Are we seeing the beginning signs of IMPROVEMENT???

[hawks23]

Great win for the players. Even against the bottom of the big 10. I can't believe people are mad that we won so that we aren't at the bottom of the big 10 just to get rid of Lick. The team will look better against poor teams.

Just remember when we play Michigan State in their house that we will be the poor team. I'm very excited for the players to get a win and possibly create some confidence. If we can go to Michigan State and compete with them for the majority of the game I will be impressed.

Looks like some improvement, but hard to tell against competition that isn't at a high level. Waiting to see more. I've had a sip of the kool aid and it tastes better than the other option. I'm really glad that I don't hate the world or my life.

 

[GhostofBTT]

Did you read my post? I said we will lose a lot more games yet, because this isn't a good team. I didn't say get on the bandwagon, or drink the kool aid. I said lets enjoy the win. The haters can get back to hating when we get kicked in the teeth at Michigan St..........

I would like to say that I read your posts, but they are so pedestrian. It is like reading the Terms of Service agreement when you sign up for an online service. I read the first line, get bored, then I scroll to the bottom and click "Accept" (Or in your case, I click "Quote", go on a negative rant, and then wait for your next post asking me if I even bothered to read your post).

 

[deanvogs]

I would like to say that I read your posts, but they are so pedestrian. It is like reading the Terms of Service agreement when you sign up for an online service. I read the first line, get bored, then I scroll to the bottom and click "Accept" (Or in your case, I click "Quote", go on a negative rant, and then wait for your next post asking me if I even bothered to read your post).

Haha, well at least I keep you interested enough to stalk me around this board and get a response from you on about every one of my posts.

I'm still trying to figure ya out Ghost. Some of your stuff is funny, when your not trying to hard to be clever (but you do that most of the time). Yet all of it is actually hard to figure out if you even believe what you say.

 

[FreddyBrown]

I understand the eagerness of some fans to "call the turn." We had people here after Purdue calling it the turning point. But improvement is incremental, and it's hard to say there is real improvement until consistency is shown in improved execution. Did they look better in some respects against the league's only other winless team? Yes.

Does that game show that we're on the right track? No, not standing alone.

I mean, really--the Hawks didn't look particularly good. They just finally ran into a team capable of looking inept at times themselves.

 

[clicheusername3]

I don't think there is any doubt that T. Smith has the upper hand on Lick as far as recruiting ties. So, it would be much easier for him to build a team faster wouldn't it? I am certain Lick will get there in time, as partially proven by next year's recruiting class ranking. I am sorry you do not have any patience whatsoever and cannot see the big picture. I am sorry that you feel that every single transfer that Lick has had is due to Lick and only Lick. I am sorry that some of us choose to be optimistic about a dismal situation why others choose to complain and criticize. Lick will turn this program around in the next two years if most of you don't continue to try to run him out of town like past Iowa coaches!

Every single thread, no matter the topic, you are negative with your comments! You are not the only one, but seriously it gets old! I truly wonder if some of you are just unhappy people? I mean if the only thing I could muster up is a negative post, I would seriously wonder to myself why I even post in the first place?

Your constant talking about other people's negativity is getting old too...if you have negative feelings pretending to be positive would just make you a poser...and being a poser is almost as bad as being a snitch...

 

[ForeverHawk]

Your constant talking about other people's negativity is getting old too...if you have negative feelings pretending to be positive would just make you a poser...and being a poser is almost as bad as being a snitch...

There are a handful of posters that find something to rip on in every single thread and it's the same posters every single time. Sure, I would like Iowa to be better this year, but I understand why they are not. I also see how Iowa will be much better in the next two years. No, I am not going to explain it, as I have done it a hundred times. I am sure those that are negative get tired of all my positive posts as well. But, in life I choose to look for positives. I have found it is much better than just trying to be negative because I am angry and bitter about a situation and all I want to do is criticize everything. What do you choose Cliche????

 

[Lionhawk]

I know some don't want to hear it, but unless you are one of the top tier programs that gets blue chippers every year you must build your program to rely on the upperclassmen to be your base and then have the younger players fill in the quality minutes needed for the upperclassmen to get a bit of a breather.

I don't know...is Minnesota considered one of the top tier programs? Their new coach seems to be doing just fine in his third year? So what don't we want to hear? Smith didn't seem to have too many problems rebuilding his program did he?

Just a reminder that the comment about being a top tier program doesn't hold water anymore...depends on the coach, his recruiting ability, and the style of play. Smith and Lickliter are like black and white (no pun intended--little bit maybe).

Thank you for not checking the FACTS before trying to argue my point!!!!! In doing so you proved exactly what I was saying!!!!!!!!!!

FACTS FROM MINNESOTA 2009-10 ROSTER


Leading Scorers
Westbrock - Senior
Hoffarber - Junior
Johnson - 5th Year Senior

Leading Assists
Nolen - Junior
Joseph - Sophomore
Johnson - 5th Year Senior

Leading Rebounders
Sampson - Sophomore
Iverson - Sophomore
Johnson - 5th Year Senior

Leading Minutes
Johnson - 5th Year Senior
Nolen - Junior
Sampson - Sophomore
Hoffarber - Junior
Joseph - Sophomore


So what Tubby has done is EXACTLY what I was suggesting will happen at Iowa once Gatens, Fuller, Brommer and Tucker are seniors. You need a roster with experienced players giving leadership, guidance and stability to the program. Next year will be better with Cole being a senior and the afore mentioned players being juniors. We will start to see how important that player development and leadership are to accomplish the team concept Lick is installing.

Due to the player defections, I know you will blame all of them on Lick, Iowa has not had this since he arrived.

But really out of the players that left, who would be leading this team?

Tyler Smith and Jake Kelly do not count due to their extenuating circumstances so let's look at the other candidates.

Tony Freeman?? He showed by leaving he didn't want to play within the team concept Lick was requiring. If I remember right, he was upset that Lick didn't just grant him a team captain position, a position that should be earned not given.

David Palmer?? Now playing for his third school during his 5 year college career and had a total of 2 good games before defenses figured out they had to guard him.

Jermain Davis?? Really??

Jeff Peterson?? That is one I would agree with you on. I think beyond Smith and Kelly, Peterson is the one that probably set the program back the most.

Now, go ahead and kill me AGAIN.

I WILL REMAIN COMMITTED TO THE IOWA HAWKEYE BASKETBALL PROGRAM COME HELL OR HIGH WATER!!!!!!!!!! THOSE OF YOU THAT PREFER TO RUN THE PROGRAM DOWN CAN DO SO, THAT IS YOUR RIGHT IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT I WILL NOT DO SO!!!!!!! I HAVE NOT BEEN A HAWKEYE FAN FOR OVER 40 YEARS TO HELP TEAR THIS PROGRAM APART!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[HawkPrdatr40]

I will judge this team when the season ends..

 

[NewEraKinnick]

Don't let a couple wins against other really bad teams fool you.

Penn State @ Carver was our most likely win in the Big Ten. The only game anyone could have circled and said to themselves "Hey, Iowa will win this game vs the Big Ten."

I finally sold my season tickets to some dude for $30. Couldn't get rid of them for $50.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

Due to the player defections, I know you will blame all of them on Lick, Iowa has not had this since he arrived.

But really out of the players that left, who would be leading this team?

Tyler Smith and Jake Kelly do not count due to their extenuating circumstances so let's look at the other candidates.

Tony Freeman?? He showed by leaving he didn't want to play within the team concept Lick was requiring. If I remember right, he was upset that Lick didn't just grant him a team captain position, a position that should be earned not given.

David Palmer?? Now playing for his third school during his 5 year college career and had a total of 2 good games before defenses figured out they had to guard him.

Jermain Davis?? Really??

Jeff Peterson?? That is one I would agree with you on. I think beyond Smith and Kelly, Peterson is the one that probably set the program back the most.

It's obvious which side of the fence you fall on with this issue, but let me answer some of your statements above with my take. This is purely my opinion, and I'm not throwing stones here, but let's say that I don't agree with you.

First off - In my book, it's completely irrelevant which of the players above would be contributing big if they were still on the team. If Lickliter cannot relate to these players and keep them in the program, then why would it be different with a star player? It might be even worse with a star player, demanding that player stay within the system rather than put the team on his shoulders and be "selfish".

Let me ask this about Freeman: I don't remember some of the specifics, like the "team captain" issue that you mentioned. But was Lickliter truly prepared to bench the team's leading scorer? This is something that I heard - that Freeman was going to see less playing time if he didn't start playing more within the system. According to some, this means that Freeman was selfish and didn't care about the team concept. He was the team's leading scorer, and all Big Ten. HOW can you bench that? Lickliter wasn't prepared to adjust to keep Freeman in the lineup? What happened to working with the personnel that you have? It sounds to me that Lickliter was prepared to let Freeman walk just to prove a point. I totally disagree with that.

How do you not hold Lickliter accountable for being unable to keep players in the program? In my book, he has failed miserably at this. Are you ok with Lickliter running off Alford's players because they didn't fit what Lickliter has in mind?

 

[1977Hawkeye]

Don't let a couple wins against other really bad teams fool you.

Penn State @ Carver was our most likely win in the Big Ten. The only game anyone could have circled and said to themselves "Hey, Iowa will win this game vs the Big Ten."

I finally sold my season tickets to some dude for $30. Couldn't get rid of them for $50.

PSU was the game I figured we had the best chance of winning. We won by 3 points. That's all well and good, but there are 13 regular season conference games left, all of them either on the road, or against better teams than Penn State. How many of us REALLY thought Iowa would go 0-18 anyway?

This team will have plenty of chances to prove that they are getting better, but I'm not convinced that the darkness is over based on the strength of a home win against PSU. As people always say after a bad loss - it's just one game. Let's see how the season pans out.

 

[DDThompson]

I was actually kind of thinking the same thing if you're referring to the earlier part of the second half where we were building the lead and the pace of the game was picking up. I remember the announcers commenting on the pace.

Maybe a better team than PSU would run us out of the gym if we went more uptempo, and I know we don't have the depth right now to play an uptempo style anyway. One thing I know though, is that I was really enjoying the game for those few minutes when it was up-and-down the floor, and we were building the lead.

When PSU called timeout after that segment of the game, this is just a guess, but I would bet even money that Lickliter told the team to slow it down. The game seemed to go back to the half-court style after that.

Yep on all the points.

It was much more enjoyable when they were scurrying around the floor. And while better teams would probably run this team out of the gym, right now they're 1/2 courting us out of the gym. There isn't enough depth to run up-tempo. But maybe this team plays better by setting the pace.

I always like the idea of making the other team react to the pace we want to establish. Sometimes up-tempo. Sometimes 1/2 court sets. We had a coach like that a one time.

 

[webguy96]

I believe we have a coach that will ultimately do a little of both in the years to come and I'll even throw out the possibility of seeing a full-court press perhaps mid-way through next season but until then I believe the staff is doing the best they can to position the guys to have a chance to win. As much as I also liked the up-tempo pace I think it was the fact that we did slow things down a bit that helped guys like Matt to have just enough left in the tank to step up to the line and go 4-4. I'm sure some will argue that had we kept running, the lead would have been so large that free throws would not have mattered but if you go back and notice the ones missed prior to Matt all came up short so I would have to believe our jump-shots would have also started falling short and PSU would have walked out with a win.

 

[NewMexHawk]

1977Hawk...I would bet the same thing. I was enjoying the game also at that point. The teams were going up and down the court although Iowa still did not try a fast break but I have don't remember much anymore what fast breaks look like unless I watch other teams.

I also agree that against better teams we probably could not play with other teams but who knows, we looked pretty good IMO. We don't have the bodies but when Ronnie Lester went down Olsen's team played with about 6 players and played like that or tried to. Of course they would also play different styles of defense to change the game. That was then. Again, who knows how these kids could play if turned loose.

I haven't watched a replay but all I know was that part of the game was quite entertaining and was not typical Lickball, but I could be wrong.

If THAT is Lickball then it won't be bad at all but that is one of the few times all year that I saw an Iowa team I truly enjoyed watching. It was definitely more uptempo than what we typically see.

 

[ForeverHawk]

1977Hawk...I would bet the same thing. I was enjoying the game also at that point. The teams were going up and down the court although Iowa still did not try a fast break but I have don't remember much anymore what fast breaks look like unless I watch other teams.

I also agree that against better teams we probably could not play with other teams but who knows, we looked pretty good IMO. We don't have the bodies but when Ronnie Lester went down Olsen's team played with about 6 players and played like that or tried to. Of course they would also play different styles of defense to change the game. That was then. Again, who knows how these kids could play if turned loose.

I haven't watched a replay but all I know was that part of the game was quite entertaining and was not typical Lickball, but I could be wrong.

If THAT is Lickball then it won't be bad at all but that is one of the few times all year that I saw an Iowa team I truly enjoyed watching. It was definitely more uptempo than what we typically see.

OK....now that was a positive post! Baby Steps!!!