I haven't read all the posts and perhaps this has been stated but there is a big difference between a program and a season losing momentum.
As of today, we have lost momentum of the season but the momentum of the program can continue with the NCAA birth and I've not given up on a mini tourney run.
Look at the 2010-2011 Connecticut Husky team. Heading into hte Big East tourney they had lost 5 of their last 8 games.
They get hot and win 11 games in a row to win both the conference and NCAA tournament.
By no means am I saying that the Hawks are going to win a NCAA championship or even the Big Ten tourney. But I'm also not willing to say there isn't a chance we can win a game or two in the big dance.
Granted we won't playing the way we are today but it wasn't but 5 games ago that we crushed the Big 10 regular season champs. We have 3 regular season games and at least 1 conference tourney game and 1 NCAA tourney game (assuming we don't lose out).
My point there is still time for this team to start competing at a higher level and if we do so there would be no momentum lost of the program.