Big 10 Title...a 3 team race

HawkIPA said:
Iowa should be favorites in their next 8 games. I think they win all eight and go to the Barn in February with only 2 conference losses. If that happens they will be in no worse than a tie for 1st place.

@NU
MSU
@Illinois
OSU
Michigan
@PSU
@Indy
Wisky


Then Iowa finishes with @Minny, Purdue, @MSU, Illinois.

Win the first 8 which will be favored in and at worst go 2-2 in the last 4.
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I also think they will win those 8. Now if we can make it 9 by getting that win at Minnesota the game at Michigan State could very well be for an outright conference championship. I know there's a lot of basketball between now and then. Things can change. Guys can get hurt. We could get upset somewhere along the way. But...imagine going to Michigan State with the conference championship on the line and both teams ranked in the top 10. The game is on ESPN and the whole country (including recruits) is watching. I won't be going to work the next day...
 
And for the people thinking this team drops a game it shouldnt, I just dont see it. Not this team, not this year. Our 4 losses have either been on the road or a neutral court against teams that are Top 15-20 type teams. For the most part we have hammered our lesser opponents, with the exception being UNO and Nebraska. The Nebraska game wouldnt have been as close if Iowa shoots a respectable free throw percentage.
 
hawkinn3 said:
I think it is a lot more wide open than 3 teams. Michigan and MSU are the class of the B1G this year, that much is clear and Iowa has a decent shot if they win out. But, Minnesota and Wisconsin have a valid shot as well. I think every team gets at least 2 more losses if not more. Iowa finishing anymore from 2nd to 6th would not shock me. Tough conference.
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Minnesota has no shot. They will lose to UM, OSU, and WI, and maybe even NE this weekend due to injuries) on the road. That cooks them.
They are a homer team.
 
WindsorHawk said:
I also think they will win those 8. Now if we can make it 9 by getting that win at Minnesota the game at Michigan State could very well be for an outright conference championship. I know there's a lot of basketball between now and then. Things can change. Guys can get hurt. We could get upset somewhere along the way. But...imagine going to Michigan State with the conference championship on the line and both teams ranked in the top 10. The game is on ESPN and the whole country (including recruits) is watching. I won't be going to work the next day...
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If you think we are going to rip off 8 straight wins including 4 Big Ten Road games , I think you will be disappointed.
 
HawkIPA said:
The roadies are NU, PSU, Indiana and Illinois.

Not exactly a murderers row this year.
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I didn't say it was.... but Wisconsin lost at Indiana and when is the last time we won in Champagne?

And I'm not ready to count the MSU game even without Dawson and/or Payne as a win.

I just think the chances are we lose at least one of those 8 games.
 
ibahawkeye said:
If you think we are going to rip off 8 straight wins including 4 Big Ten Road games , I think you will be disappointed.
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I'm rarely disappointed. I thought we would beat Michigan but I wasn't "disappointed" when we lost. If you're looking at the next 8 games 1 at a time and seeing a game you don't think we should win I don't think you're being objective.

I'm predicting 8 wins...in writing for all to see. Tell me which game or games you are predicting we will lose.
 
ibahawkeye said:
I didn't say it was.... but Wisconsin lost at Indiana and when is the last time we won in Champagne? This team has never lost in Champaign against this current Illinois team. Not sure how losing games against guys who are now in their 30's has any bearing on this years result.

And I'm not ready to count the MSU game even without Dawson and/or Payne as a win. Will still be a hard fought game, no doubt.

I just think the chances are we lose at least one of those 8 games. I wont be shocked if we lose a game or two but I do think Iowa will be favored in the next 8 games.
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ibahawkeye said:
I didn't say it was.... but Wisconsin lost at Indiana and when is the last time we won in Champagne?

And I'm not ready to count the MSU game even without Dawson and/or Payne as a win.

I just think the chances are we lose at least one of those 8 games.
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Sorry. I didn't see this post before my previous post. You already copped out...not really taking a position just saying others are wrong. Got it.
 
ibahawkeye said:
I didn't say it was.... but Wisconsin lost at Indiana and when is the last time we won in Champagne?

And I'm not ready to count the MSU game even without Dawson and/or Payne as a win.

I just think the chances are we lose at least one of those 8 games.
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I didn't think it was THAT long ago...but sheesh...have to go all the way back to Tom Davis's team to find a W in Champagne:

Last games @Ill
2/26/2012: L 65-54
2/26/2011: L 81-68
2/5/2010: L 59-42
2/1/2009: L 62-54
1/10/2007: L 74-70
2/25/2006: L 71-59
1/20/2005: L 73-68 OT
1/17/2004: L 88-82
1/15/2002: L 77-66
2/24/2001: L 89-63
2/12/2000: L 78-50
2/21/1999: W 78-72

And before that, the last win was 1987. So I had originally had this as a W, but the reality is Iowa has one W in that arena in almost 30 years.
 
hawkstats1979 said:
I didn't think it was THAT long ago...but sheesh...have to go all the way back to Tom Davis's team to find a W in Champagne:

Last games @Ill
2/26/2012: L 65-54
2/26/2011: L 81-68
2/5/2010: L 59-42
2/1/2009: L 62-54
1/10/2007: L 74-70
2/25/2006: L 71-59
1/20/2005: L 73-68 OT
1/17/2004: L 88-82
1/15/2002: L 77-66
2/24/2001: L 89-63
2/12/2000: L 78-50
2/21/1999: W 78-72

And before that, the last win was 1987. So I had originally had this as a W, but the reality is Iowa has one W in that arena in almost 30 years.
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Again, what the hell do any of these previous meetings have to do with this years matchup? In every matchup listed, maybe save the 2001 and 2002 games, I would say that Illinois was the more talented team against Iowa. Some years it wasnt even close.

This year Iowa is the more talented team and the Hawks get the "W" in Champaign.
 
WindsorHawk said:
Assumptions – It’s a 3 team race for the championship. All 3 teams will go undefeated at home the rest of the way. Michigan is still a .500 level team on the road and will split the road games at Indiana and Purdue…still the same team that really should have lost at Nebraska.

Michigan State (7-0)
Michigan W
@ Iowa L
Penn State W
@ Wisconsin L
Northwestern W
Nebraska W
@ Purdue W
@ Michigan L
Illinois W
Iowa W
@ Ohio State L

Michigan (6-0)
@ MSU L
Purdue W
@ Indiana W
Nebraska W
@ Iowa L
@ Ohio State L
Wisconsin W
Michigan State W
@ Purdue L
Minnesota W
@ Illinois W
Indiana W

Iowa (4-2)
@ NW W
Michigan State W
@ Illinois W
Ohio State W
Michigan W
@ Penn State W
@ Indiana W
Wisconsin W
@ Minnesota L
Purdue W
@ MSU L
Illinois W

IMO – We have already played 3 of our 5 toughest road games…thus the win streak. I suspect Michigan State will win 1 of those 4 road games…probably Wisconsin. I still think Michigan will lose 5 or 6 conference games. In then end it's MSU 15-3 -- Iowa 14-4 -- Michigan 13-5.
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So, if these three defend the home court and lose tough away games, it's all even. However, with Payne and Dawson out, I think MI wins at MSU. That gives them the inside track. I do think OSU will regroup eventually and with a hobbled Payne [he won't be 100% the rest of the year with Plantar Fasciitis] and Dawson out for a month, MSU is beatable in Columbus [remember OSU almost beat them in E Lansing]. Looking at the schedule, and with MSU's injuries, I'd project MI 1st, IA 2nd, and MSU 3rd. But upsets will happen so strap in for the ride.
 
How come nobody is even THINKING about tomorrow's game with Northwestern? That is a "trap game" if I've ever seen one. Northwestern has been streaking since being blown out in Iowa City. The other night, they were in a game against Purdue where they couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, and won anyway. Such bad shooting rarely happens two games in a row. Nor does a blow-out at home after you got your hat handed to you on the road.

We need to be EXTREMELY ready for tomorrow. These are the types of games even good Iowa teams have lost in the past. A loss to Northwestern cost us the B1G regular season championship in 2006 - I haven't forgotten that. Neither should they.
 
GVGiant44 said:
How come nobody is even THINKING about tomorrow's game with Northwestern? That is a "trap game" if I've ever seen one. Northwestern has been streaking since being blown out in Iowa City. The other night, they were in a game against Purdue where they couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, and won anyway. Such bad shooting rarely happens two games in a row. Nor does a blow-out at home after you got your hat handed to you on the road.

We need to be EXTREMELY ready for tomorrow. These are the types of games even good Iowa teams have lost in the past. A loss to Northwestern cost us the B1G regular season championship in 2006 - I haven't forgotten that. Neither should they.
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I'm gunna run out and do some wind sprints tonight then hit the gym early to get in some extra free throws. I'll be ready!
 
PCHawk said:
I'm gunna run out and do some wind sprints tonight then hit the gym early to get in some extra free throws. I'll be ready!
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In all reality, the Hawks had BETTER win tomorrow else all this talk is bunk and its on for a race for 3rd place in the conf. Also, we DON'T need a bad loss at this point in the game. NW would be a bad, bad loss.
 
HawksMN said:
In all reality, the Hawks had BETTER win tomorrow else all this talk is bunk and its on for a race for 3rd place in the conf. Also, we DON'T need a bad loss at this point in the game. NW would be a bad, bad loss.
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Do you always like to point out the obvious? We're allowed to talk. It's Fran's job to keep the team on track.
 
UncleHawk said:
Do you always like to point out the obvious? We're allowed to talk. It's Fran's job to keep the team on track.
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What are you doing on Hawkeye nation unclehawk? Shouldn't you be in the film room getting ready for the game tomorrow?
 
GVGiant44 said:
How come nobody is even THINKING about tomorrow's game with Northwestern? That is a "trap game" if I've ever seen one. Northwestern has been streaking since being blown out in Iowa City. The other night, they were in a game against Purdue where they couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, and won anyway. Such bad shooting rarely happens two games in a row. Nor does a blow-out at home after you got your hat handed to you on the road.

We need to be EXTREMELY ready for tomorrow. These are the types of games even good Iowa teams have lost in the past. A loss to Northwestern cost us the B1G regular season championship in 2006 - I haven't forgotten that. Neither should they.
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I've watched all 3 of NW's wins. The strategy employed by the opposing coaches was horrendous. We will make them work and wear them down. It is highly unlikely this will be in doubt by the 8 minute mark of the 2nd half.
 
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