2 games left, if you would have told me in November

[EddyP]

That the Hawks have a real chance of going 5 hundo in the B1G getting very little for most of the year from Basable and Cartwright I would have told you that you were nuts. And that McCabe would be our 5 and we would basically get nothing from Brommer/Archie and Olesani. This has been a good year especially if we can finish strong and I think we will.

 

[truehawk]

One thing we all didn't count on tho was AW.

 

[bcl20]

Or insane shooting from Gatens. I still have no idea where that came from.

 

[gohawkz]

Or insane shooting from Gatens. I still have no idea where that came from.

Me neither..3 3/4 years and I never saw that coming. Let's hope he keeps it up through the BTT!

 

[jacknicholson]

I believe we win the next two, Eddy. We usually respond well after a nasty loss, and will this time. I still think we are better than the Cornhuskers. The pressure on Northwestern will be enormous, much more than us because they are still close to the bubble. A loss to us completely removes them from contention, putting them in the same boat as us, having to win the B1G to go dancing.....

Matt's last home game, unless we play at home in the NIT, long shot, will be classic, full house and we should be inspired, Wildcats will run into a hornets nest.....

 

[JHHawk]

I agree that we have exceeded my expectations of winning like 6 league games...now,lets finish strong,and we will have the kind of momentum to continue to recruit top players.

 

[CAARHawk]

The bad losses against inferior competition balance the strong conference wins. Most expected 16 or 17 wins this year.

Also, a number of us expected White to get at it from day one. We were saying it during the Summer before his senior year, during his senior year, and in the PTL. He excelled at every phase. That it was a surprise to anyone means they just were not paying attention.

People who expected much from Brommer and Archie haven't been watching Iowa basketball for the past three years. Zach's emergence has been more than most expected. But there were signs last year.

Now, the thing about Mel and Bryce is dead on. If you gave us their current combined stats at the beginning of the year, mist would have us pegged for about 10 wins total.

 

[hawkIhoops]

I hope I am wrong, but I don't see us winning either of the final 2 unless Spencer is out for tomorrow's game. The team showed no fire Sunday and I don't know what changes for a road game tomorrow night. If Gatens can go into Jimmer mode, maybe we can pull it out.

Unfortunately same thoughts on NW. We were totally confused by their 1-3-1 and I am not sure we can fix our woes with the players we have. NW has too many shooters / scoring options and it could be their win and in game.

Agree that Based on disappointing production from Basabe and Cartwright, it is amazing we have 15 wins.

 

[rjhindm]

I hope I am wrong, but I don't see us winning either of the final 2 unless Spencer is out for tomorrow's game. The team showed no fire Sunday and I don't know what changes for a road game tomorrow night. If Gatens can go into Jimmer mode, maybe we can pull it out. Unfortunately same thoughts on NW. We were totally confused by their 1-3-1 and I am not sure we can fix our woes with the players we have. NW has too many shooters / scoring options and it could be their win and in game. Agree that Based on disappointing production from Basabe and Cartwright, it is amazing we have 15 wins.

I think we beat Nebby...but I agree about NW. I am sure some hawk players are still having nightmares about that 1-3-1. That was brutal. Hopefully Matty Fresh is feeling it that day.

 

[CAARHawk]

I think the Hawks pull out one of the final two to get to 16 wins, which is where most people put them at before the season - just with a different path to get there.

 

[homes]

I hope I am wrong, but I don't see us winning either of the final 2 unless Spencer is out for tomorrow's game. The team showed no fire Sunday and I don't know what changes for a road game tomorrow night. If Gatens can go into Jimmer mode, maybe we can pull it out.

Unfortunately same thoughts on NW. We were totally confused by their 1-3-1 and I am not sure we can fix our woes with the players we have. NW has too many shooters / scoring options and it could be their win and in game.

Agree that Based on disappointing production from Basabe and Cartwright, it is amazing we have 15 wins.

It's good of you to take the conservative approach, but Iowa will win these next 2 games. Nebraska will be relatively easy, NW - I can't say for sure, probably a nail biter. 17-14 heading into the BTT.

 

[ssckelley]

The bad losses against inferior competition balance the strong conference wins. Most expected 16 or 17 wins this year.

Agreed, the way they have got to these wins have been surprising. Most of us were picking wins against Campbell, Clemson, Nebraska, and sweep of Penn State. Who would have thought Iowa sweeps Wisconsin and Minnesota?

Also, a number of us expected White to get at it from day one. We were saying it during the Summer before his senior year, during his senior year, and in the PTL. He excelled at every phase. That it was a surprise to anyone means they just were not paying attention.

During the PTL? You ever watched a PTL game? The level of play is barely above playground. What White did in High School is tough to project how that translates as a true freshman playing in the B1G.

People who expected much from Brommer and Archie haven't been watching Iowa basketball for the past three years. Zach's emergence has been more than most expected. But there were signs last year.

I am with you here. While I had some hope Brommer would improve what little Archie offers defensively does not cover up what he lacks offensively. The practice I watched showed the only basket Archie could make was a dunk, he even missed layups and 2/3 foot jump shots.

Now, the thing about Mel and Bryce is dead on. If you gave us their current combined stats at the beginning of the year, mist would have us pegged for about 10 wins total.

This is by far what surprises me most about the team. All of our worst nightmares at the beginning of the year was what would happen if Bryce got hurt, and that is what happened. While Bryce has tried to play through the injury his effectiveness has been next to nothing. Marbles emergence as a solid point has been a huge difference. I have no clue about Mel, it almost seems like his effectiveness is determined if he can get an easy dunk or layup early in the game. I am hoping the presence of a true center next year will bring more out of Mel.

 

[UweBlab]

With this year's Hawks, it could go either way and I wouldn't be surprised. They are facing 2 teams we previously lost to and that should be inspired by their own situations. I would say physically and athletically we could beat both these teams, but psychologically and emotionally will be the key with this Hawk team. Their mental attitudes will determine a win or loss.

 

[CAARHawk]

Yes on White. The competition he played against in high school was serious and he produced night in and night out. He also stepped up when at tournament time, etc.

Also, people don't like my take on PTL, but I really think you can watch players there and see how it might translate to NCAA play. It is not a direct relationship, but you can see signs of what a player can do. For instance, it was pretty obvious Gabe was really, really raw.

 

[1hawkeye1]

I fully expected that our season would be based on the production of basabe and cartwright. Didn't see AW, MG, contributing to this extent nor did I see the massive improvement by Marble.

Both remaining games are a toss up. We haven't been good on the road and NW's 1-3-1 absolutely shut us down. I thought we would try to overload it, but instead we just kept trying to drive into the teeth of it, and turned it over and over.

Gave up trying to predict games with this team.

 

[ssckelley]

I fully expected that our season would be based on the production of basabe and cartwright. Didn't see AW, MG, contributing to this extent nor did I see the massive improvement by Marble.

Both remaining games are a toss up. We haven't been good on the road and NW's 1-3-1 absolutely shut us down. I thought we would try to overload it, but instead we just kept trying to drive into the teeth of it, and turned it over and over.

Gave up trying to predict games with this team.

Hopefully Fran has watched some tape and watched how other teams are beating NW. First of all Iowa has got to get someone other than Gatens shooting and nailing 3 pointers. Keep pumping the 3's as even if you are only have to make a 1/3rd of them it should be enough to defeat NW.

 

[SpiderRico]

I don't think it's the 1-3-1 as much as it is our defense.

We are at our best when we are getting steals and/or limiting the opponent to 1 shot and getting out and running on the rebound.

Our problem with Northwestern is we've allowed them to hit too high a % of their shots which allows them to get back on defense and forces us to play in the halfcourt. Our halfcourt O, for the most part, has not been good except for when we run sets for Gatens.

The key for us is to get steals or force them into tough shots and then get out and run. When we have to play in the halfcourt, we HAVE to get the ball to the corners and if that's open, we have to take that shot. If not, then flash from high post down to the low post. It's a different defense, for sure, but not rocket science.

 

[hawkihayes]

Or insane shooting from Gatens. I still have no idea where that came from.

Me neither..3 3/4 years and I never saw that coming. Let's hope he keeps it up through the BTT!

Funny how urgency of being a senior sharpens your skills.

 

[EddyP]

I hope I am wrong, but I don't see us winning either of the final 2 unless Spencer is out for tomorrow's game. The team showed no fire Sunday and I don't know what changes for a road game tomorrow night. If Gatens can go into Jimmer mode, maybe we can pull it out.

Unfortunately same thoughts on NW. We were totally confused by their 1-3-1 and I am not sure we can fix our woes with the players we have. NW has too many shooters / scoring options and it could be their win and in game.

Agree that Based on disappointing production from Basabe and Cartwright, it is amazing we have 15 wins.

I didn't see that at all.

 

[CP87]

With this year's Hawks, it could go either way and I wouldn't be surprised. They are facing 2 teams we previously lost to and that should be inspired by their own situations. I would say physically and athletically we could beat both these teams, but psychologically and emotionally will be the key with this Hawk team. Their mental attitudes will determine a win or loss.

Sweet.