Will we ever peak in March?

[IowaHawkeyeFBnBB4Life]

It seems like under McCaffery Iowa has peaked in late December-mid February. Then when it comes to March, we have played some of our worst basketball. How often do we have to hear in the B1G tournament about whatever double digit seed playing the best they have all year OR in the round of 32 about said 2 seed playing the best they have?

At some point, we need to get it done come tournament time. Iowa under Fran in March kind of reminds of Texas under Rick Barnes in March.

 

[StormHawk42]

I'd argue that outside of this year and two years ago, his team's have definitely played better later in the year

Year 1: Cole and co. beat #6 Purdue on Senior Day
Year 2: Gatens puts team on his back and they win 4 out of 7 down the stretch including beating Wisky to get to the NIT
Year 3: NIT run after winning 4 of 6 (MSU in the BTT grr)
Year 5: White puts team on his back and rocks off 6 straight wins before BTT

The BTT struggles are still a mystery to me but I think the committee demonstrated this year that they really don't make or break anyone.

Point being, sometimes the players gotta get it figured out. I think this class of seniors just couldn't handle the stress of being ranked highly and getting national pub.

 

[IowaHawkeyeFBnBB4Life]

I could make the argument HAD Iowa beat Illinois they would have probably been a 6 seed. Now with that being said, it's probably a blessing Iowa was not a 6. I think Iowa loses to Wichita State, Gonzaga, UNI.

 

[And1Hawk]

What's to say we cannot peak again in March? We will continually have new groups of players & leaders every couple of years. The team dynamics will be different and/or we land that under-the-radar special player or two that puts us over the top. We've been close on a few that unfortunately blew up and got noticed. Odds are we'll get some over time.

There's also some luck involved too in March. I really do not care about the BTT as much as I do about the NCAA's. Losing early stinks but can be a blessing too for the extra rest. Let's take a look at ISU's run to the final four (and they are good too). Who would not sign up for a chance at the final 8 or better with Iona, ARK LR, Virginia & 10/11 seed of Syracuse or Gonzaga? That's getting a break and maybe we get one too one of these years if we consistently put ourselves in the tourney most years. Upsets happen every year and maybe on our path one of these times.

The point is you do not know what can happen. Just keep at it.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Yeah we have some years where we finish strong. I think outside of this year, we have finished strong in majority of the season. 2 years ago there was some personal stuff going on and we had fans attacking players. That was an odd scenario and one I never want to relive again. That year was just a tough one to swallow, but with all the personal stuff going on i couldn't fault the team for falling hard.

This year was just strange and very odd that a team can play at that high of a level and then just turn it off like it was a switch.

I agree its all about match-ups in March. There are more and more upsets every year and ISU is benefiting from playing the weakest #1 seed in the sweet 16. They had to beat a tough Iona team and ALR.

I think you will see Iowa go on a run at some point. I personally thought if we would of gotten the right draw this year, we could of gone on one, but we got the worst draw we could of asked for. I think within the next 3 years you will see Iowa go deep into March (Sweet 16/Elite 8).