Man up and make a call on the MSU game

[hawksense]

To me, it's not a make or break game. Way too much season to still play.

Winning the game clears some hurdles (the losing streak at Breslin) but doesn't pave the way for future success. Losing the game should be expected, as MSU is fantastic at home, regardless the competition.

This is all just general blather that most everyone knows. So the question is: do we get our asses handed to us by 20 plus, or do we keep it close with the possibiltiy to win down the stretch? I won't factor in the Hawks winning by 20 because that makes my brain drunk with unreal possibilities.

Anxious to hear thoughts, criticisms and other possible outcomes.

 

[hawksense]

I forgot. Hawks by 2.

 

[johnnashhawk]

I'm afraid we'll get pummeled.....I've become conditioned to anticipate these results...... Hope I'm wrong.

 

[hawksense]

I'm hoping Hawkeye seniors/leadership will prevent us from an embarrassing end. Crap does happen, though.

 

[SSG T]

Uthoff fadeaway from the elbow with 1.5 sec left to put the Hawks up by 1, Valentine misses the half court heave at the buzzer. Hawks win 72-71.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

I want the hawks to win so bad, but MSU is MSU. They are very tough at home and you have to catch them on an off night to beat them. I think the hawks will hang with them, but MSU's shooting will be too tough to overcome.

MSU 83
IA 74

 

[Catfish_ Crazy]

MSU by 12

 

[revkev73]

I think Iowa by 10-12...Iowa is ready for this...more than "needs" it...

Time to spring the trap on MSU...sweep...

 

[ZumaHawk]

Ha! I was gonna start a "prediction" thread earlier. I've called the last 3 wins. I'm also gonna stay positive with our seniors...... Uthoff has a great game and Hawks win. It's high time to stop the bleeding. Go Hawks!!!

 

[DanL53]

I would hope for a fair fight but I've followed this crud for a long time. I don't expect to be in a good mood in 24 hours.

 

[ZumaHawk]

Some day it's gonna happen. Just as well start in 2016.

 

[StormHawk42]

Hawks lose by 7

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

Hawks 74 MSU 70 unless Teddy V shows up

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

Iowa by 8. Hawks play within themselves

 

[IronFist1776]

Iowa wins by 3 and all of us diehards have years shaved off of our lives due to the stress this game puts on us. The Ute takes over and embarrasses Valentine and takes him to school. Izzo goes apoplectic , because the refs he has in his back pocket don't give him the game. But talking heads across the country will ignore Izzo's antics and will focus on Fran and tell him to tone it down and will wonder out loud "What's college basketball coming to"? All this, I predict.

 

[SeattleHawki]

Iowa wins with a buzzer beater by Jok.

 

[luvmyhawks]

Loving me some Iowa right now. Hawks win 72-67

 

[PhantomFlyer]

I would hope for a fair fight but I've followed this crud for a long time. I don't expect to be in a good mood in 24 hours.

You are doing a preemptive whine about the officiating?

 

[Stanley75]

MSU by 13

 

[DanL53]

You are doing a preemptive whine about the officiating?

Will you ever learn to allow others to have an opinion without insulting them? Again, I don't chase you down and comment on your thoughts. But you sure seem to enjoy stalking me. Apparently I'm not the only person on earth who dislikes the idea that Ted Valentine might officiate this game, he's been banned for the last two years!

Guess we might have to wonder if someone who knows one heck of a lot more about basketball than you or I (Of course I doubt you'd ever admit it.) wanted Valentine as far way from Iowa basketball as possible. Sure seems like someone kept Valentine away for as long as possible.

 

[moon291]

Hawks come out showing effects of the long layoff and fall behind big early and stay that way. Lose by 15 or more. Hope I'm wrong.

 

[HerkyFan]

The first 5 mins of each half will tell the story. If the hawks survive the inevitable hard runs at us we have a chance to win. If not it will be MSU by 10+.

 

[MarionHawk]

MSU at home under Izzo just doesn't lose games like this. I think Valentine has a line like 26-11-6 and MSU wins 78-65.

 

[markfromj]

I love and believe in my Hawks but I think we get pounded tonight. So much is against us: 1). At MSU. 2). Valentine back. 3). Spartan payback for only loss 4). 9 day layoff.

MSU 80 Hawks 60.

 

[broth87]

I think the hawks keep it close and competitive. The question for me is foul trouble either way and if uthoff can put both halves together. If uthoff is on, it creates openings for his like gesell and jok and Baer. We need uthoff to play one of his better games tonight.
If uthoff is on, Iowa can steal this in a tight ball game.
If he's not, sparty can get lose and win by double digits.
I think uthoff is on. I'll say hawks shock the conference and knock off sparty 73-71.

 

[83Hawk]

I expect MSU to win, but not in a blowout. I think the long layoff results in the Hawks coming out sluggish to start the game and will fall behind enough early that they are unable to make up the difference. A comfortable win for MSU, but not a blowout.

That being said...I wouldn't mind breaking the Breslin losing streak tonight!

 

[Herkster5]

To me, it's not a make or break game. Way too much season to still play.

Winning the game clears some hurdles (the losing streak at Breslin) but doesn't pave the way for future success. Losing the game should be expected, as MSU is fantastic at home, regardless the competition.

This is all just general blather that most everyone knows. So the question is: do we get our asses handed to us by 20 plus, or do we keep it close with the possibiltiy to win down the stretch? I won't factor in the Hawks winning by 20 because that makes my brain drunk with unreal possibilities.

Anxious to hear thoughts, criticisms and other possible outcomes.

MSU is favored by 8, and I bet they cover.

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

History says Iowa gets embarrassed something like 90-68. But as the brokers like to remind us, past performance is no guarantee of future results so, if Iowa is ever going to win in East Lansing again, it may never have a better chance than tonight. With four seniors and a junior starting, if Iowa can't match MSU's bullying tonight, when will they?

I remember when Iowa had lost 20 straight football games to Purdue. And yet that streak did finally end. I remember when Iowa had 19 straight losing seasons in football, but that streak did finally end. So after tonight's game, I hope I can say that Iowa had lost 18 straight at East Lansing, but that streak did finally end.

With my Hawkeye glasses on tight, I see MSU and Valentine TOO geared up for this one. Everybody in green tries to do too much, and it backfires. When Izzo lights into them, it makes it worse. Izzo's face gets so red you think it's gonna burst. Valentine can't find his rhythm. The Izzo Zone is stunned into slack-jawed silence as Iowa withstands everything Sparty can muster and marches outta town with one of the most stunning upsets of the season: Iowa - 80, MSU - 70.

 

[MepoDawg#]

@ MSU with Valentine back and Sapp not 100% guarding Forbes (3 points last time), MSU by 10-12. Hope Iowa proves me wrong. Although Uthoff had a bad game last time.

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

You are doing a preemptive whine about the officiating?

Not worth the whine, you know the screw job is coming, just need to overcome it

 

[hawk-i bob]

obviously everything points to MichST..

they are really good
home court advantage (yes MichST has one which includes noise)
D Valentine returns .... pump it up.
Izzo in the ears of refs..he is allowed to do so more than any other coach in the B1G & it does impact things.
Forbes has a bad taste of his game in IC.

Iowa's starting lineup knows what they are going into & in for ... reserves not so much.

I don't predict Iowa wins or losses...would be disappointed if we don't give them a game but would understand if we don't.
Keep it under 10 at the 2nd half 7 min TV TO ... take it from there..

oh hell ... beat them by double digits..

 

[RockEyeState]

Loving me some Iowa right now. Hawks win 72-67

Nick Baer steals pass for a slam at buzzer. Iowa by 35

 

[jasonrann]

Weather the storm at the beginning is key to me. I could see Sparty coming out and jumping on us by 10 early. Just chip away and hang around, I don't think Sparty will like that. I like our chances to pull out a close one at the end if we hang around.

 

[JRHawk2003]

Weather the storm at the beginning is key to me. I could see Sparty coming out and jumping on us by 10 early. Just chip away and hang around, I don't think Sparty will like that. I like our chances to pull out a close one at the end if we hang around.

Great point. Just hang in there.

Uthoff needs to be more than a bystander

 

[Curt Furence]

I am never confident when Iowa plays at East Lansing. I think they can win and hope they do but I am not going to get my hopes up.

Need to do a good job defensively on Valentine (obviously) and play Forbes tough again like last time. They can get their points but can't let one of them go off.

 

[thewop]

To me, it's not a make or break game. Way too much season to still play.

Winning the game clears some hurdles (the losing streak at Breslin) but doesn't pave the way for future success. Losing the game should be expected, as MSU is fantastic at home, regardless the competition.

This is all just general blather that most everyone knows. So the question is: do we get our asses handed to us by 20 plus, or do we keep it close with the possibiltiy to win down the stretch? I won't factor in the Hawks winning by 20 because that makes my brain drunk with unreal possibilities.

Anxious to hear thoughts, criticisms and other possible outcomes.

Good post. We're going to lose by double figures, but I'm hoping less than 20. Too many things going against us, and to top it off, I've convinced myself that Ted Valentine will be reffing.

I really want to be competitive with a chance to win down the stretch, but too many things tell me that's not going to happen.

 

[NevadaHawk]

Sparty by six. Hawks play a strong game but MSU is too strong at home.

 

[jasonrann]

Sparty by six. Hawks play a strong game but MSU is too strong at home.

I never want to be ok with losing a game, but this seems like one that is at least less urgent given a 3-0 start. We could still make a statement if we are able to push them to the wall.

 

[revkev73]

Not many people seem to take into account that we beat MSU already this year...

 

[laidbackdude2011]

MSU by 9