In the two months since Iowa’s first-round NCAA Tournament loss to Richmond, the basketball offseason for Fran McCaffery’s program has been incredibly busy.
A potential playmaker in the person of Joe Toussaint transferred to West Virginia. Two highly respected assistant coaches: Billy Taylor (new Elon head coach) and Kirk Speraw (retired) said goodbye. Two big targets in the NCAA transfer portal had Iowa at the top of their lists, but found their way elsewhere. Sophomores Keegan and Kris Murray entered the NBA draft, and we’re still waiting to find out if Kris returns to school. And that doesn’t even begin to touch on the wild new world of pay-per-view that has emerged from the portal, combined with the ability of athletes to earn money off their name, image and likeness (NIL).
Still, McCaffery made sure to take time to go to the Ron Pearson Center in West Des Moines with his wife Margaret for the annual Coaches vs. Coaches event. Cancer in which the Big Four men’s basketball coaches and their wives come together for a good cause. The McCafferys are known for their generous support and service when it comes to raising money to fight cancer, and this was an important night for them.
Prior to the event, McCaffery also took the time to discuss many Iowa hoops topics during the offseason. Here are highlights from his 15 minutes with the Des Moines Register and two television reporters.
More:Leistikow: Where will Fran McCaffery turn after losing top Iowa basketball assistant Kirk Speraw?
Kirk Speraw’s retirement and what’s next.
For all of McCaffery’s 12 years at Iowa, Speraw sat next to him during games. Although McCaffery has not named an associate head coach, Speraw was considered a trusted right-hand man. Speraw’s retirement announcement Wednesday took some people by surprise, but he explained his reasoning in an interview with the Register: He and his wife lost their mother within six weeks; that the new transfer portal/NIL world was a deterrent; and that he felt satisfaction in retiring after a Big Ten Conference tournament championship.
“Kirk is truly one of the best I’ve ever been around at breaking down a team and writing a scouting report,” McCaffery said. “But he was much more than that. I think he was an underrated recruiter.
“When someone leaves on their terms, I think you’re happy for that person and their family. And he was ready. He really dedicated himself to our program and put in the hours. … He didn’t slow down at all.
SO, how on earth to replace it?
Speraw, 65, had 43 years of coaching experience under his belt. And with a less experienced coach in Courtney Eldridge already promoted to succeed Taylor, will McCaffery turn to a more experienced replacement for Speraw?
That appears to be McCaffery’s view, but he said he was in discussions with several candidates and indicated there was a good chance the new hire would not have coaching experience -chief. He also said he expects the process “to be quick,” with human resources protocols being the slowest part.
“The familiarity could be great. It wouldn’t be something that has to be there. But I think it’s a distinct possibility,” McCaffery said. “Usually with the hires I’ve made, it’s someone I’ve had a relationship with. That I know the person, their character, things like that. But it has to be someone “(Speraw’s) role is very good. It will be someone who is ready to step in.”
Speraw will be difficult to replace one-for-one, just as former Iowa football assistant Reese Morgan was irreplaceable in a sense when he retired. But expect McCaffery to hire someone he trusts, who knows the work ethic he requires and who can generate top-notch scouting reports.
More:Why retire now? Longtime Iowa basketball assistant Kirk Speraw explains his decision
After the Big-Man portal fails, what’s next?
Iowa fans were understandably deflated to see St. Bonaventure’s Osun Osunniyi, one of the top big men in the NCAA transfer portal and a two-time Atlantic-10 Defensive Player of the Year, commit to Iowa State on Friday. The Hawkeyes were not on board for Osunniyi in this matter. But his transfer to the Hawkeyes’ in-state rival highlighted the fact that McCaffery’s team previously stated intention to have a big man in the portal had not yet succeeded.
The Hawkeyes had their chances against Fardaws Aimaq (who had Iowa in the final five but chose Texas Tech) and Theo Akwuba (Iowa was runner-up to Mississippi). And now?
McCaffery didn’t completely close the door on acquiring anyone in the portal, but he also seemed to indicate he was focusing on current high school players. Perhaps that’s why McCaffery announced (officially) earlier today that 6-foot-10 center Josh Ogundele — who had already entered the portal — would return to Iowa for his junior season.
“I feel really good with the team we have right now. But you’re still looking,” McCaffery said. “We’re kind of getting closer to the next class (of 2023). We work really hard with this group. We have a commitment (in Owen Freeman, 6 feet 10 inches). I think we’re going to have a lot of scholarships in this class, so we’re going to work hard in this class. We’ll see where this leads. »
If the Hawkeyes don’t add a center from the portal, they’ll be in a similar position to last season – except that 6-foot-8 forward Keegan Murray has been terrific moving up to ‘ 5” in large doses. . He is now expected to be a top 10 pick in the NBA draft. So that would be fifth-year senior Filip Rebraca (who is an undersized 6-9) at the “5”, as well as unproven big men like Riley Mulvey and Ogundele, who were deep reserves last season . One of these two will need to make a major developmental leap. And it is possible. McCaffery’s track record in developing frontcourt players is very good.
More:Iowa Basketball’s Josh Ogundele returns to Hawkeyes after stint in transfer portal
Ogundele’s story will be interesting to follow. The England native has plenty of natural ability and explosion, but he hasn’t demonstrated the ability to stay in shape. Perhaps his experience in the transfer portal and the realization that Iowa needs him next season will light a motivating fire this offseason.
“He had a lot of interest. But I think it was important for him to go through that process,” McCaffery said. “A lot of kids don’t realize that once you come through the gate, we don’t need to take you back. Some guys find themselves with nothing.”
And that brings us to the other unknown with Iowa’s 2022-23 roster…
Kris Murray’s NBA decision persists.
During a postseason session with the Register in his office in late March, McCaffery knew Keegan Murray would be gone, but he was extremely confident Kris Murray would return to Iowa for his junior season.
After making a big impression on several NBA teams over the past six weeks, Kris now has a decision to make. His father, Kenyon, told the Register that Kris will likely make the decision before the June 1 deadline as more information is gathered.
If Kris Murray doesn’t return, it would be a huge blow to McCaffery and the Hawkeyes. Reports from the Register indicate he plans to return to Iowa, barring an unexpected turn of events over the next two and a half weeks.
On the subject of Murray, McCaffery was less optimistic this time.
“I am 100 percent behind Kris and support him in every way,” McCaffery said. “He has really worked hard since the end of the season. Whatever future holds for him, I will support him.
“I feel like there’s a really good chance (of him coming back). But it’s his decision and I will support him.
More:Kris Murray declines invitation to NBA Combine. What’s next for the Iowa basketball star?
Has the NIL world hurt Iowa’s recruiting efforts?
McCaffery, who turns 63 later this month, is known as a coach who plays by NCAA rules. In fact, he straddles them and has gone to other programs for what he considers cheating. The new era of fee-for-service is stepping out of its comfort zone. And given that Iowa does not yet have a collective NIL — a way dozens of other Power Five schools fund recruiting and retention efforts — McCaffery is fighting an uphill battle on the recruiting front.
This is one of the (many) reasons Speraw retired from the game. McCaffery is a hard worker and fiery competitor who is signed with the Hawkeyes through the 2027-28 season. He’s not going anywhere. But he also knows that he will have to adapt.
“A lot of players who come into the portal are looking for money. That’s something you have to deal with,” McCaffery said. “It’s just reality.
“It’s a different world. It doesn’t depend on whether you like it or not, whether you agree with it or not. It is what it is.
“People are going to want to come to Iowa. Some won’t for various reasons. But it is okay. We will have those who will. We will do it the right way. We will not violate NCAA rules. We will work on the portal. We will work in the high school ranks. We will work in the junior college ranks. And we will find the ones that are a perfect fit for our program. »
Hawkeyes columnist Chad Leistikow has covered sports for 27 years with The Des Moines Register, USA TODAY and the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Follow @ChadLeistikow on Twitter.
