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*****Andrew McKeever commits to IOWA*****

Franisdaman

Franisdaman

Heisman
Nov 3, 2012
15,248
22,715
113
RagnarLothbrok said:
I’m sure it was.

If you can’t win with a NPOTY, a future lottery pick, and two second rounders on the same team, then NIL isn’t going to matter much.
Click to expand...

Historically, you need a top 21 offense and a top 31 defense entering the NCAA Tournament to win a national championship. Fran's teams, at best, were in the 70's defensively.

This year:
Michigan was #8 offensively, and #1 defensively.
IOWA was #31 offensively, #30 defensively.

In the Elite 8, we needed a true center to battle the Illinois bigs. Nevertheless, with 7:27 to go and a Final Four berth on the line, IOWA was leading Illinois 51-50. Unfortunately, we ran out of gas & got outscored 21-8 the rest of the way.


www.on3.com

One of these 9 Teams will be your National Champion. You need a Top 21 Offense AND a Top 31 Defense to win a National Championship

We all want to get back to a Sweet 16 (27 years) and a Final 4 (46 years) some day. Florida beat Houston in the 2025 Men's basketball championship (Duke & Auburn were the other Final 4 teams). Some interesting excerpts from the March 17, 2025 linked article: When it comes to winning the NCAA...
www.on3.com www.on3.com
 
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Franisdaman

Franisdaman

Heisman
Nov 3, 2012
15,248
22,715
113
RagnarLothbrok said:
I’m sure it was.

If you can’t win with a NPOTY, a future lottery pick, and two second rounders on the same team, then NIL isn’t going to matter much.
Click to expand...

Another thing I keep hearing: to win in today's NIL world, you need 2 things: (1) a great head coach; (2) money. Facilities and traditional success don't matter like they used to.

3 examples from this past season:

Michigan has a great coach + lots of money = national championship

IOWA has a great coach + not enough money for a center = LOSS in the Elite 8

Kentucky has a questionable coach + $22M roster = LOST in the round of 32
 
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Franisdaman

Franisdaman

Heisman
Nov 3, 2012
15,248
22,715
113
iahawkeyes17 said:
Lot of donors were keeping hands in their pockets with Fran and would’ve continued if he stayed. Goetz knew this and played in to her decision. Very similar to what I’ve heard is part of the reason why UNC let Hubert Davis go. As been reported sounds like Iowa brought in a nice chunk of nil revenue with elite 8 run.
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what's worrisome is we supposedly are spending $12M on next year's roster. What will that number be 2 years from now? In 5 years? In 10 years?
 
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BigOHawk1

Senior
Oct 27, 2001
464
878
93
We done in portal or maybe depending on Banks' waiver or maybe Ben is super picky if something comes along but not necessarily actively looking? Is roster at 13/15 now?
 
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RagnarLothbrok

RagnarLothbrok

Heisman
Jun 11, 2025
4,568
13,170
113
Franisdaman said:
Another thing I keep hearing: to win in today's NIL world, you need 2 things: (1) a great head coach; (2) money.

3 examples from this past season:

Michigan has a great coach + lots of money = national championship

IOWA has a great coach + not enough money for a center = LOSS in the Elite 8

Kentucky has a questionable coach + $22M roster = LOST in the round of 32
Click to expand...
I think most Iowa fans would be happy if the BMC era reminds them of Lute Olsen or early Doctor Tom.

Interestingly enough, Ty’reek Coleman seems like the type of kid Lute would recruit from the Chicago area.
 
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Franisdaman

Franisdaman

Heisman
Nov 3, 2012
15,248
22,715
113
Palmerhawk said:
Jirak is the obvious candidate...
Click to expand...

Let's say Banks returns and all 15 roster spots are filled.

If Ben only plays 9, who are the 2 additional players who would join these 4 when it comes to little to no playing time?

Jacob Koch
Joey Matteoni
Trevin Jirak
Peyton McCollum
 
the24fan

the24fan

All-Conference
Jul 30, 2007
789
1,569
93
Franisdaman said:
Click to expand...

I Like It Nyc GIF by 8it
 
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RagnarLothbrok

RagnarLothbrok

Heisman
Jun 11, 2025
4,568
13,170
113
HawkInDenver said:
IMHO, this is why apathy set in. Everyone could tell the team had talent but it didn't matter. If you don't play defense you don't win.
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Yep. Fran was a one-trick pony. Fans got tired of it, especially with the obvious nepotism.

Kirk had a lot more latitude because of what he accomplished in the 2000s. He’s also lucky Barta retired and Goetz forced him to get a real OC. Kirk’s current favor with the fan base would look a lot different otherwise.
 
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Palmerhawk

Palmerhawk

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
1,784
3,491
113
Franisdaman said:
Let's say Banks returns and all 15 roster spots are filled.

If Ben only plays 9, who are the 2 additional players who would join these 4 when it comes to little to no playing time?

Jacob Koch
Joey Matteoni
Trevin Jirak
Peyton McCollum
Click to expand...
The youngest players are Coon and Harris.
 
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Franisdaman

Franisdaman

Heisman
Nov 3, 2012
15,248
22,715
113
BigOHawk1 said:
We done in portal or maybe depending on Banks' waiver or maybe Ben is super picky if something comes along but not necessarily actively looking? Is roster at 13/15 now?
Click to expand...

Assuming Tavion Banks is back & no one else departs, we would have 15 of the 15 roster spots filled for 2026-2027 (14 on scholarship, 1 walk on).

6'7 G/F Tavion Banks (SR)
6'4 G Kael Combs (SR)
6'8 F Cam Manyawu (SR)

6'5 G Isaia Howard (JR)
6'2 G Jacob Koch (JR)
7'3 C Andrew McKeever (JR)

6'7 G Tate Sage (SO)
6'8 F Cooper Koch (RS SO)
6'9 F Joey Matteoni (RS SO)
6'11 C Trevin Jirak (SO)
6'2 G Ty'Reek Coleman (SO)

6'8 F Trey Thompson (RS FR)
6'8" PF Ethan Harris (FR)
6'2 G Peyton McCollum (RS FR)
6'7 SF Jaidyn Coon (FR)
 
HawkInDenver

HawkInDenver

All-Conference
Apr 16, 2024
523
1,054
93
BigOHawk1 said:
We done in portal or maybe depending on Banks' waiver or maybe Ben is super picky if something comes along but not necessarily actively looking? Is roster at 13/15 now?
Click to expand...
I have no inside info but I don't think we're done in portal. I think BM can be very selective and look for another talented young player for depth and development.

Unfortunately, I think Banks ability to return is low odds.
 
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Franisdaman

Franisdaman

Heisman
Nov 3, 2012
15,248
22,715
113
RagnarLothbrok said:
I think most Iowa fans would be happy if the BMC era reminds them of Lute Olsen or early Doctor Tom.

Interestingly enough, Ty’reek Coleman seems like the type of kid Lute would recruit from the Chicago area.
Click to expand...

I edited my post above.

Before NIL, kids used to care about the facilities, program success, getting a degree. Now they care about the money first and then everything else

Apparently Duke's facilities suck but they have money & the traditional success.
 
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Franisdaman

Franisdaman

Heisman
Nov 3, 2012
15,248
22,715
113
RagnarLothbrok said:
Yep. Fran was a one-trick pony. Fans got tired of it, especially with the obvious nepotism.

Kirk had a lot more latitude because of what he accomplished in the 2000s. He’s also lucky Barta retired and Goetz forced him to get a real OC. Kirk’s current favor with the fan base would look a lot different otherwise.
Click to expand...

As long as Kinnick is full, I think Kirk is safe.

Beth does not mess around; she fired Brian midseason (pissed KF off) & she fired Fran the day after the season ended. I am kinda surprised she didn't fire Tom Brands because that program has some apathy now to it, too.
 
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AndreTheHawk

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
1,059
2,176
113
Franisdaman said:
Great points. He could have played for his coach (who left St Mary's for ASU) and enjoyed that Arizona weather.

I had to Google it because I forgot the details concerning Arizona State and the St Mary's HC taking that job.

After 25 seasons at Saint Mary's, head coach Randy Bennett left to become the new head coach at Arizona State University (ASU) in March 2026. Bennett, the winningest coach in Saint Mary's history, took the ASU job following the departure of former coach Bobby Hurley.
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That is pretty significant on the surface, maybe we had more 💵. Plus the guy's a ginger, he'd be sunburned at all times in the Desert.😉

Might just be that Iowa is a better team as well.
 
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Hawkeyes8765

Junior
Jan 20, 2023
151
272
63
Franisdaman said:
Assuming Tavion Banks is back & no one else departs, we would have 15 of the 15 roster spots filled for 2026-2027 (14 on scholarship, 1 walk on).

6'7 G/F Tavion Banks (SR)
6'4 G Kael Combs (SR)
6'8 F Cam Manyawu (SR)

6'5 G Isaia Howard (JR)
6'2 G Jacob Koch (JR)
7'3 C Andrew McKeever (JR)

6'7 G Tate Sage (SO)
6'8 F Cooper Koch (RS SO)
6'9 F Joey Matteoni (RS SO)
6'11 C Trevin Jirak (SO)
6'2 G Ty'Reek Coleman (SO)

6'8 F Trey Thompson (RS FR)
6'8" PF Ethan Harris (FR)
6'2 G Peyton McCollum (RS FR)
6'7 SF Jaidyn Coon (FR)
Click to expand...
If this is the roster, I am actually excited for men's basketball seaosn!!

If Banks is unable to return and BMC wants another player, I like Johnson.
 
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HawkInDenver

HawkInDenver

All-Conference
Apr 16, 2024
523
1,054
93
Franisdaman said:
As long as Kinnick is full, I think Kirk is safe.

Beth does not mess around; she fired Brian midseason (pissed KF off) & she fired Fran the day after the season ended. I am kinda surprised she didn't fire Tom Brands because that program has some apathy now to it, too.
Click to expand...
Kirk is safe. As long as BM produces competitive teams he'll be fine. Same with Jan J. -she will be fine as long as she keeps Iowa competitive.

Being a D1 coach is very competitive and pays really well. If you don't get the desired results, then I don't blame schools for making changes.
 
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HAWKNESS

Senior
Jul 6, 2025
215
405
63
Tippett1 said:
Unless he improves a lot, Jirak will see the floor about as much as he did this year unless McKeever is in foul trouble a lot.
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I tend to agree but he is a little different than Cam and Mckeever in that he can space the floor. Depends how much he's improved his body in my opinion.
 
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Franisdaman

Franisdaman

Heisman
Nov 3, 2012
15,248
22,715
113
Herky T Hawk said:
How do we get Garza, and his dad too probably, to come back over the summer to give this guy some work? The highlight video looks like he has skills. Then you see he only shot 50% on the year from the floor, which is pretty bad for a big man like that. Room for improvement, but I like what we’re starting with.
Click to expand...

And he did not attempt a 3, which is interesting because it seems like no matter your size, you are shooting threes
 
Franisdaman

Franisdaman

Heisman
Nov 3, 2012
15,248
22,715
113
Interesting stuff.

Full text of tweet:

Andrew McKeever naturally has a ton of gravity as a roller as a 7-2 giant. McCollum will have a ton of fun scheming Pick and Roll with the big fella at his disposal.

Iowa was 2nd in the country in % of possessions last year ending with the roll man

McKeever shot 71% as a roll man compared to 43% on post ups in 2025-26

Check this out & watch:

 
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