Ending the season on an upswing trying to play your way in to the tournament is so much better than watching a veteran piss down their leg hoping they don't lose their way out of the tournament.
This season is way more fun than last season.
- Thread starter General Tso
- Start date
As a whole, yes. Watching this team improve throughout the year has been fun, knowing that they're young and we'll get to watch them for years to come. There has been plenty of frustrating times though, the UNO loss, the bullfighter defense against Seton Hall (Ole!). Last year when Iowa started out 7-0(?) and were being projected as a #1 seed, ranked 3rd in the country (saw some mentions of a #1 rank by fringe sources) was pretty fun though. The collapse at the end was not fun however
To each his own, but I'll never understand your stance.
I presume your enjoyment of a movie is based largely on pre-hype and excitement too.
Not knocking your opinion, I just don't get it.
I presume your enjoyment of a movie is based largely on pre-hype and excitement too.
Not knocking your opinion, I just don't get it.
I am in the same boat as him. We all knew what was coming when the prior years Seniors were in a close game with a minute or 2 to go. They lose the OVERWHELMING majority of them doing the same crap over and over. So happy they came to Iowa, brought us back to allow for the talent we have to come here with tons more coming soon.
Nah, Jobo is so mentally tough and can hit 3's. Going to be a fun ride.
Yep, the ceiling is vastly higher with this core of players plus what is coming in soon than anything before it under Fran or since the 06 debacle as a 3rd seed.
I wouldn't say WAY more fun. Riding high for a while at the early part of the conference season was pretty nice last year.
The trajectory, though, is one of (if not the most crucial) aspect of the season.
A team having a great January, then falling on their collective faces in February and March is far less satisfying for me as a fan than one that may stumble earlier but seems to pull it together as tournament time approaches.
Ideally the entire season is built on the premise that the team works through issues December - January and builds steam heading through February into March.
Also with this year, my expectations were for an NIT team at best. They are looking fairly good for that now, with even having a longshot at an NCAA bid.
So, from a trajectory perspective and low expectation starting point I do agree that this is more enjoyable than last season.
The trajectory, though, is one of (if not the most crucial) aspect of the season.
A team having a great January, then falling on their collective faces in February and March is far less satisfying for me as a fan than one that may stumble earlier but seems to pull it together as tournament time approaches.
Ideally the entire season is built on the premise that the team works through issues December - January and builds steam heading through February into March.
Also with this year, my expectations were for an NIT team at best. They are looking fairly good for that now, with even having a longshot at an NCAA bid.
So, from a trajectory perspective and low expectation starting point I do agree that this is more enjoyable than last season.
I loved the previous teams but this team is complete opposite as last years team, both good teams but this young team doesn't get rattled or scared to take the final shot.
In close games in previous years we lost 90 percent of the time the team just looked scared and would lose in weird ways.
This team doesn't get rattled and look like they have no fear and aren't scared to take the shot they all want to take it.
Last year the only guy who would take the final shot was gesell. When it should have been uttoff but rumor was he never wanted to take it. Weren't we like 4-16 or something like that with that group throughout their career in games decided by 5 points or less.
In close games in previous years we lost 90 percent of the time the team just looked scared and would lose in weird ways.
This team doesn't get rattled and look like they have no fear and aren't scared to take the shot they all want to take it.
Last year the only guy who would take the final shot was gesell. When it should have been uttoff but rumor was he never wanted to take it. Weren't we like 4-16 or something like that with that group throughout their career in games decided by 5 points or less.
It's the difference between having one chance and 4 chances. Last year's group didn't have the luxury of additional chances.
We beat ISU and Wisconsin THIS year not last year - hard to argue with that. Just need to beat MSU in the BTT 
I agree 100 percent General!! Love this team, and they play well with or without Jok! With having a true Big in the rotation next year and a year under their belts....Sky is the limit.
I throughly enjoy watching this team play. Last year was pretty discouraging the way they collapsed after the terrific start. This teams has a different demeanor about them and it's very welcome. Totally pumped about next year already, and the next, and the next
It's fun to watch kids get better and see the freshman have success.
At the start of the year we were looking at Uhl, Jok, Wagner, Baer, Williams, and Cook as the core. Cordell, J Bo, Kriener, Brady, and Moss have all grown beyond where most thought they'd be and everyone on the team has had key contributions.
We are invested in and support the kids and in return they have generally given us effort and unselfishness. We like the potential and we have hope for the future. As they better understand their roles and each other (especially defensively) we can expect to make steps forward. The arrow is pointing up and the fans like it.
At the start of the year we were looking at Uhl, Jok, Wagner, Baer, Williams, and Cook as the core. Cordell, J Bo, Kriener, Brady, and Moss have all grown beyond where most thought they'd be and everyone on the team has had key contributions.
We are invested in and support the kids and in return they have generally given us effort and unselfishness. We like the potential and we have hope for the future. As they better understand their roles and each other (especially defensively) we can expect to make steps forward. The arrow is pointing up and the fans like it.
I can't say I've enjoyed this season more than last. But then I've been having a blast since McCaffery arrived, watching the program get better and better.
Went to Iowa's official website today and checked out a video of all the Hawk players and staff celebrating the win in the locker room. Go there and watch the video, it is hilarious! They are having so much fun too! Check out Tyler, Pete, and Cordell, you'll laugh.
www.hawkeyesports.com
"Bohannon 3-pointer Sinks Badgers"
Agreed with the last few posters, McCaffery has been magic for the basketball program.
Selective memory and expectations seem to play a bit of a role for those enjoying a 17-13 season more than others, as all of these players have had their ups and downs. Bohannon even bricked his first chance to win the game yesterday and luckily a few free throws went Iowa's way.
End of game situations haven't been ideal for many years, but remember Gesell won a game @ UNC which doesn't happen for many, Uthoff hit a game winner at Minnesota his junior year, and Woodbury pushed his way to a buzzer beating Luther Vandross moment. The prior regime made some big shots and missed some bit shots, just like this crew. All of them deserve a bunch of credit for making Iowa relevant.
Let's hope they finish strong and keep this program moving forward.
Go Hawks
Selective memory and expectations seem to play a bit of a role for those enjoying a 17-13 season more than others, as all of these players have had their ups and downs. Bohannon even bricked his first chance to win the game yesterday and luckily a few free throws went Iowa's way.
End of game situations haven't been ideal for many years, but remember Gesell won a game @ UNC which doesn't happen for many, Uthoff hit a game winner at Minnesota his junior year, and Woodbury pushed his way to a buzzer beating Luther Vandross moment. The prior regime made some big shots and missed some bit shots, just like this crew. All of them deserve a bunch of credit for making Iowa relevant.
Let's hope they finish strong and keep this program moving forward.
Go Hawks
I think we may not need to wait two years. I think next year could be really special. Two years? Extra really special.
Three years? Patrick McCaffery will be a freshman. Wieskamp a sophomore. We will have said goodbye to Nicholas Baer until the day he returns to coach our Iowa Hawkeyes!
But talk about upperclassmen! Three years? Super incredible special kind of fantastic with lasers and fireworks!
Posted a lot about this over the last few weeks.Three years? Patrick McCaffery will be a freshman. Wieskamp a sophomore. We will have said goodbye to Nicholas Baer until the day he returns to coach our Iowa Hawkeyes!
But the more I watch these kids, the more I think next year might just be the year.
There are three words that keep coming to mind when I watch this group: precocious, moxie, fearless. None of these words suggest they have the patience to wait until 2019.
Yes, 2019 looks extra good, but in this day and age, kids don't have the patience for more than 140 characters, much less another 365 days.
One of my very favorite things about this year is that this group of freshman is setting the bar. So now, next year's freshman have an implied, if not stated, expectation: Come in ready to contribute, or you won't see the floor.
2018 just might surprise us.
I won't be surprised. But I love the line about this years freshmen setting the bar high. That is maybe the best thing about this young group is that they came in fearless and fighting from the start.
McCaffery had a line right before the season about, "We'll see how they react when they get knocked down." Well, I'd say we saw how they react.
My hopes (I don't like saying expectations as that places more emphasis on my own evaluation skills than warranted) are sky high for the future. One year, up to every year from here on out.
Or you will expect extra really special, they challenge for the B10 title, make the second/third round of NCAA and you feel bitterly disappointed because it doesn't live up to the hype, you know, like last year.
Yes, exactly what we had last year.Three years? Patrick McCaffery will be a freshman. Wieskamp a sophomore. We will have said goodbye to Nicholas Baer until the day he returns to coach our Iowa Hawkeyes!
Extrapolation is not 100%. I feel that this team will surprise many who have already thrown in the 2017-18 season.
Only different guys.
That is my point. OP and others seem to be more excited because these guys are new, different - because they are freshman. In two years they won't be either of those things and I think we will see identical threads wanting "new blood" and other cliches.
Which posters on this thread are bandwagon fans and which are supportive and just excited about a very promising future?
Today's outcome will ultimately cement how most Iowa fan views this year overall. Crushing PSU will equate to a fun season (and positive vibes during the off-season), no matter how the post-season plays out. Losing in maddening "Illinois at home" fashion could kill that for a lot of fans.
There is more riding on this game than any other game this year from the fan base's perspective. There are expectations now. BIG expectations.
There is more riding on this game than any other game this year from the fan base's perspective. There are expectations now. BIG expectations.
I'll be fine if we lose. Won't like it, but I've seen enough to be convinced these young guys are for real. And anything can happen in basketball.
But. Regarding the fan base in general I think you are half right. I think it takes a win today and at least one in the BTT. The reason being, our recent history in the BTT has been dismal.
I posted something in another thread last night. The last five years, our record in the last half of the Big Ten Schedule is 6-3, 3-6, 7-2, 4-5...and if we win today 6-3. And yet we've given ourselves the reputation, the myth, that we fall apart. We've got a name for a 3-6 finish, we call it, "The Collapse". And I've seen the same name for that 4-5 finish last year.
I think it's the BTT results fans remember, and those couple of seasons that the end didn't go our way have become the Boogeyman under our bed.
I'm dang sure many fans remember the negative stuff. And that's just human nature.
Love this team especially when they started to figure out the defensive side of the game in half court. They still have their moments now and again but they can play some D and their help D is getting better and better. Being able to get there as a young group bodes very well for the team.
Agree and Coach Mac is recruiting very good talent. Talent that plays on the AAU level against the best competition in the country so these young guys aren't going to be afraid to compete or take that last second shot. I see Iowa only getting better and better as the four stars come in next year and beyond.
It's going to be fun moving forward but can't say thank you enough for the players that helped get Iowa to where they are today by saying yes to come play for Fran when he first got here.
Last edited:
Similar threads
