Ferentz talks Lickliter

Iowa wrestling coach Tom Brands gave a big thumps up to basketball coach Todd Lickliter last year.

It was after a wrestling press conference and the conversation drifted. Brands, who's seeking his third straight national title as Iowa's head coach, pointed to the door to Lickliter's office and said, "That's a good man."

When Steve Alford's name was on that door, wrestling people -- who see how much work and what goes on with basketball because of proximity -- predicted a short stay.

Is embattled too strong of a word for Lickliter, whose 2009-10 basketball program is 3-7 and in last place in the Big Ten going into conference play? Unlucky, is that the right word? A partially torn carotid artery that needed surgery last week would be evidence of that.

Shunned? Fading? Irrelevant? Carver-Hawkeye Arena's attendance, dancing around the 8,000 mark, would fuel those arguments.

How about competent? Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz didn't use that specific word, but that was the sentiment he got across in a statement a few weeks ago after attending an Iowa basketball game.

"I'll get on my soapbox for just one second," Ferentz said. "I don't know squat about basketball, but when I watch our guys play, we're really young right now. The energy our guys have, we're not that far off. And I don't go on those chat boards, message rooms, I don't do that stuff, but I just hope everybody realizes it's a process."

Ferentz joked about sharing morning coffee with Lickliter and athletics director Gary Barta. Ferentz and Lickliter do talk, though.

"I love talking to any good coach, and I've got the utmost respect for Todd," Ferentz said. "I think he's a top shelf coach and person. He's just a great fit for our school and our state."

The brightest spotlights in the state shine on them. They probably have a lot to talk about in that regard.

"I've gotten to know Todd," Ferentz said. "I just have such respect for Todd and his staff, watch what they do, the way they compete, the improvement they're making. I just go back to 2000 (football season).

"In '99, we walked a pretty tough road those two years, and it was tough to find a lot of friends, but you just keep working. I think he's building a heck of a team and a heck of a program.

"I just hope everybody will -- I know reporters have to write what they have to write -- but I just hope everybody stays positive and stays with it, because it's going to be worth the investment, I really believe that. And I'm looking forward to that day."

Lickliter returns to the bench Saturday when the Hawkeyes play host to Drake.

He spent part of Tuesday's news conference dismissing internet rumors of players transferring.

So, if you had to put a word to Lickliter so far, what would it be?

I'll start with "unfinished." I understand and agree that three years is enough time to turn around a basketball program, but I think the Hawkeyes are still crawling out of a PR crater that was former before Lickliter stepped foot on campus.

It's going to take winning -- and probably a boatload of it -- to win back fans. I don't think we've been able to see what made Lickliter a successful coach at Butler.

But with the clock ticking on the attendance bomb, Lickliter's Iowa is unfinished.