Game 31 - Arch Madness Round 2 vs Bradley

[UNIChippewa]

I would argue that it's not because of the lack of athletes, it's because the players aren't prepared. He's shown he can can recruit and he can develop players, but he hasn't shown that he can prep for an opponent on short notice or that he doesn't know much about. 6 trips to the NCAA tournament in 11 years with Iowa (not counting 2020 COVID and this year) and zero Sweet Sixteens. 3 of those 6 years they lost by 15+, including when they were a 2 seed against a 7 seed. They really haven't played that great in the Big Ten tourney either. Sure they won it last year, but prior to that his teams have only made the semi's once in 10 years. I have a hard time saying he's a great coach, they just lost because they didn't make shots. Every team has to make shots to win. Even if the problem is that they doesn't have enough athleticism (which I don't completely agree with), he should still be the person to blame because he's the one who recruited everybody.

This might be a controversial opinion, but they're also playing in arguably the best conference in the country. They only need to go .500 to get in to the tourney, getting in should almost be expected fairly regularly. They should be battle tested all year with the teams they play - a Sweet Sixteen shouldn't be as big of a deal to them as it is to mid-majors. As a Big Ten team, he's a great coach if the goal is to get in the tourney, but at some point, at that level, you need to win in the tourney.

Everybody is allowed their opinion, but the Big Ten is not the best conference in the country, at least not this season. It's the Big 12 and it's not particularly close.

[CyCarp]

Everybody is allowed their opinion, but the Big Ten is not the best conference in the country, at least not this season. It's the Big 12 and it's not particularly close.

I don't disagree, but bracketologists have the Big Ten getting the most bids yet again this year. Sure, the Big Ten has more teams than that Big 12, but the point still stands. Personally I think the Big Ten is perennially the most overrated conference is college basketball, but regardless, they're generally viewed as at minimum a top 2 league in the country.

[UNIChippewa]

I don't disagree, but bracketologists have the Big Ten getting the most bids yet again this year. Sure, the Big Ten has more teams than that Big 12, but the point still stands. Personally I think the Big Ten is perennially the most overrated conference is college basketball, but regardless, they're generally viewed as at minimum a top 2 league in the country.

Exactly. It's quantity over quality if you look at it that way. Wisconsin and Michigan have both (hopefully) played themselves out of the tournament as it is.

[Wxcpanther]

Ya, this isn't even debatable. The B1G has 4 more teams and might get 1 MAYBE 2 more bids. Also, the Big 12 is going to potentially have 6 teams in line for top 5 seeds (KU, Texas, Baylor, KState, TCU, and Iowa State) while West Virginia will like be a 9 or 10 seed. KenPom has the B1G (2nd place) closer to the 5th place Pac12 than the 1st place Big 12. There is no argument to be made in the B1G's favor. None.

[CyCarp]

Ya, this isn't even debatable. The B1G has 4 more teams and might get 1 MAYBE 2 more bids. Also, the Big 12 is going to potentially have 6 teams in line for top 5 seeds (KU, Texas, Baylor, KState, TCU, and Iowa State) while West Virginia will like be a 9 or 10 seed. KenPom has the B1G (2nd place) closer to the 5th place Pac12 than the 1st place Big 12. There is no argument to be made in the B1G's favor. None.

My comment was the Big Ten during Fran's tenure in general. Regardless, I don't see much of a point in arguing the best vs the 2nd best. Overall, my opinion still stands - in a conference like the Big Ten, there's gotta be a point where making the tourney isn't enough. All a Big Ten team needs to do to get in the tourney is go about 9-2 in the non-conference (against primarily low D1 teams) then go .500 in conference. Coaches need to win in the postseason. Iowa just got beat by a bad Ohio St team yesterday to go one and done in the Big Ten tourney again yesterday - pretty standard from Fran teams in the postseason.

[iron panther]

My comment was the Big Ten during Fran's tenure in general. Regardless, I don't see much of a point in arguing the best vs the 2nd best. Overall, my opinion still stands - in a conference like the Big Ten, there's gotta be a point where making the tourney isn't enough. All a Big Ten team needs to do to get in the tourney is go about 9-2 in the non-conference (against primarily low D1 teams) then go .500 in conference. Coaches need to win in the postseason. Iowa just got beat by a bad Ohio St team yesterday to go one and done in the Big Ten tourney again yesterday - pretty standard from Fran teams in the postseason.

Again so little results with so much potential

[Blue42]

Caught the 2nd half of Wichita State v Tulane in the American conf tourney last night.

Man what a shell of it's former self the Wichita program has become.

Talent level is not high. Fan base has appeared to lose interest. A smattering of fans in the arena.

No post season for them this year. Zero NCAA wins since they left the Valley. Fired their HC and AD since then.

They may be bringing in a bit more revenue from TV but the budget is higher so they're likely break even at best...and marginal results to show for it. And...the fan base has faded.

[06panther10]

Caught the 2nd half of Wichita State v Tulane in the American conf tourney last night.

Man what a shell of it's former self the Wichita program has become.

Talent level is not high. Fan base has appeared to lose interest. A smattering of fans in the arena.

No post season for them this year. Zero NCAA wins since they left the Valley. Fired their HC and AD since then.

They may be bringing in a bit more revenue from TV but the budget is higher so they're likely break even at best...and marginal results to show for it. And...the fan base has faded.

Couldn’t happen to better people. Karma can be tough sometimes.

[sevelev711]

Yeah I don't feel bad, sucks to suck.

[UNIGrainer]

Caught the 2nd half of Wichita State v Tulane in the American conf tourney last night.

Man what a shell of it's former self the Wichita program has become.

Talent level is not high. Fan base has appeared to lose interest. A smattering of fans in the arena.

No post season for them this year. Zero NCAA wins since they left the Valley. Fired their HC and AD since then.

They may be bringing in a bit more revenue from TV but the budget is higher so they're likely break even at best...and marginal results to show for it. And...the fan base has faded.

And that league is only going to get worse for basketball starting next year. Goodbye Cincy and Houston. Hello Rice and UTSA.

[CyCarp]

And that league is only going to get worse for basketball starting next year. Goodbye Cincy and Houston. Hello Rice and UTSA.

I knew Cincy and Houston were out, I either forgot or didn't realize Rice and UTSA were added. Yikes, the Valley should be far superior in the coming years.

[Blue42]

I knew Cincy and Houston were out, I either forgot or didn't realize Rice and UTSA were added. Yikes, the Valley should be far superior in the coming years.

The best thing for Wichita would be for that league to be diluted to the point they have a chance to consistently stay at the top of the standings and regularly get back to the NCAA tourney.

Adding more competition just puts them deeper in the mud they are already stuck in.

[CyCarp]

The best thing for Wichita would be for that league to be diluted to the point they have a chance to consistently stay at the top of the standings and regularly get back to the NCAA tourney.

Adding more competition just puts them deeper in the mud they are already stuck in.

I completely agree. The funny thing is, that's basically where they were with the Valley right before they left.

[MVCBeat]

The best thing for Wichita would be for that league to be diluted to the point they have a chance to consistently stay at the top of the standings and regularly get back to the NCAA tourney.

Adding more competition just puts them deeper in the mud they are already stuck in.

Was thinking the same thing. Their best bet is to hope it becomes more like the situation they had in the MVC lol.

[DownGoesKansas]

Was thinking the same thing. Their best bet is to hope it becomes more like the situation they had in the MVC lol.

Except they have to travel all over the country haha

And Memphis will always be better.

SHockers just fired their coach to