How you can tell - we aren't 'back'
- Thread starter hwks1
- Start date
tm3308
Well-Known Member
While I do think we CAN go in and win today, I'm not comfortable enough to call my shot on it. Granted, I wasn't born yet, but were people often confident that we'd go into the Breslin Center and knock off MSU, or Memorial Hall and Indiana?
People thinking it's not going to happen today isn't the same thing as people thinking it's impossible. I don't think my car is going to break down today, but that doesn't mean I don't realize it's possible.
People thinking it's not going to happen today isn't the same thing as people thinking it's impossible. I don't think my car is going to break down today, but that doesn't mean I don't realize it's possible.
jacknicholson
Well-Known Member
I am not certain what We're Back really means.....
I watched every game that was on TV during the Lick Years and we appear to have improved as a team being ranked in the top 25 and ranked #14 with ISU #13 in the Pomeroy ratings. Our two losses, which we were ahead until the last two minutes or so have a combined record of 25-1 with Villanova ranked #10 in the Pom rankings.....
Fran has certainly turned things around dramatically.....
I am personally rather pleased by the improvement and national atttention we have attained after the disaster of the Lick Years.....
I watched every game that was on TV during the Lick Years and we appear to have improved as a team being ranked in the top 25 and ranked #14 with ISU #13 in the Pomeroy ratings. Our two losses, which we were ahead until the last two minutes or so have a combined record of 25-1 with Villanova ranked #10 in the Pom rankings.....
Fran has certainly turned things around dramatically.....
I am personally rather pleased by the improvement and national atttention we have attained after the disaster of the Lick Years.....
ibahawkeye
Well-Known Member
Can't argue with anything you said but none of it matters until we're dancing... Of course that's only a matter of time excluding a monumental collapse during conference play.
HaydenHawk56
Well-Known Member
How we are not completely back (what I mean is why we are not the best team in the Big Ten and are not a top 2 or 1 seed):
1. Poor Free Throw Shooting (Good and Great Teams generally have this down)
2. No big bruising bodies ( for example see Michigan St post players and then look at ours....we have height, but are sticks compared to them).
3. Suspect outside shooting. We can build brick houses on any given night with the likes of McCabe, JO, Jok, etc.
4. Marginal go to players (who can we really count on time and time again to hit the big shot on this team?) Marble and MG every once and awhile.
5. Slow help defense in the low post in the half court game. This means giving up rebounds and getting dunked on.
6. Slow close out speed on the perimeter in the half court on defense. This means getting burned with 3 pointers.
7. I would even say our overall guard play is even questionable with decision making and turnovers down the stretch.
Why we are back to being competitive:
1. We have team full of good competitive role players.
2. Fran has proven to be better than Lick. His team can score points and is not boring (we push the ball, press, will play man and zone defense).
3. Fran is more likable than Alford. Enough said.
4. Fran has more of clue than Alford and Lick. Enough said.
5. Fran has upgraded recruiting.
6. We are likely heading back to the NCCAs at the very least.
But the current chapter is still being written, so we shall see how far things finish this year. I think this team is probably on par with some of Mr. Davis's average teams.
1. Poor Free Throw Shooting (Good and Great Teams generally have this down)
2. No big bruising bodies ( for example see Michigan St post players and then look at ours....we have height, but are sticks compared to them).
3. Suspect outside shooting. We can build brick houses on any given night with the likes of McCabe, JO, Jok, etc.
4. Marginal go to players (who can we really count on time and time again to hit the big shot on this team?) Marble and MG every once and awhile.
5. Slow help defense in the low post in the half court game. This means giving up rebounds and getting dunked on.
6. Slow close out speed on the perimeter in the half court on defense. This means getting burned with 3 pointers.
7. I would even say our overall guard play is even questionable with decision making and turnovers down the stretch.
Why we are back to being competitive:
1. We have team full of good competitive role players.
2. Fran has proven to be better than Lick. His team can score points and is not boring (we push the ball, press, will play man and zone defense).
3. Fran is more likable than Alford. Enough said.
4. Fran has more of clue than Alford and Lick. Enough said.
5. Fran has upgraded recruiting.
6. We are likely heading back to the NCCAs at the very least.
But the current chapter is still being written, so we shall see how far things finish this year. I think this team is probably on par with some of Mr. Davis's average teams.
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jacknicholson
Well-Known Member
I certainly hope it is this year. We surely have the capability with some improvement especially how we finish close games, hitting free throws is paramount....
jacknicholson
Well-Known Member
jacknicholson
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately, this year the Big Ten with the exception of NW seems to be as strong as it has ever been top to bottom.....
Might not be as easy as some of us imagined before the season started. The Big Ten announcers seem to thing we are the real thing......
As Fran said: It is going to be brutal.....
HaydenHawk56
Well-Known Member
Very nice analysis, HH.....
Thanks Jack. I would love for the team to make me look wrong in a big way tonight and play like a championship team. That would be wonderful.
hawkforlife9
Well-Known Member
Not back if we struggle with Nebby at home.
jacknicholson
Well-Known Member
OUCH.....
D
DDThompson
Guest
I'd like to see all the years that Iowa was the best team in the B1G and a 1 or 2 seed. That seems to be crazy talk if that is what back means. Iowa was rarely there.
The last one you're wrong too. You think this team = Davis' "average teams". National talking heads think this team is elite 8. Davis' "average teams" weren't considered elite 8 teams. If they were, then he never would have been fired.
D
DDThompson
Guest
A rusty win -- maybe even looking ahead to tonight. Score spread is irrelevant in conference play although I would have like to have seen a blowout of Neb; Iowa is their March Madness.
HaydenHawk56
Well-Known Member
I'm not talking Iowa being a consistent 1 or 2 seed or consistent title contender. What I'm talking about is where Iowa is at currently. Iowa is back to being competitive, but still has ways to go to pass the level Alford talked about getting to after Mr. Davis was sent off to pasture. Fran and the boys are still writing this chapter as we speak, so we shall see how far we have progressed. Fran also still has much to prove if he can keep the program at a Mr. Davis type of level or beyond.
I disagree with the national media. I think this team is on par with one of Mr. Davis's average teams. I don't think they are an elite 8 team (or the equal of Mr. Davis's best team in 87). They are more likely a 5 or 6 seed that will be out in the 2nd round (like an average Mr. Davis like team).
Honestly, I think your reasoning was twisted around on that last point. I never said an average Mr. Davis team was being the equal of an elite 8 team.
Now, if Iowa can take care of all of the weaklings in conference and split or have a winning record against the big boys....then the sky could be the limit. Tonight is one of those games against the big boys and it is put up or shut up time. Time for Iowa to start proving they are a contender or pretender for the regular season title.
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HaydenHawk56
Well-Known Member
Well I guess add anger management issues to the coach to the list.
tednugentfan
Banned
Get your NIT brackets ready folks. Other than NW, I don't see many easy wins. Every team except NW has better guards than we do and Marble and White can't carry the team. Good teams will get back on D and not give up transition baskets and our half court offense blows. Once again we have no shooters.
ssckelley
Well-Known Member
You are awesome!
HawkeyeWalker
Well-Known Member
Getting tiresome. You will be gone soon enough...repetitive negative posting.
volhawk50
Well-Known Member
Guess Wisconsin is not a good team at all, seeing as we busted them up for some transition points. Guess our offense that is 7th nationally in scoring is really terrible. I'll take your word for it.
