This team looks much more athletic and inspired than last year. They are young and loving every minute. Also, I think Jok deserves a lot more credit for being a leader than he has received. We have watched a team learn to play together and grow. Defensively they have taken a step forward and really bought in to Fran's style of play. The teams quick development is encouraging and you cant wait to see what the team is going to do next. This year I am waiting for the team to explode, were in years past, I have been waiting for them to implode. Guys like Bohannon and Baer are blue collar workers that are easy to route for and continue to impress. Great job by Fran and the staff working so well with young players and making them contenders for the NCAA tournament. I didn't expect to be on the bubble watch and love the potential in every player that takes the court.
This season is way more fun than last season.
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I'm not that guy. I played in college. I know these are young kids, capable of doing very human shit. Like getting hurt. Or buying out. They're kids.
But I've also coached for a bunch of years, and what my eyes are telling me has the Iowa fan in me very excited for next year, the year after, and the year after that.
I don't really expect anything. But I have varying levels of excitement, and right now the level is reaching its zenith.
It's curious how some folks feel the need to knock down simple statements of hope and excitement and argue reasons why one shouldn't be excited. Must be a fun lens to view life through.
Yet you knock down, however passively, folks whose "fandom" lens differs from yours.
People are different, and that's a good thing.
I'm 43. In my mid-length life, in my observations, the phenomenon of fan "expectations" has taken on new proportions, and I personally don't like it. I think, at its best, it's useless. I think, at it's worst (which I think it's mostly a negative thing), it breeds a weird hostility toward the players and coaches involved—even if the hostility is "only" expressed in "meaningless" internet musings.
And I think Iowa is somewhat uniquely positioned to suffer from this "expectations" phenomenon. Given it is received and experienced as Iowa's de facto pro team, quite often a significant segment of its fans behave as pro fans, treating the athletes as though they're being paid riches to play.
So I'm appreciative of, for example in this thread, theIowaHawk, for reminding us of the dangers of "expectations."
couldn't agree more..for me (being an Iowa BB follower for over 50 years & very close to the Miller players) I don't get into expectations for one player or one game..its meaningless really. Been thru a lot of "disappointing games" --- but not even close to the disappointment that players & coaches go thru.... It is a game...a college game. I've seen what the lockeroom looks like after tough losses. Fans live for the highs of a Wisconsin win & should try to understand that losses will happen (somebody needs to tell the other team to stop trying so hard)..
..the 1970 team...5-4 to start the season..14 wins later Big Ten Champs..thank heavens there was no internet back then...posters would have had a hay day...but some would have disappeared as the Big Ten season unfolded....they missed out on a lot of fun.
I do have expectations for the program & the man running it. There is no reason or excuse that Iowa basketball cannot be competitive...understanding that there isn't a school in the B1G that isn't trying to do the same thing.. Lick ran the program into the ground..we all know the job that Fran has done...yet we heard all about Year 7.
My expectation for today...none. Play the game... I hope like hell we win & the seniors leave CHA happy.
...all Iowa fans (trolls are not Iowa fans) want to see B1G title, NCAA's 16-8-4...whether this team or the next or the next..can achieve that? Don't know but if it does...I believe we have a coach who has established a culture of Iowa BB that gives us the best chance...in a long time.
In the meantime...at my age I'm going to enjoy every win...hopefully a lot of them.
These baseline expectations are completely fair, and, well, expected.couldn't agree more..for me (being an Iowa BB follower for over 50 years & very close to the Miller players) I don't get into expectations for one player or one game..its meaningless really. Been thru a lot of "disappointing games" --- but not even close to the disappointment that players & coaches go thru.... It is a game...a college game. I've seen what the lockeroom looks like after tough losses. Fans live for the highs of a Wisconsin win & should try to understand that losses will happen (somebody needs to tell the other team to stop trying so hard)..
..the 1970 team...5-4 to start the season..14 wins later Big Ten Champs..thank heavens there was no internet back then...posters would have had a hay day...but some would have disappeared as the Big Ten season unfolded....they missed out on a lot of fun.
I do have expectations for the program & the man running it. There is no reason or excuse that Iowa basketball cannot be competitive...understanding that there isn't a school in the B1G that isn't trying to do the same thing.. Lick ran the program into the ground..we all know the job that Fran has done...yet we heard all about Year 7.
My expectation for today...none. Play the game... I hope like hell we win & the seniors leave CHA happy.
...all Iowa fans (trolls are not Iowa fans) want to see B1G title, NCAA's 16-8-4...whether this team or the next or the next..can achieve that? Don't know but if it does...I believe we have a coach who has established a culture of Iowa BB that gives us the best chance...in a long time.
In the meantime...at my age I'm going to enjoy every win...hopefully a lot of them.
I'm with you 100%. I'm glad your old ass is on the internet.
These baseline expectations are completely fair, and, well, expected.
I'm with you 100%. I'm glad your old ass is on the internet.
so am I...better than the alternative.
By the way, your point about "the other team is trying really hard, too" — I have to remind my brother about this all the time. If Iowa is losing to a team he deems unworthy of losing to, I always say to him, "you know, they recruit, practice, train, lift weights, scout, game plan and shit, too."so am I...better than the alternative.
They do?
...damn it..just having some fun...people who have played know ..have a nephew who coaches HS in Iowa...he is always talking about respecting the opponent regardless of their record... (all good coaches do)...well actually he does more than talk...talk loud that's it.
but ya sometimes the other guys get in the way...one of my favorite songs is Lay Down by The Outfield...our opponents should do just that.
well gotta go...thanks again Rudolph for sharing your thoughts on Iowa BB.
The BIG difference between last year and this year is pretty simple. This year we have 3 guys that can shoot a very high percentage from 3 pt and also very high (over 85 I think) from the line. So in end game situations, we can be confident of hitting the FTs to hold a lead.
Is that really what you think I've done?
I'm very excited. The OP and others posts like it have claimed to be more excited/fun THIS YEAR than last - simply because there wasn't as much hype.
Basically denigrating what the last group accomplished simply because this is "new", even though it is an objectively worse year by all standards.
That is why I pointed out them being unhappy in two more years, because that will have been three years with the "same" guys and no longer be exciting - until the next new group comes in.
As I first said, to each his own, some people are far more excited about "new" and "different" than they are the actual game/results. Same reason some people follow recruiting so closely - grass is always greener.
That's why I was trying to pin down who you were talking about. I was trying to figure out what you meant. It seemed like you were making comments to a lot of posters, me being one, and I was pretty clear in this thread that I have been enjoying watching the development of this McCaffery program from the start.
But what really concerns me with your statement? "Actual game/results"? Hey, I'll admit to having a different kind of interest this season with so many young guys. What a chance to watch their development and the coaching moves Fran makes! But don't expect that to mean I'll be tired of the guys in three years. Heck, if I could glue a new name on Jok's jersey and slip him into the lineup as freshman Peter Rock, I'd do it!
I think I understand where you are coming from now. And yeah, last years team deserves much credit for their season. I've been giving it to them.
So all I can say is I get your point, and maybe I'm being sensitive but if feels like, man, take that thing off automatic and stop firing indiscriminately into the crowd.
That's why I was trying to pin down who you were talking about. I was trying to figure out what you meant. It seemed like you were making comments to a lot of posters, me being one, and I was pretty clear in this thread that I have been enjoying watching the development of this McCaffery program from the start.
But what really concerns me with your statement? "Actual game/results"? Hey, I'll admit to having a different kind of interest this season with so many young guys. What a chance to watch their development and the coaching moves Fran makes! But don't expect that to mean I'll be tired of the guys in three years. Heck, if I could glue a new name on Jok's jersey and slip him into the lineup as freshman Peter Rock, I'd do it!
I think I understand where you are coming from now. And yeah, last years team deserves much credit for their season. I've been giving it to them.
So all I can say is I get your point, and maybe I'm being sensitive but if feels like, man, take that thing off automatic and stop firing indiscriminately into the crowd.
Agree with all of that. There are definitely people who wanted last year to end simply to get to these guys. These guys have a long way to go to match the last group, and I'm hoping they can do it. This season, with this many freshman and the success they've had points to a bright future, if they match what the last group did they'd be considered very successful; I just hope people don't forget that in two years if they don't win the Big and NCAAs.
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