, I predict. That's partly due to having 4 senior starters and 1 junior along w/ a borderline great coach who seems to be finally putting together the kind of team he's always wanted. I also feel that this year's B1G is down overall. Maybe its because I'm used to Iowa being middle of the pack looking up at the rest of them but there doesn't seem to be any team out there that looks like they could win it all from our league. I know some people love Maryland as a contender but I don't. Indiana can score in bunches but they don't impress me either. I thought Purdue would be great this year but Iowa made short work of them. MSU usually saves their best for March but they don't scare me either. OSU and Wiscy are both down this year. Michigan isn't the tough out that they used to be back in the day. Illinois has a bad coach and injury woes. Northwestern, Minny, Nebraska, Rutgers and Penn St are all bottom feeders. Almost feels like Iowa is making this great run through the league because everyone else kinda sucks. Don't get me wrong, I'm ecstatic for these players and Fran but this isn't the league from the early '90's or even of 4 years or so ago. But if Iowa makes this run, I'll take it of course. I just wish it was against great comp. I know that there's always some malcontents who can't wait to see every post as a personal insult, I encourage you to find another post to whine about. Everyone else, please, your thoughts.
Iowa will finish the B1G slate 17-1
- Thread starter IronFist1776
- Start date
Nah, Iowa is legit, having two starters & a significant bench player shooting 40%+ from 3 isn't a fluke. This is a good shooting team that can defend. They're doing well this year because they are a really good basketball team. The best part is that they are just hitting their stride.
so you are saying the only reason IA is good, is because EVERYBODY in the BT SUCKS?
I've done some predicting earlier but not as of late. Truly enjoy the prediction by the OP. Not sure I agree with all that he has said but won't dislike his prediction. With that, I'll go along with his prediction. 17 & 1 We need to take care of Indiana both times. OSU/WISCONS/MICHIGAN/ heck all of the other teams don't phase the Hawks. We are a legit team and I am enjoying every bit of it. Go Hawks!!
Not impossible, but very unlikely. 16-2 would be GREAT. 15-3 would make this team the most successful Iowa team in several decades.
The first 7 games were harder than our last 8, and we won all those.....
Not saying we will win all 7, but it's certainly not impossible. If we get our next two I'd say there is a reasonable chance.
OP:
MSU has non con wins over Kansas, Louisville, Prov, Fl and 0 losses.
They also just beat MD 3 games ago and then won their last 2 by a combined 65 points!
But you're right, they're in 6th place in a mediocre conference......I doubt they scare anyone.
But
But Iowa curb stomped the crap out of them and made it look easy. Again, maybe its just because as a Hawk fan I'm used to us being middle of the pack. Either way, I think Iowa will crush everyone left on the schedule. Indiana will threaten but they have yet to play a team that can defend like Iowa can.
Definitely not impossible. But in hoops I take the field. Not much of a gambler here
.
No one thought we'd be 12-0 in football either. However the B1G is not weak and we have beaten soundly two teams that were legit final four teams pre-season and on our worst outing stayed with another potential final four team. and ISU would hate to play us again. Go Hawks but every game is tough in the B1G especially on the road.
Realtime RPI ( out of 350 teams)
Number of times Iowa plays in parentheses
Rutgers 231 (1 game)
Minnesota 221 (1 game)
Nebraska 156 (2 games)
Illinois 142 (1 game)
Penn State 105 (1 game)
Northwestern 103 (1 game)
Ohio State 83 (1 game)
Wisconsin 68 (1 game)
8/14 teams that will absolutely will not make the NCAA (unless they win conference tourney)
9/18 conference games vs poor teams.
Wisconsin + Ohio State in down year for 1st time in forever.
Iowa is very fortunate to play in average to poor conference this year, with a very favorable schedule.
The OP is right on target.
Having said all of that, Iowa is playing well and has a good team. No question. But a reasonable + objective view indicates that they are pretty fortunate as well.
Number of times Iowa plays in parentheses
Rutgers 231 (1 game)
Minnesota 221 (1 game)
Nebraska 156 (2 games)
Illinois 142 (1 game)
Penn State 105 (1 game)
Northwestern 103 (1 game)
Ohio State 83 (1 game)
Wisconsin 68 (1 game)
8/14 teams that will absolutely will not make the NCAA (unless they win conference tourney)
9/18 conference games vs poor teams.
Wisconsin + Ohio State in down year for 1st time in forever.
Iowa is very fortunate to play in average to poor conference this year, with a very favorable schedule.
The OP is right on target.
Having said all of that, Iowa is playing well and has a good team. No question. But a reasonable + objective view indicates that they are pretty fortunate as well.
The field is the wiser bet, but I like OP 's optimism!Definitely not impossible. But in hoops I take the field. Not much of a gambler here
Mostly well-presented argument, except I wouldn't rule out Wisconsin from the dance yet. They do have a tough schedule ahead, and still need a couple of wins against teams ahead of them but Wisky is not a bad team.
I also think that you aren't recognizing how significant home court advantages are in conference. Playing on the road in the B1G is seldom is easy. Teams like Illannoy, OSU, and even PSU are totally different teams at home than on the road.
One minor correction--I think we play PSU twice, not Nebby.
Completely disagree that Iowa's schedule is "very favorable". Overall the conference is down this year, but Iowa only plays each of the "poor" teams once (we play Nebraska once, not twice). The B1G did us no favors with our conference schedule.
Iowa only plays Maryland, Wisconsin and OSU once. Iowa plays bottom feeder Penn St twice. Thst could be considered favorable.
Realtime RPI ( out of 350 teams)
Wisconsin + Ohio State in down year for 1st time in forever.
- The Grinch knew when to fold 'em.
That is a borderline bizarre post. Big Ten is a poor conference? Three teams ranked in the top ten is a poor conference? And while Wisconsin and Ohio State may not be top teams, they're certain pretty good teams; certainly they're no "poor" teams.
Within our conference we play 10 games against teams in the top half of the conference and only 8 games against teams in the bottom half. Half of our ten games so far have been against top 20 teams, and three of the ten games have been against top 10 teams. How many teams in the nation have already played that kind of schedule in their own conference?
You're losing credibility with nit picking the schedule. Iowa played @ Maryland. MSU twice (won by double digits both times), Purdue twice, Indiana twice. Even if the conference is down, they have currently played the toughest schedule in the conference.
We play ten games against teams in the top half of the conference and eight games against teams in the bottom half of the schedule. Of the five best teams (Indiana, Purdue, Michigan State, Maryland, Michigan) we play four of them twice. Of the four really bad teams (PSU, Rutgers, Minny, Illinois) we play three of them only once.
This is most certainly not a favorable conference schedule.
That is what is confusing those that say the Big10 is an average league this year...they can't wrap their heads around the idea that the Badgers and the Buckeyes have slipped but others have replaced them.
Wisconsin and OSU are somewhat down this year. Iowa also plays Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, and Purdue (the teams at the top of the conference standings) twice each. While the home stretch is somewhat favorable compared to the first half of conference play, I wouldn't call that a favorable schedule.
I like the OP's optimism. I don't agree that the Big is a bad conference. I think the league is top heavy
and isn't as deep of a conference compared to previous years.
Iowa & Maryland our Final Four caliber teams.
The Big schedule is imbalanced. If Iowa & Indiana switched schedules . Iowa would be undefeated and Indiana
would have 2-3 losses at this point.
I think we will sweep Indiana. We are a bad matchup for them.
Indiana reminds me of Michigan with a better PG and center. They rely to much on 3 pt shot.
We will lose at OSU or Michigan & go 16-2.
#1 seed in BTT and NCAA tournament.
and isn't as deep of a conference compared to previous years.
Iowa & Maryland our Final Four caliber teams.
The Big schedule is imbalanced. If Iowa & Indiana switched schedules . Iowa would be undefeated and Indiana
would have 2-3 losses at this point.
I think we will sweep Indiana. We are a bad matchup for them.
Indiana reminds me of Michigan with a better PG and center. They rely to much on 3 pt shot.
We will lose at OSU or Michigan & go 16-2.
#1 seed in BTT and NCAA tournament.
Iowa is good probably the best in the B1G. But I have been watching Indiana for 55 years and this years team has done some things that I have never seen before : (1) Have Ohio State down by 30 at half time; (2) Hit 19 three pointers against Illinois in a 35 point win : (3) Demoralize Northwestern by 32 points 3 days after Northwestern took Maryland into overtime ; and (4) Score 25 straight points in 1st half against Michigan at Ann Arbor. Iowa plays into Indiana's strength by running. If you beat IU in Bloomington , I will be shocked. I am more worried playing Penn State away then Iowa at home. Its not who you play but how you play and Indiana is playing as well as Iowa. Time will tell.
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Oh Stender, I was wondering where you have been. That is the one downside to the Hawks having a great season I guess, we just don't get to hear your drivel as much.
You were waiting patiently, and you seem to think you found a chink in the armor to get a dig in.......but alas your comment is ridiculous, and I really believe even you know it was a reach.
Oh well, good to hear from you anyway. I will look forward to your next post when things aren't all going the Hawks way. Tough year for you, hang in there though!
Real IU fan, I also think IU is a very good team and can be incredible when they get on a roll. That said, Dakich's crap about it isn't who you play is nonsense. It isn't hard to get on a roll at home against the bottom third of the league or the other cupcakes that IU has had on its schedule. Last time I looked, IU's strength of schedule was around 180. That is embarrassing for any power conference team, especially one with IU's tradition. IU has a significant scheduling advantage this year, playing every top B1G team once, except Iowa. Because of that advantage, I will very surprised if IU doesn't finish in the top 4 in the league. If IU loses more than 4 regular conference games, I would argue that they should be no more than an 8 or 9 seed in the dance. Lots of good games ahead.
IU beat Creighton by 25 , Notre Dame( who beat Iowa) and all B1G teams except Wisconsin in overtime in a game where Hayes shot more foul shots than IU's team plus Happ and Hayes constantly hooked and it wasn't ever called. IU lost 2 games in Hawaii which the 1981 national champions also did. I don't like the patsie home games played in pre conference , but it is what it is. IU lost Blackmon,the second best scorer and good rebounder , the upside is they lost 30 minutes of lousy defense and replaced it with Johnson and Anunoby's really good defense. Iowa was really after Anunoby and he has shown great ability. I like Iowa due to their experience but my point is that if Duke had done what IU did against those 4 opponents , ESPN would be calling them one of the greatest teams ever.
Don't take this the wrong way but I don't care what anyone thinks about my credibility. I'm just stating my opinion and making observations, the same as anyone else. The B1G is down, there's no denying that. I just wish Iowa had the same great record against a classic loaded conference.
All you can do is play the teams in front of you.
That said, I agree with the OP. It's a down year for the conference, and thus, a favorable remaining schedule of games. 17-1 should be the expectation.
That said, I agree with the OP. It's a down year for the conference, and thus, a favorable remaining schedule of games. 17-1 should be the expectation.
To be clear, I don't think the B1G is a bad conference. Its just not the classic tough conference that we all remember, in my humble opinion.
I love the enthusiasm you Hawekeye fans have. You may have your best team ever, although some of those late 90's teams were pretty good. But there is no way you are going into Bloomington this year and beating IU. The Hoosiers have been destroying people at home. And if you give any life to the Assembly Hall crowd, lights out. I do think you have the inside track for the conference title though. Just please don't give me that 17-1 nonsense.
Its posters like this joker that I can't stand. Unless you say that the Hawks are the best team in all of creation, you "hate" them. If you try and give constructive criticism or analysis, you "hate" them. If his posts bother you so much, ignore them. If threads like this bother you, ignore them. One can tell that you're a bully in real life. Bullies are very unhappy, insecure cowards at heart. Its never too late to grow up.
The List of teams that IU has played in Bloomington (I am not making this up
): Eastern Illinois loss, Austin Pey win, Creighton win, Alcorn State win, Morehead State win, IPFW win, McNeese State win, Notre Dame win, Kennesau State win, Wisconsin win by 1 (recent loss away), Illannoy win, NW mildcats win, Minny win. That is one good home win over a top 30ish team(ND), 2 wins over respectable teams (Creighton and Wisky), a loss to a directional Illinois school, and a bunch of wins over teams that had basically no chance to win and came to Bloomington for a pay day. In fairness, IU did just beat UM handily on the road, but they have not yet played any of the other top 5 B1G teams. They have no quality road wins, except UM.
Since IU hasn't yet played any team in the B1G that will likely finish higher than 6th, I don't think you can really tell how IU is going to do for the rest of their schedule. They are impressive when they get on a roll, but Wisonsin has shown that they aren't so impressive if you slow them down and make them play defense possession by possession.
I think the IU-Iowa games should be great games.
whoa, easy there pal........ I am not going to pretend to know who you are from a post you make, and I won't tell you what to do. But here is a nickel's worth of free advice: I would stop getting so angry about things that really are not that big of a deal.
Stender is an ISU fan who likes to come in and stir the pot. He seems like a decent guy, and he has made some good points on here before. I didn't belittle him, or cuss him up and down, or threaten to take his lunch money, I am just giving him a little shit. I am fairly confident he is waaaaay less offended about my post than you are.
It was not my intent to get you all pissed off on this fine Friday, so please accept my apology. Tell your dog I am sorry also.
Oh, also, threads that say Iowa will finish the Big Ten 17-1 do not bother me at all......I really like them. If you start a thread that says, "I am going to constructively be critical of the Hawks, and anyone that tries to have any fun in the thread will be met with a pouty-pants overreaction response from me"........well then I promise to ignore that thread.
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I agree with the posters that say 16-2 overall. I do think 17-1 is more likely than 15-3 however. I see us losing @ IU or @MI but not both. We're not losing in Carver this year boys and no way @IL, @OSU, or @PSU.
This will be IA's first outright B1G championship since forever, the boys aren't going to fumble the ball on the 1 yard line.
This team is tough as nails and are feeling it.
This will be IA's first outright B1G championship since forever, the boys aren't going to fumble the ball on the 1 yard line.
This team is tough as nails and are feeling it.
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