Hlas column -- McCaffery: Been there, will do this

IOWA CITY - If Fran McCaffery absorbs opponents' tendencies the way he grasped what he needed to say here Monday, hello 2013 Final Four.

It was as if the University of Iowa's new men's basketball coach had been here the last few years and suffered right along with Hawkeye fans, former Iowa players, and the current roster.

You crave a more palatable style of ball, folks? You got it, McCaffery said at his introductory press conference.

You former Hawkeyes want to feel like you're part of the program again after being shut out for the last decade? Consider it done.

You current Hawks desire a coach will welcome into you his office anytime to talk, who will invite you over to his house to enjoy his wife's renowned French apple cobbler with caramel sauce? He's here, McCaffery said.

Name your concern about the program, and McCaffery addressed it.

Recruiting? “I think my best gift over the years has been, wherever I've been, we've been able to evaluate talent and get them to come and play for me. And those who play for me will tell you they love playing for me.”

Coaching an offense with some zip to it: “We're going to push the ball. We're going to run. We're going to change defenses. We're going to disrupt rhythm, and I think that's how you have to play.”

On his coaching, period: “You will not see a better basketball team take the floor in terms of tape review, scouting reports, what we show the team. ... We will be ready.”

McCaffery was asked if he was concerned by the fact his predecessor, Todd Lickliter, came from a smaller school and couldn't succeed at Iowa.

“None whatsoever,” he said. “I've done it at multiple institutions in different parts of the country. So my experience level is a little bit different, and I've been successful everywhere I've been and fully intending to be successful here.”

Hey, that was the tone McCaffery had to take. For the relaunching of Hawkeye basketball as something to be embraced again, the new coach had to start selling himself on Day One.

Not to get carried away when we have yet to see how the Siena Way (OK, McCaffery never called it that and never will) plays in Carver-Hawkeye, but it felt like Iowa basketball reawakened Monday.

That always happens with a new coach's coronation, but it was more than that. It was Ryan Bowen, Kenyon Murray and Jess Settles showing up at the press conference to endorse the new boss.

It was Bob Hansen, the radio analyst of Hawkeye games and a former Iowa standout, sounding passionate about his team again. He served on the five-person search committee to fill the coaching job.

“When I reached Ronnie Lester, Steve Waite, guys from my era,” Hansen said, “they were all agreed they wanted the same thing. You wanted a style of play, you wanted a guy that can go out and recruit Division I talent.”

This was all Athletic Director Gary Barta's hire. But if you knew Hansen, you knew he wouldn't rubber-stamp anyone he didn't feel was a good choice.

“I think the fans told us they wanted to see a team get up and down the court,” Hansen said.

“And, I think they want to see some athletes come back here. They want to see some Division I guys.”

McCaffery, to his credit, didn't tell people to be patient. You can't refill a 15,500-seat arena with patience.

“I think you should expect to see immediate improvement,” he said.

“I think we all know, to energize the fan base, you've got to play the game the right way, and we're going to do that.”

It's all just talk right now, of course. The hopey-changey thing. It comes free with every coaching change.

But it was essential to say what McCaffery said Monday, and with feeling. He looked Iowa in the eye and said “This place is going to be rocking again.”

The 2013 Final Four, for those now planning ahead, is in Atlanta.