I only got to interview former Iowa Men’s Basketball coach Todd Lickliter a few times. I got to watch his program from a far for all three years. One thing I noticed, a lack of team chemistry between a coach and his players.
And that is squarely Todd’s fault.
For whatever reason, the players Lickliter inherited did not buy into his system. A system that was considered to be “boring to watch” or one that lacks a superstar. And what we learned, gimmick systems do not work in a power conference like the Big Ten.
The players agree with me.
Nine players ended up transferring.
This year was the icing on the cake. With fresh faces getting extensive playing time in their first year, Iowa recorded their worst record in school history this year. The Hawks finished 10-22.
The popular opinion is that a coach needs time to get his own players into the system. I believe that is partially true. However, I think success early in tenure at a school establishes respect to a coach.
In Lickliter’s first two seasons at Butler, he went 53-12, making the sweet 16 his 2nd season. He recorded a 28-35 record in his first two seasons in Iowa City. The recruits talked. The big-time regional recruits that used to be coming UI’s way, weren’t. His best recruit was Matt Gatens, a guy who attended high school with his son. Gatens wouldn’t be the best player on any other team in the Big Ten.
In his 3rd year, Lickliter knew his team would have their bumps along the way. His firing becomes imminent when there’s not a light at the end of the tunnel.
Fans new it.
The players new it.
Iowa AD Gary Barta started to realize it.
My thoughts, a system is only so good with mediocre players. The players Todd Lickliter wants to fit into the system may be able to eventually gel into a good team, but without capable athletes you can’t hang with the Michigan State’s, Ohio State’s, Purdue’s or even Minnesota’s of the Big Ten.
AD Gary Barta looked into his crystal ball (that was paid in full by Boosters)…and saw a young team, that even if they were seniors, would have a hard time making the NCAA Tournament based on talent alone.
The ultimate demise of Todd Lickliter was the bottom line.
The lack of fans in the stands, the lack of money coming into the program is the reason Lickliter had to go.
The immediate future looks bleak. I commend Barta on his plea to keep recruits. My opinion, they aren’t going anywhere. There’s only 1-or-2 guys that other “big-time” universities would even look at.
Scott Dochterman of the CR Gazette speculates UNI’s Ben Jacobson, Tennessee’s Bruce Pearl among 10-15 other names in this article.
The Des Moines Register throws a handful of names at the wall, hoping one will stick so they can say they knew about it first. Here’s that article.
I have a feeling Iowa doesn’t go the mid-major route. If the answer is Keno Davis (the former Drake coach), hold on…there’s lots of questions including how the guy recruits, and whether he can maintain success over a long period of time.
