I was 12 when the 87 team played, and I loved that team and how they dominated. I was of course devastated when they lost in the E8.
Then I loved all of Dr Tom's teams because of their style of play. Even through Dr Tom's last team I really didn't understand the technical side, and political side, of college basketball, so I would say I was just a fan that though Iowa could and would win every game.
Then the championship teams of Recker/Evans and Horner/Bruner/Haluska were really fun, but I knew they had over-achieved and really had no chance in the tourney. Not enough depth, not enough athleticism and not any NBA lottery guys. They were fun and I loved those teams.
Then last year. My favorite "adult" team. They were in the limelight all year and really had a great group of players that were easy to like as they represented Iowa so well. I really thought at the beginning of the year that if Garza continued to dominate and wieskamp could take his game to a dominant NBA level, the role players and depth could really make that team special. But I think that injuries and the fact that, while I love Joe, I don't think he ascended to what I think he could have, so at the end of the season our weaknesses were too great. I guess that is why I didn't get too upset about them losing to Oregon, because I was bracing that it was going to happen. And I guess for me the whole "sweet 16 thing" is really not that big of a deal and I don't know why so many are hung up on it. To me you either have a team that can match up and have a chance or you don't. And we haven't. So for me if we had beaten Oregon last year but lost in the next round there would have been zero difference. But that is just me.
But now, as I write this, I think this team has a chance. I do think there are weaknesses, but there are only a few teams that can exploit them. This team has the first top NBA pick of my lifetime (or ever I guess) and I don't think we are over-achieving at all. I think if this team plays their best basketball, they beat everyone in the field, but, they can still play a B game and still win. So while I love this team, I haven't loved it as long as I loved the 87 or the 21 team, but seem to embody what no other Iowa team has ever done, get measurably better at the end of the season.
So I of course would be very disappointed if this team doesn't make the S16. They are too good to play down to that competition. I wouldn't be terribly upset if they lose to Kansas, but only Kansas because they are the only team on that side that can match up. I would be incredibly disappointed if we lost to Wisconsin because we are just so much better than them, but Auburn will offer some better match ups and I look at that like the Kansas game. Then, if they make the F4, Arizona poses real problems and would not upset at all if they didn't win that logically. Kentucky and Gonzaga are problems too.
Saying all that I am more hopeful for this team than any other in my adult life, and thus this team is now my favorite.
