Exceeded expectations

[mazda1]

When the year began I had hopes of being a bubble team. If we take care of Nebraska and Northwestern and get Michigan Iowa will have exceeded what I thought was possible.

We have some warts, but hats off to the team and the coaches for a solid regular season.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

I'd still like to see us do work in the BTT and continue to buck the trend of us never making a meaningful run there.


But that's just me....

 

[TampaHawkfan]

Same. I thought NIT/bubble territory but this team definitely has a higher ceiling than I figured. I really hope they finish strong and climb to a better ncaa seed.

 

[JEDN]

Much better team than I expected

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Same. I thought NIT/bubble territory but this team definitely has a higher ceiling than I figured. I really hope they finish strong and climb to a better ncaa seed.

I said last year, the team is gonna be greener, but I liked the make up of the team and that they had the potential to overachieve and maybe even be the team to finally make it to the Sweet 16.

Of course, we now know it all comes down to your draw and whether or not the NCAA f***s up the seeding in the tournament........

 

[TampaHawkfan]

I said last year, the team is gonna be greener, but I liked the make up of the team and that they had the potential to overachieve and maybe even be the team to finally make it to the Sweet 16.

Of course, we now know it all comes down to your draw and whether or not the NCAA f***s up the seeding in the tournament........

We have no luck when it comes to tournament draws, but this team definitely gives me hope that this could be the year to get past the first weekend. Stay committed on the defensive end and they can do it.

Though I think last year's team was a better shooting team overall, this year's team has a much better offense than I expected, but much higher ceiling on the defensive end than last year's team IMO. It's an exciting combination to watch.

 

[General Tso]

Not to be a dick, but this team has two future NBA players and plenty of experience. I think they've underperformed.

 

[perryhawk]

They have exceeded my expectations as well....just like the football team, I thought this was a rebuilding year but they've put themselves in a very good position and more wins than I thought as far as where I think we will now end up.

 

[CookyMonster]

Im prefering this late season peak but with no bad losses early on

 

[InsaneHawkJJP]

Yeah, we have 2 maybe 3 good wins, but I really like the way the team is playing lately. Let’s hope they put a good run together and make some noise in March!

 

[e720718998]

Not to be a dick, but this team has two future NBA players and plenty of experience. I think they've underperformed.

This is true but losing 60 %of the scoring would in most cases be a step back for most teams ....I really don't want to hear about Frans recruiting anymore. Though we can still talk endlessly on how he manages the minutes.

 

[snotknockerhawk]

Not to be a dick, but this team has two future NBA players and plenty of experience. I think they've underperformed.

Lol....we can beat anyone on any giving nite...I'll take that every year in the heartland!👍

 

[nbanflfactory]

Lol....we can beat anyone on any giving nite...I'll take that every year in the heartland!👍

Except the refs, we're under .500 vs them

 

[snotknockerhawk]

Except the refs, we're under .500 vs them

That's always a factor....👍

 

[General Tso]

Lol....we can beat anyone on any giving nite...I'll take that every year in the heartland!👍

WOB?

 

[the24fan]

The Hawks have succeeded in doing what I feared most : coming back from the dead! They do this to me time and time again . Just when I want to bury them they go and do this . Then when I’m getting excited again and jump back in they go and pull a Penn St. This Iowa team is so damn hard to get a read on. But kudos to them tonight . They stepped on Sparty’s neck and kept it there.

 

[Bee93]

Meh. It seems the expectations for this year by many were based on what we lost from last year, namely Garza and Wieskamp. All time great Hawkeyes, but the team went 22-9. If anything this year’s team is where they should be and last year’s team disappointed.

 

[RocknRollface]

Meh. It seems the expectations for this year by many were based on what we lost from last year, namely Garza and Wieskamp. All time great Hawkeyes, but the team went 22-9. If anything this year’s team is where they should be and last year’s team disappointed.

Yep, the talent a team loses does not have any relation to the talent they have.

You can have a talented team one year, and another talented team the following year with different players.

Programs do it all the time.

Just usually not Iowa.

 

[unoHawkeye]

Not to be a dick, but this team has two future NBA players and plenty of experience. I think they've underperformed.

Your experience claim has been debunked ad nauseam here

Not only did this team lack experience coming into the year relative to their peers, but many experienced returning players were required to take on completely different roles (Keegan as a go-to scorer and starter, Bohannon as an off ball shooter, Patrick as a go-to scorer and starter, Rebraca as a brand new player, etc). We’ve just begun, over the past couple of weeks, to see the squad gel, guys play to their roles, and play better basketball seemingly by the game

 

[truehawkfan45]

Not to be a dick, but this team has two future NBA players and plenty of experience. I think they've underperformed.

they lost their best shooter, an all-conference player, NPOY, and what would been their best big man this year..

I’m assuming you mean Khris is the other NBA guy.. if that’s the case, Fran and co. turned two Prairie High School kids that nobody wanted into legitimate NBA hoopers..

If you’re still finding the negativities and things to gripe about during a season like this.. man.. I don’t know what to tell you.

 

[JerseyCityHawki]

I'd still like to see us do work in the BTT and continue to buck the trend of us never making a meaningful run there.


But that's just me....

Count me in too madevilmonkeye

 

[blubberhawk]

When the year began I had hopes of being a bubble team. If we take care of Nebraska and Northwestern and get Michigan Iowa will have exceeded what I thought was possible.

We have some warts, but hats off to the team and the coaches for a solid regular season.

jury is still out. Lose to either Nebraska or Northwestern and it will be a totally different feel about the season.
Finish 2-2 and season will be a pretty good one.

 

[ssckelley]

Before the season I was looking at the schedule trying to find wins to get Iowa on the bubble, now I’m looking at the schedule looking for wins to improve their seeding.

 

[Big Hawk D-Port]

But for two very questionable calls at Rutgers and at Penn State Iowa would be right there competing for the conference championship.

 

[DodgerHawki]

But for two very questionable calls at Rutgers and at Penn State Iowa would be right there competing for the conference championship.

It is nuts how close the margin is to winning conference season and competing for conference title. Hawks have played very well overall the last few weeks. Keep the foot on the gas, boys, there's a lot to play for if they can finish out the regular season with some more wins.

 

[ssckelley]

But for two very questionable calls at Rutgers and at Penn State Iowa would be right there competing for the conference championship.

The thing is had Iowa gotten favorable calls in that game they would have stolen those wins. Iowa played like crap in both of those games, didn’t deserve to win. So many other things went wrong in those games that I can’t blame the officials. You don’t put officials in position to determine the outcome of the games.

 

[1911_Bandit]

The thing is had Iowa gotten favorable calls in that game they would have stolen those wins. Iowa played like crap in both of those games, didn’t deserve to win. So many other things went wrong in those games that I can’t blame the officials. You don’t put officials in position to determine the outcome of the games.

Not necessarily "stolen" wins, but maybe "ugly" wins. Every championship team will have a few during a season.

 

[markfromj]

WOB?

Am considering that.

 

[General Tso]

Your experience claim has been debunked ad nauseam here

Not only did this team lack experience coming into the year relative to their peers, but many experienced returning players were required to take on completely different roles (Keegan as a go-to scorer and starter, Bohannon as an off ball shooter, Patrick as a go-to scorer and starter, Rebraca as a brand new player, etc). We’ve just begun, over the past couple of weeks, to see the squad gel, guys play to their roles, and play better basketball seemingly by the game

This is indeed what I'm hoping.

 

[DodgerHawki]

Not necessarily "stolen" wins, but maybe "ugly" wins. Every championship team will have a few during a season.

Exactly. There are games where shots don't go in. Rutgers pretty much uglies it up against every team that goes into the RAC. Yes, Iowa played "terrible" in the sense that shots didn't go in and some turnovers. Thing is, Rutgers was the same way. It happens in some games. Iowa didn't hang its head, it adjusted to how the game was being called and defended well also. I actually liked how Iowa competed and played defense against Rutgers. No guarantee they would have won in OT, just too bad that they didn't have the chance to see what would have happened.

 

[FranklinHawk]

Not to be a dick, but this team has two future NBA players and plenty of experience. I think they've underperformed.

This is fun! What would be your take if we just asked the exceeded or underperformed question for a team where every players best offer was Iowa? I agree there's alot of talent, but I think some credit is due for Fran in finding that talent.

*Note: PMac likely would have had other offers if he had a different last name.