For Iowa, Just Making NCAA Tourney Not Enough

All I know is I miss that feeling of blowing off work because of having to watch Iowa play in the first round of NCAA tournament (now 2nd round), 2006 seems such a long time ago and the feeling after the game was horrible. So for me getting there will be a big accomplishment and a step forward for the basketball program. Now if they get there and win a few games, all gravy and will be exciting.
 






Since Fran has showed up..we haven't had one kid get in trouble that I am aware of. No one has flunked out which was a staple of prior coaches including Davis. We have good depth to weather some injuries as well. We are in for an exciting run in men's BB. The kind that Wisconsin has enjoyed this last decade.
 


For me, this year has the same feel. Perhaps I'm over valuing marble but we dont have someone to fill his shoes next year and I would anticipate next year to be a step back from this year. I don't think it would be as much of a drop as the 2006 squad but crazy or not, there won't be many years that writers will even mention Iowa and final 4 in the same article.

A deep run could literally open the front door for Fran to future recruits' homes.

We played Michigan St without Marble last year and lost by 3 points. We took Wisconsin to double OT last year with Marble doing next to nothing. He's the most important player on this year's squad, but this is nothing like 2006. Not to get all Herby, but next year we will return a senior who was All B10 as a sophomore, two top 100 recruits who will then be juniors plus another who was a top 150 recruit, a sophomore who was a Parade All-American plus whatever recruits Fran pulls in before next fall. We're going to be just fine for the next few years.
 


I fail to remember Woody getting pushed around. In fact, i think he was kind of a bully, and his foul trouble showed that. Dont forget the dominating defensive effort he gave in the BTT game vs. MSU. He shut Nix down until Fran inexplicably sat him for the majority of the 2nd half.
 


I fail to remember Woody getting pushed around. In fact, i think he was kind of a bully, and his foul trouble showed that. Dont forget the dominating defensive effort he gave in the BTT game vs. MSU. He shut Nix down until Fran inexplicably sat him for the majority of the 2nd half.

He definitely got pushed around at times. He never backed down, but he was pushed around by the guys who outmatched him physically. He wasn't soft.
 


We played Michigan St without Marble last year and lost by 3 points. We took Wisconsin to double OT last year with Marble doing next to nothing. He's the most important player on this year's squad, but this is nothing like 2006. Not to get all Herby, but next year we will return a senior who was All B10 as a sophomore, two top 100 recruits who will then be juniors plus another who was a top 150 recruit, a sophomore who was a Parade All-American plus whatever recruits Fran pulls in before next fall. We're going to be just fine for the next few years.

On the flip side... in the NIT tourney, do we beat Stony Brook who we only beat by 8 and Dev put up 28, Virginia who we beat by 9 and he scored 24, Maryland who we beat by 11, and he had 21?

I just think Devyn has a different dimension to his game that nobody else on the roster provides moving forward.

Lineup for next year:
Gesell
Joke/Ogelsby
White
Uthoff
Woody

From what I've read Jok is more of a spot up shooter than of a slashing, driving threat. I think we will miss that aspect that Dev brings.
 


On the flip side... in the NIT tourney, do we beat Stony Brook who we only beat by 8 and Dev put up 28, Virginia who we beat by 9 and he scored 24, Maryland who we beat by 11, and he had 21?

I just think Devyn has a different dimension to his game that nobody else on the roster provides moving forward.

Lineup for next year:
Gesell
Joke/Ogelsby
White
Uthoff
Woody

From what I've read Jok is more of a spot up shooter than of a slashing, driving threat. I think we will miss that aspect that Dev brings.

Maybe you should recheck those scores first, we beat Stony Brook by 11 and Virginia by 9, but those games were also played with a banged up Gesell. With a healthy Gesell and no Marble, I think we beat Stony Brook and lose to Virginia. But I'm expecting Gesell and the rest of the underclassmen to continue to develop and improve during their time here.

That line up you listed is going to be real solid. And I'm not arguing that we're not going to miss Marble next year because we obviously will, but I still expect us to be in the NCAA's (again hopefully) the following year.
 


Maybe you should recheck those scores first, we beat Stony Brook by 11 and Virginia by 9, but those games were also played with a banged up Gesell. With a healthy Gesell and no Marble, I think we beat Stony Brook and lose to Virginia. But I'm expecting Gesell and the rest of the underclassmen to continue to develop and improve during their time here.

That line up you listed is going to be real solid. And I'm not arguing that we're not going to miss Marble next year because we obviously will, but I still expect us to be in the NCAA's (again hopefully) the following year.

Maybe you should recheck YOUR scores: We beat Stony Brook by 12 and Virginia by 11.

Roy Devyn Marble Stats, News, Videos, Highlights, Pictures, Bio - Iowa Hawkeyes - ESPN

Ok so we were both wrong on the scores.

I'm not saying we won't be able to make the tournament after we lose Marble but I woudln't consider us a threat to make a run to the sweet 16 like we can be this year. Jok is the X factor for me. I think he has a higher ceiling than anybody else on the roster. Depending on how he develops, I think he could be the one we look at to fill Marble's shoes.
 


Jeez how does everyone not remember we beat everyone in the NIT by double digits until the championship game?

I wouldn't be surprised if Jok is a more efficient player next year than Marble was last year. I would say we are set up pretty well for the next 3 years as long as nothing bad happens.
 


The thing is, NCAA Basketball is a one month season. You don't succeed in March, you're no good. On March 21st, no Major school wanted Andy Enfield. 4 days and 2 upsets later, people want him. He was hired based off of 2 games.

Last year, Georgetown won the Big East and was a two-seed. You think their fans feel it was a successful season?

Louisville would disagree. They were good at the beginning. They were good in the middle. They won it all at the end.
 


If you let it be a one month season, then that is on you. I enjoyed the last 2 years very much. Sure I wanted Iowa in the NCAA, but the Basketball was 100X better then the Lick years, and we were growing.

If Iowa makes the NCAA and gets bounced right away, while I will be disappointed that we lost first round, I will still enjoy the whole season, as it has been a long time since we have even experienced the NCAA tourney.

I agree with what you said. Don't worry. I highly doubt anyone is going to be disappointed with the result of Iowa's 1st...sorry 2nd...round NCAA Tournament win.
 


Take yourself back to 2006 and getting bounced as the #3 seed in the first round.
No that doens't take away the enjoyment of the season but it sure puts a damper on the success of the season.

The good news is I think this Iowa team would easily beat that Iowa team. I liked that team. Don't get me wrong. They just weren't at the same level as this Iowa team IMO.
 




On the flip side... in the NIT tourney, do we beat Stony Brook who we only beat by 8 and Dev put up 28, Virginia who we beat by 9 and he scored 24, Maryland who we beat by 11, and he had 21?

I just think Devyn has a different dimension to his game that nobody else on the roster provides moving forward.

Lineup for next year:
Gesell
Joke/Ogelsby
White
Uthoff
Woody

From what I've read Jok is more of a spot up shooter than of a slashing, driving threat. I think we will miss that aspect that Dev brings.

I saw Jok play before he got hurt. I've seen him play each year as he's come back. He's getting closer to being that player. IF he can stay healthy I honestly believe he is that guy. The real Jok is anything but a spot up shooter. Anyone that thinks that is his ceiling didn't see him play at age 14 before he got hurt. He was special...very special.
 




I hesitate to expect Iowa to make a run into the Elite 8. I suppose that is partly because it's been so long since Iowa has really had a very good team, but I still am not convinced Iowa has the talent to do that. I can't help but think of how physically overmatched Iowa looked in the NIT final against Baylor last year.. That said, that game was pretty close into the second half until it got away, but Iowa missed a TON of bunnies in that game. Hopefully those are shots our frontcourt will convert this year.. And also making more 3's would be a huge help. All of that said, although I don't have expectations of an Elite 8 (that isn't very easy to do), I like it that the players and coaches are thinking that way, and I sure have higher expectations for this season than simply making the Tournament as a 12 seed. I'd like to see a win or two.
 




If you let it be a one month season, then that is on you. I enjoyed the last 2 years very much. Sure I wanted Iowa in the NCAA, but the Basketball was 100X better then the Lick years, and we were growing.

If Iowa makes the NCAA and gets bounced right away, while I will be disappointed that we lost first round, I will still enjoy the whole season, as it has been a long time since we have even experienced the NCAA tourney.

Major gripe with an old-timer like me. Same is coming with college football with the playoff.....the regular season is diluted. The edge in conference contests is reduced. Watching the 1985 Iowa vs Michigan football game reminded me of the time when each regular season game was huge, in both sports. Conference was everything....the rest was pure gravy. Now, many fans do not bother til March....it sucks.

Oh, I'm on the same page as you guys. I was talking about a national media mentality that bases everything on March. I love watching the regular season in basketball, and I wish that conference regular season champions earned automatic bids to the NCAA tournament, and that conference tournaments didn't exist. I'm saying that the country, as a whole, judges teams on how they perform in March.
 




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