The good thing is...

[hexumhawk]

As quickly as a team can cool off and lose its mojo, you can turn it back around just as quick in basketball.

Nobody will remember this stretch if they make a long run in the NCAAs. Might be wishful thinking but it is also a possibility as we have shown we can be good when we are on. The other factor is there isn't a single team that we cant beat if we are playing well.

Now..., on with more negative posts.

 

[Suterman]

Very true Hexum. Basketball is a funny game and this team has been very streaky both ways.

 

[whatsup13579er]

Hot shooting is the only thing that will turn this season around. Uhl, Baer and Ellingsen need to knock down a few 3s and Jok/Uthoff need to be stars again for this Iowa team to make a run.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

Ball must go in basket. Not good enough at defense or free throws to beat a good team shooting 40%.

Imagine if the season had started this way, then they run off 8 in a row. Totally different vibe now.

 

[hawkguy77]

Hot shooting is the only thing that will turn this season around. Uhl, Baer and Ellingsen need to knock down a few 3s and Jok/Uthoff need to be stars again for this Iowa team to make a run.

I would not include Ellingson in the mix. He has done nothing in the last few games and needs to sit.

 

[bravehawks1]

Going to Vegas for spring break and was looking forward to wearing the Black and Gold to show off for a good season. At this point, not sure if I will take anything that has those two colors on it.

While I did not like losing to ISU or Notre Dame or Maryland (all for different reasons) there were many good things the team was doing. However, the last several games, there have been very few stretches of good things happening and when they do, they are quickly followed by a very short period of awful play and they give back everything they had gained from the good stretch. I understand the ebb and flow of the game and streaks occur, but you can almost count on this team to give up 6-8 points in 60-90 second span and it happens multiple times per game too.

 

[SotaHawk87]

I agree OP! The problem with Iowa fans (including myself) is that we usually don't see the turnaround for the team to get hot, they just stay cold!

 

[neidog]

I'm expecting the Hawks to play well, and win.

 

[hexumhawk]

Going to Vegas for spring break and was looking forward to wearing the Black and Gold to show off for a good season. At this point, not sure if I will take anything that has those two colors on it.

While I did not like losing to ISU or Notre Dame or Maryland (all for different reasons) there were many good things the team was doing. However, the last several games, there have been very few stretches of good things happening and when they do, they are quickly followed by a very short period of awful play and they give back everything they had gained from the good stretch. I understand the ebb and flow of the game and streaks occur, but you can almost count on this team to give up 6-8 points in 60-90 second span and it happens multiple times per game too.

I get your point but you also have to admit that sometimes you catch a stretch where the other team is just playing shooting well too. Look at the last 5 games in particular. Indiana played about as good as they can that game; still almost won. Minnesota played their 2nd best game of the season next to the Maryland win they had...we still won. Penn St...played their best game of the year you cant argue, still almost won. Wisconsin, played one of their best games this year and made shots,...we still almost won.

OSU played bad and we played bad.

Point is yes we aren't playing great but we aren't playing like dogs either other than the OSU game. Think we have just caught a bad stretch where other teams are playing really well when we play them. It happens. Hopefully it reverts to the mean and we get some teams off nights coming up.

 

[DanL53]

I agree hexum, things could turn around. This particular stretch hasn't been the most fun due to the results. But at least we've gotten to the point where for most of the season we can have high goals!!!

Who knows what could happen the rest of the way!!!

Oh, and...bravehawks1...

"Going to Vegas for spring break and was looking forward to wearing the Black and Gold to show off for a good season. At this point, not sure if I will take anything that has those two colors on it." CORFer!!!!!

 

[whatsup13579er]

I would not include Ellingson in the mix. He has done nothing in the last few games and needs to sit.

That's the point. No one has done anything off of the bench for the last month. They need to step up and contribute. Uhl/Baer/Ellingsen/Wagner are all going to keep getting minutes. Fran needs them to do something while they are out there. Iowa can't play the starting 5 the whole game.

 

[hexumhawk]

Ellingson was stoking it to start the year. Gotta find that groove back if he wants to have any minutes.

 

[Buffalo43]

Need to get Ellingson in the flow of the game as soon as he misses a shot or gets beat on defense Fran yanks him for the rest of the game

 

[bravehawks1]

I get your point but you also have to admit that sometimes you catch a stretch where the other team is just playing shooting well too. Look at the last 5 games in particular. Indiana played about as good as they can that game; still almost won. Minnesota played their 2nd best game of the season next to the Maryland win they had...we still won. Penn St...played their best game of the year you cant argue, still almost won. Wisconsin, played one of their best games this year and made shots,...we still almost won.

OSU played bad and we played bad.

Point is yes we aren't playing great but we aren't playing like dogs either other than the OSU game. Think we have just caught a bad stretch where other teams are playing really well when we play them. It happens. Hopefully it reverts to the mean and we get some teams off nights coming up.

Hexum, I think we may have to respectfully agree to disagree. Even though Minny and PSU played well against us, if we are truly a good to great team, we have to come a better game and give them a chance. I have seen Indiana and Wiscy both play well several times. When you combine some struggles at the free throw line, defensive struggles, poor offensive execution, poor coaching and poor shooting over the last 7-8 games, you will lose to good teams, average teams and bad teams.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

I think the big ten season and tourney are lost. Other than Rutgers, I would not pick us against anybody else right now. Flush the season, get to the tourney and see if these guys can get their heads right. When a players only meeting spawns the travesty we witnessed yesterday, things are not good.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

I think the big ten season and tourney are lost. Other than Rutgers, I would not pick us against anybody else right now. Flush the season, get to the tourney and see if these guys can get their heads right. When a players only meeting spawns the travesty we witnessed yesterday, things are not good.

Pretty sure that flushing the season is not going to be Fran's game plan.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

Pretty sure that flushing the season is not going to be Fran's game plan.

At this point I don't think Fran can affect anything. Flush the regular season mentally and move on was my point. There is 0 chance these guys make any noise in the big ten tournament, so hopefully a mental reset can take place when the NCAA tourney starts. I fully expect a first round out in the BTT because whoever we play, will be playing for their tournament lives and we don't have that sense of urgency/

 

[hoosierdaddy2015]

As a IU fan im a bit nervous about this game for us, excluding senior night and all that you guys have a very nice team. I see your frustations with the slump and all, but look what you guys have done this year. You beat some really good teams and as a opposing fan its enjoyable to watch your team. I some of your fans knock your coach but hes instilled a toughness that'll be there for along time to come, you guys aren't going anywhere. Enjoy the ride slumps happen, wouldn' be surprised if you guys beat us down and if you do just come over to peegs and enjoy the laughter lol...good luck rest of year

 

[Dauminator]

as a opposing fan its enjoyable to watch your team.

I'd be licking my chops, too.

 

[Ihawkhoops]

As a IU fan im a bit nervous about this game for us, excluding senior night and all that you guys have a very nice team. I see your frustations with the slump and all, but look what you guys have done this year. You beat some really good teams and as a opposing fan its enjoyable to watch your team. I some of your fans knock your coach but hes instilled a toughness that'll be there for along time to come, you guys aren't going anywhere. Enjoy the ride slumps happen, wouldn' be surprised if you guys beat us down and if you do just come over to peegs and enjoy the laughter lol...good luck rest of year

Good post and I like seeing the Hoosiers do well because of how they play. Yogi has been a class act all 4 years. Iowa has had a lot to play for in recent weeks and not shown up. I would not worry too much since you have athletes to guard Uthoff and Jok and shooters to spread the floor. I doubt Bryant picks up 2 phantom fouls like he did in Bloomington and he was a load to deal with even in foul trouble. Emotion may contribute to an early lead, but you have seen how we finish.