With no more heart and effort than they've shown the last several weeks, they ought to stay home and let somebody go who actually wants to play. There are no excuses. Talk, talk, talk, but no results. Players miss shots and throw bad passes, no problem, but most teams come out with their hair on fire and play to win. But not Iowa. Not for a long time. The Hawkeyes, as has become their custom, came out today like they were heading for a funeral. And they were...their own. And for the third year in a row at the BTT. Something's wrong somewhere, and Fran clearly has no answers.
There certainly are some individual exceptions, but the Tin Man had more heart than this Hawkeye team. And that's what's so frustrating and embarrassing.
Iowa has no business in the NCAA tournament, and there is absolutely no shred of evidence--from the players or the coaches--to think they have any kind of chance to win. None. Like many of us, I've tried to give them the benefit of the doubt, but today was the clincher. Heading to Spokane or Providence or some other outpost will just be a waste of time and money and deprive some kids who do have heart of a chance to play in the tourney. It's a shame. All of it.
BTW: A 12 seed is too generous. If they have to participate at all, send them to Dayton again and see if they have guts enough to earn their way in. They've convinced me they don't.
