Seems crazy, most fun in a LONG time, no shot at tournament.

[hansenhawk]

Still think it's crazy.

Last few years guaranteed NCAA teams, seemed like not that much fun.

This year, pretty much no shot at tournament, more fun than I remember having in a long time.

I guess it's like Red said, hope is a good thing. With the freshman, maybe it's simply that?

Hope. Sounds good. Always had hope, it just seemed to have been MUCH more limited type of hope in the past.

Anyways, be great to somehow pull off another shocker at Wisky, then MAYBE we start considering tournament? Do that, win 2 in the BTT perhaps?

Winning at wisconsin? At first I though, yeah right, impossible. Then i remember this team is different, we can maybe pull this type of crap off now.

This guy is optimistic? Holy crap, what is happening? You all should really be excited now. ha

 

[SotaHawk87]

I think last year I drank the kool aid once Iowa got up to #2 in the kenpom and ended up just being mad about the meltdown.. whereas if they would have consistently been a projected 6-8 seed I would have enjoyed it more.. kind of weird

 

[hansenhawk]

Nothing against Gesell and Woody, but i was kind of burned out on them by last year, no matter how good they were. Uthoff kind of fizzled. Was weird, technically, they were good, but I just sort of wasn't buying it anymore at that point.

Fans were ready to move onto a new era I think, we knew the ceiling was pretty limited there. Gonzaga definitely reminded us of that ceiling. ouch.

Cook is the best recruit we have had in a long time, Bohannon is panning out bigtime. Like i said, we now have some talent and more possibilities. Might end the same, I have been waiting 41 years for a really good team, and to young to remember the first 10.

My glory days are the Oklahoma victory and epic debacle against UNLV. I just want to compete and be thought of as somewhat of a "big boy team" once again. Easier said than done. Why no young kids are Hawkeye fans anymore, why should they be? No longer a local TV thing, teams never that good. Everyone on this board is probably 40 and over. Bob is like 89. New era indeed.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

If you didn't have fun the last few years then i bet you are a blast at parties

 

[ChrisVarick]

I understand what you are saying. It will be fun to watch this team grow.

 

[youcantguardme]

Still think it's crazy.

Last few years guaranteed NCAA teams, seemed like not that much fun.

This year, pretty much no shot at tournament, more fun than I remember having in a long time.

I guess it's like Red said, hope is a good thing. With the freshman, maybe it's simply that?

Hope. Sounds good. Always had hope, it just seemed to have been MUCH more limited type of hope in the past.

Anyways, be great to somehow pull off another shocker at Wisky, then MAYBE we start considering tournament? Do that, win 2 in the BTT perhaps?

Winning at wisconsin? At first I though, yeah right, impossible. Then i remember this team is different, we can maybe pull this type of crap off now.

This guy is optimistic? Holy crap, what is happening? You all should really be excited now. ha

Not so fast my friend. We have beat the #1 seed in the BTT this year.

 

[hansenhawk]

Actually I am a blast at parties, Hawk games never seem to have anything to do with that. Now, if you party revolves around a hawkeye basketball game? Well, i guess that is probably up for debate then. Could go either way. lol.

 

[hansenhawk]

Tournament - hope u r right, we seem to have not shot, and have FINALLY snuck on barely the outside bubble watch. I fear a loss at Wisky will just put us squarely back on the outside looking in? Barring a miracle long run in the BT tournament that is.

 

[youcantguardme]

Tournament - hope u r right, we seem to have not shot, and have FINALLY snuck on barely the outside bubble watch. I fear a loss at Wisky will just put us squarely back on the outside looking in? Barring a miracle long run in the BT tournament that is.

Well then let's thump the badgers by 20 on their own home floor like we did the turtles. It might be improbable but it's not impossible.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

We went through Alford, Lick, and a rebuild but the past few years weren't that fun?

 

[hansenhawk]

After watching Gesell come up short, or so it seemed, EVERY TIME it mattered most? Giving up on woody ever making a bunny? Uthoff, who just didn't have the killer instinct? Call me a crappy fan, but yeah, i was sort of ready to move on to a new group. Never said i didn't have ANY fun, just knew the fun was limited. Seems this fun has a lot more potential to be limitless. Yeah, i guess knowing, or at least thinking that, it seems a lot more fun now.

Plus, I have watched some games this year where i thought, WOW, i haven't seen basketball like that in a LONG LONG time from any Iowa team. Now, we have horrible losses, the lows are low with a young team. I have just noticed MUCH HIGHER highs. I did not see that last year, no matter what the kenpom said. Can't believe they were #2 at one point. Maybe I am just crazy, which could easily be the case.

I sort of liken it to being a steelers fan, sure, they will be good, but u know eventually the patriots will be waiting to completely kick your ass. Its like now, I have faith the Steelers could actually win that game the next few years. The Hawkeyes that is, not the real Steelers, they still have no shot. lol

 

[hansenhawk]

Btw, gotta love this board, hate me when I am negative, so come on here with some hope and positively, and still the negativity is sought out. U guys never disappoint. Trying to give u something new here! Should i just go back to being debbie downer? Its easy for me....just let me know if you like that better.

 

[youcantguardme]

After watching Gesell come up short, or so it seemed, EVERY TIME it mattered most? Giving up on woody ever making a bunny? Uthoff, who just didn't have the killer instinct? Call me a crappy fan, but yeah, i was sort of ready to move on to a new group. Never said i didn't have ANY fun, just knew the fun was limited. Seems this fun has a lot more potential to be limitless. Yeah, i guess knowing, or at least thinking that, it seems a lot more fun now.

Plus, I have watched some games this year where i thought, WOW, i haven't seen basketball like that in a LONG LONG time from any Iowa team. Now, we have horrible losses, the lows are low with a young team. I have just noticed MUCH HIGHER highs. I did not see that last year, no matter what the kenpom said. Can't believe they were #2 at one point. Maybe I am just crazy, which could easily be the case.

I sort of liken it to being a steelers fan, sure, they will be good, but u know eventually the patriots will be waiting to completely kick your ass. Its like now, I have faith the Steelers could actually win that game the next few years. The Hawkeyes that is, not the real Steelers, they still have no shot. lol

Every team in the 10 has a shot; that's why they have a tournament.

 

[youcantguardme]

Btw, gotta love this board, hate me when I am negative, so come on here with some hope and positively, and still the negativity is sought out. U guys never disappoint. Trying to give u something new here! Should i just go back to being debbie downer? Its easy for me....just let me know if you like that better.

Btw, gotta love this board, hate me when I am negative, so come on here with some hope and positively, and still the negativity is sought out. U guys never disappoint. Trying to give u something new here! Should i just go back to being debbie downer? Its easy for me....just let me know if you like that better.

Take your meds.

 

[youcantguardme]

And yes I do get really down when the Hawkeyes lose too down and too drunk. But hey in Heaven there is no Maker's Mark.

 

[Hawksfor3]

If we don't make the NCAA Tournament, but get an NIT bid, It would be fun (for me anyway) to play a team like Oakland or BYU. Just a thought.

 

[hansenhawk]

Actually went out to seek out some hawkeye bubble talk. There is none and we are delusional. Only ONE place i could find even mentions us as a bubble possibility, the others lists as us one of the few B1G that is actually considered OUT.

Yeah, we need to win at Wisky to even entertain this idea i think, unless u want to believe we are winning the BTT.

Win as wisky, and maybe we are in with MINIMUM 2 better make it 3 wins in BTT.

Lose at Wisky, we need to win the whole thing.

Of course this is assuming we beat PSU at home, which unfortunately means nothing.

This season will teach me one thing, if you schedule cupcakes, you better damn well beat em. RPI to low and to bad of losses is the theme, and it sux that they cancel out so many darn great wins we have had.

Win 2 more games OOC before B1G play and this is probably a whole different conversation.

I would just like to see us listed on SOME bubble talk. We are not...

Better stick with the "So you're tellin' me there's a chance" theme at this point.

 

[Suterman]

Wisconsin has a big home court advantage, Wisconsin is very experienced, Wisconsin is very talented. Iowa is very young but very talented. Wisconsin may be playing for a title, Iowa is playing for it's post season life. I imagine Wisconsin wins pretty easily.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

The entire season comes down to the game at Wisky. Who here in November would of predicted that? I mean we are not on the bubble (nor should we be). If we win on Thursday that will put us up a little (maybe mid 70s RPI). But we are still out. We still have to win 3-4 more games to be in the talk of a "at large bid." But hey it makes it fun.

I personally think this young team will go to Wisky and play hard and tough, but will lose. Wisky is reeling and i am sure their coach wants' nothing better than to embarrass Iowa. They are an athletic team loaded with seniors and playing at home. Hell most of Wisky's Roster can get into a bar, Iowa's only player that can do that is Jok probably. So it will be a tough task.

The funny thing is how teams like GA tech, Vandy, and others are listed as "in" the tournament or "first four out". How are these teams in the discussion and Iowa isn't? I realize we are a long shot, but at least compare the resumes. They were talking about Ga Tech being on the bubble. Their #'s are (RPI 91, SOS 54, vs top 50 4-7). Iowa's #'s (RPI 92, SOS 48, vs top 50 4-8).

Vanderbilt has a better resume, but they are 16-14 with one more to play vs Florida.

Syracuse (RPI 79, SOS 42, vs top 50 6-7) Pretty good resume

TCU (RPI 58, SOS 28, vs top 50 2-10) Dang need that big win

There are teams with decent resumes and teams with head scratchers. I wonder if they are just throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what will stick? I still think Iowa is off the bubble (10th-15th) outside looking in. They have to win these last two and who knows they might move up in the pecking order, but they will still have work left to do in DC.

 

[dmoore27]

Btw, gotta love this board, hate me when I am negative, so come on here with some hope and positively, and still the negativity is sought out. U guys never disappoint. Trying to give u something new here! Should i just go back to being debbie downer? Its easy for me....just let me know if you like that better.

Hansen Hawk, i appreciate your thoughts and optimism here. I as well was hopeful last year but knew there was heartbreak coming, whether it was Fran's refusal to call time outs and set plays up or the players not making plays.

This year our Young hawks appear to have that closing instinct. We have come back from double digits and have fought hard all year. Disappointing loss to MN that we fought hard to win that game only to be hosed by the refs.

Again, i appreciate the optimism. Don't let the haters bring you down to their level.

 

[hansenhawk]

If only this wisky game was at home, eh?

More impressive win on the road I guess, but a lot harder to actually do.

Look back which is always easy, we win 2 games we SHOULD have OOC, and beat Illinois just once, and we are probably a bubble team that is considered in at this point.

Tell that next year to the team when playing omaha, Fran. Why those games suck, don't help u one bit hardly, but can destroy you bigtime.

 

[pocha444444]

Tournament - hope u r right, we seem to have not shot, and have FINALLY snuck on barely the outside bubble watch. I fear a loss at Wisky will just put us squarely back on the outside looking in? Barring a miracle long run in the BT tournament that is.

Well obviously, I don't think anyone is expecting to get in without beating the Badgers. Win the next 4 games and we are in.

 

[relishingwinning18]

After watching Gesell come up short, or so it seemed, EVERY TIME it mattered most? Giving up on woody ever making a bunny? Uthoff, who just didn't have the killer instinct? Call me a crappy fan, but yeah, i was sort of ready to move on to a new group. Never said i didn't have ANY fun, just knew the fun was limited. Seems this fun has a lot more potential to be limitless. Yeah, i guess knowing, or at least thinking that, it seems a lot more fun now.

Plus, I have watched some games this year where i thought, WOW, i haven't seen basketball like that in a LONG LONG time from any Iowa team. Now, we have horrible losses, the lows are low with a young team. I have just noticed MUCH HIGHER highs. I did not see that last year, no matter what the kenpom said. Can't believe they were #2 at one point. Maybe I am just crazy, which could easily be the case.

I sort of liken it to being a steelers fan, sure, they will be good, but u know eventually the patriots will be waiting to completely kick your ass. Its like now, I have faith the Steelers could actually win that game the next few years. The Hawkeyes that is, not the real Steelers, they still have no shot. lol

I understand everything you said, and felt the same way at the end of last year. January was a lot of fun, but I found myself waiting for that bubble to burst, and it did. That team was basketball sound, but not that athletic. I think this year's team is very athletic, and the hope for more basketball soundness being combined with it in the near future, is a very exciting thought.

 

[relishingwinning18]

Actually went out to seek out some hawkeye bubble talk. There is none and we are delusional. Only ONE place i could find even mentions us as a bubble possibility, the others lists as us one of the few B1G that is actually considered OUT.

Yeah, we need to win at Wisky to even entertain this idea i think, unless u want to believe we are winning the BTT.

Win as wisky, and maybe we are in with MINIMUM 2 better make it 3 wins in BTT.

Lose at Wisky, we need to win the whole thing.

Of course this is assuming we beat PSU at home, which unfortunately means nothing.

This season will teach me one thing, if you schedule cupcakes, you better damn well beat em. RPI to low and to bad of losses is the theme, and it sux that they cancel out so many darn great wins we have had.

Win 2 more games OOC before B1G play and this is probably a whole different conversation.

I would just like to see us listed on SOME bubble talk. We are not...

Better stick with the "So you're tellin' me there's a chance" theme at this point.

It is weird how people are so high on Ga Tech(91RPI), and have them in the tourney, while Iowa sits at 92. Almost identical seasons.

Ga Tech has bad losses to #110 and #122. Iowa #109 and #142(without cook).
Tech has wins over #23 VCU(road), #7 UNC, #60 Clemson, #12 FSU, #22 Notre Dame, #79 Syracuse, and #73 Pitt. 4 top 50, 7 top 100.
Iowa has wins over #30 ISU, #47 Michigan, #20 Purdue, #62 OSU, #87 Nebraska, #93 Indiana, and #27 Maryland(road). 4 top 50, 7 top 100.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

It is weird how people are so high on Ga Tech(91RPI), and have them in the tourney, while Iowa sits at 92. Almost identical seasons.

Ga Tech has bad losses to #110 and #122. Iowa #109 and #142(without cook).
Tech has wins over #23 VCU(road), #7 UNC, #60 Clemson, #12 FSU, #22 Notre Dame, #79 Syracuse, and #73 Pitt. 4 top 50, 7 top 100.
Iowa has wins over #30 ISU, #47 Michigan, #20 Purdue, #62 OSU, #87 Nebraska, #93 Indiana, and #27 Maryland(road). 4 top 50, 7 top 100.

That's what I was saying, but I think since they are in the ACC and Iowa is in the Big Ten that's why people are talking about Ga Tech. If Iowa can win at Wisky that would be HUGE! Im not expecting it at all and I think it will be a good game, but this is a senior dominated team for Wisky.

Now lets also not forget that Iowa played UNI (normally a top 100 team) this year. They had arguably their worst year in a while. If UNI plays even at 75% of what their capable of, they around 100 and helping Iowa's RPI.

I hope next year Fran/Barta really do so some research for the OOC schedule. Look at what teams have returning and try to find some "decent" opponents. I would stay away from the Atlantic Sun, MEAN, Sun Belt, and others. Look to the MVC, MAC, Horizon, C-USA, Mountain West, and others. If the conferee is rated 10+ you do not want any team from that league.

 

[hansenhawk]

I definitely think we should be getting a least some bubble consideration here, that's for sure. We are getting NONE.

Wasn't over when the German's bombed Pearl Harbor I guess!

This years OOC was basically a disaster, they scheduled quite a few good teams. Problem? lost to damn near all of em. Lose to a cupcake on top of that, and yeah, that is why we are getting no love, even tho our B1G record is plenty good enuf. Sux.

I think Michigan State could be 5-20 and they would be on the bubble watch tho...

 

[DavenportHawk8]

I definitely think we should be getting a least some bubble consideration here, that's for sure. We are getting NONE.

Wasn't over when the German's bombed Pearl Harbor I guess!

This years OOC was basically a disaster, they scheduled quite a few good teams. Problem? lost to damn near all of em. Lose to a cupcake on top of that, and yeah, that is why we are getting no love, even tho our B1G record is plenty good enuf. Sux.

I think Michigan State could be 5-20 and they would be on the bubble watch tho...

The UNO game we were w/out Cook. Not that it matters, but there are teams with "worse losses" than Iowa right now that are on the bubble. All the teams that have worse losses also have the same # wins vs top 50 and relatively close SOS;s.

Is it because the Big Ten is down? That's my only reasoning I can think of.

 

[Hawksfor3]

Wasn't over when the German's bombed Pearl Harbor I guess!

HUH??

 

[Ree4]

HUH??

It was a jok

 

[jhawkinaz]

If only this wisky game was at home, eh?

More impressive win on the road I guess, but a lot harder to actually do.

Look back which is always easy, we win 2 games we SHOULD have OOC, and beat Illinois just once, and we are probably a bubble team that is considered in at this point.

Tell that next year to the team when playing omaha, Fran. Why those games suck, don't help u one bit hardly, but can destroy you bigtime.

I think the Wisky win would have to be on the road to give us even a scrap of a chance without a tourney title.....so I am glad its on the road.

For the record, I see only a BIG Tournament Title as a NCAA bid, but you never know with this goofy committee. I have never trusted it since they took the Hoosiers over us after we beat them twice, had a better conference record, and were ranked higher too I believe.

 

[HawkWeaver]

Still think it's crazy.

Last few years guaranteed NCAA teams, seemed like not that much fun.

This year, pretty much no shot at tournament, more fun than I remember having in a long time.

I guess it's like Red said, hope is a good thing. With the freshman, maybe it's simply that?

Hope. Sounds good. Always had hope, it just seemed to have been MUCH more limited type of hope in the past.

Anyways, be great to somehow pull off another shocker at Wisky, then MAYBE we start considering tournament? Do that, win 2 in the BTT perhaps?

Winning at wisconsin? At first I though, yeah right, impossible. Then i remember this team is different, we can maybe pull this type of crap off now.

This guy is optimistic? Holy crap, what is happening? You all should really be excited now. ha

 

[HawkWeaver]

We have better athletes on this team than we have had in a log time........and not just a few good athletes. There are many. How long has it been since we have had scoring in the middle, under the basket where it is actually part of the game plan? It has been forever. Inside game, outside game.........this group has a high ceiling.

 

[hooper56]

I don't think too many pundits think Iowa can win at Wisconsin and barring a win there we just don't have much of a shot of making the ncaa tournament. But Iowa does have a team that is built to possibly make a run in the B1G tourney. If we go on a shooting run we will be a tough out.

 

[hansenhawk]

Jake Taylor says, "Well, then I guess their is only thing left to do..."

I hope u get that one Hawkfor3. Gotta give u a bit of a WOW on not grasping the other one. Pretty sure it was easy to grasp i hope?

Give u credit tho, that was probably funnier than me saying it. Surely you weren't serious?

Back to topic, yeah, i just wasn't up to date on bubble talk, so i searched hoping to see SOMETHING about us having a chance out there. Only thing i saw? Definitely out category. Kinda pissed me off, i gotta admit, we deserve more respect than THAT, right?

Bohannon is gonna make all these bastards pay next year, mark it down. Of course I am the crazy guy who actually thinks he is the best player in the state right now, and no i don't think i'm joking. Dude's legit big time. Give me all in state players, i draft #1, he is who i take with that pick, and it's not even close. Maybe I am just delusional tho, who knows. At least it's positive right? Therapy is paying off after all I guess.

 

[relishingwinning18]

Jake Taylor says, "Well, then I guess their is only thing left to do..."

I hope u get that one Hawkfor3. Gotta give u a bit of a WOW on not grasping the other one. Pretty sure it was easy to grasp i hope?

Give u credit tho, that was probably funnier than me saying it. Surely you weren't serious?

Back to topic, yeah, i just wasn't up to date on bubble talk, so i searched hoping to see SOMETHING about us having a chance out there. Only thing i saw? Definitely out category. Kinda pissed me off, i gotta admit, we deserve more respect than THAT, right?

Bohannon is gonna make all these bastards pay next year, mark it down. Of course I am the crazy guy who actually thinks he is the best player in the state right now, and no i don't think i'm joking. Dude's legit big time. Give me all in state players, i draft #1, he is who i take with that pick, and it's not even close. Maybe I am just delusional tho, who knows. At least it's positive right? Therapy is paying off after all I guess.

Only two players in the nation with 65+ three pointers and 130+ assists who are freshman, Jordan and Lonzo Ball.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

The non-con scheduling bugaboo just doesn't seem to get resolved.
I had less irritation over it this year as I thought they had virtually no chance at an at-large tourney bid.
Turns out the garbage non-con is once again hurting them.
I will acknowledge that it isn't necessarily a simple matter to get the teams scheduled that end up between 100-200 RPI AND beat all of them.
Somehow, though, they have to figure out how to get opponents of higher quality. Too many 250+ RPI teams in the non-con will once again hurt their chances next year.

 

[lovedwatchingLester]

Next year make the schedule as difficult as possible

 

[hansenhawk]

Bout 2 weeks ago, some thread was circling twitter voting best player in Iowa between Jok and ISU what's his nuts. I made comment, Bohannon, and yes I was serious.

None of you crazy bastards even liked it. I'm on board that bandwagon. Like Roy Munson, when you hear Bohannon, you think "winner." He has the guts to match it too.

Dude is unreal, right now, imagine the future? I honestly think he might end up going down as my favorite hawkeye since Steve Carfino.

High expectations anyone? lol, Sorry kid. Don't screw it up now! He won't, unlike so many others, he will be able to handle it, and handle it well he will.

 

[torbee]

If you didn't have fun the last few years then i bet you are a blast at parties

It is different, though.

Having lower expectations make the losses and frustrating stuff SO much less excruciating.

I feel like this team also plays more the style Fran wants - fast paced, more pressing, -- last year's team looked like it was running in concrete sometimes.

 

[iahawkeyes17]

After watching Gesell come up short, or so it seemed, EVERY TIME it mattered most? Giving up on woody ever making a bunny? Uthoff, who just didn't have the killer instinct? Call me a crappy fan, but yeah, i was sort of ready to move on to a new group. Never said i didn't have ANY fun, just knew the fun was limited. Seems this fun has a lot more potential to be limitless. Yeah, i guess knowing, or at least thinking that, it seems a lot more fun now.

Plus, I have watched some games this year where i thought, WOW, i haven't seen basketball like that in a LONG LONG time from any Iowa team. Now, we have horrible losses, the lows are low with a young team. I have just noticed MUCH HIGHER highs. I did not see that last year, no matter what the kenpom said. Can't believe they were #2 at one point. Maybe I am just crazy, which could easily be the case.

I sort of liken it to being a steelers fan, sure, they will be good, but u know eventually the patriots will be waiting to completely kick your ass. Its like now, I have faith the Steelers could actually win that game the next few years. The Hawkeyes that is, not the real Steelers, they still have no shot. lol

Call me crazy but 2 years ago in White's senior year thought was fun to watch. Killed Maryland at home that year. Won last 6 to finish 12-6 in conference tied for 3rd in conference and blew out first round opponent by 30 in the tourney. Thought that was more fun then watching a team be 16-13. No offense to this years team has lot of promise but enjoy an ugly win over a pretty loss any day.