Disrespect from the National Media is Fueling the Hawks

[Franisdaman]

Yep, the Hawks noticed that one CBS writer picked Iowa to finish 10th in the Big 10.

A nice article with some video: http://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sp...vation-iowa-hawkeye-chad-leistikow/536450001/

This was Garza's reaction to the disrespect:

 

[texashawkeye87]

Yep, the Hawks noticed that one CBS writer picked Iowa to finish 10th in the Big 10.

A nice article with some video: http://www.startribune.com/back-problem-keeping-tackle-riley-reiff-from-practicing/438229283/

This was Garza's reaction to the disrespect:

FYI - that link is to a Riley Reiff article about his back problems.

Here is the link I believe you meant to post: http://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sp...vation-iowa-hawkeye-chad-leistikow/536450001/

 

[Franisdaman]

FYI - that link is to a Riley Reiff article about his back problems.

Here is the link I believe you meant to post: http://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sp...vation-iowa-hawkeye-chad-leistikow/536450001/

thank you for that; much appreciated.

 

[seer_hawk]

I hope our guys do have a chip on their shoulder. No doubt we lost our best offensive player, but the media is ignoring a lot when they leave us out of the NCAA projections, and in at least one article pick us 10th in the B1G.

 

[vgshwk]

Hopefully the guys have fun on the trip. Playing everyone and getting the team unity will be more important than winning. You don't want to overplay anyone and get them tired going into the season.

 

[DanL53]

Shoot. I think we Hawkeye fans oughta have a chip on our shoulder as well. Of course, I only have a little one. I have plenty of patience for the "You're just Iowa" comments from visiting opposing fans. And I don't want to rub Norlander's nose in his article at the end of the season...for too long.

I just want to see Iowa win, and let that do the talking. Especially since I know that our detractors won't be around to chat with when that happens.

The song says, "Fight for Iowa". I know it is an old concept and these days many folks prefer to just show up at the after party, if things go well. And maybe that's something I have no business criticizing. It's just, for me, I feel more a part of the team when I'm rooting for them...including the times I pleasantly point out to a more than welcome opposing fan that I respectfully..............ah heck, the truth of it is if not for the rules of the board I'd unleash more and worse verbal beat-downs than I do now!

This aint no Broadway show...it's a carefully controlled simulation of a battle between warriors. My blood boils when I watch our Hawkeyes and I can't cool it down that much between games or seasons. Yeah, just a little chip on my shoulder....a tiny piece of the club I carry in my hand for the fight.

 

[BlackNGoldBleeder]

Iowa has a very favorable conference schedule this year.

Barring a slew of injuries and something very unforeseen there is no way Iowa finishes 10th.

 

[Franisdaman]

Iowa has a very favorable conference schedule this year.

Barring a slew of injuries and something very unforeseen there is no way Iowa finishes 10th.

that home conference schedule is amazing; hopefully we will see a lot of sell outs as a result

 

[HawkamongstGophers]

There is no way this team finishes 10th. No chance.

 

[hawk-i bob]

Respect comes from results (given the state of the program...for when a new head coach takes over)..Fran's results have been very good. Those are factual results.

I dont know anyone (who is well informed) would argue the recruiting has been and could very well be in the best shape it has been for a long time for Iowa BB. Results.

So results should earn 'some' respect. A 10th pick? Very little respect...for a program I believe has arrived at a upper division level (thats 1 thru 7)

Now the other side...at some point I would like to see (and hope) we can get past the first two NCAA tournament games. To me its the next step in the results factor. It would be nice we are playing in the B1G tournament on the weekend of it. Results. I'm going all in..it would be nice to see that regular season B1G championship drought....end.

The question is can we take the next step in results? I think we can..its never easy in the B1G...but I think we have the coach & the recruits.

 

[DodgerHawki]

Respect comes from results (given the state of the program...for when a new head coach takes over)..Fran's results have been very good. Those are factual results.

I dont know anyone (who is well informed) would argue the recruiting has been and could very well be in the best shape it has been for a long time for Iowa BB. Results.

So results should earn 'some' respect. A 10th pick? Very little respect...for a program I believe has arrived at a upper division level (thats 1 thru 7)

Now the other side...at some point I would like to see (and hope) we can get past the first two NCAA tournament games. To me its the next step in the results factor. It would be nice we are playing in the B1G tournament on the weekend of it. Results. I'm going all in..it would be nice to see that regular season B1G championship drought....end.

The question is can we take the next step in results? I think we can..its never easy in the B1G...but I think we have the coach & the recruits.

The best way to be respected by the national media types is to win. No, I do not think Iowa will finish 10th in the league and yes, I think there is better than 50% chance Iowa makes the NCAA tournament next year. But I can see where the outsiders are coming from in taking a wait and see approach toward Iowa (note: it doesn't mean I agree with them, just understanding how they arrive at decisions). Iowa currently has 1 Top 100 recruit on the roster (Cook, who was 74 by Rivals. Nunge and Garza were just outside the Top 100 according to Rivals). The rest of the league returned a good portion of their good players (with exception of Wisconsin, which is getting the benefit of the doubt due to their making 18 straight NCAA tournaments).

The national folks doing their cursory look at the B1G see Iowa go 19-15, lose in a home game in the NIT and lose their leading scorer and first-team all conference player, do a quick look at the recruiting rankings and make their selection.

I do hope the Hawks are using the slights as motivation. Teams should grab hold of anything that gives them an edge. But it's not outrageous for outsiders to look at Iowa and conclude they won't finish in the top half of the league. I really hope they are wrong. If the players all improved since last year and Nunge and Garza can make Iowa better inside, then Iowa could easily be in the top 4-5 of the league and with a few breaks in close games be right there challenging Michigan State. But a lot of ifs there.

 

[hawksense]

Blah, blah, blah.

Iowa got disrespected in the media? Wow. That's new.

Look, we're either good or we're not. The only motivation we need is to win as often as possible, which every team wants to do. Sometimes, news must get slow because this has been happening forever.

I believe this team will be good. Possibly, very good. Now, me writing this doesn't amount to a hill of beans. It means about as much as someone predicting our demise before a game is even played. The football team is experiencing the same thing, as they do nearly every year.

Bulletin board material? Give me a break. Be better than that. Be teflon.

 

[CanadaHawk]

If the players all improved since last year and Nunge and Garza can make Iowa better inside, then Iowa could easily be in the top 4-5 of the league and with a few breaks in close games be right there challenging Michigan State. But a lot of ifs there.

There are really only a LOT of ifs if you don't believe your own eyes and the coaches, and instead rely on the national pundits to tell you reality. The returning players have improved their skills. There are some things you can't see in the PTL, but you can see basic skills and how they're executed. They've improved. Garza and Nunge have skills inside too. And the coaches confirm what we've seen. The pundits don't have those advantages, not following specific teams, so they have a LOT of ifs. Sure, they've got to put it together in 'real' games. But given the attitudes of these guys and the advantages of the overseas trip, and I'm not sure exactly what the outcome will look like, but I know I'll like it and I have a LOT of confidence in the execution. The only real if I have is at the backup PG position. If we can cover that well, barring injuries, I'd be willing to start betting on an NCAA return.

 

[DodgerHawki]

There are really only a LOT of ifs if you don't believe your own eyes and the coaches, and instead rely on the national pundits to tell you reality. The returning players have improved their skills. There are some things you can't see in the PTL, but you can see basic skills and how they're executed. They've improved. Garza and Nunge have skills inside too. And the coaches confirm what we've seen. The pundits don't have those advantages, not following specific teams, so they have a LOT of ifs. Sure, they've got to put it together in 'real' games. But given the attitudes of these guys and the advantages of the overseas trip, and I'm not sure exactly of the outcome, but I have a LOT of confidence in the execution. The only real if I have is at the backup PG position. If we can cover that well, barring injuries, I'd be willing to start betting on an NCAA return.

I do believe you. But isn't every other team saying the same thing this time of year about their returning players improving? It's what happens, college hoops at the B1G level is extremely competitive.

 

[CO_hawk]

To many try to focus on what teams lose rather than what they have.

 

[CanadaHawk]

I do believe you. But isn't every other team saying the same thing this time of year about their returning players improving? It's what happens, college hoops at the B1G level is extremely competitive.

Yes, fans have fewer ifs about their teams than national pundits. Most fans are optimistic about their teams. But Rutgers fans generally don't think they're going to the tourney anymore than most Iowa fans did during the TL years.

But getting back to the ifs. I had more ifs about the 2016 team than I do about the 2017 one, and that team was in the last 4 out. So I don't know how I can rationally expect this team not to get there.

And to head off the counter argument here, as DodgerHawk mentioned, most fans say their team (and conference) are better every year...

 

[kceasthawk]

Hopefully the guys have fun on the trip. Playing everyone and getting the team unity will be more important than winning. You don't want to overplay anyone and get them tired going into the season.

While we certainly don't need to "overplay anyone" , its kind of silly to worry about the players be tired going into the season, don't you think. They'll be in Europe in August, and the season doesn't start until November. These guys are ultra healthy 18 to 22 year olds! Come on dude......

 

[Hawksfor3]

Just read an article from GIA, and it talked about Ryan Kreiner's "dismay" about the media's lack of respect for Iowa Basketball. It's good that our players are going to play with a "chip". That should translate into good rebounding and solid defense. The shots will fall, and then maybe guys like Lunardi will have no choice but to give some credit to the Hawks.

 

[SirIllini]

"Yeah, just a little chip on my shoulder....a tiny piece of the club I carry in my hand for the fight."

You are a genuine badass.

 

[Rifler]

The national sports media isn't very smart and never has been,... Their depth of knowledge is typically quite shallow and they tend to choose the same recognizable teams every year. Most of them are journalists first, and sports fans second, if at all. I'm sure these guys looked at us and said something like... "Off the radar program, young team, went to the the NIT last year, lost Peter Jok,... These guys will probably tank"