Fran McCaffery has had his ups and downs during his time at Iowa and it has been polarizing for all Iowa fans. Some thought he should be fired (they are awfully quiet right now), some think Iowa should accept making the tournament most years. Iowa Basketball in his nearly decade tenure has made the NCAA tournament four times, the NIT three times including a runner up in 2013. But, Iowa has never finished higher than 3rd in the Big Ten in his tenure and has besides one season has never been of really any national relevance.
And for a while, the improvement and making the tournament were enough.