Its not gonna happen. I see 2-4. Dance is gone.
Yea, that Minny loss -- not the loss, per se, but how disinterested, uninspired, discombobulated and inept the entire squad looked with so much to play for -- sort of wrote the final chapter of this groundhog season. They ball-kicked me back to reality with Minny and today they lost me (which is why I bailed less than 10 minutes in and didn't watch the rest of the inevitable loss.)
Meanwhile, I'm watching all these other teams Iowa will face, most with a fraction of the hope of making the dance as the Hawks, play as if they love the game and actually have a chance to achieve something.
- Iowa
should beat Rutgers at home. I emphasize,
should.
- Nebby is much like Iowa ... a lot of frustration and head-hanging by guys like Petteway, but, given their remaining schedule, they see Iowa as the only likely win and have an atmosphere that will will them to win.
- Illannoy plays with heart, can shoot from outside, has Rice back, Egwu will own Woody and they are gonna b!tch stomp Iowa at Carver. To add salt to the wound, they're gonna snatch that last NCAA at-large bid that Iowa dribbled down their legs.
- Penn State is another one that has no business playing as gritty as they do but, hey, it's Iowa -- that's as a good a chance to win in the B14 as you'll ever get. Look for another OT loss there as Newbill drops 30 and some 2nd teamer shooting <.25 from 3 hits the winning shot.
- Indiana? Please. Yogi is gonna make Mikey, let alone Oglesclank, look like chumps.
- Finally, a
chance at payback against those formidable purple kitties of Northwestern University. Hawks finish on a high note with a blowout win.
The Pollyz are out all week claiming, "BTT is a new season. Hawks have regained their mojo and can still make the NCAA with 2 wins." Of course, with the door of opportunity slightly ajar, and once again having everything to play for, the Hawks will slam it shut on their own fingers with another keystone cop performance, getting bounced by Purdue on Thursday of the BTT.
That's 2-4 to finish regular. 0-1 in BTT. 17-14 overall and 8-10 in B14. Their early season wins get them a #3 seed in the NIT (hey, that's a lot better than the #10 seed in the NCAA) where they'll also be 1 and done, losing to .... Tennessee.
The way this team is already circling the toilet, this is looking like the ceiling, folks. Anybody care to poke holes in this with a
realistic alternative?
