Wow, was I wrong. The travel, PSU, and injuries were too much.

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

I really thought the Hawkeyes would run that YMCA team from Lincoln outta the gym last night, but it turned out to be a perfect storm for the home team. Iowa was clearly road weary, capped by an exhausting battle in that Philly sauna. Iowa was a step slow on defense and, as anybody who has played the game should know, your shooting touch from deep disappears when you have tired legs. Combine a decimated starting lineup and a short bench with exhaustion and you get last night's performance. Some day the breaks will go Iowa's way--I mean, heck, even the Cubs finally broke through and won the World Series, and it only took 108 years of patience.

I imagine these things happen to other teams, but to an Iowa fan, it seems like the Hawkeyes suffer to an inordinate degree in almost every sport. It does seem like if it weren't for bad luck, Iowa would have no luck at all.

OTH, Ohio State and their lad from Bettendorf aren't exactly sailing along either, although I don't think the Buckeyes have lost three starters like Iowa has, nor have they traveled all over the country the last few weeks like the Hawkeyes have. College basketball is a grueling sport, and despite supposedly better training, nutrition, and everything else, it seems that injuries of all kinds are far more common than ever throughout every sport--including basketball.

The Hawkeyes had a tough night in Lincoln again, but maybe they can regroup with four of the next five games in Iowa City. And I hope Hawkeye fans will make themselves heard because I don't think this team will quit. And if they can defend Carver, the season will get back on track. That's what I'm hoping for. Hope may not be a strategy, but that's all I have.

 

[Chishawk1425]

I like the optimism I just don't think we have the horses/depth at this point for much of a chance at the NIT let alone the NCAA.

 

[kceasthawk]

I really thought the Hawkeyes would run that YMCA team from Lincoln outta the gym last night, but it turned out to be a perfect storm for the home team. Iowa was clearly road weary, capped by an exhausting battle in that Philly sauna. Iowa was a step slow on defense and, as anybody who has played the game should know, your shooting touch from deep disappears when you have tired legs. Combine a decimated starting lineup and a short bench with exhaustion and you get last night's performance. Some day the breaks will go Iowa's way--I mean, heck, even the Cubs finally broke through and won the World Series, and it only took 108 years of patience.

I imagine these things happen to other teams, but to an Iowa fan, it seems like the Hawkeyes suffer to an inordinate degree in almost every sport. It does seem like if it weren't for bad luck, Iowa would have no luck at all.

OTH, Ohio State and their lad from Bettendorf aren't exactly sailing along either, although I don't think the Buckeyes have lost three starters like Iowa has, nor have they traveled all over the country the last few weeks like the Hawkeyes have. College basketball is a grueling sport, and despite supposedly better training, nutrition, and everything else, it seems that injuries of all kinds are far more common than ever throughout every sport--including basketball.

The Hawkeyes had a tough night in Lincoln again, but maybe they can regroup with four of the next five games in Iowa City. And I hope Hawkeye fans will make themselves heard because I don't think this team will quit. And if they can defend Carver, the season will get back on track. That's what I'm hoping for. Hope may not be a strategy, but that's all I have.

Without question they looked tired, and the graphic they showed during the game about their travel the last three weeks was very telling. Ridiculous amount of time they've spent criss crossing the country. I will say as bad as they shot the ball most of the first half, I was proud of them for fighting back, and the job Joe W did finding ways to drive and score.

 

[HeRKeYHoPeFuL]

I'll cosign this... the Nebraska gameplan of refusing Garza anything inside worked... for that game, anyway. I still can't believe that we shot that poorly from three with the number of uncontested looks we got.

 

[Legend12]

OTH, Ohio State and their lad from Bettendorf aren't exactly sailing along either, although I don't think the Buckeyes have lost three starters like Iowa has, nor have they traveled all over the country the last few weeks like the Hawkeyes have. College basketball is a grueling sport, and despite supposedly better training, nutrition, and everything else, it seems that injuries of all kinds are far more common than ever throughout every sport--including basketball.

In the last 2 weeks Iowa has played 3 games.
One in Iowa City.
One in Philadelphia.
One in Lincoln.

Since December 7th Iowa has played just 6 games and only one of those wasn't in Iowa or a border state.

I'm not sure if they will ever recover from that grueling travel schedule.

 

[H4wkfan4life]

In the last 2 weeks Iowa has played 3 games.
One in Iowa City.
One in Philadelphia.
One in Lincoln.

Since December 7th Iowa has played just 6 games and only one of those wasn't in Iowa or a border state.

I'm not sure if they will ever recover from that grueling travel schedule.

Agreed. I REALLY hope it was nothing more than a rare night of horrible shooting.
If this team is actually tired now, then they'll be lucky to win a couple more lol. Better just cancel practices
I think we bounce back Friday and shoot much better. Who knows if it'll be enough to beat MD but we'll shoot much better than we did yesterday.

 

[LincolnHawkeye]

The problem is, now they need a 3rd scorer, obviously Garza is #1 with a bullet, but teams will game plan to take him out immediately. Last night you saw that the scoring was left up to Weiskamp essentially, who had an awful game. Frederick might be the next option but who knows when he will be back. Touissant has his moments but is inconsistent. Same thing with Evelyn. Will one of the bench players step up? Till or Pat Mac?

 

[Rudolph]

Circumstances may force Joe W to develop outside of his comfort zone. I like that as it bodes well for next year. And, of course, Joe T has been forced into a steeper learning curve. I like that, too.

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

Not only has Iowa traveled all over the country to play, they've lost three starters, and--please don't forget--when they were not traveling they were studying and taking final exams. These kids, at Iowa anyway, really are students as well as athletes. They aren't lounging around the pool. So my suggestion is that anyone who doesn't think that last night was the direct result of weariness and a roster decimated by injury has never played anything above Little League. IMHO, of course.

 

[Legend12]

Not only has Iowa traveled all over the country to play, they've lost three starters, and--please don't forget--when they were not traveling they were studying and taking final exams. These kids, at Iowa anyway, really are students as well as athletes. They aren't lounging around the pool. So my suggestion is that anyone who doesn't think that last night was the direct result of weariness and a roster decimated by injury has never played anything above Little League. IMHO, of course.

lol

 

[Hawksfor3]

Joe T has been forced into a steeper learning curve.

He has really improved his shot. Defense is tough. All we need now IMO is getting Bakari headed in the right direction again with his shooting.

 

[DodgerHawki]

Not only has Iowa traveled all over the country to play, they've lost three starters, and--please don't forget--when they were not traveling they were studying and taking final exams. These kids, at Iowa anyway, really are students as well as athletes. They aren't lounging around the pool. So my suggestion is that anyone who doesn't think that last night was the direct result of weariness and a roster decimated by injury has never played anything above Little League. IMHO, of course.

The travel has next to nothing to do with Iowa losing the last 2 games. Not having Bohannon, Frederick, Nunge and Patrick McCaffery as options to play is THE issue. If Frederick is out for a long time, Iowa will continue to lose more games and it won't have anything to do with travel.

 

[Hawksfor3]

We're short on weapons for sure.

 

[Franisdaman]

Looks like we will get Ash back! YES!!!