Basketball team to mirror football?

[CentralIAHawk]

After watching the first 3-4 games for many of the B1G teams, I am getting a pretty good feeling about the conference basketball season. These guys could make me eat my words, but when I watch Iowa I see a bunch of 22-24 year old men with 3-4 years of toughening in what has proven to be one of the best conferences in basketball over the past few years. However, as Marquette demonstrated, top notch freshmen are really no match for quality upper-classmen...with quality being the key word. And that is a word I would use to describe Iowa's seniors.

This group might not have first round draft picks...but these are four guys that have learned how to win. I watched Michigan (terrible), Wisconsin (bad), MSU (good), Purdue, (very good), Maryland (not impressive), Minnesota (terrible). I honestly would favor Iowa against all of those teams right now - maybe the exception would be Purdue.

Every year we see a senior-laden mid-major make a run in the tourney...and we celebrate the value of upper-classmen. Honestly, it is just unusual to see that in the power conferences anymore. Well we have it this year, and these guys are players. I honestly look forward to watching Woody matchup with a bunch of these 18 year old boys. I look forward to seeing our seasoned pg's have their way with the flashy young studs. And I relish the thought of JU showing up game after game as the best player on the floor.

I believe this is going to be a fun winter.

Go Hawks!

 

[hansenhawk]

I hope so. As long as we do decent in the B1G and make the big boy tournament again I'm good. Be nice to see these seniors make a nice long run in the tournament as well. GO HAWKS!

 

[Rifler]

No....

 

[jhawkinaz]

if, at some point this season, the Hawks basketball team is rated #3 in the country......this year will officially surpass the summer of George in all greatness, and I may have to consider moving back home to absorb all of it I possibly can.

 

[CentralIAHawk]

What do you say now that Marquette, whom we made look like the JV, just beat the #22 team in the country?

 

[Packer54]

What do you say now that Marquette, whom we made look like the JV, just beat the #22 team in the country?

Certainly does not hurt. I think Marquette is going to see a bunch of ups and downs this year. Wojo has talent on the team but they need some discipline badly.

 

[goodbyebobby]

What do you say now that Marquette, whom we made look like the JV, just beat the #22 team in the country?

I say those are two teams that I wouldn't fear Iowa playing in March.

 

[yiana]

The basketball team will be better.

 

[EduNeerHawk]

After watching the first 3-4 games for many of the B1G teams, I am getting a pretty good feeling about the conference basketball season. These guys could make me eat my words, but when I watch Iowa I see a bunch of 22-24 year old men with 3-4 years of toughening in what has proven to be one of the best conferences in basketball over the past few years. However, as Marquette demonstrated, top notch freshmen are really no match for quality upper-classmen...with quality being the key word. And that is a word I would use to describe Iowa's seniors.

This group might not have first round draft picks...but these are four guys that have learned how to win. I watched Michigan (terrible), Wisconsin (bad), MSU (good), Purdue, (very good), Maryland (not impressive), Minnesota (terrible). I honestly would favor Iowa against all of those teams right now - maybe the exception would be Purdue.

Every year we see a senior-laden mid-major make a run in the tourney...and we celebrate the value of upper-classmen. Honestly, it is just unusual to see that in the power conferences anymore. Well we have it this year, and these guys are players. I honestly look forward to watching Woody matchup with a bunch of these 18 year old boys. I look forward to seeing our seasoned pg's have their way with the flashy young studs. And I relish the thought of JU showing up game after game as the best player on the floor.

I believe this is going to be a fun winter.

Go Hawks!

This is a great post Central.......so far, I know it's early but I am seeing this too. And not only looking forward to JU showing up game after game but I would put an experienced Peter in their too. And Marquette beats #22 tonight and we beat MU by 28 pts.....something is up that's for sure??

 

[Rustys Dad]

With all of the 1-and-done teams I have to admit I like a team like Iowa ... one that is not going to land the McDonald's AA but will bring in guys with talent, coach them up, and hopfully remain in the program for four seasons.

It's hard to beat experience. Sidenote: I purchased a college basketball magazine from Sporting News and man, I can't even identify player names any longer with all of the transfers and 1-and-dones. Imagine how good the college basketball game would be if some of these talented kids stayed longer than one season.

Back to the topic ... I think Iowa will surprise the "experts" and will have a great season. When you have four seniors in the lineup ... and four seniors with some talent ... that is going to be hard to beat night in and night out. These guys have been through the Big 10 season. They know what it's like. They know the intensity of playing on the road. They know how grueling the season can be.

I am not projecting a Final Four run here, but I do think Iowa has a good chance (with the seniors, and mixing in some talented younger players) of having a great season ... I like the chemistry of the team. Sometimes the chemistry can mean as much as anything (see football team). When you have guys on the same page, that can do a lot for the performance on the court.

It's fun to be excited about Iowa football and basketball again ... Go Hawks!

 

[yerpHAWK]

With all of the 1-and-done teams I have to admit I like a team like Iowa ... one that is not going to land the McDonald's AA but will bring in guys with talent, coach them up, and hopfully remain in the program for four seasons.

It's hard to beat experience. Sidenote: I purchased a college basketball magazine from Sporting News and man, I can't even identify player names any longer with all of the transfers and 1-and-dones. Imagine how good the college basketball game would be if some of these talented kids stayed longer than one season.

The NBA commissioner Silver wants to push it to 2 years out of high school before becoming to the NBA, and it will probably happen. His reasoning is expanding the D league though.