****** Iowa vs USC Game Thread******

[QChawks]

9:30pm FS1
USC -2.5
O/U 161.5

USC (10-6, 2-3) is a tough team to figure out. They just won at Illinois but previous to that game they had only one P5 victory. Looking at the stats they are not a great team either. They are 5-5 in last ten games and they do not shoot or rebound well.

All that said, they best Iowa 88-79

 

[Hendy hawk]

Gona need a long nap this afternoon for this one and the next.
Iowa by 10.

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

9:30pm FS1
USC -2.5
O/U 161.5

USC (10-6, 2-3) is a tough team to figure out. They just won at Illinois but previous to that game they had only one P5 victory. Looking at the stats they are not a great team either. They are 5-5 in last ten games and they do not shoot or rebound well.

All that said, they best Iowa 88-79

Hopefully we get the crap version of USC.

Being an Iowa fan I fully expect USC to go off

 

[BrewHawk]

USC is waaaay too athletic for us.

 

[Rifler]

USC is waaaay too athletic for us.

USC is 2-3 in conference play,.. they aren't too athletic for anyone.

 

[hawkjt]

Hawks need to continue the hot-shooting to be in this game.
They are not huge but very quick.
Owen needs to be a bully and be strong w ball.

 

[EagleHawk]

USC averages ~4k fans in a 10k seat arena. With the fires in LA, I would guess a smaller crowd tonight so we shouldn't be rattled by the fans.

 

[hawkirugged17]

Not sure I will make it that late ...

 

[QChawks]

Not sure I will make it that late ...

I'm going to give it until halftime

 

[HawkBall23]

Tonight & Friday night are 2 of the 5 'easiest' road games I see on the Hawks' remaining schedule - at least in terms of the opponent's current record. Almost want to consider naming them 'must wins' - or as close as can be, considering its just January 14 and that they are road games.

USC, UCLA, Ohio St, Rutgers and NW are all currently situated in the bottom half of the conference standings. Yes, it is still early in the conference season, but all 5 are currently in the bottom 8 of the conference.

 

[HawkBall23]

Not sure I will make it that late ...

Considering the start and end times, it would be very much preferable if the Hawks were not a big disappointment tonight.

 

[HawkBall23]

@Moral, be sure to get a long afternoon nap because you got a long night ahead of ya!

😁

 

[Moral]

@Moral, be sure to get a long afternoon nap because you got a long night ahead of ya!

😁

This is exactly why the B1G should have avoided adding west cost teams.

 

[HawkBall23]

This is exactly why the B1G should have avoided adding west cost teams.

Yeah, I hear ya. Especially for weeknight games.

I actually have the day off tomorrow, but still gotta get up early for other obligations.

I like turning on west coast games on any random night, but also while knowing I can turn them off at any time, whenever I choose to do so .... not quite the same tonight.

 

[hawx]

9:30 🤮 the West Coast was a mistake

 

[HawkBall23]

Well guys, for everyone's and my sake, I sure hope my normal kind of luck doesn't come home to roost tonight.

Because if it does, you can expect the Hawks to lose a 'heartbreaker' after multiple OTs.



Gawd, why did I even let myself think that!? .... talk about a true nightmare.

 

[SoonerBeAHawk]

Seems like they could have at least scheduled a 6:30 PT start if they want more eyeballs from the rest of the country. Otoh, maybe that would screw with airing another game. Stinks.

 

[fivecardstud14]

Seems like they could have at least scheduled a 6:30 PT start if they want more eyeballs from the rest of the country.

FS1 has a triple header starting with Villanova @ Xavier a 5:30. 7:30 is Providence @ Creighton.

 

[HawkBall23]

FS1 has a triple header starting with Villanova @ Xavier a 5:30. 7:30 is Providence @ Creighton.

Hopefully Creighton wins a fast laugher.

If I gotta stay up late to watch the Hawks, would suck to miss any of the beginning due to another game running over.

 

[ChiPackHawk]

USC is waaaay too athletic for us.

I guess they should just go huddle in the corner and accept the beating? Good thing there is more to the game of basketball.

 

[BrotherHawkeye]

You know what will start to bring fans back, winning these next two games, playing like they did against IU. And then, winning the two home games. Pivotal stretch of games, for many reasons. All quite winnable games. No excuses.

 

[Hawksfor3]

Hopefully Creighton wins a fast laugher.

If I gotta stay up late to watch the Hawks, would suck to miss any of the beginning due to another game running over.

Following the Kings for so long now along with some other NBA teams, I'm used to late games lol. In my case, I'm retired, so fortunately for me it's all good. Still praying for the folks who've been affected by the fires. Hope the Hawks stay locked in on D. Go Hawks!

 

[Biggus Blockus]

Fully expect USC to light it up and get hot tonight. Too soon?

 

[BrewHawk]

I guess they should just go huddle in the corner and accept the beating? Good thing there is more to the game of basketball.

Like defense and rebounding?

 

[BrotherHawkeye]

Fully expect USC to light it up and get hot tonight. Too soon?

Lot a precedent for that, but I'm going against precedent tonight.

 

[ChiPackHawk]

Like defense and rebounding?

Being an athlete is only part of those aspects. You make it seem like it's all of it and the team might as well not show up. Some of the greatest defenders and rebounders in the history of the game were not great "athletes." Is it a net positive to be one, of course. But I could also go through a number of athletes who were not good defenders or rebounders. Iowa just destroyed Indiana and I guarantee you thought they were better athletically than Iowa.

 

[QChawks]

get Dembelee out

 

[ZumaHawk]

Let's go Hawks!! Let's go Hawks!!

 

[ObeseMuffins]

Would love to get Seydou going. We need him.

 

[HawkLogic]

Being an athlete is only part of those aspects. You make it seem like it's all of it and the team might as well not show up. Some of the greatest defenders and rebounders in the history of the game were not great "athletes." Is it a net positive to be one, of course. But I could also go through a number of athletes who were not good defenders or rebounders. Iowa just destroyed Indiana and I guarantee you thought they were better athletically than Iowa.

The thing in our favor is we played and ISU team that was athletic/tough on defense and we were able to score on them. We got into problem because we didn't rebound and defend well enough.

Iowa zoned Indiana and that elimimated a lot of the switches that end in mismatches and made it easier to double the post. Iowa tried that zone vs Wisconsin and Wisconsin torched us with the 3ball. Indiana wasn't able to do it. Add in spectacular defensive games from Freeman and Thelwell, and yeah, surprisingly easy win.


USC record wise is not much, but they did beat a highly rated Illini team at Champaign. Like so many games, this game probably revolves around how each team is shooting the 3 ball. We can't have Payton come out with a 1/13 shooting game and win.

Iowa will be in great shape if they go 2-0 on this road trip but most fans would be happy with 1-1.

 

[BrewHawk]

The thing in our favor is we played and ISU team that was athletic/tough on defense and we were able to score on them. We got into problem because we didn't rebound and defend well enough.

Iowa zoned Indiana and that elimimated a lot of the switches that end in mismatches and made it easier to double the post. Iowa tried that zone vs Wisconsin and Wisconsin torched us with the 3ball. Indiana wasn't able to do it. Add in spectacular defensive games from Freeman and Thelwell, and yeah, surprisingly easy win.


USC record wise is not much, but they did beat a highly rated Illini team at Champaign. Like so many games, this game probably revolves around how each team is shooting the 3 ball. We can't have Payton come out with a 1/13 shooting game and win.

Iowa will be in great shape if they go 2-0 on this road trip but most fans would be happy with 1-1.

Which, if you have athletes, you can guard the perimeter and eliminate open 3 point chances.

I'd look for Sandfort to become Brickfort if he starts trying to play hero ball again. Hopefully he's learned his lesson.

 

[BrotherHawkeye]

Would love to get Seydou going. We need him.

Agree. As a new player on the team, he missed valuable time with his extended absence due to his ankle injury. Now, because of that missed time, he's not getting the minutes. It's a compounding effect for him. We might not see him contributing much until later in the season. Hope I'm wrong. Tough injury for him. Terrible timing.

 

[icwesthawk]

USC does not shoot the 3 ball very well usually. We should win this game and need to win this game. Their athleticism is going to be a problem but we can handle it if we play well. Give me the Hawks 85-79 for a good road win.

 

[Hawkaholic18]

9:30 🤮 the West Coast was a mistake

Yes, or bad contract negotiations when they joined the Big 10. Major overlook.

 

[Buffalo43]

USC does not shoot the 3 ball very well usually. We should win this game and need to win this game. Their athleticism is going to be a problem but we can handle it if we play well. Give me the Hawks 85-79 for a good road win.

He looks very lost out there right now

 

[Hawks2405]

If they don't shoot the 3 ball well then undoubtedly, they will most likely make 17 3's against us this evening and one of their players that typically can't shoot will go 6-8 from deep.

 

[IllQChawk]

9:30pm FS1
USC -2.5
O/U 161.5

USC (10-6, 2-3) is a tough team to figure out. They just won at Illinois but previous to that game they had only one P5 victory. Looking at the stats they are not a great team either. They are 5-5 in last ten games and they do not shoot or rebound well.

All that said, they best Iowa 88-79

The Illini were also missing their starting point guard in Lithuanian, Kasoaras Jakucionis, due to a previous injury. Not sure if he will be playing tonight against Indiana and transfer junior point guard Kylan Boswell didn't provide much in that loss either.

 

[Mohawkeye]

The Illini were also missing their starting point guard in Lithuanian, Kasoaras Jakucionis, due to a previous injury. Not sure if he will be playing tonight against Indiana and transfer junior point guard Kylan Boswell didn't provide much in that loss either.

Still, winning in Champaign aint easy. Impressive. I just hope that they now have a let down.

 

[Packer54]

This may not be a MUST win......but they really need this road game. Hopefully the boys take care of the boards and play some decent defense. If so we will. Hopefully they slept in late this morning by 2 hours.

 

[DewHawk]

If they don't shoot the 3 ball well then undoubtedly, they will most likely make 17 3's against us this evening and one of their players that typically can't shoot will go 6-8 from deep.

about right against Iowa