A Blessing in Disguise

[BrueCrew3]

(sniff) Our boys are growing up so fast!

For as silly/tongue in cheek as you typed it .. this is EXACTLY what is happening. They are growing and gaining confidence with each game played.

The Hawks didn't know how to win to start the season. Then didn't know how to close games during the B1G season. The NIT was the perfect scenario for this team and they have found themselves in a perfect storm.

A couple of good wins at home in front of sell-out raucous crowds. Then a good win on the road against a good team. Now a good win on a neutral court against a good team. The path couldn't have unfolded any better.

Did I want the team in the Big Dance? Absolutely!! But this is exactly what the OP meant with thread title. This is exactly what the team needed. I can hardly wait for next year!!

GO HAWKS!!!

 

[BrueCrew3]

Actually they have done a lot of talk about this on the radio and its pretty much a wash.... Stanford won the NIT last year...

That Stanford team graduated 3 seniors who started 19 games or more, two of which played significant minutes. Not a valid comparison as Iowa loses only 1 senior.

GO HAWKS!!!

 

[ssckelley]

That Stanford team graduated 3 seniors who started 19 games or more, two of which played significant minutes. Not a valid comparison as Iowa loses only 1 senior.

GO HAWKS!!!

You are exactly right, look over the past few NIT champions and most have been won by veteran teams that should have been in the NCAA in the first place. If you look at how/why Iowa has gotten to this point a big reason is because of the play and leadership of senior May and junior Marble.

 

[CAARHawk]

You are exactly right, look over the past few NIT champions and most have been won by veteran teams that should have been in the NCAA in the first place. If you look at how/why Iowa has gotten to this point a big reason is because of the play and leadership of senior May and junior Marble.

Yep. This brings up an interesting thought. If you have a senior laden team and they have only had marginal success, what is the most rewarding way to end their careers? Having a deep run and possibly an NIT championship, or playing in a regional in the NCAA tournament?

I haven't done either.

 

[knighthawk13]

Does the NIT winner get an invite to the preseason NIT tourney the following November? If so, that is reason enough to want to win. That could be a huge opportunity next season.

 

[homes]

This NIT run has done more for this team than 1 or 2 games in the NCAA tourney could have. We're watching Fran's program come together right before our eyes.

DAMN, I'm excited about basketball again!!!

And nobody deserves this more than Eric May. I loved that dagger 3 !

I like that I get to watch Iowa playing basketball games in April. That's never happened before. That alone makes this NIT run a good thing. I would prefer that Iowa was in Michigan's shoes right now, but I'm not going to denigrate the NIT because they're not. Enjoy it, it's a helluva lot better than discussing the two-deeps on Iowa's spring roster.

Marble at the point and May at the 2 has been a good combination - two guards 6'5"+, both playing well, has been huge, literally and figuratively.

 

[BILLBUCKNER]

well its helped the team for sure... but like if it was the actual final four the other team would be in tears.

Maryland players had a look on their face that was 25% irritated and 75% could give a f***

It's helped for sure but it's still luke warmish.

Your an idiot. This NIT run has been fantastic for this teams development going into next year. An extra 3 weeks of practice not to mention the added experience it has given our players in a tournament environment. National TV exposure with analysts pumping Fran and our program.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

I did enjoy it and I did care - it's just I'm never going to pretend its better then the NCAA in any way.

Is it helping Woodbury? yes a lot - Has Marble got some confidence... well yes.

There is a lot going well and its positive - but I just don't understand this need to try to comfort myself by pretending that some how it makes not getting into the big dance "all better."

While I agree, in principle, that winning in the NIT is not as good as getting to the NCAA, but winning it all would certainly take SOME sting out of not making the NCAA.

Now, for those who say you aren't a Hawk fan if you don't drop everything and face in the direction of MSG and salute an image of the NIT trophy, get real. The "We've proven we can close out games, now". "We are gaining confidence". "We are setting up for next year". That last is most telling, BTW. I basically says this year is STILL not quite NCAA material. And for the first two...

...it proves we can close out against other non-NCAA invitees, and that we can be confident we are at least better than most mid-majors and most mid-level teams from other Power 6 conferences. But it may also prove that Purdue and Nebraska and Wisconsin would have advanced in the NIT, as well.

 

[HawkeyeMcNutt]

I did enjoy it and I did care - it's just I'm never going to pretend its better then the NCAA in any way.

Is it helping Woodbury? yes a lot - Has Marble got some confidence... well yes.

There is a lot going well and its positive - but I just don't understand this need to try to comfort myself by pretending that some how it makes not getting into the big dance "all better."

So making the NIT championship, watching this team grow, winning close games along the way, is a failure in a season most people projected us to miss the NCAAs?