Mailbag 12.18.23

Time for another edition of the weekly mailbag! You have questions, I have answers. Let’s dive in.

Iowa is in purgatory. Fran has done nothing to justify a firing, however there is major fan apathy and lack of fan engagement. This is impacting NIL support and overall financial support. Iowa is facing a multiyear rebuild just to get back to tourney, what is the solution here? – @zwright3232

Unfortunately, there’s no good answer here. I had a conversation with someone recently about Fran. He’s getting ready to sign with a new agent and has no plans to retire in the next few seasons. Purgatory is probably the best word for the situation. In most years, Iowa will be good enough to make the NCAA tournament, but never good enough to make a serious title run. Recruiting is starting to slow and he’s probably a year away from being a year away from being remotely on the hot seat. So what’s the solution? A staff shakeup? Pay more attention to the defense? I’m not sure there’s a quick fix for Iowa right now that doesn’t involve a coaching change – which isn’t happening.

I keep hearing if Zach Edey was only 6’8” he wouldn’t be nearly as good which leads me to wonder, what current or former college player could shrink 8 inches and not be significantly worse? – @BradEbann

I thought about this question way more than I should have. First of all, 6’8″ Zach Edey would still be very good because he’s got elite hands and touch around the rim. It’s one thing to be tall, but you don’t see many tall guys who can catch the ball in traffic like he can.

So who could you shrink eight inches and not be significantly worse? I thought about guys in the 6’6″-6’8″ range that are multi-faceted. And 5’11” guys that are already at a height disadvantage. What about 5’10” Terrance Shannon? With his three-point shot development he can get buckets from anywhere now. If we’re not taking away his explosiveness he could still get to and finish at the rim. Or 5’3″ Dug McDaniel? He’s already the fastest guy on the court 95% of the time. Now make him fast and really tiny? Imagine him driving the lane and dumping the ball off to Olivier Nkamhoua before you could blink. Or trying to chase him off a pin-down? I need someone to put together some mixtapes of these guys at their new heights ASAP.

KY has had 5 guys score at least 20 in a game, and 3 more at least 16. Edwards and Bradshaw will have 20+ at some point. Does any other team have as many weapons who can go off on a given night? Like 7 guys who can drop 20 on a given night? – @CraftonCornett

Two teams that have *at least* six guys that could go for 20 are Arizona and Baylor. Ballo, Boswell, Johnson, Larsson and Love could all pop off at any point and if Krivas got enough minutes he could probably do it too. Baylor has six guys currently averaging 10ppg – Bridges, Dennis, Love, Missi, Nunn and Walter. Other than them, maybe BYU given how their offense is humming? Indiana State maybe?

I think Virginia’s ceiling is the second weekend of the tournament. They’re just not good enough offensively to keep up with a team that gets hot from three and all it takes is one team to get hot to ruin your run. I’m very curious to see how they matchup with the size and length of Memphis tomorrow. On the road, too. This Virginia team is good enough to win an ACC that looks like a little more wide open than previous thought. I don’t trust the offense enough to make a deep run in a single-elimination tournament though.

What broadcasters/PxP guys are an auto-mute for you? – @jaredrfields

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