I'm calling it now...Hawks in the NIT (again).

[mopkins]

The committee doesn't really care about conference record. It's pretty much how many top-50 wins you have and your RPI and to some extent how many bad losses you have (though it doesn't really seem like they give as much of a **** about this as they should, if they valued this we'd be a lock already because even Purdue and Illinois probably wouldn't qualify as terrible losses)

Got this off the interwebs:

In the six major conferences (ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big XII, SEC, Pac Ten) and even the second-tier conferences (Atlantic 10, Conference USA, Mountain West, WAC), a team's record in conference play is one the most important indicators as to whether or not the team will be invited to the "Big Dance." Rarely will the NCAA Selection Committee invite a team that finishes below .500 in regular season conference play. It is also rare for the Committee to bypass a team in the league standings (or division within a league) to invite another team that finished lower in the standings. Since 1996, the only time that a team in one of the six major conferences was bypassed was in 1998 when Florida State (6-10 in ACC play) was invited and 7-9 Wake Forest was not. This was also the only time since 1996 that a team who finished four games below .500 in conference play received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Moreover, only six times in eight years has a team finished below .500 and been invited. Needless to say, there seems to be a severe conference bias where the NCAA Tournament is concerned.

 

[ssckelley]

You are oh so very wrong. I'll be at the game Sunday....will you?

ZOMG...YOU HAZ TICKETS!!!!! YOU ARE MOAR OF A FAN THAN I!!!!

This humble tavernhok bows to the superior fan.

 

[bcl20]

Got this off the interwebs:

In the six major conferences (ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big XII, SEC, Pac Ten) and even the second-tier conferences (Atlantic 10, Conference USA, Mountain West, WAC), a team's record in conference play is one the most important indicators as to whether or not the team will be invited to the "Big Dance." Rarely will the NCAA Selection Committee invite a team that finishes below .500 in regular season conference play. It is also rare for the Committee to bypass a team in the league standings (or division within a league) to invite another team that finished lower in the standings. Since 1996, the only time that a team in one of the six major conferences was bypassed was in 1998 when Florida State (6-10 in ACC play) was invited and 7-9 Wake Forest was not. This was also the only time since 1996 that a team who finished four games below .500 in conference play received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Moreover, only six times in eight years has a team finished below .500 and been invited. Needless to say, there seems to be a severe conference bias where the NCAA Tournament is concerned.

Six teams in eight years seems like enough to win and it doesn't really disprove my point since a team with a losing conference record will typically have a low RPI and not many top-50 wins. Not to mention, what's the source for that? It reads like a weird yahoo answers response.

 

[LawVHawk]

Win the next three regular games = in.
Win two of the next three regular games = probably in.
Win one of the next three games = bubble.
Drop all three = NIT.
NIT = turrible way for the seniors to end their careers at Iowa.

 

[83Hawk]

Oh, so it's just a meltdown post that showcases your cowardice. That makes it all better.

Oh, I stand corrected then. Everything is just fine, no problems with this team at all.

 

[bcl20]

Oh, I stand corrected then. Everything is just fine, no problems with this team at all.

Yup, there's nothing in between there's problems with the team and something that has, like, a 10% chance of happening coming true is for sure going to happen.

 

[ssckelley]

Oh, I stand corrected then. Everything is just fine, no problems with this team at all.

Can there be a happy medium between "Hawks in the NIT (again)" to "Everything is just fine, no problems with this team at all"?

They have lost 3 in a row, obviously there is a problem. But there is plenty of time left to right the ship and avoid having to go to the NIT again.

 

[mopkins]

Six teams in eight years seems like enough to win and it doesn't really disprove my point since a team with a losing conference record will typically have a low RPI and not many top-50 wins. Not to mention, what's the source for that? It reads like a weird yahoo answers response.

Well stats are stats, I guess the point is why leave it to chance? A finish above .500 and there's no real negative on Iowa at all (Wins, RPI, SoS, Conference record, Pomeroy, etc). But to say Iowa is currently a lock in the tournament I would say is not accurate at this point. I would say its very probable, but a win on Sunday and it should be a lock

 

[bcl20]

People are really good at making up things and then pretending I said them.

 

[bcl20]

Can there be a happy medium between "Hawks in the NIT (again)" to "Everything is just fine, no problems with this team at all"?

They have lost 3 in a row, obviously there is a problem. But there is plenty of time left to right the ship and avoid having to go to the NIT again.

It's easier to say that someone else is saying something that is just as insane as what you are saying. That way you could be right.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

Can there be a happy medium between "Hawks in the NIT (again)" to "Everything is just fine, no problems with this team at all"?

They have lost 3 in a row, obviously there is a problem. But there is plenty of time left to right the ship and avoid having to go to the NIT again.

This is where I'm trying to be. I think Iowa still is in great shape for a bid, barring an epic collapse at home against a couple of the league's worst teams, and a 1st round BTT egg-laying. I don't see that happening. But.. I've seen some pretty epic meltdown's from Alford's teams, so nothing is official until it is.

At this point, I'm more concerned about this team's mental state even if it DOES go to the dance, and the fact that it's looking more and more like this team will be playing a 1 or 2 seed in their second game, and make a quick exit. Provided they don't make an even quicker exit by losing in the first round.

 

[ssckelley]

At this point, I'm more concerned about this team's mental state even if it DOES go to the dance, and the fact that it's looking more and more like this team will be playing a 1 or 2 seed in their second game, and make a quick exit. Provided they don't make an even quicker exit by losing in the first round.

This is what I worry about, a streak is going to take a toll on anybody. But reading the teams comments, especially Frans, has me concerned about the mental state of this team. Last night I made a comment that Fran should give them twitter back, and I wasn't kidding, perhaps social media gives the players a chance to vent a little or maybe it serves as motivation (idk). When they fell behind by 7 with under 8 to play I knew the game was over, the team's body language and facial expressions pretty much said it all. This team has the talent, but a big part of the game is mental and like I mentioned earlier I honestly think Fran needs to tell the team on Sunday to just go out and have fun.

 

[83Hawk]

Can there be a happy medium between "Hawks in the NIT (again)" to "Everything is just fine, no problems with this team at all"?

They have lost 3 in a row, obviously there is a problem. But there is plenty of time left to right the ship and avoid having to go to the NIT again.

Absolutely, and I agree 100%. There certainly IS time to turn things around...but not much time. That is why Sunday's game is so important. A win would do wonders. But I am very concerned that a loss at home to a bottom feeder would sound the death knell for this team. I'm not sure they could come back from that, especially since they will be traveling to Michigan State, and then another quick turnaround game vs. an improving Illinois team.

I've been pretty optimistic this season...but that has turned over the past week. The Spirit of Hawkeye Nightmares Past is rearing its ugly head.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

This is what I worry about, a streak is going to take a toll on anybody. But reading the teams comments, especially Frans, has me concerned about the mental state of this team. Last night I made a comment that Fran should give them twitter back, and I wasn't kidding, perhaps social media gives the players a chance to vent a little or maybe it serves as motivation (idk). When they fell behind by 7 with under 8 to play I knew the game was over, the team's body language and facial expressions pretty much said it all. This team has the talent, but a big part of the game is mental and like I mentioned earlier I honestly think Fran needs to tell the team on Sunday to just go out and have fun.

Interesting points. The Twitter avoidance thing.. It's almost like the baseball player chasing the single season HR record and just hides from the media pressure rather than facing up to it, which probably makes you just get even more tight.

If I was coach, I almost wonder if a day off for the team wouldn't be the worst thing. Just tell the guys "Take the day off, just go and have fun, whatever you want to do, without violating team rules of course. We'll see you tomorrow." Just get away from hoops briefly and unwind. Almost like if I'm playing a video game that's kicking my butt, I play worse and worse the harder I try. But if I take a break, cool off, and come back, then I play much better.

And Iowa does need to come out with a "nothing to lose" attitude against Purdue.

 

[HawkPrdatr40]

Iowa is not losing to Purdue and Illinois in Carver.. Those 2 wins get us a LOCK to the Dance..

 

[JHHawk]

Got this off the interwebs:

In the six major conferences (ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big XII, SEC, Pac Ten) and even the second-tier conferences (Atlantic 10, Conference USA, Mountain West, WAC), a team's record in conference play is one the most important indicators as to whether or not the team will be invited to the "Big Dance." Rarely will the NCAA Selection Committee invite a team that finishes below .500 in regular season conference play. It is also rare for the Committee to bypass a team in the league standings (or division within a league) to invite another team that finished lower in the standings. Since 1996, the only time that a team in one of the six major conferences was bypassed was in 1998 when Florida State (6-10 in ACC play) was invited and 7-9 Wake Forest was not. This was also the only time since 1996 that a team who finished four games below .500 in conference play received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Moreover, only six times in eight years has a team finished below .500 and been invited. Needless to say, there seems to be a severe conference bias where the NCAA Tournament is concerned.

Last year, Iowa finished 9-9 in the league and did not make the Dance, yet Illinois and Minny were 8-10 and they did make it. In 2011, Illini were 8-10 and they made the dance. Does not seem that unusual.

 

[JHHawk]

This team can't beat anyone right now. They will win...at most....1 more game this season and will play in the NIT.

I have been a big supporter of Fran, but he has royally messed this team up.

Attention whore much? Same thread on two boards, declaring Iowa is out of the Dance when every bracketoligist has them safely in....do you get off from the attention of going beyond all the objective observers to negative land? I guess when KF won 8 games last year, you were knocked off the negativity express and have been biding your time to find a way back on board?

 

[doclee]

Every darn team in the BT has had a losing streak and were subsequently written off by many of their fans. Unfortunately, the timing for our melt down is absolutely horrible. My uneducated guess is that they will right the ship, win two out of three and at least one in the BT tournament and proceed to the NCAA, where they will not get the kind of seed we would like to have seen. I just feel really bad for the kids right now, and I think Fran, given his comments, is taking a lot of the blame. But, he is a quality coach, he has seen situations like this before, and we have smart, talented kids on this team. Cheer em' on!

 

[Easton]

You know who else was freaking out about Iowa not making the tournament, my 6 yr old. Now i have to figure out when he created the username 83Hawk. kids these days.

 

[83Hawk]

Attention whore much? Same thread on two boards, declaring Iowa is out of the Dance when every bracketoligist has them safely in....do you get off from the attention of going beyond all the objective observers to negative land? I guess when KF won 8 games last year, you were knocked off the negativity express and have been biding your time to find a way back on board?

So, are you going on record that 19 wins is enough, and that Iowa can lose out and still make the NCAA?