bcl20
Well-Known Member
I fail to see how "expecting" Iowa to struggle to start the season makes me feel better about it.
I don't really get it.
- Thread starter CAARHawk
- Start date
I fail to see how "expecting" Iowa to struggle to start the season makes me feel better about it.
BasketballMan
Banned
Kinda difficult to paint a picture of what Spank is saying which is obviously what you need. Spank is spot on.
bcl20
Well-Known Member
Yeah, that's it.
I'm contending the "step back and realize it's not that big deal"? A missed opportunity to do something special is a missed opportunity to do something special. It's frustrating regardless of expectations. You're the one claiming that everyone is off the bandwagon, or whatever hysterical nonsense.
Plus, asking a 2-7 team to than turn around and go 8-1 (which is what they actually have to go to finish 10-8, not 2-7) is a lot to ask regardless of ease of schedule.
I mean, geeze, win one of those close games and we're decent shape. Expectations of suckitude just doesn't make that feel better in my mind.
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storminspank
Justin VanLaere
If you have a logical expectation, then you understand that things like this were going to happen.
Iowa was a fringe tourney team this year and most saw them a year away.
They are a young team (not one filled with Top 25 young'ens either) - so struggling on the road, losing close game, they were expected.
If you thought based on what you knew on subject and how hard you studied that you'd probably get a B and you got a B, why would you upset you didn't get an A+?
Expectations.
I'm not saying to lie down and just take it. But some things (like how this season has turned out) are expected.
bcl20
Well-Known Member
Except, coming close to defeating multiple teams on many occasions isn't studying to get a B and getting a B. It's showing you were good enough to get an A but getting a B, thus the disappointment. To me, it shows that I've underestimated our team but have nothing to show for it and that makes the start hard to swallow.
ajkhawkeye
Well-Known Member
The team does not practice very often in the practice gym. Almost all their practices are in the arena. The new practice gym doesn't get utilized very much at all, so that's definitely not the reason for the poor shooting.
bcl20
Well-Known Member
I don't know, having low expectation but than proving to yourself that exceeding them is possible, but that telling yourself "well, we didn't expect to be here anyways" reeks of that "loser mentality" (I don't really like that phrasing but whatever) that people ***** about on the football message boards.
jesterapparel
Well-Known Member
They're 3-6 in Big Ten. 7-2 can happen. 6-3 is more likely.
storminspank
Justin VanLaere
Iowa played the toughest SOS in the nation over the first half of their schedule. Coming out with 3 wins is pretty good.
Now they get an easier end.
They get 5 of their last 8 at home. And two of the roadies are vs Neb and PSU.
Yes, the schedule has a lot to do with W/L, esp in this conf.
As far as the 2-7, 8-1 stuff.
I'm saying that I have them going 7-2 in the last 9.
Preseason that would be 9-9. But if they do that with their current 3-6 record, that's 10-8, a very good season for this team.
storminspank
Justin VanLaere
Iowa started 3-6 in conf last year and ended up 8-10. They are better this year, so thinking they can improve their second half this year by 2 games isn't that hard to see or expect.
Plus last year's second half was much, much,. much more difficult than this year's.
Plus last year's second half was much, much,. much more difficult than this year's.
BasketballMan
Banned
You seem to be arguing just to argue. Enough said. It's getting old.
kicker22
Well-Known Member
I'm totally on board with you Spank, but I definitely see the other angle of things. The fact that they've played the toughest conference schedule in the nation so far is what bothers alot of people. 4 of those games were winnable, and with those wins it puts Iowa into an entirely different situation going into the second half of the season. I think the SOS situation actually bothers fans even more, because they know how weak the second half of the schedule was and, regardless of where the team should legitmately be in regards to a return to the Big Dance, finish the games that we didn't and were in the driver seat and most likely dancing in March.
I've said it before, but I think the biggest thing this team has going for it is the fact that the fans are voicingly unhappy about where we are right now. It shows that that people care once again about this program and are following them and the hype or in some instances excessive expectations are back. Let's be honest the past 3 or 4 seasons, nobody would have cared where this team was at this point in the season, and now they're disappointed that we're not in the chase. To me that says a great deal.
hawkfarmer
Well-Known Member
There are a few things to remeber here. These games are not lost in the last minute. There are mistakes, or getting down 14-2 early that hurt more. Missing 50% of your free throws also causes that. Iowa could have made more plays early that would make the last minute enjoyable not a test for your heart condition.
Also, remember that Iowa is playing 3 true freshman A LOT. They are making freshman mistakes. I think next year you will see vast improvement. Also as everyone knows Woodbury is too weak right now, but he'll get better.
Another key element is Marble. I think everyone thought he was going to be the man this year. I think he hyped himself a bit too much, like Basabe last year. He needs to get more into his role with the team. Yes this should still be as a scorer and lead option, but I feel he presses a little sometimes which hurts him, thus hurting his confidence.
Iowa has won the games they are supposed to (with the exception of Purdue who I thought they should have swept- where do they keep finding all those dang Johnson kids btw?) and have the potential to have a decent record at the end of the reg. season. However, we also all know they need to sneak a few in that they aren't supposed to win (like the Wisky game) and if they can do that, they would be dancing. It is still very possible for that to happen. I'm excited to see it play out.
Also, remember that Iowa is playing 3 true freshman A LOT. They are making freshman mistakes. I think next year you will see vast improvement. Also as everyone knows Woodbury is too weak right now, but he'll get better.
Another key element is Marble. I think everyone thought he was going to be the man this year. I think he hyped himself a bit too much, like Basabe last year. He needs to get more into his role with the team. Yes this should still be as a scorer and lead option, but I feel he presses a little sometimes which hurts him, thus hurting his confidence.
Iowa has won the games they are supposed to (with the exception of Purdue who I thought they should have swept- where do they keep finding all those dang Johnson kids btw?) and have the potential to have a decent record at the end of the reg. season. However, we also all know they need to sneak a few in that they aren't supposed to win (like the Wisky game) and if they can do that, they would be dancing. It is still very possible for that to happen. I'm excited to see it play out.
I am only frustrated because this team is even better than I thought it would be, and has not quite gotten over the hump in some games they clearly could have won. I would have not been surprised to see some scores where we ended up beaten by 10-12 points rather than 3 or 4. Right now, I just feel so bad for the kids and the coaching staff. They work so hard, have made incredible strides on defense; rebounding was a weakness last year and this year a strength. I have not seen more than one or two teams that are more "athletic" than Iowa. I think the shooting slump may be more attributable to a downturn in confidence than a lack of ability. Think about what this team has been through with this schedule in the BT. Wow.
HawkPrdatr40
Well-Known Member
I thought you watched Iowa Basketball CAAR?? Anyone satisfied with the Iowa record right now clearly hasn't paid attention..
tm3308
Well-Known Member
He's got a point, though. Knowing you're capable of more makes 3-6 a lot more disappointing.
hawkfarmer
Well-Known Member
Prior to the season if someone had said Iowa would be 3-6 (and who we beat) most of us would be really happy to take that. However, now that we have seen Iowa's potential and what "could have been" we are mad. I'm disappointed Iowa does not have a better record because I believe it will bite us in the rear, but hey, it's a lot better than it was last year and the year before etc.
This is a good team that is still learning how to win. They'll get there.
This is a good team that is still learning how to win. They'll get there.
BasketballMan
Banned
I dont disagree. Trust me. We have some seriously competitive kids who are NOT giving up and understand they are "that close" to winning. The second half is gonna be a totally different story. Zero doubt in my mind.
PantherMania
Well-Known Member
If you would have told me that at this time we'd be sitting at 87th in the RPI I would not have been happy. Can't blame it on the schedule either. Our SOS to date is 98th and the hard part of our schedule is over. Every team has games they could have won not just us
The close losses are frustrating, but I'm really not upset at all with where the team is at. We're 298th in the country in 3 point shooting %. To be 3-6 in the B10 and be competitive as we are despite that is pretty impressive. Last year we won games with hot shooting from Gatens and below average defense and rebounding, not a very sustainable way to win. This year we're going toe to toe with the top conference teams because of our defense and rebounding. This bodes very well for the future of the program.
