B1G Tourney Run

[hawktrooper1]

First off, yes this is my first post/comment ever. And if you search the history of my account you'll see it's only a month or so old. But I've been a spectator on this board for many, many years. I assure you I come in peace.

Had a great convo with some work buddies today that hasn't really been touched on (at least in any depth) on this board, so wanted to throw it out and see what you all think.

Currently, the B1G's top team -- Purdue -- is ranked 14th in the AP and Iowa split the season series with them. After that... Wisconsin and Maryland both look mortal as all hell. Then the middle of the pack, which stretches down to Iowa sitting in 8th place, and then the bottom tier, which you can't even call bottom tier this year (other than lowly Rutgers) because they're all of equal mediocrity as most of the conference.

So Iowa has shown signs of brilliance this year, has the premier scorer in the league who can go off at any time, runs 10-12 players deep (at many times to fans chagrin) and is largely driven by a bunch of freshmen who have never experienced the pressures of post-season play and who play with the "hell, I got three more years after this" mentality.

Combine that with this being the weakest B1G conference in recent memory... is it crazy to think Iowa could take it to the house this year? And what the REAL question is: Has there ever been a better opportunity for a middling Iowa team to win the B1G tourney, because as pedestrian as they've been at times, this conference mirrors that this year.

Anyway, sorry for the novel. Appreciate this forum. Finally contributed. Hope you guys don't hate. Go Hawks!

 

[skydog0784]

Welcome and good first post.

It's possible, but of course not likely. It would take Jok getting really hot with good balanced support from the rest of the team. The boys would have to be totally locked in defensively. It's important that IA avoids playing in the opening round on the first day or there is little chance for a BTT championship.

Finally, many posters on this board hate. You'll probably be the recipient of some hate at some point if you keep posting. It's sort of funny and pathetic at the same time.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

Could the Hawks go on a run?
Sure.
Will it happen?
Almost surely not.

As fans of the 8th place team of course we want to find the improbable scenario that gets them the title. Nothing wrong with a little wishful thinking in this case.

 

[VicHawkeye]

There is a chance and therefore I think the Hawks will win it.

 

[Suterman]

There is always a chance we can win it. Fran has been very unsuccessful in the B1G tournament and I guess until I see Iowa playing well in this tournament, I don't like our chances, but there are certainly no unbeatable teams.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

I think years BTT could be one of the "craziest" ever. There is really one 1 team that is head and shoulders above everyone else and that is Purdue. But even Purdue has shown weaknesses and poor play at times. So they could be upset.

The rest of the 12 teams (Rutgers) could beat anyone on any given night. We have seen that home court plays a HUGE factor in most of those games, but at a neutral site who knows. It comes down to players making plays and depth. Playing 3-4 games in consecutive days becomes a conditioning issue and depth.

Also its all about match-ups. If Iowa can avoid ILLINI, MSU, and PU that would be huge. They can beat everyone else on a neutral site.

Iowa can do it, but will they is the question. I would love to see it, but I'm not holding my breath. I will say this, I think a 10+ seed will make it to the weekend. Always seems to happen.

 

[StormHawk42]

Possible but unlikely. I love Fran but he has been horrid in the BTT.

 

[El Simbolo]

So far we haven't shown the consistency, especially on defense, to win four big ten games in a row. Also, I worry about all our underclassmen's conditioning to win 4 in 4 - college is a longer season than high school. That said, I don't think any of the non top four (bye) teams have a much better shot than us either. Our keys are defense, rebounding, and getting Jok shots within the offense (not making him THE offense)

 

[83Hawk]

For the most part (obviously there are a couple of exceptions), Iowa has not had much success in the Big 10 tournament.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

For the most part (obviously there are a couple of exceptions), Iowa has not had much success in the Big 10 tournament.

Why is that? Is it because Fran doesn't put much emphasis on it? last year was strange, we just got outplayed from the start.

It seems like we have had some favorable match-ups in recent years and peed it down our legs every time. I also think we always get paired against a team that we (beat a week or two earlier). They always seem to come back and beat us in the tourney.

 

[kzoohawk80]

I don't think this team has won 4 games straight all year. It's possible they could but the parity also works against them as well. Every game will be a dog fight for this team. Of course these tournaments sometimes all it takes is one guy getting hot. Iowa's got a couple of guys capable of doing that.

 

[luvmyhawks]

Damn fine first post. However, you are way to optimistic and therefore, not a good fit for this board.

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

OP, I hope to hell you're right

 

[hawksense]

First off, yes this is my first post/comment ever. And if you search the history of my account you'll see it's only a month or so old. But I've been a spectator on this board for many, many years. I assure you I come in peace.

Had a great convo with some work buddies today that hasn't really been touched on (at least in any depth) on this board, so wanted to throw it out and see what you all think.

Currently, the B1G's top team -- Purdue -- is ranked 14th in the AP and Iowa split the season series with them. After that... Wisconsin and Maryland both look mortal as all hell. Then the middle of the pack, which stretches down to Iowa sitting in 8th place, and then the bottom tier, which you can't even call bottom tier this year (other than lowly Rutgers) because they're all of equal mediocrity as most of the conference.

So Iowa has shown signs of brilliance this year, has the premier scorer in the league who can go off at any time, runs 10-12 players deep (at many times to fans chagrin) and is largely driven by a bunch of freshmen who have never experienced the pressures of post-season play and who play with the "hell, I got three more years after this" mentality.

Combine that with this being the weakest B1G conference in recent memory... is it crazy to think Iowa could take it to the house this year? And what the REAL question is: Has there ever been a better opportunity for a middling Iowa team to win the B1G tourney, because as pedestrian as they've been at times, this conference mirrors that this year.

Anyway, sorry for the novel. Appreciate this forum. Finally contributed. Hope you guys don't hate. Go Hawks!

Based on what you're saying, the conference is so weak that, basically, anyone can win the conference tourney. Not just Iowa. Anyone.

Purdue would be the favorite, absolutely. But, even they would be susceptible to upset over 3 straight games, supposing they get that far.

Iowa would do well, almost history-making, to win one game. They suck in the tourney. Suck. And I say that loving the Hawks till the day I die. Suck.

 

[hawksense]

Past results aside, our best chances lie in some top dogs getting knocked off by some lower seeds. That could create some more favorable match ups for us. This would be a good year for that to occur.

As pointed out by some, some individuals need to step up their games for 4 days. It's the end of the season. No better time to be the best we can be.

I'm envisioning Tyler Cook 2.0 and strong inside games from Pemsl and Kriener and Wagner. Tyler has really been coming on and our depth in the paint is a strength. Put a solid footprint in the paint.

It can't be an All-Jok show. He cramped up in a game earlier this year and I'd envision that happening again if he were pushed to 4 days. He's obviously a huge key, but needs help and rest. Therefore, Williams needs to continue his path toward legitimacy. JoBo needs some rest/support. Moss needs to be the guy who asserts himself in a good way and Ellingson needs to hit his 3's. Every one of them.

If we get far enough, we may have to see some Jones and Dailey. I'd think it'd be required. Hell, there's some guys on the roster I'd think should be pretty freshish, as far as minutes played. Our top 3 are JoBo, Jok and Baer. It drops off dramatically after them.

Finally, Nik Baer needs to be the MVP of the team. I repeat, the MVP. He can do it. He's got it in him. Follow his lead and good things will happen.

We are what we are defensively. Not much will change there. So in that respect, tip the ball, steal the ball, rebound the ball, dive for the ball and block the ball as much as possible. We are the worst team in points allowed, but we still have a positive in points scored/points allowed. Drive the other team crazy.

 

[NI hawk]

Possible but unlikely. I love Fran but he has been horrid in the BTT.

That's being polite. Losing to 11,12, and 13 seeds three years in a row may never be duplicated.

 

[hawksense]

That's being polite. Losing to 11,12, and 13 seeds three years in a row may never be duplicated.

Yeah. It's kind of important to get over that "hump". sigh

 

[El Simbolo]

Our keys are defense, rebounding, and getting Jok shots within the offense (not making him THE offense)

Spot on yesterday, huh? At least the rebounding and sharing the ball part. I did fail to mention shooting 67% from 3 is key

 

[83Hawk]

Why is that? Is it because Fran doesn't put much emphasis on it? last year was strange, we just got outplayed from the start.

It seems like we have had some favorable match-ups in recent years and peed it down our legs every time. I also think we always get paired against a team that we (beat a week or two earlier). They always seem to come back and beat us in the tourney.

Not just a Fran problem. Davis and Lick's teams struggled, too. Alford had the most success.

 

[Mohawkeye]

If ever we were to make an unlikely run, this would be the year. We've got a young but deep team that can keep fresh legs and just might be peaking at the right time. We've got a star scorer who is a senior and getting healthy and locked in. We've got some guys who can hit the three. And it's a year where no team is unbeatable. Plus, I've got to believe Fran is a little embarrassed by his historical performance and would really really like to prove something.

 

[hawksense]

It's not so much winning the tourney that is disconcerting. Just be representative of what the team is.

When we're a 4th place team, win a couple, for God's sake.

When we're a last place team, there are no expectations.

Quit letting teams that shouldn't beat us, beat us!!

 

[kcgolfer]

How about we focus on beating Wisconsin, then PSU, and THEN we can talk.

 

[Joes Place]

There is always a chance we can win it. Fran has been very unsuccessful in the B1G tournament and I guess until I see Iowa playing well in this tournament, I don't like our chances, but there are certainly no unbeatable teams.

Iowa has a deep club this year; we can comfortably play 10 or 12 deep and get good defense and offensive productivity. That is a major plus when playing daily games.

 

[GoHawks2009]

This definitely has a 2002 BTT type feel to it. Although that year's group was riding momentum with players from the previous year's group with kind of a been there, done that mentality.

If we can just get past that damn 1st round game (and whatever upstart try hard opponent we face), who knows............

 

[And1Hawk]

How about we focus on beating Wisconsin, then PSU, and THEN we can talk.

Yep the next loss and the 'how long does Fran get' will be raging.

 

[hawksense]

It's a good thing that coaching futures don't lie in the hands of message board ogres. They are the squeaky wheels and usually 100% stupid.

 

[ConvenientParking]

 

[El Simbolo]

Feels like 2002 or 2001? I preferred 2001.

 

[CO_hawk]

How about we focus on beating Wisconsin, then PSU, and THEN we can talk.

The Wisconsin and Penn state games have no impact on how the Hawks will play in the BTT, BTW. Unless an injury occurs.

 

[ConvenientParking]

March! Situation! March! Situation! March! Situation!

 

[K OKeefe]

First off, yes this is my first post/comment ever. And if you search the history of my account you'll see it's only a month or so old. But I've been a spectator on this board for many, many years. I assure you I come in peace.

Had a great convo with some work buddies today that hasn't really been touched on (at least in any depth) on this board, so wanted to throw it out and see what you all think.

Currently, the B1G's top team -- Purdue -- is ranked 14th in the AP and Iowa split the season series with them. After that... Wisconsin and Maryland both look mortal as all hell. Then the middle of the pack, which stretches down to Iowa sitting in 8th place, and then the bottom tier, which you can't even call bottom tier this year (other than lowly Rutgers) because they're all of equal mediocrity as most of the conference.

So Iowa has shown signs of brilliance this year, has the premier scorer in the league who can go off at any time, runs 10-12 players deep (at many times to fans chagrin) and is largely driven by a bunch of freshmen who have never experienced the pressures of post-season play and who play with the "hell, I got three more years after this" mentality.

Combine that with this being the weakest B1G conference in recent memory... is it crazy to think Iowa could take it to the house this year? And what the REAL question is: Has there ever been a better opportunity for a middling Iowa team to win the B1G tourney, because as pedestrian as they've been at times, this conference mirrors that this year.

Anyway, sorry for the novel. Appreciate this forum. Finally contributed. Hope you guys don't hate. Go Hawks!

If any facsimile of the team that beat Purdue @ CHA or the team that thrashed Maryland on the road shows up for the B1G Tournament then I absolutely believe that the Hawkeyes can win the B1G Tournament. You are correct, the B1G is weak this year and all of the teams are ripe road apples waiting to be plucked.

 

[KuwaitHawk]

Those that do not think a #8/9 seed can make the finals forget that a #11 seed when the B1G had 11 teams made the final game.