lightning1
Well-Known Member
Hmmm ... Knocking an undefeated team for playing a noticeably weak schedule ... Sounds familiar but I just can't place where I've heard that before.
Lol.
Hawkeyes Up 3 Spots to No. 16 in New AP Poll
- Thread starter RobHowe
- Start date
Lol.
Hmmm ... Knocking an undefeated team for playing a noticeably weak schedule ... Sounds familiar but I just can't place where I've heard that before.
I assume you know I wasn't knocking them for something they can't control. It's unfortunate for us though because Indiana is a team I thought I would be rooting for to knock off the bog boys, but with their weak schedule I probably will be rooting against them every game. At least until they get Creaned.
FirstDownHawkeyes
Well-Known Member
Honestly, I'm not sure winning a B1G conference "championship" has the same meaning or allure it once had. The schedules are so drastically different now with 14, there is a BTT to follow it and what everyone really cares about is the NCAAT. How many B1G championships does Izzo have? How many F4 teams does he have? How many times were those in the same year? Playing a rough and tumble schedule like Iowa has this year is going to continue to harden this team for when it really counts and that is in March. I'd rather have a sweet 16 team than a conference champion any day.
deanvogs
Well-Known Member
I get what you are saying, but disagree. Watching your team go 15-3 and win the B1G would be much more enjoyable than going 9-9 and just making the NCAA. Not only does that make the entire regular season more fun to watch, but also making a run in there NCAA is much easier from a top3 or 4 seeding spot. Let alone if you win the B1G regular season title you are virtually assured a #1 or #2 seed.
So would you rather win the Big 10 and make the sweet 16 or get 4th in the Big 10 and make the elite 8? I honestly don't know how I would answer that which helps back up the guy you quoted. When making it 1 more round in the tournament is more important than finishing 1st in your conference, conference championships must not be that important.
deanvogs
Well-Known Member
Since it doesn't work that way, and you don't just get to pick, I'd rather finish the best possible in the regular season to get the highest seed possible in the NCAA tournament. Your odds of making the sweet 16 or Elite 8 are way, way better if your team is good enough to win the B1G regular season. Otherwise you are just hoping that a less team just gets hot and has an upset or two.
Now that's how you dodge a question ladies and gentlemen.
deanvogs
Well-Known Member
1977Hawkeye
Well-Known Member
Well, between the two options you listed - If this is one season we're talking about, in a vacuum, I suppose I'd rather finish 4th and be in the Elite 8, than 1st and Sweet 16. If I got to choose, that is. 4th is still pretty good. That would probably still make you a Top 20-25 team.
Now, if the high seed meant the program was rolling and wasn't just a 1 year fluke, then I could live with the early loss in the tournament. There would be other years where the high seed would likely pay off with a deep run.
If we're picking scenarios, in the end, I'd say whatever is better for the prestige of the program (i.e. recruiting boost) whether that's the great regular season or deep NCAA run.
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bcl20
Well-Known Member
Big Ten championship. I'd rather have an entire season of joy and fun and make the sweet 16 which I've seen once, then have what would really be one extra day of fun.
I really want to end the title drought.
DP5555
Well-Known Member
I think it's just the excitement of the tournament that makes people more into it than winning a long drawn out conference championship. In the tourney the excitement keeps building and building. The pressure keeps growing. The hype keeps growing. It's a really exciting experience and it's a lot of fun.
However, the conference championship is a CHAMPIONSHIP. It's an excellent accomplishment and no matter what happens in the NCAA tourney the team can still call themselves champions if they win the B10. That would be a huge accomplishment for an Iowa team, and it would do excellent things for the program.
However, the conference championship is a CHAMPIONSHIP. It's an excellent accomplishment and no matter what happens in the NCAA tourney the team can still call themselves champions if they win the B10. That would be a huge accomplishment for an Iowa team, and it would do excellent things for the program.
STILLBUSTER
Well-Known Member
4th place B14 + E-8, without question.
As mentioned, B14 champ would be a 1 or 2 seed, which implies the E-8 should be somewhat expected. Losing in the Sweet16 would be a bit of an underachievement. Meanwhile, the other scenario would be completely unexpected and, in a tournament setting, pure excitement.
Frankly, I'm tired of Iowa falling short of expectations -- especially in such an embarrassing ball of flame -- during the postseason. Give me a little magic, Hawks!
As mentioned, B14 champ would be a 1 or 2 seed, which implies the E-8 should be somewhat expected. Losing in the Sweet16 would be a bit of an underachievement. Meanwhile, the other scenario would be completely unexpected and, in a tournament setting, pure excitement.
Frankly, I'm tired of Iowa falling short of expectations -- especially in such an embarrassing ball of flame -- during the postseason. Give me a little magic, Hawks!
Winning the conference championship that year was awesome. #clownlogic.
The conference tournament is the only one that matters. If we win it his year, I'm having BIG Champion t-shirts printed! #clownlogic
1977Hawkeye
Well-Known Member
No doubt. It seems Iowa's record as a lower seed, at least in my lifetime, has been pretty atrocious. Doesn't help when you're getting Duke & UK in the 2nd round some years, but still. Outside of winning an 8/9 game as a 9 seed (1992 - Texas) and a 4/5 game as a 5 (1999 - Arkansas), and let's face it, 8/9 and 4/5 is basically a coin flip game, I can't say I recall Iowa pulling even so much as a mild upset in the NCAA Tournament.
I'm not saying that's "falling short of expectations", I don't EXPECT Iowa to beat a 1-2 seed, but there's been little NCAA magic from the Hawks. It pains me that Iowa can't seem to ever even make the Sweet 16 when I see the VCU's, Butlers, and George Masons of the world sneaking into the Final Four.
I really would love to see a deep run from the Hawks. Just 2 Sweet 16 appearances since '87, and one of them was courtesy of what was left of that great 1986-87 team, in 1988. So only 1 in the past 27 years. Ouch.
1977Hawkeye
Well-Known Member
Yep, you beat me to it. Just one Sweet 16 since 1988 - that's why that first round loss in 2006 kills me so much. That team was built to win at least a couple games. If Iowa had been having more sustained success, it would be easier to swallow, but that team remains the highest seed (3) since 1987 (2). Opportunity knocked, and Iowa wasn't home.
