Yes we lost,

[hawksauce]

but is there any chance the players gained some mojo and some positive energy from this game? To come back from 14 down with 12 minutes left, and make it a ball game with the big ten champs took a lot of nuts. Williams and Wagner were solid and Baers 3's had to of given him some of his moxie back. The loss sucks but I think there's a lot of positives to take away from this game moving forward into tourney play.

 

[unoHawkeye]

The bench players, yes. It was really discouraging to see all the starters come back in and play slow, uninspired basketball.

It should be the seniors getting the young guys going, not the other way around.

But yes, all things considered, we actually played a decent basketball game, especially considering how well Indiana shot the ball. I think those saying we won't win another game this year are wrong, but the seniors need to start playing with some emotion. The "Business As Usual" approach is no longer working. To win the tournament, they will need to hit an emotional high and ride it.

 

[CAhawki]

No..until they win, No. This horse is in the trailer and headed to the glue factory.

 

[crHawkeye92]

I thought there was actually a lot of positive things that happened tonight. I thought they played their best game by far during this losing streak. I thought the freshmen in particular all played really well tonight (Williams, Wagner, and Baer). The defense picked up in the 2nd half and Fran drew up some great end of the game plays to get back to back open looks from 3.

The only negative to me was when they went back to the starters around the 4 min mark. It just seemed to kill the offense... I don't know. I wish they could find some way to fix that.

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

I think Jok is hurt/sick, Woody is Woody, he gets some boards but when he's 4 feet away on an offensive board he passes back out instead of going to the rim.

 

[moondog24]

Michigan will be tough at home for sure. Maybe what the team needs right now is a day or two to be locked out of the gym and forget about BB. I like these guys, they do not deserve an ending like this. Fran has his faults but he treats his players with dignity and respect. Other Iowa coaches, namely the guy who used to play for the Hoosiers regularly threw players under the bus.

 

[HerkysDad]

In defense of Woody, he made a great play at the 2 second mark to give us a chance. After a Clemmons 3 point miss to tie the game, Woody grabbed the rebound and immediately called time out. He was wide open and could have easily scored 2, but had his head in the game and knew that would end it.

It gave us one more try for a tie, albeit not successful.

 

[markfromj]

It is possible they rose from the dead last night.

 

[Curt Furence]

The game was moving too fast for Woody last night. That seems odd to say of a 4 year starter who had 11 rebounds, but that run was all with Wagner in. He was gassed and needed to come out, but he was huge.
I agree that this one felt different than the previous losses though. Iowa still didn't shoot it well but this didn't feel like the other losses recently.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Well early in the year down in Orlando remember in both our L's we got down by 15+ only to come storming back and making it a ball game. I think in both games Iowa had a shot to tie or take the lead, only to lose those games.

This team all year has shown that when they get a lead (except ISU) they are more comfortable playing and seem to play with more intensity. When this team gets down by double digits they fight back and play hard. The only game I can remember where they fought back and won was @ Purdue.

The main problem is when they are in a game (1pt-5pts) they simply cannot make the play to get over the hump. This group of seniors I do not think have won a "close" ballgame where it came down to the last possession. I think they are 0-whatever when the game is on the line. I don't know if its coaching or the players, but something is not right.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

As far as moral victories go it was OK.
Does it do anything to change the trajectory at this point? I don't think so.
I'd bet on a loss at scUM.
They did poorly guarding perimeter shooters again. And scUM is an entirely perimeter oriented team.

 

[bravehawks1]

Some positives but defense and rebounding were still awful. Indiana shot "lights out" but most players shoot very good when left wide open or have easy dunks. Remember how Fran told us for 4 years what a great shooter Oglesby was in practice, it was because he wasn't guarded and when defense was involved, he was terrible. We made their backup center in to a 3 point threat last night!!
Free throw shooting was not very grand either.

No reason to get excited for next three games at this point.

 

[cg8284]

I would feel better if the it was the starting lineup that showed life not the second team. Starters lost the game twice. This team cannot win with Uthoff shooting 5-17 and Jok shooting 3-11.

 

[ABYPFCS]

but is there any chance the players gained some mojo and some positive energy from this game? To come back from 14 down with 12 minutes left, and make it a ball game with the big ten champs took a lot of nuts. Williams and Wagner were solid and Baers 3's had to of given him some of his moxie back. The loss sucks but I think there's a lot of positives to take away from this game moving forward into tourney play.

I think so.
I am not a basketball expert, but a fairly knowledgeable golfer and in golf, as probably in most sports stressing the positives is the best way to improve the mental game. Not saying to ignore the negatives and try to improve, but to only place energy on the negatives does not usually work.