who's got connections and a proven track record of landing talent as an assistant at a successful program. I desire a big change in the profile of our average player.

That last part only worked in the pre NIL era. Now, you need the NIL money to get players.

McCollum might be Lick, he might be Bo Ryan. Likely somewhere in between. Either way, Iowa basketball is ready for something new.

 

[HiawathaHawk]

McCollum would be a bad hire. DeVries would be a better hire. Give me the Colorado State coach

Why?

 

[Hawk&Balls]

Probably to coach the men's basketball team

 

[thrawn]

Having watched nearly every game of all three of them Medved did the most with the least although he might be a Peter Principle hire. He also looks like Peewee Herman. Wife was kinda hot though and he would bring Farokhmanesh so the Wade brothers could masturbate to something. DeVries is the best at assembling talent and generally plays a fun style other than his four-minute offense that abandons all movement for someone pounding the rock from 40 feet for 20 seconds. I think that McCollum is on the spectrum but is extremely good at coaching players to fit. Recruiting is sort of TBD. You guys would hate his offensive style and should avoid Lick 2.0. He is probably off to West Virginia if DeVries leaves so I think Iowa should hire Peewee.

 

[Gushawk]

If it’s completely hopeless for Iowa to ever have even something resembling ISU level financial support, just become Minnesota hoops and call it a day.

 

[B19Rob]

Having watched nearly every game of all three of them Medved did the most with the least although he might be a Peter Principle hire. He also looks like Peewee Herman. Wife was kinda hot though and he would bring Farokhmanesh so the Wade brothers could masturbate to something. DeVries is the best at assembling talent and generally plays a fun style other than his four-minute offense that abandons all movement for someone pounding the rock from 40 feet for 20 seconds. I think that McCollum is on the spectrum but is extremely good at coaching players to fit. Recruiting is sort of TBD. You guys would hate his offensive style and should avoid Lick 2.0. He is probably off to West Virginia if DeVries leaves so I think Iowa should hire Peewee.

I don't think McCollum's style this year is indicative of what his style would be with more talent. His teams averaged over 82 pts/g three of his last six years at NWMS.

 

[TurdBurgler]

I didn't know they were that extreme -- Drake is dead last in NCAA in adjusted tempo this year.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

I don't think McCollum's style this year is indicative of what his style would be with more talent. His teams averaged over 82 pts/g three of his last six years at NWMS.

right- but he was also getting great D2 talent relative to his opponents.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

So was Lick

 

[HiawathaHawk]

If it’s completely hopeless for Iowa to ever have even something resembling ISU level financial support, just become Minnesota hoops and call it a day.

WTF are you talking about?

 

[thrawn]

I don't think McCollum's style this year is indicative of what his style would be with more talent. His teams averaged over 82 pts/g three of his last six years at NWMS.

There is some of that and he doesn’t have a set style, but he is big on using the shot clock to get the best possible shot as well as to control games. That’s not going to lead to 80 ppg without Emporia State on the schedule