How do you define success?

WindsorHawk said:
Yes, we need to get over that NCAA hump. If the Zags beat us so be it but we really need the win on Friday. Get those 6 returning players at least a taste...let them spend a year wanting more.
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I agree. Lose on Friday, and it'll look pretty much just like last year, at least on paper. Winning a game would feel like (to me) another step forward by having post-season NCAA success of any kind, which I also think is an important part of establishing a winning culture within the program.

By "winning culture", I mean more of an above-the-shoulders type of attitude that you EXPECT to win, and KNOW you can win, and passing that attitude on to incoming freshmen, etc.

Just my opinion, but I still believe that after Alford left, and especially after Lick, that it wasn't JUST about getting better players, but also establishing a winning attitude, which doesn't happen overnight. Winning at least one tournament game would go a long way there, IMO. I know they had the NIT run a couple years ago, but we're talking NCAA Tournament, now. Time to show you belong with the big boys. Really important game Friday, IMO.

Then there are hopefully recruiting benefits if Iowa can do some damage in the next week...
 
1977Hawkeye said:
I agree. Lose on Friday, and it'll look pretty much just like last year, at least on paper. Winning a game would feel like (to me) another step forward by having post-season NCAA success of any kind, which I also think is an important part of establishing a winning culture within the program.

By "winning culture", I mean more of an above-the-shoulders type of attitude that you EXPECT to win, and KNOW you can win, and passing that attitude on to incoming freshmen, etc.

Just my opinion, but I still believe that after Alford left, and especially after Lick, that it wasn't JUST about getting better players, but also establishing a winning attitude, which doesn't happen overnight. Winning at least one tournament game would go a long way there, IMO. I know they had the NIT run a couple years ago, but we're talking NCAA Tournament, now. Time to show you belong with the big boys. Really important game Friday, IMO.

Then there are hopefully recruiting benefits if Iowa can do some damage...
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Yep.
 
I'd call it successful already. But winning an NCAA tourney game and getting that 14-year-old monkey off our back would be damn nice. I have to work Friday night, so I'll be telling every customer who comes to my department to not drop a single hint about the game. I've DVR'd games before and known how they went before seeing them, and it's usually not a big deal. But this is a tourney game, and I want to experience the actual thrill of watching the Hawks in the dance again. It's been a long time since I've felt that; hell, I was a sophomore in high school in '05-'06, and now I'm two years out of college.
 
1977Hawkeye said:
Lol, agreed! I can handle all of the success this team wants to accomplish. :cool:

It's been a good season - 20+ wins, legit NCAA invite, T-3rd in the conference.. Sign me up for that every year. A first round loss would be a bummer, though.
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We were signed up for that every year, then Tom Davis got fired.
 
I believe success is directly tied to expectations. I personally expected them to be a bubble team and so they exceeded my expectations and therefor I would call the season a success.
 
1977Hawkeye said:
I agree. Lose on Friday, and it'll look pretty much just like last year, at least on paper. Winning a game would feel like (to me) another step forward by having post-season NCAA success of any kind, which I also think is an important part of establishing a winning culture within the program.

By "winning culture", I mean more of an above-the-shoulders type of attitude that you EXPECT to win, and KNOW you can win, and passing that attitude on to incoming freshmen, etc.

Just my opinion, but I still believe that after Alford left, and especially after Lick, that it wasn't JUST about getting better players, but also establishing a winning attitude, which doesn't happen overnight. Winning at least one tournament game would go a long way there, IMO. I know they had the NIT run a couple years ago, but we're talking NCAA Tournament, now. Time to show you belong with the big boys. Really important game Friday, IMO.

Then there are hopefully recruiting benefits if Iowa can do some damage in the next week...
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Good point about establishing a winning culture. Next year there will only be 3 players on our team that know what it's like to not make the tournament. Winning a game will be another huge step in the mindset of the players but it sure is nice to have a team that knows what it's like to be there.
 
BigD said:
Going to bed at night knowing that I have never cheated on my wife, been honest to all my friends and neighbors, that my kids have never done drugs, that I am financial successful to the point I have helped many others, that I put all my children through college and instilled in them a moral fiber that they will pass onto their children and that they ALWAYS treat ALL others with respect regardless of their race, financial status or religious beliefs. That is what I define as success.

As as far as sports teams go..... That you gave it your all and did the best you could and that there was no cheating involved in behalf of those (parents, school, fans, coaches) that you represent with the uniform you wear. Success this year for me as a hawk fan will be a sweet 16. I also want it for Aaron White and the other seniors who have given so much of their time to the team.
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Could not have said it better than the above post.

This season is a smashing success....winning one or more games in the Big Dance would be the frosting on the cake
 
ibahawkeye said:
I believe success is directly tied to expectations. I personally expected them to be a bubble team and so they exceeded my expectations and therefor I would call the season a success.
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I would agree. Any time you are a "lock" before your conference tourney starts means "positive". Still, getting into the second weekend is when you're talking "memorable".
 
ibahawkeye said:
I believe success is directly tied to expectations. I personally expected them to be a bubble team and so they exceeded my expectations and therefor I would call the season a success.
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Success depends on where you started from.

The general expectations I have: be an NCAA tourney team year in and year out.

Every 4-5 years achieve the sweet 16 and beyond.

That's my general standard.
 
I'll let you know after the season. Right now I'm leaning towards it being successful but then I think about some of the losses and what could have been enters my mind.
 
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