My expectations typically mirror the cost of admission. If the cost of admission keeps going up, why shouldn't my expectations? A BIG title isn't too much to ask when 8 other BIG teams have managed to accomplish that in the past 15 to 20 years. Explain to me why that is expecting too much?
Since 1987, which is 31 years, here are the teams that have won or shared Big Ten regular season championships. We've won two conference tournament titles, so I'm guessing you're talking regular season:
Michigan St. (8)
Purdue (7)
Indiana (7)
Ohio St. (7)
Illinois (5)
Wisconsin (4)
Michigan (2)
So, that's seven teams. Likewise, those seven teams have won more Big Ten titles than Iowa in the history of the league. Iowa is eighth.
Wisconsin went from 1947-2002 without winning the conference.
Michigan 1986-2012 without winning.
Ohio St. had a drought that lasted from 1992-2006.
Illinois had gaps from '63-84 and then '84-98.
That's four of the seven teams that have won titles in the last 31 years that have had gaps without winning a championship for a decade.
McCaffery took over a program in its worst shape ever. Yet, you're asking for a Big Ten title AND a Sweet 16 in his first 10 years or you'd fire him. To me, that's unrealistic. That's my opinion based on history here and elsewhere in the league.
But, as I said, you're free to have whatever standards and expectations you choose. It's up to the individual and our happiness as a fans of a given team are connected to them.
I do believe your standards and expectations are in the minority of the Iowa fan base. Again, I can base that off of attendance that's increased under McCaffery and was the best in the nation for the NIT.
Could that change. Sure. It's fluid. Time will tell.
Someone could say that the Iowa fans are settling for mediocrity by supporting a team that falls below your standards and expectations. That charge is irrelevant. It's their money. If they want to go to games, it's their right. They're happy to support the program just like it's your right not to.
