Battle for Atlantis Predictions

MeatMan

Well-Known Member
Let's just condense the whole tournament into one prediction thread. We can talk Kansas if Iowa gets that far. What are your predictions? Who is going to rise to the occasion against good competition? Will the early cupcakes help or hurt the Hawks? Will anyone, ANYONE, be able to make some 3's?

I will be a homer in my prediction and predict Iowa beats Xavier, then Tenn in a controversial game, and loses big to Kansas to go 2-1 in the tourney.
 
Not homey enough, 3-0, Fran and the Hawks know it's business, no fun, except some pool time per Gazette article.
 
I think we are champs if Kansas gets upset before the championship, otherwise we are going to be runner-up. Xavier is supposed to be this big physical team but we will actually be a longer team. We are also a more rounded team. Since the refs will be impartial I bet fouls get called on both teams, only difference is we can actually make our free throws.

Tennessee was beat by Xavier and has only played 4 games. UTEP is 3 and 2 and their two losses are to New Mexico State, who has a 7'5 and 7'3 set of brothers, but their wins are not against spectacular teams. I just don't see anything that worries me, granted those are the ones that get you.

Kansas is Kansas. I don't think they are unbeatable, and I think we match up very well with them, but I just don't want to be a homer.
 
Iowa vs Kansas in the final; Iowa can't match the athletes Kansas puts on the floor and loses by well, a lot.
 
My question would be if Iowa were to beat Xavier, Tenn, and Kansas where would we be ranked next week.
 
2-1 with loss to Kansas in the ship.

I think we hang with Kansas but just not quite talented enough to win.
 
honestly, i could see Iowa losing the first game. shock from (until now) not playing any difficult opponents, combined with poor shooting in a new environment without a home crowd, and throw in refs from who knows where with potentially inconsistent calls = a recipe for a loss.

lets hope Iowa can pull it together and knock down some shots early on.
 
2-1 in the tourney. The one loss will either be the first or last game. While Xavier doesn't scare me, I am concerned.

Just my 2¢ .. ..

GO HAWKS!!!
 
I'm not sure why people don't think Iowa can't give Kansas a game if they meet. I give Iowa a shot as it will be the 3rd game in 3 days and considering Iowa has a deeper rotation (Kansas plays 7 or 8 in their rotation) they will have the fresher legs. Now with that said Kansas may blow out their first 2 opponents and give the starters a little rest and play 9 or 10 but I still think the deeper bench will show up on Saturday. Iowa may not beat them but it won't be the beat down many think.
 
honestly, i could see Iowa losing the first game. shock from (until now) not playing any difficult opponents, combined with poor shooting in a new environment without a home crowd, and throw in refs from who knows where with potentially inconsistent calls = a recipe for a loss.

lets hope Iowa can pull it together and knock down some shots early on.

Meat, you have to remember that Xavier is going to be facing all those same challenges. They haven't played a game from home either, and are a younger team than Iowa. The biggest factor for Iowa is I think Xavier will have issues with our length. Semaj is fairly quick, but all his shots come at the rim. Put Marble on him and have Olaseni/Uthoff come over for help. This can cause serious issues for them. Or go one step further and throw a zone defense on them and force them to shoot from the outside. They only have one or two consistent three point threats.
 
I'm not sure why people don't think Iowa can't give Kansas a game if they meet. I give Iowa a shot as it will be the 3rd game in 3 days and considering Iowa has a deeper rotation (Kansas plays 7 or 8 in their rotation) they will have the fresher legs. Now with that said Kansas may blow out their first 2 opponents and give the starters a little rest and play 9 or 10 but I still think the deeper bench will show up on Saturday. Iowa may not beat them but it won't be the beat down many think.
I concur and said so in a previous B4A prediction thread. If Iowa can get to the championship game, the depth will have an impact. I'm not saying the Hawks will win .. only that it will be closer than most think.

Just my 2¢ .. ..

GO HAWKS!!!
 
If Hawks make it to title game and are facing KU, they'll have a chance to win. I don't know why people are saying Iowa would have no shot. There have been tons of upsets already but little schools, and its November....nobody is immune to being upset (including Iowa)...but if Iowa faced Kansas, they will have a shot to knock them off.
 
Kansas over Wake
Villanova over USC
Iowa over Xavier
Tennessee over UTEP

Kansas over Nova
Iowa over Tenn
USC over Wake
Xavier over UTEP

1. Kansas over 2. Iowa
3. Nova over 4. Tenn
5. USC over 6. Xavier
7. Wake over 8. UTEP
 
I concur and said so in a previous B4A prediction thread. If Iowa can get to the championship game, the depth will have an impact. I'm not saying the Hawks will win .. only that it will be closer than most think.

Just my 2¢ .. ..

GO HAWKS!!!

I'm with tj, I'm not sure I get the whole "closer than most think" idea. This is not 2009, right? Or is a neutral site game between #2 and #23 usually a no contest blowout? Also not saying the Hawks will win, but reading some of these posts gives me the impression that losing by 10 will be pleasantly surprising.

On a side note, I was looking at KU's schedule and noticed they go a month without playing a home game. After the Battle they play two road games and another neutral site game, and their next home game is on the 21st. Seemed kind of unusual.
 
honestly, i could see Iowa losing the first game. shock from (until now) not playing any difficult opponents, combined with poor shooting in a new environment without a home crowd, and throw in refs from who knows where with potentially inconsistent calls = a recipe for a loss.

lets hope Iowa can pull it together and knock down some shots early on.

I didn't want to be the Debbie downer, but I definitely think Iowa could get stunned by a good Xavier team based on the same logic you used above.
 
I didn't want to be the Debbie downer, but I definitely think Iowa could get stunned by a good Xavier team based on the same logic you used above.

BOOOOOOOO!!!!!! You can't post here anymore...Jon perma ban immediately for not drinking the Jim Jones Kool-Aid...:rolleyes:
 
Xavier is a good team. I wouldn't be surprised if they lost the first game but then won the next two. If they make it to the final I just don't see how they beat KU unless KU just plays bad.
 
Hopefully the Hawks make the final against KU. I do think the Iowa/KU game would be a tight one.. Iowa shoots too well from the line, the bench will play a big factor on the 3rd day, and KU isn't that strong defensively so Iowa should be able to score with them.
 
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