Which team is the biggest disappointment?

[wbrhawkeye]

Iowa or Wisconsin?

Definitely both, but I’ll say Iowa since Jobo, Nunge, and Garza came back to a really good team that was expected to win the BIG.

I still think we are capable of a long run in the tournament but Fran needs to check himself and quit playing his son and JBo so many damn minutes together. They are clearly defensive liabilities and Connor is not even an average offensive player.

 

[IowaHawkeyeFBnBB4Life]

Fran won't change

 

[IllQChawk]

The Big Ten is so hard to win and Iowa has not won it since they won a share of it in 1979, but I'd say this years Iowa team is the most disappointing team so far. Luka is by far the best player I've seen at Iowa as I was either too young or out of the country to see players like Nelson, Brown, Johnson and although I did get to see Roy Marble, I didn't think he was as good as some before him.
I'm not blaming the players for such a disappointing segment of the season as I blame Fran for his lack coaching moxy. He has never taken defense seriously and Iowa has suffered because of it every year he's been here and this year is evidently no different.

 

[goodbyebobby]

Davison is their Connor.

 

[Suterman]

Anyone who EXPECTED Iowa to win the conference has not paid attention to the last 50 years of Iowa Basketball. I know each year is different, but Iowa is seldom able to attract the elite talent it takes to win championships. We had it in 1969-1970 when we went 14-0 in the B1G. We had it with Ronnie Lester and Vince Brookins etc. in 1979-80, and we had it with Marble, Horton and BJ. We were close w/ Brunner, Horner & Haluska. Woody and Gesells team was on the cusp. Only 1969-1970 Hawkeyes were undisputed league champions and Ronnie Lesters Junior year we were in a 3 way tie for the championship.
This years team hasn't accomplished anything and last years team lost 9 B1G games. It's not too late for this team to accomplish great things but they haven't been close yet.

 

[GoUIowa]

Let it play out. Too early to say.

 

[bucky44]

Both are disappointing in their own respect. Iowa fans were hoping they’d be better on the defensive end. They have not been. Wisconsin fans were hoping they’d continue to play at the level they were last year. They have not.

Still plenty of basketball left to be played. Neither team is going to win the conference, but both are capable of making a run in March.

 

[Eternal Return]

Texas and Kansas are tanking, too. Seems to be a trend.

 

[ZumaHawk]

Wisconsin no doubt..........half this forum saying if the Hawks played Defense like Wisconsin we would be unbeatable. Lol Wiscy got throttled by Illinois today!!

 

[HawkeyeInCentralIowa]

Honestly, that CMac has fallen off a cliff. 2019 CMac would have started and done well with this team. This team lacks the attitude of 2019-20, where they had the biggest chip on their shoulder and came to work every game, and they did not get fazed by anything. This group is really missing leaders like Kreiner and Evelyn.

 

[hawktrooper1]

OP. Yet another lost soul in need of a mental and emotional reset.

Here is a 5-step cure:

1. Go to the men’s college basketball standings page on ESPN.com and it lists all of the conference standings on the same page

2. Scroll through and count all of the teams that are ranked and have 3-4 conference losses

3. Look at how stacked the B1G is. Really focus here (this is key)

4. Remember that the team in first place (Michigan) has been on a 5-game COVID hiatus and likely would have more than 1 conference loss

5. Take a deep breath and ask yourself: Is it as disappointing as I thought it was before step 1?

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

I still believe this is Fran's best team, and there is hope to finish in the top 2 or 3. We definitely need to win tomorrow, or we can forget that. It would help a lot to have a close to healthy CJ. Iowa and Wisky have damn good teams this year. Maybe they are not top 5 teams, as we were tempted to believe, but potentially top-ten teams with a chance to make a pretty good run in the dance. It is all about momentum, staying healthy, and being on a roll at the right time. UM is the only BIG team that hasn't had a down period, and they haven't played for almost a month. I'm not sure how the B1G is going to handle that at this point. IMO, UM, Illannoy, Iowa, OSU, and Wisky are all potential Elite 8 teams with a chance at even more.

 

[Hawkfan_08]

I'm not disappointed in 3 of the 5 losses. It's HOW we are losing that makes me upset. Just like it's how Wisconsin is losing probably makes their base mad.
We lose because of:
Player groupings
Defense

 

[Suterman]

I'm not disappointed in 3 of the 5 losses. It's HOW we are losing that makes me upset. Just like it's how Wisconsin is losing probably makes their base mad.
We lose because of:
Player groupings
Defense

You know...all of the the top 25 are losing games for the same reason Iowa is...parity. If you are not ready to play you are going to lose. Iowa is not remotely different than the other top teams. I watched Wisconsin miss 9 wide open 3's against Illinois in the 1st half and noone is hollering about Illinois terrible defense. This is basketball and teams go hot and cold and go on runs and give up runs. This is basketball. Support your team or root for someone else it's the same everywhere.

 

[pocha444444]

Texas and Kansas are tanking, too. Seems to be a trend.

It's Gonzaga/Baylor and then a bunch of teams that are close in ability.

 

[blockm2]

last season:

#22 Wisconsin +18.95
#23 Iowa +18.65

this season:

#5 Iowa +26.30
#11 Wisconsin +23.01


Those are the KenPom ranks and ratings for both teams last season and this season. They are both objectively better this season than last, yet playing in a tougher conference.

 

[blockm2]

It's Gonzaga/Baylor and then a bunch of teams that are close in ability.

they are certainly a class by themselves so far this season. By KenPom, the gap between #2 and #3 is roughly as big as the gap between #3 and #17.

 

[24 so far]

they are certainly a class by themselves so far this season. By KenPom, the gap between #2 and #3 is roughly as big as the gap between #3 and #17.

And watching those 2 Teams play and everybody else play that gap seems very legit.