Next 6 Games...

[SotaHawk87]

Pretty imperative that if Iowa wants to dance this year they will need to win four of their next six. I think we can all find three, but if they were able to snag one against Seton Hall, Virginia (or whoever after in that tournament), or at Notre Dame they would be on pace..

Love the early offense but it will be something to see how Iowa defends against a solid team like Seton Hall!

 

[BrunoMars420]

I hope we have a rotation figured out here within the next 6 games. One thing I always rag on Fran about is his rotations and never letting his guys get into a rhythm throughout the season.

 

[perryhawk]

I love watching this team and I think they have the potential to be REALLY GOOD....the problem is it might not be very soon. They have a lot to learn and I think that playing these experienced tough teams will be good lessons but very hard lessons. I will be pleasantly surprised at this point if they are ready to play at the level of SH, ND, Virginia, etc...... I am not expecting great results so hopefully I get surprised.

 

[hawksense]

Kinda my thought, too, Perry.

It's some tough comp they have coming up. I like it. I don't expect them to win 4 of the next 6. It would be nice.

 

[HeRKeYHoPeFuL]

I agree with the sentiment of what it takes to be "on track" for an NCAA birth. I expect the Hawks to take one of Seton Hall, Virginia, ND, ISU; which leaves them squarely on the bubble so far. If they exceed that expectation and can add another win in their tourney after Virginia, I think they'll be well on their way to surprising and receiving an at large.

 

[Rustys Dad]

I love watching this team and I think they have the potential to be REALLY GOOD....the problem is it might not be very soon. They have a lot to learn and I think that playing these experienced tough teams will be good lessons but very hard lessons. I will be pleasantly surprised at this point if they are ready to play at the level of SH, ND, Virginia, etc...... I am not expecting great results so hopefully I get surprised.

I really do think facing some tough competition up front will only make them better down the road. Losing can humble you. Make you realize you aren't invincible, and expose areas you need to improve. Beating up on NE Louisiana AT&T is fine ... but let's see where we sit against some decent schools.

 

[srams21]

I really do think facing some tough competition up front will only make them better down the road. Losing can humble you. Make you realize you aren't invincible, and expose areas you need to improve. Beating up on NE Louisiana AT&T is fine ... but let's see where we sit against some decent schools.

Agreed. It helps them get ready for a BIG schedule much quicker. I think at some point this season, they are going to take down a couple ranked teams. It might not be this early, but you never know.

 

[And1Hawk]

I really like the potential of this team but am not sure they will be ready for prime time and what this non-conference schedule brings. I think they win maybe 2 of the toughest 6. Hope to be wrong though.

 

[DanL53]

If anyone watched the Illini vs Western Kentucky game you saw what an experienced lineup with a bad coach can get you. If not for Hill's hero ball career night it looked like the Illini were in for a dog fight right to the end.

What I'm getting at is although I am not raising my expectations on the low side, I am ready to move the ceiling up for our guys. Personally, I think the top eight have played very solid and while they were pretty much warm up games I've seen Fran's early teams WITH experience struggle a little more than this crop of young men have.

Sticking with my prediction of a win over Seton Hall.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

I really do think facing some tough competition up front will only make them better down the road. Losing can humble you. Make you realize you aren't invincible, and expose areas you need to improve. Beating up on NE Louisiana AT&T is fine ... but let's see where we sit against some decent schools.

I agree with this. Hawks need to figure out how to play against top teams that can make it tough on both ends of the floor, so these early games will be great experience and an opportunity for Fran to figure out his best rotation. Younger players need to show that they can play against other great players, so Pete doesn't have to play hero ball for them to win. I think the talent is there.

 

[anon_bb9wlf9kj42py]

I agree with the sentiment of what it takes to be "on track" for an NCAA birth. I expect the Hawks to take one of Seton Hall, Virginia, ND, ISU; which leaves them squarely on the bubble so far. If they exceed that expectation and can add another win in their tourney after Virginia, I think they'll be well on their way to surprising and receiving an at large.

I think Iowa gets Seton Hall, and then 1 of 2 in FL, and loses to ND simply because it's a road game. I know Virginia lost a lot after last year but that team defends at an extremely high level and that travels.

2-2 would be good in the big games coming up. I think Iowa also needs to go at least 1-1 vs. ISU and UNI. With the Big 10 schedule Iowa has this year, they only get one game vs. the top teams, and that won't give Iowa as good of an opportunity for good wins. I think Iowa would really improve their odds at he tourney if they beat ISU.

 

[DodgerHawki]

If anyone watched the Illini vs Western Kentucky game you saw what an experienced lineup with a bad coach can get you. If not for Hill's hero ball career night it looked like the Illini were in for a dog fight right to the end.

What I'm getting at is although I am not raising my expectations on the low side, I am ready to move the ceiling up for our guys. Personally, I think the top eight have played very solid and while they were pretty much warm up games I've seen Fran's early teams WITH experience struggle a little more than this crop of young men have.

Sticking with my prediction of a win over Seton Hall.

Hope you're right Dan. I think everyone is ready to see where the team is at against an opponent who is good. And folks, remember that this one game doesn't make the entire season (win or lose).

 

[DanL53]

I agree with this. Hawks need to figure out how to play against top teams that can make it tough on both ends of the floor, so these early games will be great experience and an opportunity for Fran to figure out his best rotation. Younger players need to show that they can play against other great players, so Pete doesn't have to play hero ball for them to win. I think the talent is there.

The thing about this part, "Younger players need to show that they can play against other great players, so Pete doesn't have to play hero ball for them to win.", what comes after the color "Red"? I promise Fran didn't recruit and coach these guys to win against the Coppin State's and Savannah's of the world. But I do like people saying, "take it slow" so should I turn out wrong about the Seton Hall game I won't be crunching up my game schedule or anything like that.

 

[iabcuda]

Competition is overrated. I think we missed the boat by not playing Mary.

 

[EduNeerHawk]

If anyone watched the Illini vs Western Kentucky game you saw what an experienced lineup with a bad coach can get you. If not for Hill's hero ball career night it looked like the Illini were in for a dog fight right to the end.

What I'm getting at is although I am not raising my expectations on the low side, I am ready to move the ceiling up for our guys. Personally, I think the top eight have played very solid and while they were pretty much warm up games I've seen Fran's early teams WITH experience struggle a little more than this crop of young men have.

Sticking with my prediction of a win over Seton Hall.

Good thread by all..... Hey...MSU is - 0-2 and Wisky just picked up an L last night.

Like Dan is saying, no reason to lower expectations from my end either and the two games so far have gone pretty much as as I expected thought I gotta say I wasn't expecting this team to be leading the B1G in scoring offense after 2 games at 103.5 ppts per game by a half a point over Indiana...

My biggest question or concern at this point is how tough and physical can this team be? They'll need to get after it and take it up intensity wise a few notches on both ends especially defensively starting Thursday night. That's a tough Seton Hall team they'll be playing and I think size wise we match up well but they are a more experienced team.

But the fact is they are averaging 103 ppg after 2 games regardless of the comp and that in itself is a lot to build on for a team as young and as inexperienced as Iowa.


SCORING OFFENSE G PTS. AVG./G
1. Iowa 2 207 103.5
2. Indiana 1 103 103.0
3. Purdue 2 185 92.5
4. Illinois 3 272 90.7
5. Northwestern 2 180 90.0
6. Rutgers 2 173 86.5
7. Minnesota 2 170 85.0
8. Penn State 3 248 82.7
9. Nebraska 2 153 76.5
Michigan 2 153 76.5
11. Ohio State 2 147 73.5
12. Wisconsin 2 146 73.0
13. Maryland 2 138 69.0
14. Michigan State 2 111 55.5

 

[BRANDONJ8]

seton hall by three points. we will beat Virginia down in florida though .

 

[ThamesHawk]

I think three is realistic but four would be great, especially if it's against ND.

 

[EastIowaHawk]

I think we win two of the next six and that Fran continues to play 10-11 guys until he sees how they do against the better teams. Most of the next six we play would have killed the two teams we beat, so we don't know much yet.