Iowa mission: Win 4 games, win Big Ten title

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

It's pretty simple. Beat Wisconsin and Indiana at home where the Hawkeyes haven't lost for over a year, and win at Columbus and Ann Arbor and claim an outright Big Ten title, the first since 1970. After having swept Purdue and Michigan State to put themselves in this position, there's no good reason why the Hawkeyes can't get it done.

They're healthy, they've had a week off to rest tired legs and refocus tired minds, and they've had a chance to regain their shooting touch and refresh the offensive scheme.

Neither Ohio State nor Michigan, the two road opponents remaining, are invincible at home. Not by, to use a basketball term, a long shot. No, there are no excuses. Iowa has an excellent opportunity to win an outright Big Ten title despite having the league's toughest schedule. So let's man up, Hawkeyes. Let's show the energy and the resolve that you showed earlier in the season. Let's show that Iowa can win the big games. Let's show that the Hawkeyes can win in the bright lights and on the big stage. IOWA, Big Ten champions. Why not?

 

[Phenomenally Frantastic]

Carver should be NCAA tourney game type atmosphere. Wednesday is a big, big game for Iowa basketball.

If you go to Carver Wednesday I implore you to cheer loudly for the home team.

 

[KeyWest Tim]

Big opportunity.

When the spotlight shines is usually when we wither.

Time to change this for good.

 

[Suterman]

Michigan State showed that the Badgers are very beatable. Let's take care of business Wednesday and then move on to the next one. Beat Bucky!!!

 

[ZumaHawk]

I'm gonna start cheering now already!! Let's Go Hawks!!!

 

[General Tso]

I ...

 

[General Tso]

O ... (damn consecutive post time limit)

 

[General Tso]

W ...

 

[General Tso]

A

 

[hawksauce]

Michigan State showed that the Badgers are very beatable. Let's take care of business Wednesday and then move on to the next one. Beat Bucky!!!

They're 16-10. Obviously very beatable. Hit the glass hard, actually play defense for a change and we win big.

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

Hawksauce, you nailed it. Defense and rebounding. Both are effort more than anything else. Each of these last four games, even more so than usual, will come down to who wants it more, and those two areas--defense and rebounding--tell that tale. Do the Hawkeyes return to early season form, outwork their opponents, and refuse to lose, or do they disappear in the bright lights and great expectations? This is when senior leaders must set the tone. This is when the Hawkeyes have to demonstrate that extra heartbeat. Hey, like the commercial says, "Big stage. Big life. Big Ten." C'mon, Hawkeyes. Get 'er done.

 

[iowa surfer]

We want it more.So we win against BADGERS! In nyc we say no? Also at beach! Proud to be a HAWK.

 

[RocknRollface]

Michigan State showed that the Badgers are very beatable. Let's take care of business Wednesday and then move on to the next one. Beat Bucky!!!

Was it in question?

They're weren't even projected to make the tourney a couple weeks ago.

 

[RocknRollface]

Hawksauce, you nailed it. Defense and rebounding. Both are effort more than anything else. Each of these last four games, even more so than usual, will come down to who wants it more, and those two areas--defense and rebounding--tell that tale. Do the Hawkeyes return to early season form, outwork their opponents, and refuse to lose, or do they disappear in the bright lights and great expectations? This is when senior leaders must set the tone. This is when the Hawkeyes have to demonstrate that extra heartbeat. Hey, like the commercial says, "Big stage. Big life. Big Ten." C'mon, Hawkeyes. Get 'er done.

From my vantage point for the last month a big part of whether or not Iowa creates difficult shots for opponents and rebounds well is whether or not they are playing zone.

Zone puts you at a decided disadvantage in both.

I'm sure they're still going to use it for some reason though so hopefully the guys can over the inherent disadvantages.

 

[DanL53]

My view is that it looks very difficult to win four. Good thing we don't play them all at once, because I still believe we should be FAVORED to win all four.

So let's do it this way, beat Wisconsin and revisit the mission after that.

 

[Phenomenally Frantastic]

Na, nana, nana, na, naa naaaaaa!

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

Wisky presents some match ups that could be difficult. All three interior Badgers, Hayes, Happ & Brown, have been playing really well, and might present problems man to man. Koenig hasn't shown much as a top scoring option off the dribble, but he can still shoot the spot up 3 from the top of the key, if left open.

Hawks have the advantage in the open court, and I look for Fran to press and fall back into the zone quite a bit. Rebounding is critical, to finish each defensive possession.

Both OSU and UM are talented but beatable, if the Hawks play D and rebound.

IU is going to be a war. I would feel better about that game if it weren't on two days rest.
Hawks need to take it to them from the beginning to the end.

 

[HerkysDad]

Can we get a ceiling tile to fall down and get us a couple days rest?

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

This whole stretch comes down to defensive rebounding for Iowa. Limiting 2nd shots will solve a lot of issues with this team

 

[ZumaHawk]

Whisky scored 26 points at half against Illinois. That is boring & terrible. Uthoff is gonna destroy them. Imo

 

[El Simbolo]

If we go 3-1 with one of the three being IU then an outright championship is still likely, but I say lets win them all!