Western Illinois Leathernecks

[DanL53]

Look at this:

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/2710/western-illinois-leathernecks

I think we'd better be guarding the three point line. Currently the Leathernecks are ranked #169 by KenPom. They beat Wisconsin already this year, but were also blown out by 30 at Creighton.

A little about their game:

http://www.goleathernecks.com/news/2015/11/28/MBB_1128151525.aspx?path=mbball

Hopefully we can get up on these guys and stay focused defensively all game. With their shooting they can get back in quickly. But it doesn't look like they really like to run...so let's get ahead of them and make them get in a hurry! And I think we all want to see our starters get plenty of rest, and our bench to get plenty of minutes before we travel to Iowa State this Thursday.

How big a week is this? If we can beat the odds and everything goes right, Iowa could be sitting at 8-2 with a week off and only two nonconference opponents left. We would enjoy three top 50 wins as opposed to two top 50 losses. Our overall SOS has been good with very few true patsies.

Let's root for some big things. Take care of Western Illinois and give Iowa State everything we've got.

 

[Packer54]

Thanks for the info. I watched part of that Wisconsin game. They got Wisky early in the year and took advantage of them. Never the less I would like to see our guys not look ahead and stay focused as they could give us a hard time if we come out flat as it will probably be in front of a low attendance again.

 

[EduNeerHawk]

Look at this:

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/2710/western-illinois-leathernecks

I think we'd better be guarding the three point line. Currently the Leathernecks are ranked #169 by KenPom. They beat Wisconsin already this year, but were also blown out by 30 at Creighton.

A little about their game:

http://www.goleathernecks.com/news/2015/11/28/MBB_1128151525.aspx?path=mbball

Hopefully we can get up on these guys and stay focused defensively all game. With their shooting they can get back in quickly. But it doesn't look like they really like to run...so let's get ahead of them and make them get in a hurry! And I think we all want to see our starters get plenty of rest, and our bench to get plenty of minutes before we travel to Iowa State this Thursday.

How big a week is this? If we can beat the odds and everything goes right, Iowa could be sitting at 8-2 with a week off and only two nonconference opponents left. We would enjoy three top 50 wins as opposed to two top 50 losses. Our overall SOS has been good with very few true patsies.

Let's root for some big things. Take care of Western Illinois and give Iowa State everything we've got.

Good thoughts Dan and agree with you. I think Fran will be stressing the focus defensively tonight. He pointed this out after the game on Saturday, there were lapses. I'd like to see us get the bench more minutes again tonight. It was great to see us score 95 on Saturday with the bench collecting 58 points of that...make note of that and keep stoking this fire.

Dan...what are your thoughts with the Big Ten schedule? I see a tough January schedule and if we can hold serve at home which will not be easy at all, 4 or 5 losses but once we get to NW on 1/31 at home and if we stay healthy and keep improving, I honestly can see us having a chance to be in every game and win home and away. Especially with the 4 seniors and Peter on the road. Love to see us start off with a big win at home against Sparty. We owe em one after Saturday night.

Of course our opponents think differently but at least we get the heavy hitters in the BIG out of the way.

 

[DanL53]

I guess I'll point out that Western Illinois doesn't take that many threes. They've only attempted 101 of them in seven games as opposed to Iowa attempting 186 in eight. And we aren't exactly a three crazy team.

 

[DanL53]

[QUOTE="EduNeerHawk, post: 1468283, member: 752" Dan...what are your thoughts with the Big Ten schedule? .[/QUOTE]

I agree we are top heavy again, facing a very tough start to the Big Ten season. And, the way the Big Ten schedules these days we are facing one of the tougher schedules overall. Indiana has what looks to be the easiest amongst the "challengers", and Wisconsin has for certain the hardest.

I see things working out where the top seven or eight (Ohio State being the borderline) teams feed on the bottom six or seven for the kind of win totals it takes for an NCAA invite. Meanwhile, they beat up on each other in what could end up a couple of clusters. Ranking the top eight I'd go with this:

Michigan State, Maryland, Indiana, Purdue. Now, that's on talent, potential, team balance...blah, blah, blah. If I was putting money on it Crean will find a way to underwhelm, and Painter is a better game coach than Turgeon. But, wow, with their schedule if Indiana doesn't finish in the top four? Just, wow.

The next tier is Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin and Ohio State, in that order. The top three could all make a case for that fifth spot. I think it's real close. That's where, due to the schedules, I gave the edge to Michigan. Ohio State? Talent alone but they'd better start producing because Northwestern could slip into that eight spot and the final invite (eight Big Ten teams) to the NCAA Tournament.

I almost made a separate tier for Ohio State and Northwestern. The two teams fighting for that last spot. That's probably going to be my biggest miss of the whole guesswork and who knows but Nebraska could be better than either of those two. It does get very muddled up at that eighth spot in my opinion. Minnesota? Illinois? It could just be a matter among all these team of who is willing to fight all season long for what they can get?

But, I'm not spending a lot of time worrying about the teams I think should end up behind us. So. Bottom line, repeating myself.

Teams that could win the league. Michigan State, Maryland, Indiana, Purdue. With a big expectation that Indiana will self-destruct.
Teams that could finish as high as fourth. Michigan, Iowa.
Sure thing NCAA worthy. Wisconsin.
Ought to be eighth. Ohio State.
Outliers striving for that last NCAA invite at #8. Northwestern, with 10 to 1 shot Nebraska, 20 to 1 shots Minnesota and Illinois.
Bottom two. Penn State and Rutgers.

 

[LuteHawk]

Western Illinois should not give the Hawkeyes any trouble
tonight. If the Hawks are focused and ready to play, then
the Leathernecks will be an opportunity for our bench to
gain more experience.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

I hope the team is not a overconfident about the game tonight. Hawks should win, but this is a trap game with ISU coming up, and this is a very solid team. Not sure why they are ranked as low as 169, given their results so far.

I mostly agree with Dan on the B1G, but I think the Mildcats should be in the second grouping. I know there were a few posters hyping IU a couple of weeks ago, but the Crean factor should help offset their schedule for a middle of the pack finish. I think Michigan and OSU are wild cards right now. I think UM is extremely well coached, so I expect a bounce back year. It is hard to believe that OSU won't get it together better than they have been playing so far. The only sure fire pick is that Rutger's sucks.

 

[EduNeerHawk]

[QUOTE="EduNeerHawk, post: 1468283, member: 752" Dan...what are your thoughts with the Big Ten schedule? .

I agree we are top heavy again, facing a very tough start to the Big Ten season. And, the way the Big Ten schedules these days we are facing one of the tougher schedules overall. Indiana has what looks to be the easiest amongst the "challengers", and Wisconsin has for certain the hardest.

I see things working out where the top seven or eight (Ohio State being the borderline) teams feed on the bottom six or seven for the kind of win totals it takes for an NCAA invite. Meanwhile, they beat up on each other in what could end up a couple of clusters. Ranking the top eight I'd go with this:

Michigan State, Maryland, Indiana, Purdue. Now, that's on talent, potential, team balance...blah, blah, blah. If I was putting money on it Crean will find a way to underwhelm, and Painter is a better game coach than Turgeon. But, wow, with their schedule if Indiana doesn't finish in the top four? Just, wow.

The next tier is Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin and Ohio State, in that order. The top three could all make a case for that fifth spot. I think it's real close. That's where, due to the schedules, I gave the edge to Michigan. Ohio State? Talent alone but they'd better start producing because Northwestern could slip into that eight spot and the final invite (eight Big Ten teams) to the NCAA Tournament.

I almost made a separate tier for Ohio State and Northwestern. The two teams fighting for that last spot. That's probably going to be my biggest miss of the whole guesswork and who knows but Nebraska could be better than either of those two. It does get very muddled up at that eighth spot in my opinion. Minnesota? Illinois? It could just be a matter among all these team of who is willing to fight all season long for what they can get?

But, I'm not spending a lot of time worrying about the teams I think should end up behind us. So. Bottom line, repeating myself.

Teams that could win the league. Michigan State, Maryland, Indiana, Purdue. With a big expectation that Indiana will self-destruct.
Teams that could finish as high as fourth. Michigan, Iowa.
Sure thing NCAA worthy. Wisconsin.
Ought to be eighth. Ohio State.
Outliers striving for that last NCAA invite at #8. Northwestern, with 10 to 1 shot Nebraska, 20 to 1 shots Minnesota and Illinois.
Bottom two. Penn State and Rutgers.[/QUOTE]

I like this Dan.....Me too. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I feel better about mine....

 

[StormHawk42]

Sioux City East product and former Woodbury teammate JC Fuller is apparently one of their two studs

 

[DanL53]

It will be very interesting to see if the refs stick to the new rules come Big Ten time. Makes a huge difference for a team like Iowa playing the likes of Michigan State or Purdue.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

It will be very interesting to see if the refs stick to the new rules come Big Ten time. Makes a huge difference for a team like Iowa playing the likes of Michigan State or Purdue.

This is a good point. The new rules, especially no hand contact, benefits Iowa and Michigan, and it definitely changes the game for MSU, Purdue and PSU. I will believe it when I see it in the B1G.

 

[CanadaHawk]

It will be very interesting to see if the refs stick to the new rules come Big Ten time. Makes a huge difference for a team like Iowa playing the likes of Michigan State or Purdue.

They've been taking about reining in physical play for a few years now. If it affects maybe a call a game in B1G play where Izzo screams bloody murder, the new rules will be a success.

 

[JRHawk2003]

I am a little nervous about this game.

Fran seems intent on a longer rotation in the non con schedule. I get that to a point, but to me this is a borderline NCAA team and we need wins period. Lets say we win tonight, lose to ISU, but can beat Drake and Tenn Tech, that would make us 9-3 going into Big 10 games. Then IF we can get to 10-8 in conference that would make us 19-11 and right on the bubble. Losing 2 games at Orlando hurt us.

 

[Ronman]

I guess I'll point out that Western Illinois doesn't take that many threes. They've only attempted 101 of them in seven games as opposed to Iowa attempting 186 in eight. And we aren't exactly a three crazy team.

If I remember correctly, when Western Illinois beat Wisconsin, they did it by attacking the basket the entire game. Hope Woody can stay out fo foul trouble.

 

[PhantomFlyer]

This is a good point. The new rules, especially no hand contact, benefits Iowa and Michigan, and it definitely changes the game for MSU, Purdue and PSU. I will believe it when I see it in the B1G.

I'd add Wis name to that list.

 

[mazda1]

I think Fran is intent on keeping the starters healthy, limiting their minutes before conf. play, and seeing what he's potentially got coming off the bench.

In tough close games I don't think you'll see Fran going deep just to get players minutes.