Section136
Well-Known Member
March 17, 2006 Iowa lost to NW State. Worst day of Iowa basketball (on the court) in my life that I can remember (27 years old).
5 Years Ago Today
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INTIMIDATORHawk
Well-Known Member
The official beginning of the end of the Alford era.
Section136
Well-Known Member
Yes, worst single day. Have the last 3-4 years been tough? Absolutely. We had all the momentum coming off winning the Big 10 tourney and a legit shot at reaching the 2nd weekend of the tournament and then it is game on from that point.
HawkeyeMike23
Banned
Make both your free throws Greg!
StatelineHawk
Well-Known Member
I was watching at OP in Overland Park.
That was some of the worst coaching in NCAA history. That team was all about running you ragged and going on big streaks. You needed to use your timeouts to stop those streaks. Iowa should have never been in a situation to have to defend at the buzzer.
But man, when that ball came off the rim and out to that corner did time stand still in a sickening way, or what?
But man, when that ball came off the rim and out to that corner did time stand still in a sickening way, or what?
Section136
Well-Known Member
Absolutely sickening. I think a lot of people forget how close Haluska came to actually drilling it from half court at the buzzer. He caught iron.
As an older fan, the '87 loss to UNLV was much more painful than the loss to NW State. The '80 loss to Louisville was also tough, because I still believe that with a healthy Lester Iowa would have won the whole thing.
He ran the court really well on that inbound, but it wasn't a half court shot. He was closer to the 3 point line than he was the half court line.
ColumbusHawk
Well-Known Member
Doesn't even compare to the losses to Jacksonville in '70, Toledo in '79, & UNLV in '87.
The loss to Wichita State in '81 & the '82 home loss to Minnesota in triple overtime also were more devastating. Iowa would have clinched the Big Ten title with a win over Minnesota. Iowa lost to Wichita State because of a techical called on the bench late in the game. Lute called a time-out when Iowa was out of time outs.
The loss to last pace Michigan State at home on the last day of the '68 season also rates up there. Forced a one-game playoff against Ohio State at Purdue that Iowa also lost.
The list goes on & on.
Since Lute left, Iowa only has seriously challeged for the Big Ten title in '87 & '06. So, in your lifetime, you can only remember Iowa being a title contender in '06. I think that is sad. Iowa fans used to expect title contenders.
The loss to Wichita State in '81 & the '82 home loss to Minnesota in triple overtime also were more devastating. Iowa would have clinched the Big Ten title with a win over Minnesota. Iowa lost to Wichita State because of a techical called on the bench late in the game. Lute called a time-out when Iowa was out of time outs.
The loss to last pace Michigan State at home on the last day of the '68 season also rates up there. Forced a one-game playoff against Ohio State at Purdue that Iowa also lost.
The list goes on & on.
Since Lute left, Iowa only has seriously challeged for the Big Ten title in '87 & '06. So, in your lifetime, you can only remember Iowa being a title contender in '06. I think that is sad. Iowa fans used to expect title contenders.
I totally agree with the poster who said that the Hawks never should have been in a position to lose at the buzzer for this game. They had a 19 point lead at 2 separate points in the game and coaching should have been able to stave off some of the momentum that NW State was building in their comeback.
I honestly think that the '06 team could have been an elite 8 type of team with an outside shot at the Final 4 - they had all the elements of a great team.
Very painful loss indeed - I rank it only behind the '87 loss to UNLV in my most painful memories column.
I honestly think that the '06 team could have been an elite 8 type of team with an outside shot at the Final 4 - they had all the elements of a great team.
Very painful loss indeed - I rank it only behind the '87 loss to UNLV in my most painful memories column.
83Hawk
Banned
Gotta agree with you. As far as "devastating" losses for Iowa BB:
#1.....Jacksonville State.....Iowa had a legitimate chance to win the title, knocking off UCLA.
#2....UNLV....I think Iowa would have won it all that year.
IATrainMaster101
Well-Known Member
This is my answer as well.
I will however conceed the loss to NW State (still shaking my head) has had the longer and more severe impact.
ColumbusHawk
Well-Known Member
The thing that drives me nuts about the Jacksonville loss is that the best free-throw shooting team in the country was only 17-34 from the line. If Iowa makes its free throws, it would have won going away.
Brown, Calabia & Vidnovic shot over 80 percent from the line. Johnson was over 75 percent from the line. Yet, Iowa only made 50 percent against Jacksonville.
Even today, that game still haunts me.
storminspank
Justin VanLaere
One of the worst days of my life.
Some people might see that as overkill or silly. It's true, though.
Some people might see that as overkill or silly. It's true, though.
SwirlinLingerie
Well-Known Member
I'm 34, and while that loss bothered me, I had lost so much of the joy of watching Iowa basketball under Steve Alford that part of me took satisfaction in watching bad things happen to him.
I know that's selfish, but those were my honest, raw feelings at the time. If Iowa had won a couple games in that tournament, would he still be our coach today? Quite possibly.
Alford produced too many conflicted feelings for me. I wanted my team back, back to where it felt it was like cheering for good vs. evil when we took on the Illini or the Wolverines. I always felt we were a bit of the evil team with Alford.
I found all three tournament losses in the BJ, Ed, Roy era far, far more difficult. While the UNLV game was incredibly tough to swallow (when does Iowa ever have the most elite talent?), I though their loss to North Carolina State to end their careers was extremely sad.
And I'm not sure I've ever wanted Iowa to win a game as badly as I did when Mr. Davis squared off against UConn in what turned out to be his last game. For those of us who grew up in the '80s, it truly was the end of an era. No more Davis, no more press, no more mass substitutions, no bounce pass to the post, no fake shot pass.
That was also the last game for Settles, McCausland and Koch, who were all classic Tom Davis players.
Back in '06, while disappointed, I even recall thinking the loss could be a good thing in the long run.
In contrast, when UNLV finished the Hawks off in '87, I cried.
I know that's selfish, but those were my honest, raw feelings at the time. If Iowa had won a couple games in that tournament, would he still be our coach today? Quite possibly.
Alford produced too many conflicted feelings for me. I wanted my team back, back to where it felt it was like cheering for good vs. evil when we took on the Illini or the Wolverines. I always felt we were a bit of the evil team with Alford.
I found all three tournament losses in the BJ, Ed, Roy era far, far more difficult. While the UNLV game was incredibly tough to swallow (when does Iowa ever have the most elite talent?), I though their loss to North Carolina State to end their careers was extremely sad.
And I'm not sure I've ever wanted Iowa to win a game as badly as I did when Mr. Davis squared off against UConn in what turned out to be his last game. For those of us who grew up in the '80s, it truly was the end of an era. No more Davis, no more press, no more mass substitutions, no bounce pass to the post, no fake shot pass.
That was also the last game for Settles, McCausland and Koch, who were all classic Tom Davis players.
Back in '06, while disappointed, I even recall thinking the loss could be a good thing in the long run.
In contrast, when UNLV finished the Hawks off in '87, I cried.
ajbrand33
Well-Known Member
+1 as i am basically the same age, my heart just sank when i read the title, i knew what it was gonna say before i opened it
