Success

[CentralIAHawk]

As the B1G season starts to wind down, I believe success is in our grasp. Remembering that we were picked to finish last in conference from most national prognosticators, I have felt like this has been a pretty successful season so far. But I was wondering how it should end.

Here is the successful scenario, as I believe we can see it play out:

1. We have to hold serve at home vs. Illinois and Indiana. Those teams have been punching bags.
2. An upset at either Maryland or Wisconsin qualifies us as master overachievers...I don't expect it.
3. That likely sets up a final B1G game at home vs PSU. That game will likely determine sole possession of 7th place, and will qualify us to play an evening game on Thursday of the tourney. That feels like a game we have lost under Fran's leadership. This group needs to learn to win that game.
4. Even if we lose that game, we play a lower seed in the tourney. Once again, we need to win that first round matchup.
5. If that plays out, then we find ourselves on Friday vs. #2 seed on a neutral floor. Gotta make that game exciting.

If all of that plays out (4-3 over final 7 games), then I would declare this season a smashing success. I know, I know, there are those that will bash that thinking, arguing that freshmen gotta grow up. But I would be very happy with that outcome, and would include Fran in some conversation about 'best coaches in the B1G.'

Go Hawks!

 

[Suterman]

4. Even if we lose that game, we play a lower seed in the tourney. Once again, we need to win that first round matchup.
5. If that plays out, then we find ourselves on Friday vs. #2 seed on a neutral floor. Gotta make that game exciting

A lower seed in what tourney? 1st round of what? #2 Seed? Very confused.

 

[CentralIAHawk]

Sorry, I see how that can be confusing. Maybe try reading it with the B1G tourney bracket in front of you.

Go Hawks!

 

[hawkeye bb n fb fan]

4. Even if we lose that game, we play a lower seed in the tourney. Once again, we need to win that first round matchup.
5. If that plays out, then we find ourselves on Friday vs. #2 seed on a neutral floor. Gotta make that game exciting

A lower seed in what tourney? 1st round of what? #2 Seed? Very confused.

Not that hard. He's talking about the Big Ten Tournament. The first game we would play a lower seed, assuming we get the 7. We would play the 10. And if we won that game, we would play the 2.

 

[Cydkar]

4. Even if we lose that game, we play a lower seed in the tourney. Once again, we need to win that first round matchup.
5. If that plays out, then we find ourselves on Friday vs. #2 seed on a neutral floor. Gotta make that game exciting

A lower seed in what tourney? 1st round of what? #2 Seed? Very confused.

Clearly, he's talking about the ACC tournament.
Was this a serious question?

 

[SDHawkDoc]

Your qualifications for "smashing success" set a very low bar.

I don't find their performance this year unexpected. It's been erratic. A lot of fun to watch at times; downright putrid at others.
Before the season started I had no thought that they would make the NCAA tourney. I was hopeful they might do enough to make the NIT.

If they can go 3-2 in the final five games, and win their first game in the BTT, they might well just get into the NIT. That would be a solid finish. A nice show of growth to close the season. Definitely not a "smashing success".

 

[CentralIAHawk]

I can understand your statements, and realize why you don't want to call it something more than it is. However, I am responding primarily to where the 'experts' were putting us before the season. I was honestly very surprised when the preseason info came out and we were picked last in conference, but I can understand why. And here is the truth, if these things would've been true, then we would've finished last:

1. JBo proved to be the point guard that almost everyone, including Hawk fans, thought he was going to be...rather than the PG he has demonstrated himself to be.
2. Pemsl and Kreiner would've been redshirt-type guys, like most fans were projecting...rather than the immediate contributors they have proven to be invaluable.
3. Brady would've been the "not-even-D1" guard that some idiots (in fact, alarmingly too many idiots) were proclaiming...rather than a tough-nosed, gamer that can really shoot!

It would only take 5 games in conference to go in the L column rather than the W's, and we would be in last right now. And I can easily think of 5 games that we would've/could've lost, had those three things gone as prognosticated...including an L we would have against the current cellar dweller.

Thus, smashing success.

Go Hawks!

 

[C/Seahawk]

I can understand your statements, and realize why you don't want to call it something more than it is. However, I am responding primarily to where the 'experts' were putting us before the season. I was honestly very surprised when the preseason info came out and we were picked last in conference, but I can understand why. And here is the truth, if these things would've been true, then we would've finished last:

1. JBo proved to be the point guard that almost everyone, including Hawk fans, thought he was going to be...rather than the PG he has demonstrated himself to be.
2. Pemsl and Kreiner would've been redshirt-type guys, like most fans were projecting...rather than the immediate contributors they have proven to be invaluable.
3. Brady would've been the "not-even-D1" guard that some idiots (in fact, alarmingly too many idiots) were proclaiming...rather than a tough-nosed, gamer that can really shoot!

It would only take 5 games in conference to go in the L column rather than the W's, and we would be in last right now. And I can easily think of 5 games that we would've/could've lost, had those three things gone as prognosticated...including an L we would have against the current cellar dweller.

Thus, smashing success.

Go Hawks!

You've set the bar incredibly low to call a season at or around .500 without a big dance invite a smashing success. Fran has built this roster and team and it was his roster management that resulted in such a young team in year 7. Sorry, but a result that doesn't get us in the big dance is anything but a smashing success. Also, what experts predicted is to be last in conference? I must have missed that as Rutgers has and will continue to be the cellar dweller in this conference.

I would call the season to date acceptable all things considered and there is still enough time to make a run, but a smashing success this season has not been.