Renewed thoughts on the Hawks final record

[hawksense]

The non conference is over and we've all seen what we've seen.

I threw my hat in at 16 wins and will remain there. I hope to be horribly wrong, but in my view, there's a lot to like and some things that will be further exposed/exploited.

Offensively, I think we're ahead of the curve. We need to work on FT shooting, although I'm not sure that ever helps. You're either Peter Jok or you're Shaq. And practice isn't game situations where the real shooter comes out. I know it helps some, so I'm not completely dismissing it.

We've gotten better on the boards, but I'd like someone besides Jok to lead us. Kudos to him, but we need a forward to lead us in rebounding.

Defensively, we've improved, but we're not where we should be, yet.

There won't be any gimmes the rest of the way and teams will start to test our fortitude. Night after night and wave after wave of teams that are competent to dynamic and want to beat us badly. We need to stay together and follow the game plan.

I hope for more, but see 8 more wins before the tournament. I wouldn't be too discouraged with that and more wins than that would be welcomed. I'd love to be really wrong.

 

[DanL53]

I thought we'd win nine in the non conference and go 11-7 in the Big Ten. So I'm already wrong by one. But I'm sticking to it.

 

[MepoDawg#]

I think a 9-9 conference record is a very realistic goal. So 17-14 (9-9) before B1G Tournament.

 

[lovedwatchingLester]

Still feel 12-6 in the B1G is doable with their schedule so I'm staying right there until it is mathematically over.

 

[Mohawkeye]

I think 9-10 wins is realistic. We have an easier BT schedule than most, but this team is young and going to be erratic. We are going to see just how good of a coach Fran is this year, and I think he is a very good coach.

 

[HawkAttackDial911]

This B1G is down this year so 8-10 wins seems realistic. If Iowa is consistent they could win more. So, I'm right there with you at 16-17 wins before the tournaments.

 

[Mohawkeye]

This B1G is down this year so 8-10 wins seems realistic. If Iowa is consistent they could win more. So, I'm right there with you at 16-17 wins before the tournaments.

This is a team that should improve and might do better in the BTT than the regular season. 17 wins and a nice run in the BTT, who knows where that might take you

 

[SSG T]

I said before the season I thought they'd win 18-20 games and be solidly on the bubble. I'm sticking with that.

I don't think they will win enough games to make it easy on the committee to put them in and I don't think they lose enough to put them into the NIT. It will also depend on other teams results.

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

Buckle up, it's gonna be a roller coaster ride for this team in conference. There will be huge wins and head scratching losses. Whatever that spits out at the end record wise, we'll find out, but it's gonna be entertaining.

 

[TKingpin]

I think it is possible that they have yet to find the right combinations of personnel. I think at some point they will and you might need to get Iowa early because as the season goes on, they will be a much better team.

I am still hoping for a line-up that clamps on a killer press. Williams has that wingspan, Baer is super active, Dailey or Moss as the other wing, then Wagner has real quickness in the back end along with ??? A rim protector... maybe Cook.

Another line-up could be the 3 point assassins: JBo, Moss, Jok, Kreiner and (Jones would have fit perfectly in this rotation, IMHO), maybe Baer.

Another group could be the Slow-down half-court team. Effective inside guys like Pemsl and Cook teaming up with outside snipers like Jok, JBo, Moss or Baer. (Ok, that looks a lot like the starting line-up going forward).

Then you could have a complete shift-change like in hockey with a group that plays a completely different type of tempo - the pressing group. Williams, Baer, Dailey/Ellingson, Wagner and Uhl/Kreiner. This could be a pretty good zone defense with their length and Wingspan once we fall back out of the press. Might create a preparation nightmare for opposing teams.

 

[caseyballzz]

I believe we had addition by subtraction by losing to UNO. I believe that loss helped more than any win we have had. It seemed to click that defense does matter and you cannot outscore your opposition like AAU. Defense is a good disease that spreads with teamwork.

 

[K OKeefe]

I believe the way the B1G is shaking out a 12-6 conference record is certainly doable. This Hawkeye team is scrappy, especially since Coach Fran adjusted his starting lineup. I expect they are only going to get better once Cook gets back from his injury.

 

[hooper56]

I would not be surprised if Purdue throttles our young team pretty good. But then again I would not be surprised to see us win. This year's team is a little like Forest Gump's box of chocolates.

 

[perryhawk]

The non conference is over and we've all seen what we've seen.

I threw my hat in at 16 wins and will remain there. I hope to be horribly wrong, but in my view, there's a lot to like and some things that will be further exposed/exploited.

Offensively, I think we're ahead of the curve. We need to work on FT shooting, although I'm not sure that ever helps. You're either Peter Jok or you're Shaq. And practice isn't game situations where the real shooter comes out. I know it helps some, so I'm not completely dismissing it.

We've gotten better on the boards, but I'd like someone besides Jok to lead us. Kudos to him, but we need a forward to lead us in rebounding.

Defensively, we've improved, but we're not where we should be, yet.

There won't be any gimmes the rest of the way and teams will start to test our fortitude. Night after night and wave after wave of teams that are competent to dynamic and want to beat us badly. We need to stay together and follow the game plan.

I hope for more, but see 8 more wins before the tournament. I wouldn't be too discouraged with that and more wins than that would be welcomed. I'd love to be really wrong.

I agree with pretty much everything that you said....the one dynamic that I think will be the biggest game changer is improvement or a downturn in individual performance.

If things start to really click for Williams, Wagner, and or Uhl there could be a solid uptick in the win column.

Conversely, if Jordan or Cordell hit the freshman wall it could be worse.

 

[Mohawkeye]

I believe we had addition by subtraction by losing to UNO. I believe that loss helped more than any win we have had. It seemed to click that defense does matter and you cannot outscore your opposition like AAU. Defense is a good disease that spreads with teamwork.

Agree. But I also think UNO is a much better team than people realize.

 

[MepoDawg#]

Agree. But I also think UNO is a much better team than people realize.

But they're not beat Iowa every day good.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

Agree. But I also think UNO is a much better team than people realize.

No, they're not very good. Among their already 6 losses this year they've been beaten handily by Rice and eastern Michigan.

Hawks have clearly improved from that game. No need to revise history. It was a bad loss, and they've gotten over it.

 

[torbee]

I had 9-6 non-con, and 10-8 in the B1G for a bubbly 19-14.

I was off by 1 in non-con (really thought we'd get 1 out of the Gavitt thing) and my B10 prognostication was a little rosy.

I think if Iowa notches 18 wins, I'll be ecstatic, but can live with them being around .500 in the conference and a solid NIT resume.

 

[FairfIowafan1984]

I like this team and I hope none of the freshman transfer. The future is so bright with this bunch I think we have the best freshman in the big ten.

But I feel this is a NIT team unless maybe a few 1 or 2 point wins that we weren't suppposed to win. But I see 9 wins in the big ten before the tourney which would make us 17-14. But I'm so excited about the future!

 

[DanL53]

I love this thread.

Purdue!!! We're coming for you!

More cowbell!!!! Crank it up!!

 

[unIowa]

I had 9-6 non-con, and 10-8 in the B1G for a bubbly 19-14.

I was off by 1 in non-con (really thought we'd get 1 out of the Gavitt thing) and my B10 prognostication was a little rosy.

I think if Iowa notches 18 wins, I'll be ecstatic, but can live with them being around .500 in the conference and a solid NIT resume.

My thoughts as well however I think this team has a chance to shoot its way to a big ten tourney championship. Probably won't happen but a boy can dream can't he?

 

[hawksense]

I would not be surprised if Purdue throttles our young team pretty good. But then again I would not be surprised to see us win. This year's team is a little like Forest Gump's box of chocolates.

If Purdue were smart, they would terrorize us with an all out assault on defense and a deliberate offense that makes us play tough for 30 seconds. Put us in our uncomfort zone.

 

[hawksense]

But they're not beat Iowa every day good.

They only needed one day to prove their point.

 

[skydog0784]

I too think 9-10 wins in the B1G conference and hopefully 1 in the BTT and an NIT bid.

That would be a solid result and important building block for the future of the IA underclassmen. They're athletic and talented.

 

[lovedwatchingLester]

Tomorrow is promised to no one. Win today and every chance you get

 

[Kurt Warner]

Agree. But I also think UNO is a much better team than people realize.

They sure shot the heck out of the ball the day the hawks played them.

 

[Mohawkeye]

No, they're not very good. Among their already 6 losses this year they've been beaten handily by Rice and eastern Michigan.

Hawks have clearly improved from that game. No need to revise history. It was a bad loss, and they've gotten over it.

I think their brutal road schedule had something to do with that. Not saying they are world beaters, but they weren't devoid of talent, either. Not a good loss, but not as bad as people think.

 

[Zildjian6868]

Cook is the x-factor. If he comes back from his injury and is just as effective as he was before, we could be in for a good surprise. We will need more than what we have seen from the team this far. Cook is the missing piece. The added rebounder, the extra scoring threat. Baer and Uhl adding to the offense is a great surprise, but cannot be relied on. With Cook we add an extra shot blocker, more offense, and the ability to consistently win games.

 

[HawkLogic]

No, they're not very good. Among their already 6 losses this year they've been beaten handily by Rice and eastern Michigan.

Hawks have clearly improved from that game. No need to revise history. It was a bad loss, and they've gotten over it.

ISU throttled them and ISU is not great. I think it was case of the team not being ready and it wouldn't happen again.

 

[The Sleeping Dog]

I ascribe to the roller coaster conference season as well. There will be some head scratchers and some big wins. The squad is young, dependent on heavy scoring from one player, who will have off games, but also talented and deep in shooters.

Hawks are so young that the B1G schedule will be quite challenging. Ten wins in conference would be a great result for a squad that will be starting four freshmen.