I just don't see Iowa winning Friday

I see Iowa winning this one. Iowa is too good in transition, Iowa will have the edge on the boards, Iowa is more athletic. Iowa is the better team. Also Iowa has done great under Fran in the round of 64, he prepares the team well.

You are one of the worst trolls ever. "Iowa has done great under Fran in the round of 64." Sure, the one time they've played there under him. Please just go jump off a bridge.
 
Heard Kakert on the radio today and he said Temple was one of the worst statistical teams in the tournament.... I didn't hear exactly what he said but Thought he mentioned Kenpom... Is Temple one of the worst ranked teams according to Kenpom?
 
On paper, Iowa beats them by double digits.

In practice, Iowa loses a close one, I think.

Physically, Temple doesn't have the horses to run with Iowa. Mentally though, Temple is everything Iowa isn't.

Iowa will go on a few runs that will make it look like "oh, we're gonna do it!", but Temple will refuse to back down and slowly keep chipping their way back into the game. It will come down to the last couple minutes - Iowa will be looking terrified (except for Pete, who doesn't seem to get fazed), but Temple will be looking intense because they'll sense the blood in the water at that point and find a way to close it out.

I hate myself for thinking this is how things will play out, but the fact of the matter is the scenario I've laid out would be perfectly consistent with the last month or so of Iowa hoops. :(
 
A few of you can bad mouth me all you want, but it is a good pick to pick Iowa in this, and that's a fact I don't understand how people who claim to be Iowa fans picks Iowa to lose every single game. On top of that you insult people who do pick Iowa to win a very winable game against a team that Iowa is better then. Heck Iowa beat both msu and purdue twice, this Temple team is no where close.
 
The money is on Iowa for this one too. Iowa is a 7.5 point favorite, that is huge for a 7/10! Iowa has at least 7 wins over NCAA tournament teams this year. There are a lot of reasons to pick Iowa in this game.
 
The money is on Iowa for this one too. Iowa is a 7.5 point favorite, that is huge for a 7/10! Iowa has at least 7 wins over NCAA tournament teams this year. There are a lot of reasons to pick Iowa in this game.

While I agree with you that Iowa can win this one I'm not sure you can bad mouth others who are very nervous for this one. Iowa was also favored vs. PSU, OSU, UW, IND, and ILL lost all those games. At this point I think Vegas has no clue what to do with Iowa.

After watching the first four games it appears to me that teams are playing very physical and although the refs are trying to maintain the hand checking rules it becomes very hard to do it for a full game. IMO teams that play physical with us give us the most fits. Also, I haven't watched any of Temple, but Philly basketball is known for its toughness, and that's a bad sign for Iowa.
 
It's all about how a team is trending and our trend has been a freefall at the end of the year. Temple is trending up and playing better ball now. This will be a tough fight, and I do mean fight.
 
It's all about how a team is trending and our trend has been a freefall at the end of the year. Temple is trending up and playing better ball now. This will be a tough fight, and I do mean fight.


I think the loss to Illinois may be a blessing in disguise. They were embarrassed and will be much more focused this time. They will get up big on Temple early then hold on to win 70-63.
 
They will probably shoot >50% from 3point

I want us to win, but you can't ignore the past month. We have seen no ability for this team to reset and move on. We really need a 3rd scorer.
 
Not likely, Temple shoots 34% from 3 point range, that is 206th nationally. Iowa is 21st in the nation in 3 point defense only allowing opponents to shoot 31%. Michigan is a much better 3 point shooting team than Temple and Iowa just beat them 2 games ago. Iowa can handle Temple from 3 point range. I say advantage Iowa on this one.
 
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While I agree with you that Iowa can win this one I'm not sure you can bad mouth others who are very nervous for this one. Iowa was also favored vs. PSU, OSU, UW, IND, and ILL lost all those games. At this point I think Vegas has no clue what to do with Iowa.

After watching the first four games it appears to me that teams are playing very physical and although the refs are trying to maintain the hand checking rules it becomes very hard to do it for a full game. IMO teams that play physical with us give us the most fits. Also, I haven't watched any of Temple, but Philly basketball is known for its toughness, and that's a bad sign for Iowa.

I have watched Temple. They are not good. Also, I think every team you have listed can beat Temple. Temple plays us once. Big 10 teams play us every year...usually multiple times. Temple can't get that experience from watching tape. Finally, Michigan is much better than Temple. And in the midst of our late season slide we beat Michigan at Michigan on Senior Night. If we have a new mindset for the NCAA Tournament then I think we win easily. If we play the way we ended the year I still think we win by 10. I have no idea how Temple made the NCAA Tournament.
 
I still think Iowa wins this one. Thereby giving me and everyone else hope. They will save the collapse for Villanova.

Let's take a look at Villanova.

2015 - Lost their 2nd game to an 8 seed...as a 1 seed
2014 - Lost their 2nd game to a 7 seed...as a 2 seed
2013 - Lost their 1st game...as a 9 seed
2012 - Did not make the postseason
2011 - Lost their 1st game...as a 9 seed
2010 - Won their 1st game in OT and lost their 2nd game...as a 2 seed
2009 - Went to the Final 4

Villanova went to the Final 4 in 2009. Since then they have not been able to win 2 games in an NCAA Tournament in 5 tries...overall record of 4-5. In 3 of those 5 appearances they were a 1 or a 2 seed.

Why are we supposed to worry and fret about a possible meeting with Villanova exactly? I would argue that they are the team that will (should be) doubting themselves in their game against Iowa. Their mentality is right in line with what PC says about mental blocks, etc.

Edit - We got a dream draw as a 7 seed IMO. We get to play an NIT caliber team. Then we get to play a team that can't make it to the 2nd weekend of the tournament.
 
Let's take a look at Villanova.

2015 - Lost their 2nd game to an 8 seed...as a 1 seed
2014 - Lost their 2nd game to a 7 seed...as a 2 seed
2013 - Lost their 1st game...as a 9 seed
2012 - Did not make the postseason
2011 - Lost their 1st game...as a 9 seed
2010 - Won their 1st game in OT and lost their 2nd game...as a 2 seed
2009 - Went to the Final 4

Villanova went to the Final 4 in 2009. Since then they have not been able to win 2 games in an NCAA Tournament in 5 tries...overall record of 4-5. In 3 of those 5 appearances they were a 1 or a 2 seed.

Why are we supposed to worry and fret about a possible meeting with Villanova exactly? I would argue that they are the team that will (should be) doubting themselves in their game against Iowa. Their mentality is right in line with what PC says about mental blocks, etc.

Edit - We got a dream draw as a 7 seed IMO. We get to play an NIT caliber team. Then we get to play a team that can't make it to the 2nd weekend of the tournament.

Agree Windsor. As a 7 seed we got a decent shot. I don't think the committee or many might feel this way at first blush though, as Iowa has to travel to the east coast and play 2 teams in their backyards in essence.

It would be really fun to see this team play like they were in Jan. again though. If they do, they will win both Friday and Sunday.
 
We really need a 3rd scorer.

What's the definition of a 3rd scorer? Clemmons has averaged in double figures over the last half of the season. It's hard to do much more than this with 2 primary scorers in the 20 point range every game. And our other 2 starters average about 8.

And he's shooting over 50% from both 2 point and 3 point range for his NCAA Tournament career. I predict a big tournament from Clemmons. Baer is another guy that seems to have the mindset (moxie) to play well on the big stage. How's this blueprint for an NCAA run?

Uthoff/Jok - 40 combined
Clemmons - 13
Gesell/Woodbury - 16 combined (4/1 Assist to TO and 10 boards a game respectively)
Baer - 8

That's 77 points. I'm not saying this will happen. But it's not far fetched IMO. Value the ball and 77 will be enough to win some games.
 
Agree Windsor. As a 7 seed we got a decent shot. I don't think the committee or many might feel this way at first blush though, as Iowa has to travel to the east coast and play 2 teams in their backyards in essence.

It would be really fun to see this team play like they were in Jan. again though. If they do, they will win both Friday and Sunday.

Playing on the East Coast can't be tougher than Mackey or Breslin or Hilton. We should be ready for the environment...especially with a veteran team. Temple fans don't even attend their home games. And Villanova has lost in their backyard the last 2 years.

Edit - Playing Maryland in New York didn't bother us much in the NIT semi-finals in 2013.
 
Two key points.
1) Does Iowa feel a bit fresh getting out of BIG play? A reboot and 2nd wind?
2) How the game is officiated will play a big part. Temple will be up in Iowa's mugs & physical. How does Uthoff & Jok handle that, and how much will the officials let go. If they call it tight & nickle & dime it, that goes better for the more finesse Iowa team. Iowa can get some points towing the line.
 
And I hate to say that as I'm usually a half glass full guy. But the more I read about Temple, good defense, strong center (not tall, but physical) streaky 3 point shooting (have to imagine they'll have open looks), good in close games...I just don't see it. Please convince me otherwise.


Uthoff and Jok have to play like Uthoff and Jok can. That should happen. The unknown factors are Gessell, Clemmons and Woodbury. They have to play almost mistake free. They must and I repeat must make their layups. I would imagine at least 6 to 10 layups or put backups right under the basket were missed in the last game, resulting in 12-20 points that they needed. Fran needs to trust Wagner, Williams, Uhl, and Baer. I don't really worry about Wagner and Baer. Williams can be trusted I think but Fran botched it by not getting him more experience throughout the year. Uhl sometimes doesn't put his whole heart in it, but when he wants to be a player he's an asset. They all need to scrap for every loose ball, and no weak passes. We have all seen them play like a champion. If they play like the team of January they will win.
 
Uthoff and Jok have to play like Uthoff and Jok can. That should happen. The unknown factors are Gessell, Clemmons and Woodbury. They have to play almost mistake free. They must and I repeat must make their layups. I would imagine at least 6 to 10 layups or put backups right under the basket were missed in the last game, resulting in 12-20 points that they needed. Fran needs to trust Wagner, Williams, Uhl, and Baer. I don't really worry about Wagner and Baer. Williams can be trusted I think but Fran botched it by not getting him more experience throughout the year. Uhl sometimes doesn't put his whole heart in it, but when he wants to be a player he's an asset. They all need to scrap for every loose ball, and no weak passes. We have all seen them play like a champion. If they play like the team of January they will win.

I have read so many articles that I can't remember where I saw it. But one article picked Iowa as the dark horse to win the South. The comment that really stuck with me was something to the effect of "There's a top 5 team in there somewhere." We all know this. And it will be a lot of fun watching basketball the next 3 weekends if that team shows up to play every game.
 
I have watched Temple. They are not good. Also, I think every team you have listed can beat Temple. Temple plays us once. Big 10 teams play us every year...usually multiple times. Temple can't get that experience from watching tape. Finally, Michigan is much better than Temple. And in the midst of our late season slide we beat Michigan at Michigan on Senior Night. If we have a new mindset for the NCAA Tournament then I think we win easily. If we play the way we ended the year I still think we win by 10. I have no idea how Temple made the NCAA Tournament.


I think Iowa will win, however I will not be surprised if we are having a meltdown on this board tomorrow at 5. The overconfidence of some is what gets me. Some people on here are acting like we don't even need to play the game. We have literally won 1 of our last 6 games. Sure Temple might be bad, but this is the NCAA tournament, anything can happen.
 
I predict, and we have seen it before.

They will shoot 3's, and they will all go in.

We will become frustrated as all their 3's go in.

We will lose the game, and continue to wonder why when other teams shoot 3's they always go in.

I will come back to message board and tell everyone we must be cursed because the other teams 3's always go in against us.

Will then watch Temple play Villanova, and watch them not make any 3's.

It's like you have a window to my nightmares. The next time I'm having that particular one, wake me up will ya?
 
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