Iowa 7-2 vs the teams in their half of the bracket

[HeRKeYHoPeFuL]

With both losses close. Is this a favorable draw, or are we due to regress against the teams we went 7-0 against?

Personally, I think it is an extremely favorable bracket. Neither Minny or Illinois should put up much of a fight at this point (but we'll see if that holds true Thursday). We match up well with Purdue's size, and Michigan and Northwestern aren't going to roll over for Indiana.

 

[kellerm]

Avoiding MSU until the finals makes it a good draw. MSU is probably playing better than anyone in the country. Although Rutgers gave them a game for a half. It's all about the shots falling.

 

[ROCKY MOUNTAIN HAWK]

For some reason Ind just isn't that scary. Pur is though.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

I agree that Iowa is on the more favorable side of the draw, away from MSU. Minny had its guards suspended for the rest of the year because of some sex tape controversy???, so Illannoy will be the likely first opponent. Then, Hawks will need to beat Purdon't a third time, which won't be easy, but is definitely possible. I want another shot at IU. A key is for Jok to draw fouls on Boo Boo, which isn't easy, because the zebras seem to give poor little Yogi freedom to beat the hell out of whomever he guards. The bench needs to show up for the Hawks to make some serious noise.

Should be a great tournament.

 

[grosie#2]

Purdue looked pretty good against Wisconsin. They may be hitting their peak. Not going to be easy whoever Iowa plays. That being they win their 1st game.

 

[RocknRollface]

Would have rather drawn Maryland or Wisconsin instead of Purdue.

 

[DarkThunder#61]

Well as long as Purdue doesn't light the stats sheet with 3s, we should be fine.

 

[hawksauce]

Assuming we win our first game... Is it an advantage that we will already have played a game before Purdue? Get the jitters out of the way, get used to the Arena, see some shots go in, gain some confidence. Might be wishful thinking here too.

 

[SJeagleEye]

To be honest, I'm happy if we just win ONE FRIGGIN GAME!!!

After that, let the chips fall where they may.

 

[Buffalo43]

Why do we always play in the middle of a work day versus at night? I fear Illinois they have the talent and if they can put it altogether we may go down if we come in not focused

Remember they took down Purdue during regular season

 

[OskaloosaHawk]

Assuming we win our first game... Is it an advantage that we will already have played a game before Purdue? Get the jitters out of the way, get used to the Arena, see some shots go in, gain some confidence. Might be wishful thinking here too.

Illinois is probably thinking the same thing.....

 

[Pepperman]

Why do we always play in the middle of a work day versus at night? I fear Illinois they have the talent and if they can put it altogether we may go down if we come in not focused

Remember they took down Purdue during regular season

I agree with this - the Illini have some damn good players and Iowa better realize that game is a tough fight. otherwise, we'll be "well rested" for our 6-11 NCAA matchup (or will it be 7-10, gulp)

 

[QChawks]

To be honest, I'm happy if we just win ONE FRIGGIN GAME!!!

After that, let the chips fall where they may.

This.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

A few days rest should help Jok and other starters who have been logging a lot of PT of late. I think Iowa can play with anyone in the conference for 35 minutes, but the last 5 is another story. I hope Fran and staff draw up a few set plays for late game situations because the existing play book hasn't worked too well for us. Need to use Uthoff and / or Jok as decoys to try to get some guys free slipping to the basket or Gesell or Clemmons need to make some shots late. MN has what, 6 guys available to play, so likely IL, who will be playing for their tournament lives. It seems to always be IL or MSU for us in the BTT.

 

[hawksauce]

Illinois is probably thinking the same thing.....

I thought that too, but it's Illinois.

 

[grosie#2]

I thought I saw that Illinois had some injured starters so depth may be a problem. I don't know if I was impressed with how Illinois hung with PSU or how unimpressive it was that PSU couldn't shake Illinois. Still shake my head that Iowa was beaten my PSU.

 

[iahawkeyes17]

If Michigan beats jNW that could be a sneaky good matchup with Indiana. Michigan would know that beating Indiana could lock itself into the tourney being a bubble team right now.

 

[broth87]

I like Iowa's draw.

 

[RocknRollface]

Illinois is probably thinking the same thing.....

Hopefully.

If Illinios is looking past anyone , which I highly doubt considering how bad they are, then that's great.

It shouldn't matter to Iowa what Illinios is thinking. Iowa needs to go in looking to run them out of the game.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Iowa just has to take care of business. Last year vs PSU I only got to listen to the game, but it sounded like Iowa was already looking ahead to the next game. PSU came out and just out hustled them and beat them up and down the floor.

Iowa has to look at this tournament a chance to improve their seed. Take it one game at a time and I realize its always tough playing that first game in the BTT. But this will give them a chance to get the rust off and get some blood flowing. Get used to shooting in the arena, and hopefully get some of the younger guys playing time.

IF they make it to Friday, I think it will help them. The only problem is I hate how Big Purdue is. Iowa has to keep them out of the paint. Purdue looks like they are finding their shot from the outside and if they can hit from outside, they are one of the tougher teams in the nation.

 

[goodbyebobby]

Would have rather drawn Maryland or Wisconsin instead of Purdue.

The team we swept who can't guard our big men at the 3 point line? Assuming we win PU will not have a huge home court advantage as they don't travel well, even to Indy.

I have bought the entire package for the last ten years and watched us win ONE game. Please won at least two this time around....

 

[Ihawkhoops]

IMO, Iowa is most dangerous when Gesell & Clemmons get 6-10 each, Woodbury is getting touches in the paint and getting fouled and Uthoff and Jok get their shots in the flow of the offense. When Uthoff is hot, he needs to shoot, but I don't like seeing guys pass up uncontested short / mid-range jumpers to whip it out to Jok or Uthoff for a hurried 3 late in the clock. Gesell and Clemmons should be able to get driving lanes if teams are extending on Jok and Uthoff, which should leave Woodbury or Wagner open for a dump down. If not, MG and AC need to drive until contested, then pull up and take a jumper or runner.

 

[ichawk24]

I'm more confident in beating Indiana to avoid a 3-0 sweep than completing a 3-0 sweep over Purdue.

 

[RocknRollface]

The team we swept who can't guard our big men at the 3 point line? Assuming we win PU will not have a huge home court advantage as they don't travel well, even to Indy.

I have bought the entire package for the last ten years and watched us win ONE game. Please won at least two this time around....

Im not saying Purdue is worst case matchup but they're good and I feel like now that they've played us twice they have an idea of what we want to do and will be practicing all week specifically for it.

Somehow we managed to keep the ball out of Hammonds hands for the most part twice, a couple fouls on Woodbury and this is a total nighmare for Dom and Wagner.

Wisconsin is incredibly average IMO and would love to see that score get settled. Iowa had no business losing to that team.

Maryland could go either way. I would personally just like to see Iowa beat them, I think they played better against Iowa than what they really are.

 

[RocknRollface]

I'm more confident in beating Indiana to avoid a 3-0 sweep than completing a 3-0 sweep over Purdue.

Same here, I would be very confident in beating Indiana in a rematch.

Although I think we can beat Purdue they were the one team other than obviously MSU, that I didn't want to see.

This group of players does much better as the hunter than the hunted IMO.

 

[kzoohawk80]

What does Indiana have to do to get some respect? People would rather play them then Purdue. Really? It's March and it's all about shooting and guard play. Indiana has it and Purdue doesn't. Give me Yogi, Robert Johnson and Ziesloft over anybody Purdue plays at guard.

Iowa's just got to take care of business the first game and hopefully not play anybody 30 minutes. And then I'd trap the hell out of Purdue. Wisconsin did it and had success late in the game against Purdue. And Wisconsin is by no means a trapping team. Feeling really confident about this draw. Avoid MSU, PSU, OSU, Wisky and Maryland is good for Iowa. Hopefully this team is over the ability to lose to anyone like Illinois or Minnesota.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

What does Indiana have to do to get some respect? People would rather play them then Purdue. Really? It's March and it's all about shooting and guard play. Indiana has it and Purdue doesn't. Give me Yogi, Robert Johnson and Ziesloft over anybody Purdue plays at guard.

Iowa's just got to take care of business the first game and hopefully not play anybody 30 minutes. And then I'd trap the hell out of Purdue. Wisconsin did it and had success late in the game against Purdue. And Wisconsin is by no means a trapping team. Feeling really confident about this draw. Avoid MSU, PSU, OSU, Wisky and Maryland is good for Iowa. Hopefully this team is over the ability to lose to anyone like Illinois or Minnesota.

While I agree that IU is good, but they haven been shooting the 3ball out of their minds lately. They were something like 7/8 vs Iowa?? I mean com one, even the average fan can say that is on fire and not likely to happen all the time. I realize some of those 3 balls were WIDE OPEN, in the NCAA a team will take that away. I realize YOGI is good, but how did they lose all those game in Maui and early on? Shots were not falling. IF they go cold from outside, they will struggle.

 

[RocknRollface]

Bizarre.

Iowa smoked Purdue twice and could barely stay on the floor against Indiana.

Put down the crack pipe.

Huh?

That's not even close to accurate.

 

[FranklinHawk]

Huh?

That's not even close to accurate.

It must be, I just read it on the Internets

 

[ichawk24]

What does Indiana have to do to get some respect? People would rather play them then Purdue. Really?

I'm not disrespecting either team. Kenpom has Indiana #9 and Purdue #16. They're both really good basketball teams. I think the 3-0 sweep is hard to pull off, and I'd rather we were the ones with that factor on our side rather than against us.

 

[Ree4]

I agree that Iowa is on the more favorable side of the draw, away from MSU. Minny had its guards suspended for the rest of the year because of some sex tape controversy???, so Illannoy will be the likely first opponent. Then, Hawks will need to beat Purdon't a third time, which won't be easy, but is definitely possible. I want another shot at IU. A key is for Jok to draw fouls on Boo Boo, which isn't easy, because the zebras seem to give poor little Yogi freedom to beat the hell out of whomever he guards. The bench needs to show up for the Hawks to make some serious noise.

Should be a great tournament.

Don't know why but this guy looks just like the picanic basket stealer to me:

 

[icwesthawk]

I don't think the 7-2 mark means a thing. We're not playing as well as we were. Teams are hungry, playing for their lives, ect. We need to take care of business on Thursday, the end, period.