Iowa shows up on SI bubble watch

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

Here's what Sports Illustrated had to say before Iowa was robbed in Minneapolis last night:

"Finally, Iowa (14–10, 6–5) and Ohio State (14–10, 4–7) are both showing up faintly on the at-large radar. The Hawkeyes have won three straight games and own a victory over Purdue....There’s plenty more work to be done for both teams, with neither among even the Next Four Out in this week’s field of 68. Still, they’ve done enough to this point to earn a mention in the Bubble Watch, and they could do wonders for their at-large hopes this week."

Here's the link: http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2017/02/07/ncaa-tournament-bubble-watch-acc-big-12-big-ten

It seems to my biased eyes that Iowa seldom, if ever, has the college sports gods smiling upon it. Last night was the latest example. It's not difficult to build the case that Iowa deserved to win that game, and but for mind-boggling malfeasance by the striped-shirted adults in charge, surely would have.

But since hope is all we have, I'm hoping the Hawkeyes will bounce back with a winning performance at East Lansing, hold the home court, and pull a road upset at Maryland or Wisconsin. Or maybe both?

Iowa's NCAA hopes are still faint, but when the Patriots had a 99.9 percent chance of losing the Super Bowl, they won anyway. Let's hope luck latches onto the Hawkeyes the rest of the way. It would be long, long, long overdue--and well deserved.

 

[jasonrann]

Very true Aristotle.

Makes the sting of the game last night and the road loss at Nebraska all the more brutal. Win those two and we are probably sitting with an RPI around 70. I hope the guys can somehow use the debacle of last night as new motivation to win the majority of these upcoming games. Fran was absolutely PISSED after the game last night. Every one of the remaining games is winnable, we just need to clean a few things up and hope the refs don’t jam us again.

 

[johnnashhawk]

I'm not sure how much you can expect from a team two days after a grueling heartbreaking outcome of 50 excruciating minutes of basketball. I couldn't criticize this team if they were rolled over by 40 points on Saturday.

Oh yeah, the good news. They can look at themselves in the mirror, and appreciate the reflection. I'm not sure the refs that sold their souls can do that.
I hope I never have to watch another game these inept.... or worse... officials are "working"

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Here's what Sports Illustrated had to say before Iowa was robbed in Minneapolis last night:

"Finally, Iowa (14–10, 6–5) and Ohio State (14–10, 4–7) are both showing up faintly on the at-large radar. The Hawkeyes have won three straight games and own a victory over Purdue....There’s plenty more work to be done for both teams, with neither among even the Next Four Out in this week’s field of 68. Still, they’ve done enough to this point to earn a mention in the Bubble Watch, and they could do wonders for their at-large hopes this week."

Here's the link: http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2017/02/07/ncaa-tournament-bubble-watch-acc-big-12-big-ten

It seems to my biased eyes that Iowa seldom, if ever, has the college sports gods smiling upon it. Last night was the latest example. It's not difficult to build the case that Iowa deserved to win that game, and but for mind-boggling malfeasance by the striped-shirted adults in charge, surely would have.

But since hope is all we have, I'm hoping the Hawkeyes will bounce back with a winning performance at East Lansing, hold the home court, and pull a road upset at Maryland or Wisconsin. Or maybe both?

Iowa's NCAA hopes are still faint, but when the Patriots had a 99.9 percent chance of losing the Super Bowl, they won anyway. Let's hope luck latches onto the Hawkeyes the rest of the way. It would be long, long, long overdue--and well deserved.

Yeah but the Patriots should've lost because nobody wanted to see them win.

That and they actually deserved to lose, unlike Iowa.

 

[War Hawkeye]

Very true Aristotle.

Makes the sting of the game last night and the road loss at Nebraska all the more brutal. Win those two and we are probably sitting with an RPI around 70. I hope the guys can somehow use the debacle of last night as new motivation to win the majority of these upcoming games. Fran was absolutely PISSED after the game last night. Every one of the remaining games is winnable, we just need to clean a few things up and hope the refs don’t jam us again.

I was just going to make this point. We were in position to win both 2OT games at the end of regulation AND OT1. Those 2 road wins are the difference between us being squarely on the bubble, and where we currently are, on the outside looking in.

 

[bravehawks1]

I was just going to make this point. We were in position to win both 2OT games at the end of regulation AND OT1. Those 2 road wins are the difference between us being squarely on the bubble, and where we currently are, on the outside looking in.

Guys, I keep saying this, but this type of result in close games has been happening most of the time in the last seven years. Lots of things that could be done differently and we think the outcome would be better. But the common denominator is the coaching staff. The Iowa teams are not well coached for the end game and it happens year after year. I blame the guy selling the Franwich!!!

 

[Hawkeyestate81]

Guys, I keep saying this, but this type of result in close games has been happening most of the time in the last seven years. Lots of things that could be done differently and we think the outcome would be better. But the common denominator is the coaching staff. The Iowa teams are not well coached for the end game and it happens year after year. I blame the guy selling the Franwich!!!

Then you aren't too bright, last night was complete BS and we should of had the ball under 25 seconds left to ice the game.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

The loss to UNO and both OT games could cost them consideration if they can win 3-4 regular season games and 2 BTT games. History has shown Fran's teams do not fare well in the BTT, so hopefully he can break this trend and win 2 games. I really think "better" needs to start with the pre-season tournaments and the BTT. I am not expecting to win, but advance into the semis or championship round to set the tone.

 

[Roy Ellefson]

Guys, I keep saying this, but this type of result in close games has been happening most of the time in the last seven years. Lots of things that could be done differently and we think the outcome would be better. But the common denominator is the coaching staff. The Iowa teams are not well coached for the end game and it happens year after year. I blame the guy selling the Franwich!!!

Complete BS...Fran coached a great game last night...he's one of the best coaches in the conference...you'll be singing his praises in a year.

 

[bravehawks1]

Complete BS...Fran coached a great game last night...he's one of the best coaches in the conference...you'll be singing his praises in a year.

Explain best please? Personally, I can't get him in the top 5. Not sure how you put him ahead of coaches at Wisc, MSU, Mich, Maryland and Purdue for starters. I would put in next tier with coaches at OSU and Ind.

 

[johnnashhawk]

Guys, I keep saying this, but this type of result in close games has been happening most of the time in the last seven years. Lots of things that could be done differently and we think the outcome would be better. But the common denominator is the coaching staff. The Iowa teams are not well coached for the end game and it happens year after year. I blame the guy selling the Franwich!!!

You aren't serious, are you?

 

[johnnashhawk]

The loss to UNO and both OT games could cost them consideration if they can win 3-4 regular season games and 2 BTT games. History has shown Fran's teams do not fare well in the BTT, so hopefully he can break this trend and win 2 games. I really think "better" needs to start with the pre-season tournaments and the BTT. I am not expecting to win, but advance into the semis or championship round to set the tone.

Anyone that is critical of any early season loss, with this many fr. and new faces, really isn't worth a response.
Anyone who knows so little about the really good coaching moves that took place last night isn't worth the time to read his posts.....no offense

 

[kcgolfer]

The freshmen need to learn to rebound!!!

 

[H4wkfan4life]

Then you aren't too bright, last night was complete BS and we should of had the ball under 25 seconds left to ice the game.

i love posts like this lol

 

[youcantguardme]

I was just going to make this point. We were in position to win both 2OT games at the end of regulation AND OT1. Those 2 road wins are the difference between us being squarely on the bubble, and where we currently are, on the outside looking in.

And that is exactly what these freshmen have to learn. Nothing is given to you.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

Anyone that is critical of any early season loss, with this many fr. and new faces, really isn't worth a response.
Anyone who knows so little about the really good coaching moves that took place last night isn't worth the time to read his posts.....no offense

Comical. The really good coaching moves that took place last night? I get the Uhl for Jok to keep him from fouling out, but you have a guy that had an 18 point first half sitting on the bench for 90% of the second half and 2 OT's. Did we win? Did we win at Nebraska? Facts are facts champ. Please, don't read my posts or respond to them. I am targeting people with active brain cells.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

Complete BS...Fran coached a great game last night...he's one of the best coaches in the conference...you'll be singing his praises in a year.

This is like arguing with children. Did I imagine that Moss had 17 or whatever points in the first half to keep us in the game? So his reward in the second half was to sit on the bench while Baer couldn't throw it in the ocean. I like Baer, nothing against him, but he had an off night.

I like Fran too, but one of the best coaches in the conference? He needs to win something other than the Cy-Hawk trophy first. Have we played in the championship game of a holiday tournament? Have we reached the semis of the BTT? Have we been competitive in a 2nd round NCAA game? My bar is pretty low here. I know, we are on the 10 year plan at Iowa, so I will continue to be patient to see Fran's teams be able to defend.

I think it is nuts to sit a guy who was on fire in the first half to play a guy that was clearly not on. Here is a lesson to those whose tv's are obscured by Busch Light pyramids before the start of the second half, we aren't going to beat anybody with our defense. We have to put up more points and need scorers to do that. You can play them both, but facts are facts. Fran is not a good late game coach and his record shows it.

 

[EastIowaHawk]

Rebound numbers get really skewed in an offense like Fran runs. His bigs are running all over the court and half the time they aren't in a position to rebound. Pemsl is the top rebounder among all our big guys, even though he's on the bench half the game. Baer and Jok are in better positions to get rebounds most of the time than our bigs. Considering that Minny's bigs could jump a foot higher than any of our players and blocked every other shot some of our guys attempted, we did a little better last night.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Guys, I keep saying this, but this type of result in close games has been happening most of the time in the last seven years. Lots of things that could be done differently and we think the outcome would be better. But the common denominator is the coaching staff. The Iowa teams are not well coached for the end game and it happens year after year. I blame the guy selling the Franwich!!!

While I want to agree with you, Fran has shown he can draw up plays that work. The problem is execution in crunch time. In the Nebbie game Iowa had the ball down low on the block and PJ lost the handle. I mean you have him in the post 3ft from the basket and he drops the ball??? Last night vs Minny JBO was dribbling down the floor and PJ just stood there. If you don't want the guy to hold you, move around and make it difficult. Don't just stand there. Execution is what this teams is lacking and we need that "monte morris" type of guard who can penetrate and put up a shot. We have zero guys like that right now. Jok needs 10-12 seconds to dribble before he shoots at times.

So I don't blame Fran, I put 90% of the blame on the players executing. Fran draws up great plays on OB plays, but again it comes down to execution.

 

[Hawkeyestate81]

i love posts like this lol

Me too, I enjoy feeling smarter than too many people these days.

 

[bravehawks1]

This is like arguing with children. Did I imagine that Moss had 17 or whatever points in the first half to keep us in the game? So his reward in the second half was to sit on the bench while Baer couldn't throw it in the ocean. I like Baer, nothing against him, but he had an off night.

I like Fran too, but one of the best coaches in the conference? He needs to win something other than the Cy-Hawk trophy first. Have we played in the championship game of a holiday tournament? Have we reached the semis of the BTT? Have we been competitive in a 2nd round NCAA game? My bar is pretty low here. I know, we are on the 10 year plan at Iowa, so I will continue to be patient to see Fran's teams be able to defend.

I think it is nuts to sit a guy who was on fire in the first half to play a guy that was clearly not on. Here is a lesson to those whose tv's are obscured by Busch Light pyramids before the start of the second half, we aren't going to beat anybody with our defense. We have to put up more points and need scorers to do that. You can play them both, but facts are facts. Fran is not a good late game coach and his record shows it.

This x 1000000

 

[bravehawks1]

While I want to agree with you, Fran has shown he can draw up plays that work. The problem is execution in crunch time. In the Nebbie game Iowa had the ball down low on the block and PJ lost the handle. I mean you have him in the post 3ft from the basket and he drops the ball??? Last night vs Minny JBO was dribbling down the floor and PJ just stood there. If you don't want the guy to hold you, move around and make it difficult. Don't just stand there. Execution is what this teams is lacking and we need that "monte morris" type of guard who can penetrate and put up a shot. We have zero guys like that right now. Jok needs 10-12 seconds to dribble before he shoots at times.

So I don't blame Fran, I put 90% of the blame on the players executing. Fran draws up great plays on OB plays, but again it comes down to execution.

I wish I could agree with this. But we have had 7 years of this execution issues which includes players that Fran inherited and those he had throughout their entire career. My previous point was that despite different people trying to execute the plays, Fran is the constant through the entire process. I agree there have been some plays that work and look to be well designed, but when there is consistent lack of execution, it tells me that the person at the top is not getting this properly communicated in some manner. So Fran's face will just continue to get redder as we continue to lack execution.

 

[Hawkeyestate81]

This is like arguing with children. Did I imagine that Moss had 17 or whatever points in the first half to keep us in the game? So his reward in the second half was to sit on the bench while Baer couldn't throw it in the ocean. I like Baer, nothing against him, but he had an off night.

I like Fran too, but one of the best coaches in the conference? He needs to win something other than the Cy-Hawk trophy first. Have we played in the championship game of a holiday tournament? Have we reached the semis of the BTT? Have we been competitive in a 2nd round NCAA game? My bar is pretty low here. I know, we are on the 10 year plan at Iowa, so I will continue to be patient to see Fran's teams be able to defend.

I think it is nuts to sit a guy who was on fire in the first half to play a guy that was clearly not on. Here is a lesson to those whose tv's are obscured by Busch Light pyramids before the start of the second half, we aren't going to beat anybody with our defense. We have to put up more points and need scorers to do that. You can play them both, but facts are facts. Fran is not a good late game coach and his record shows it.

And were we down by 9 or so at half time so the lineup in the 2nd half went on a massive run and took the lead right? Or am I missing something here.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

I wish I could agree with this. But we have had 7 years of this execution issues which includes players that Fran inherited and those he had throughout their entire career. My previous point was that despite different people trying to execute the plays, Fran is the constant through the entire process. I agree there have been some plays that work and look to be well designed, but when there is consistent lack of execution, it tells me that the person at the top is not getting this properly communicated in some manner. So Fran's face will just continue to get redder as we continue to lack execution.

Its the same thing with football. When KF has the players and they execute they are able to beat top teams and be good. When his teams struggle and don't execute, they get beat by lesser teams. What was the different between the team vs NDSU & MICH? There was maybe 2-3 players who were different, but that can't make up for the talent gap and how the game was played does it?

Fran has done some great things and I think his end of game situations are there, but the players fail to execute. Fran has defiantly improved Iowa's roster and has gotten some pretty good talent in here. The problem is none of our guys are "crunch" guys who want to take the last shot. IF that's the case, Jok should of brought the ball up the floor if we wanted to get it to him. But Jok was hurt and barely able to move.

Hindsight is always 20/20 I mean should of we ran a play for someone else to take the last shot? Then everyone would be calling that Fran didn't give the ball to PJ. So he's in a no win situation I guess. I thought he did the best he could w/what he's felt with this year. To have the refs take the game away from you is tough. The boys battled back 2 times and unfortunately ran out of gas in the 2nd OT.

 

[Gridiron24]

Our loss last night sank our ship. We're an NIT team.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Our loss last night sank our ship. We're an NIT team.

I'd say if we finish 4-2 down the stretch we will be still on the outside looking in (needing BTT Semi-final).

If we finish 3-3 and win 1-2 in the BTT we are NIT Bound

If we finish 2-4 and get bounced early, our season is over.

 

[hawksense]

The freshmen need to learn to rebound!!!

When Pete Jok regularly out rebounds Cook and other forwards, well, enough said. Get after the f'ing boards, guys!!!

 

[johnnashhawk]

Comical. The really good coaching moves that took place last night? I get the Uhl for Jok to keep him from fouling out, but you have a guy that had an 18 point first half sitting on the bench for 90% of the second half and 2 OT's. Did we win? Did we win at Nebraska? Facts are facts champ. Please, don't read my posts or respond to them. I am targeting people with active brain cells.

Of course you're right and I'm not. But just want to point out a couple of coaching moves that I... liked.
There was a pretty furious comeback in the second half...one of the reasons Moss didn't get as many minutes as he would otherwise played.
Then the call following the timeout that resulted in an uncontested layup, I believe by Pemsl.
The substitution o Williams for defense. You know, the one that caused the uncalled travel by Mason.
Maybe I'll just stop there. This post could get somewhat lengthy, and I don't really have any active brain cells anyway.