After 3 in the Books...

[AmericaNeedsMe]

43d (12th) in Kenpom: https://kenpom.com/

49th (13th) in Torvik: https://barttorvik.com/?year=2025&s...vquad=0&quad=5&venue=All&type=All&mingames=0#

61st (14th) in Haslametrics: https://www.haslametrics.com/

55th (13th) in Massey Composite (NOT UPDATED): https://masseyratings.com/ranks?s=cb

With our SOS, I think we have to be in the top 40 to get in the tourney. An upset of Iowa State would go a long long way to pushing us up there.

 

[eyesofhawk]

3-0

 

[littlez]

3-0

You are so ridiculous. Of course we’re 3-0. We’ve basically been favored by 25 pts in every game we play.

 

[HawkeyeGenius]

Have to go at least 2-1 against Washington State, Utah, & Utah State.

 

[fivecardstud14]

Have to go at least 2-1 against Washington State, Utah, & Utah State.

Probably same with Northwestern, Michigan, Iowa State.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

First two games were ranking killers, but our non-conference schedule otherwise is pretty good. Would love to get to January with 2 or fewer losses. I think that is possible.

 

[eyesofhawk]

You are so ridiculous. Of course we’re 3-0. We’ve basically been favored by 25 pts in every game we play.

Is there a reason you're assuming the 3-0 record is something I'm proud of?

 

[AmericaNeedsMe]

3-0

TCB

 

[eyesofhawk]

TCB

... yogurt?

 

[littlez]

Is there a reason you're assuming the 3-0 record is something I'm proud of?

What was the reason for posting our record?

 

[eyesofhawk]

Of course.

43rd in this.

49th in that.

61st in this.

55th in that.

3-0 in the record books.

Pretty self-explanatory. 3-0 is what I find to be the important thing at this time

 

[littlez]

Of course.

43rd in this.

49th in that.

61st in this.

55th in that.

3-0 in the record books.

Pretty self-explanatory. 3-0 is what I find to be the important thing at this time

Those are metrics of where we’re at. It’s early in the season. And I’d also agree those numbers mean about the same thing as 3-0 at this point in the year.

 

[danny14]

They are going to live on the 3-pt. line this year. After 3 games last year they shot had 67 3's and this year 100.

 

[HawkLogic]

Yes, I think this is an NCAA tourney caliber team.

The Hawks will do decent in out of conference schedule and then finish 6th-7th or so in B1G play. That means they probably make NCAA tourney. Fran's record in NCAA tourney is 6-12 and the last 5 NCAA experiences were a total beat downs by Gonzaga, Vilanova, Oregon in 2nd round and relatively close 1st round losses to nobodies from Atlantic conference and a solid but down Auburn team. Maybe this is the year Fran breaks out and gets a Sweet16, but that is probably their ceiling given they mostly are a 3pt shooting team and don't have at top 20 defense/rebounding team to compensate when the shots aren't going down.

Yes, I'm going to watch Hawks and I think they make the NCAA tourney team and I'll root for them like crazy and a Sweet16 will be great if it happens. This year will be a another successful season in isolation in an overall solid but not great run of Fran ball. We lose Payton, and Dix might get NBA look, and our NIL budget is tiny vs everybody else. So we can't sign top players out of portal or HS and out best players can get poached by other schools with more NIL. So with Fran or somebody else as coach, the future doesn't look great in the NIL age.

 

[AmericaNeedsMe]

Of course.

43rd in this.

49th in that.

61st in this.

55th in that.

3-0 in the record books.

Pretty self-explanatory. 3-0 is what I find to be the important thing at this time

There are over 100 teams that are undefeated right now. Most of the B1G remains undefeated.

Obviously, that CAN'T be the important thing if you're trying to see how the league might shake out.

 

[AmericaNeedsMe]

Those are metrics of where we’re at. It’s early in the season. And I’d also agree those numbers mean about the same thing as 3-0 at this point in the year.

You really believe this? Do you really believe that the end of the season B1G standings will look radically different than they do right now?

 

[Hawksfinal4]

Yes, I think this is an NCAA tourney caliber team.

The Hawks will do decent in out of conference schedule and then finish 6th-7th or so in B1G play. That means they probably make NCAA tourney. Fran's record in NCAA tourney is 6-12 and the last 5 NCAA experiences were a total beat downs by Gonzaga, Vilanova, Oregon in 2nd round and relatively close 1st round losses to nobodies from Atlantic conference and a solid but down Auburn team. Maybe this is the year Fran breaks out and gets a Sweet16, but that is probably their ceiling given they mostly are a 3pt shooting team and don't have at top 20 defense/rebounding team to compensate when the shots aren't going down.

Yes, I'm going to watch Hawks and I think they make the NCAA tourney team and I'll root for them like crazy and a Sweet16 will be great if it happens. This year will be an another successful season in isolation in an overall solid but not great run of Fran ball. We lose Payton, and Dix might get NBA look, and our NIL budget is tiny vs everybody else. So we can't sign top players out of portal or HS and out best players can get poached by other schools with more NIL. So with Fran or somebody else as coach, the future doesn't look great in the NIL age.

Pretty much where I think Hawkeyes are at but who knows at this point. I do believe we are an above average 3 point shooting team and that means we can beat anyone on any given night but they have to keep getting better at defense and rebounding on both ends. Tonight is a good test as the competition starts to ramp up. Harding said, and he was accurate that they had some spurts of good defense. Rebounding was better too against SDU even without Owen. Still spurts of good defense isn’t gonna cut it and having Traore took some pressure off not having Owen in their but rebounding , like defense is going to have to be team effort, The guards will need to help with rebounding, especially Dix, Thelwell, and Pryce. I’d like to see more time on the floor for Koch and Tadjo cos I feel they could be very useful come tournament time . Tricky balance to work out, winning games and getting young guys experience in games, but that’s what he’s paid to do.

 

[hawksense]

3 games in. Need a larger sample size. Like playing teams with a pulse.

This team/lineup/rotation/ will or won’t develop as the season wears on.

Address and work on the weaknesses, or don’t. It’s not my resume.

We have good players. Depth is important. I’ve always been on the “guards fuel everything” train. We are lacking there, IMO. Prove me wrong. I’d LOVE to be. We have capable guards who can’t get hurt. They may get better. I hope so.

Our rebounding is suspect, at best. Huge indicator, to me. Get savage or get left behind.

3 games has shown us nothing. Or, maybe, everything.

 

[DanHawkPella]

Iowa's defensive movement and effort was A LOT better in the last game, so gave me some hope at least. We could miss the NCAA's if our defense and defensive rebounding effort are not consistently very high.

 

[eyesofhawk]

There are over 100 teams that are undefeated right now. Most of the B1G remains undefeated.

Obviously, that CAN'T be the important thing if you're trying to see how the league might shake out.

If Iowa keeps winning I can tell you how things will shake out for them.

Not concerned about the rest of the league

 

[SDHawkDoc]

They are about what I thought they'd be.
Got some decent help from the portal.
Still don't play good team D or rebound.
Agree with the bball talking heads that have them as one of the teams just missing the NCAAs.

 

[hawksense]

And I ask the question, has there been a concerted effort to improve the rebounding? Or did they dedicate all efforts into improving the offense?

History says things are what they are. If we don’t shoot well, we don’t win most of the time. If we hit a offensive wall, do we counter with good defense for stretches? IMO, our greatest defense could be defensive rebounding. Limiting opposing offenses to less opps. Concentrate there and build.

 

[LukaDuka]

Pretty much where I think Hawkeyes are at but who knows at this point. I do believe we are an above average 3 point shooting team and that means we can beat anyone on any given night but they have to keep getting better at defense and rebounding on both ends. Tonight is a good test as the competition starts to ramp up. Harding said, and he was accurate that they had some spurts of good defense. Rebounding was better too against SDU even without Owen. Still spurts of good defense isn’t gonna cut it and having Traore took some pressure off not having Owen in their but rebounding , like defense is going to have to be team effort, The guards will need to help with rebounding, especially Dix, Thelwell, and Pryce. I’d like to see more time on the floor for Koch and Tadjo cos I feel they could be very useful come tournament time . Tricky balance to work out, winning games and getting young guys experience in games, but that’s what he’s paid to do.

Gave up 14 offensive rebounds. I wouldn't say it was better. This needs to improve immensely.

 

[LukaDuka]

3 games in. Need a larger sample size. Like playing teams with a pulse.

This team/lineup/rotation/ will or won’t develop as the season wears on.

Address and work on the weaknesses, or don’t. It’s not my resume.

We have good players. Depth is important. I’ve always been on the “guards fuel everything” train. We are lacking there, IMO. Prove me wrong. I’d LOVE to be. We have capable guards who can’t get hurt. They may get better. I hope so.

Our rebounding is suspect, at best. Huge indicator, to me. Get savage or get left behind.

3 games has shown us nothing. Or, maybe, everything.

JFC, This sounds like Kamala babbling... We may or may not win tonight... we may or may not make the NCAA's. We may or may not improve. State an opinion for crying out loud...

 

[AmericaNeedsMe]

If Iowa keeps winning I can tell you how things will shake out for them.

Not concerned about the rest of the league

100%. If they go undefeated, in addition to the Kenny Arnold Classic Title, they'll win the B1G regular season title, the B1G Tourney Title, earn a #1 seed in the NCAA Tourney, and win the NCAA National Title.

 

[Hawksfinal4]

Gave up 14 offensive rebounds. I wouldn't say it was better. This needs to improve immensely.

Pretty much drew even with rebounds according to the official statistics. We out rebounded them 49-48 and they got 13 offensive and Hawks got 10 offensive. Not great and as I said needs to be better, but no Freemen. Harder to get offensive rebounds too when they are going through the net. You’re not wrong, Hawkeyes need to be much better rebounding if they want to make and do something in the tournament but there’s still time to improve.

 

[Iafootballfan]

Need to see them play defense on a P5 team before I make any broad predictions.

 

[littlez]

You really believe this? Do you really believe that the end of the season B1G standings will look radically different than they do right now?

Yes I do. And if, big if, our 2 transfers continue to improve and get into the starting lineup like they should we could be a much different looking team moving forward. Those 2 need to be in the starting lineup for us to take a reasonable step forward. Otherwise we’re a fringe tournament team.

 

[jonesy5960]

You are so ridiculous. Of course we’re 3-0. We’ve basically been favored by 25 pts in every game we play.

Don't you get it?!?! They have beaten EVERYONE they have played!!! You can't DO any better than that!!!!

3-0
6-4
RUN. THE. BALL.
Passing is for pussies!

I just owned you guys!!!

Signed,

eyesofhawk

 

[HawkRose]

This is a NCAA caliber team as long as Fran manages rotations appropriately. Traore as everyone is saying needs lions share of minutes at 4, he's just a difference maker. Use Dembele for reserve 5 minutes when Owen is in foul trouble or tired.

To me the most interesting thing is PG, Thelwell looks like a legit Big Ten PG right now. I love Brock's game but there are going to be matchups where Fran is going to have to adapt and lean on Thelwell. We haven't had a season where is sons aren't mixed into the cocktail for awhile so I will reserver judgement until we face some more quality teams.

 

[hawksense]

JFC, This sounds like Kamala babbling... We may or may not win tonight... we may or may not make the NCAA's. We may or may not improve. State an opinion for crying out loud...

You’re a tool. Opinion stated.

Election is over. Time to move on to new material, unless you want to send me umpteen mailers and text messages.

Oh, and your mom says hello.